Producing Ebraille Books

The RNIB has an extensive braille library available for customers to borrow in hard copy. Each book consists of several weighty volumes which are sent out and returned by free post. With the advent of more affordable braille displays, more customers are asking if they can borrow the electronic files to read in digital form. This saves time, energy and resources. In this paper we discuss steps to convert multi-volume braille files, which are suitable for embossing, to single volume files, more suited for use with braille displays. We discuss the differences between embossable braille files and those for braille displays, as well as processes which can automate converting large numbers of existing titles and the changes to transcription processes that might be needed for producing new books in the future. We touch on some of the main advantages and limitations of using electronic braille on current technology. With no physical pages, we discuss the techniques customers can use to efficiently navigate the text using a braille display, and consider if new braille file formats might further improve navigational possibilities. We concentrate on the braille layout used in the UK and by RNIB, but briefly consider any potential differences with the main features of other systems of braille layout and how these differences might affect navigating using current technologies.