Japanese Designer Develops "Visually Readable" Braille

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)--A young Japanese designer has developed a set of letter designs to be printed on corresponding braille patterns of raised dots, in a bid to help those who do not use braille to understand the language for the visually impaired. Braille with such letter designs, including for alphabets and "katakana" Japanese characters, is used on information maps and signs on stair rails at the new office building for Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, inaugurated in January. "I hope to bridge the worlds of the visually impaired and other people by using the same tool," said Kosuke Takahashi, the 25-year-old designer from Tokyo. Seeking an easier way to read braille visually, Takahashi has been developing new letter designs since about a year and a half ago, while taking advice from people with visual impairments. The letter designs were released on Twitter and drew responses from across the world, including opinions that they would be useful for learning braille. Shibuya Ward has adopted the use of braille with the letter designs at its new office building, in order to stimulate interest in braille and create an inclusive society. The new braille format has also been introduced by a major advertising agency in Tokyo. It is expected to be used at a public hall due to be opened in Shibuya this autumn. Takahashi expressed hopes that braille with the letter designs will be used on tickets for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. "I hope that people around the world will come to know (the new initiative on braille) and help promote it," he said. He is also considering producing picture books and board games with letter-printed braille that visually impaired and other people can enjoy together. END