Title:
User research into Unified English Braille (UEB) in the UK
Author:
Heather Cryer, Sarah Home
Publisher:
RNIB Centre for Accessible Information (CAI)
Year of publication:
2011
Background:
The Unified English Braille (UEB) code has been adopted by various English-speaking countries. The UK is yet to decide whether or not to adopt the code. This project aimed to involve braille readers and other stakeholders (transcribers and braille teachers), to give them opportunity to try out UEB coding and share their views on how implementation might affect them.
Key findings:
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Those trialling technical UEB coding read materials successfully without any instruction in the code or access to UEB symbols lists. Whilst some mistakes were made, overall respondents could understand the text and learned new coding as they went along
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Views on UEB technical coding included positives and negatives. Positives included the unification of literary and technical codes, easier transcription and uniting English-speaking countries. Negatives included the increase in space taken up by UEB, having to learn the new code and the practicalities of how a transition would work.
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Those trialling literary materials in UEB were also able to understand the braille without any instruction or access to UEB symbols lists. Some key differences were noted between Standard English Braille (SEB) and UEB including the introduction of capital letter indicators, changes to contractions and the abolition of sequencing.
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Views on UEB literary coding also included positives and negatives, many similar to those identified in the technical trials. Respondents identified both positive and negative effects UEB could have if adopted in the UK. Positive effects included making braille easier to learn. Negative effects included some people choosing not to use braille anymore rather than learn a new code. Some felt the effect would be small and people would get used to any change.
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Overall, there is a wide range of opinion about UEB. Some respondents support the idea of adoption whilst others oppose it. Key areas of concern to be addressed if the code is adopted are the extra space taken by UEB and the practicalities of a transition between braille codes.
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