Refreshable Braille and Graphics Devices

Devices that dynamically change to display digital content as braille or tactile graphics.

This page has products in the following categories:

Disclaimer: We recommend 32 to 40 cells as this best promotes reading fluency. In uncontracted braille, these bolded 40 characters would show up on the braille display. If you had 18 characters, you would only see this many at a time.

Braille Note Takers

Android or Windows tablet with accessible OS or screen reader. Equipped with a braille keyboard and display, the devices feature menu-driven access to the blind user and promote braille use and literacy.

BrailleNote Touch Plus 32 cell

Braille Note Touch Plus 32 cell

Description: This braille note taker comes with a comprehensive suite of braille-first applications, refreshable braille display, a detachable Perkins style 6-key entry, and a full screen visual display. Also provides full access to the Google Play store to download any app, such as Easy Reader, Google Classroom, etc. Math can be read by the student on a .brf file. Math can be created by students using KeyMath inside of the KeyWord application.
Price: $5,195 for 32 cell display | $4,795 for 18 cell display
Manufacturer: Humanware
Product Page: BrailleNote Touch Plus 32 cell External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Android 12
  • 8 core CPU
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
  • USB Connections

BrailleSense

BrailleSense

Description: This braille note taker comes with a comprehensive suite of braille-first applications, 32 cell refreshable braille display, on-board Perkins style 6-key entry, and a single line visual display. Also provides full access to the Google Play store to download any app, such as Easy Reader, Google Classroom, etc. Math support for any MathML math is supported, such as word documents using the Word equation editor can be read, edited, and turned in by the user.
Price: $5,895 for BrailleSense 6 with 32 cell braille display | $4,695 for BrailleSense Mini 6 with 18 cell display
Manufacturer: Selvas BLV
Product Page: BrailleSense 6 and BrailleSense Mini 6 External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Android 12
  • 8 core CPU
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
  • USB Connections

Tactile Braille Tablet insideONE

Tactile Braille Tablet insideONE

Description: The insideONE features a full visual display with an engraved braille keyboard, and a 32 cell refreshable braille display. Operating on a Windows 10 environment, there are compatibility applications and software commonly found on Windows operating systems, including screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, or Narrator.
Price: $5,499
Manufacturer: Insidevision
Product Page: Tactile Braille Tablet insideONE External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Windows 10 OS
  • Intel processor
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
  • USB Connections

Refreshable Braille Displays

Braille displays are devices featuring rows of Braille cells for reading, writing, and editing digital content. Each cell has movable pins enabling users to feel and read Braille text as it updates. They vary from 12 to 80 cells per row, often single-rowed. They can function independently for note-taking or connect to computers, smartphones, or tablets with a screen reader for extensive tasks like accessing digital curriculum or web browsing.

ALVA Braille Displays

ALVA Braille Displays image

Price: $3,836.35 for ALVA USB 640 with 40 cell | $3,836.35 for ALVA 640 Comfort with 18 cell
Manufacturer: Optelec
Product Page: ALVA Braille Displays External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Possibility to include your preferred screen reader on board
  • Bluetooth and USB connections
  • 10 hour rechargeable battery
  • 4 GB memory
  • High speed USB port
  • Dimensions: 33.8 x 7.5 x 1.8 cm / 13.3 x 2.9 x 0.7 in
  • Weight: 725 g / 1.6 lb.

Bonocle

Bonocle

Price: $799 for 1 cell braille display
Manufacturer: Bonocole
Product Page: Bonocole External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Connects to devices via Bluetooth
  • Senses your movements to allow navigation in multidimensional space
  • Braille + haptics output combined
  • 3 Software categories: productivity, education, and gaming

Chameleon 20

Chameleon 20

Price: $1,715 for 20 cell braille display
Manufacturer: American Printing House (APH)
Product Page: Chameleon 20 External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Available through APH quota funding
  • Cursor router keys for ease with editing and navigation
  • USB and bluetooth connection options
  • Firmware includes note taking and some reading capability, and built in text to speech

Focus Blue 5th Gen

Focus Blue 5th Gen

Price: $9,520 for 80 cell braille display | $3,570 for 40 cell braille display | $1,545 for 14 cell braille display
Manufacturer: Freedom Scientific
Product Page: Focus Blue 5th Gen External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Seamless integration into other Freedom Scientific products, such as JAWS
  • Cursor router keys for ease with editing and navigation
  • USB and bluetooth connection options
  • Firmware includes note taking and some reading capabilities

Handy Tech Displays

Handy Tech Displays

Price: $6,595 for Activator | $6,495 for Active Braille | $2,795 for Actilino | $6,795 for Active Star | $2,296 for Basic Braille | $3,595 for Basic Braille Plus | $3,595 for Connect Braille | $9,995 to 13,595 for Modular Evolution | $9,995 for Braille Star 80
Manufacturer: Help Tech
Product Page: Help Tech Braille Displays External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Cursor router keys for ease with editing and navigation.
  • USB and bluetooth connection on all displays.
  • Onboard translation and integrated firmware.
  • Some with ATC technology which allows for tracking of braille metrics like reading speed and reading behavior such as scrubbing or identifying the braille reading finger.
  • With ergonomics and function in mind, the braille displays come in many different form factors including the basic braille display, integrated QWERTY keyboards, or as embedded stands for tablets and computers.

Mantis Q40

Mantis Q40

Price: $2,695 for 40 cells at Humanware | $2,682 for 40 cell at APH
Manufacturer: Humanware and APH
Product Pages: Mantis Q40 (Humanware) External link opens in new window or tab.
 Mantis Q40 (APH) External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Cursor router keys for ease with editing and navigation
  • Use of full QWERTY keyboard and keyboard commands while maintaining ergonomic access to braille output
  • USB and bluetooth connection options
  • Firmware includes note taking and some reading capability
  • Available at Humanware and APH


Orbit Reader

Orbit Reader

Price: $699 for 20 cell Orbit Reader braille display | $799 for 20 cell Orbit Reader Plus braille display | $1,669 for 40 cell Orbit Reader braille display | Price not available for Orbit Speak Notetaker
Manufacturer: Orbit Research
Product Page: Orbit Reader External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Cursor router keys not available on the 20 cell displays
  • USB connection on all displays
  • Audio output on 40 cell display
  • Onboard translation or integrated firmware on all except the Orbit Reader 20

QBraille XL

QBraille XL

Price: $3,195 for QBraille XL 40 cell display
Manufacturer: Selvas BLV
Product Page: QBraille XL External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Features a Perkins style keyboard entry with additional function keys for optimal screen reader and computer interaction
  • Cursor router keys for ease with editing and navigation
  • USB and bluetooth connection on all displays
  • Onboard translation and integrated, robust firmware

Vario Series Braille Displays

Vario Series Braille Displays

Price: $ for Vario Ultra 40 Cell | $ for Vario Ultra 20 Cell | $1,545 for Vario 4 Series 40 Cell | $ Vario 4 Series 64 Cell | $ Vario 4 Series 80 Cell | $ Vario Pro2 80 cell
Manufacturer: VisioBraille
Product Page: Vario Series Braille Displays External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Refreshable braille cells of 20, 40, 64, or 80
  • Compatible with PC, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS operating systems as well as the COBRA, WindowEyes, JAWS, and SuperNova screen readers
  • On board applications including a note taker (PDF, DOCX, BRF, etc. compatible) and scientific calculator
  • USB C connections on all, and up to 4 bluetooth connections on the VarioUltra line
  • 8 to 12 hours battery life
  • Most models around 1 lb

Activator

Activator

Price: $6,595
Manufacturer: Dream Vision group.
Product Page: Activator External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Plug-and-Play connectivity to JAWS
  • Compatibility with all major screen-readers and Peripherals
  • Multi-channel Bluetooth connectivity
  • Stand-alone functionality
  • 30-hours Battery Life
  • It provides ATC (Active Tactile Control) which detects a reader's finger position.

Activator Pro

Activator Pro

Price: $12,700
Manufacturer: Dream Vision group.
Product Page: Activator Pro External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Plug-and-Play connectivity to JAWS
  • Compatibility with all major screen-readers and Peripherals
  • Multi-channel Bluetooth connectivity
  • Stand-alone functionality
  • 30-hours Battery Life
  • It provides ATC (Active Tactile Control) which detects a reader's finger position.

Multi-Line and Tactile Graphics Displays

Braille displays are devices with row/rows of Braille cells that allow users to read, write, and edit digital content in Braille. The cells have pins that can move up and down, allowing users to feel and read a line of Braille text which refreshes as the text advances. They range from 12 to 80 cells per row, with most being a single row. They can be used independently with on-board firmware for note taking, or connected to computers, smartphones, or tablets with a screen reader for more robust tasks such as document reading and web browsing.

Canute 360

Canute 360

Price: $4,122.03
Manufacturer: Bristol Braille
Product Page: Canute 360 External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • 9 lines, 360 cells
  • Add BRF files via USB
  • Reading oriented device
  • Supports six-dot Braille codes (music, math, foreign languages) and tactile graphics
  • Output only

Dot Pad

Dot Pad

Price: Contact manufacturer for pricing
Manufacturer: Dotincorp
Product Page: Dot Pad External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Converts any input into a tactile graphic (tablet screens, images, etc)
  • Can use as a drawing pad
  • Maximized for graphics display

Holy Braille

Holy Braille

Price: Contact manufacturer for pricing
Manufacturer: NewHaptics
Product Page: Holy Braille External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • Refreshable full-page tactile display
  • Braille, Graphics, Maps, Media

Monarch

Monarch

Price: Contact manufacturer for pricing and join the waitlist
Manufacturer: APH (American Printing House)
Product Page: Monarch External link opens in new window or tab.
Features:

  • 10 lines by 32 cells
  • Braille cell spacing designed to maximize both literary braille access and tactile graphics
  • Refreshable full-page tactile display
  • Braille keyboard for braille input
  • Tablet technology for additional applications including book reader apps for eBRF access