A slate and stylus is a basic and inexpensive braille writing device used by the blind. The stylus punches dots into paper to create braille letters, and the slate holds the paper in place. Each braille letter is formed into a cell with six possible spaces for a dot. The writer must work backwards from right to left, but some styluses allow writing from left to right. Many companies produce slate and stylus sets, and blind students are often taught to use them in schools.
A blackboard and stylus is a braille writing device, a tactile reading and writing system used by the blind. There are numerous tools that can be used to write braille, but a slate and stylus might be considered the most basic, and also the oldest; similar to a notebook and paper for sighted people. This writing instrument is also very inexpensive, making it accessible to the blind in regions of the world where funds for more expensive Braille writing instruments such as typewriters are not available.
The stylus in a whiteboard and the stylus is designed like an awl and punches little dots in a piece of paper. By punching a specific pattern, the user can create a braille letter; While using a stylus to take notes may seem time-consuming, people get the hang of it very quickly. The hinged slate is designed to hold a piece of paper in place as the user strikes it, with a bottom half to punch against and a guide at the top to help the user create braille characters.
Each braille letter is formed into a cell that has six possible spaces for a dot, creating a myriad of combinations. To read a letter, the user places his fingertip on a cell; braille readers can become quite proficient with practice. Slate has a series of cells with scalloped edges to guide the stylus into place for the purpose of creating letters. Depending on the design, the board may have just one row of cells or many; the slate is mounted on a hinge so that the paper can be slipped between a backing sheet and the cell template.
To use a whiteboard and stylus, the writer must work backwards from right to left so that when the paper is flipped, the dots can be read. In some cases, a stylus is hollowed out so that a raised dot is created on the front of the piece of paper, allowing the user to write from left to right. While learning to use a slate and stylus can take time, this writing tool can be incredibly helpful for the blind. It’s cheap, highly portable, quiet, and easy to use once you get used to it; many blind people also enjoy using a slate and stylus because it gives them a sense of independence.
Many companies produce slate and stylus sets, often at very low cost to make them affordable for everyone. In schools for the blind, students are often taught to use a slate and stylus along with other assistive tools such as braille keyboards. For blind students attending general schools, or for people who were blind later in life, charities often offer lessons in using assistive tools.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
