Technical Braille Symbols List for WBC
Display with Braille Dot Numbers
Display with ASCII Characters
Display with Simulated Braille Dots
In this first version only three technical codes are represented, namely:
- CBC (the American Computer Braille Code, used for computer programming and related notation such as email addresses)
- Nemeth Code (1972) (the current American standard code for mathematics and some other sciences but not computer notation)
- UEB (Unified English Braille, used in some English-speaking countries for general technical as well as literary purposes)
Of course, additional columns for other codes are planned, but I thought it useful to present this much in
order that feedback could begin on such matters as whether this format is accessible and of course whether the
content is what is desired, is correct and so on.
Some notes (which I plan to post on a companion page to the list itself):
- The spreadsheet format seems logical since it allows us to add (or subtract) columns and rows as needed, relatively easily, and
without worrying about overflowing the "width" as more codes are considered. I am unsure, however, just how this works out for
accessibility. Other formats can in time be derived from this one, if necessary.
- The braille is described by dot numbers, as suggested by one of the technical committee members. Other possibilites -- "ASCII"
braille or "octal" braille, for instance -- might also be advantageous for some purposes. Again, other forms could be derived.
- A blank entry simply means lack of information, i.e. that I (or whoever is doing the editing) doesn't know how the symbol is
represented, or hasn't got to that point in entering data. (I don't think there are any blank entries in this initial version,
but there will be as we add columns.)
- "n/a" generally means "not applicable". In one of the code columns it means that, as far as the editor can determine, no
specific assignment exists for the listed symbol, or the indicator has no meaning in that code, etc. This does not take into
account that many codes have provisions for transcribers to use reserved or specially composed substitutes when no specific assignment exists.
- These lists are not definitive. They could easily contain mistakes! Please don't hesitate to report any that you find.
Also, they only contain a small sampling of the technical symbols that exist. Please let me know of any others that are of particular interest.
- No symbol listing of this kind can possibly convey the nuances of code rules -- the fact that some symbols may be used
differently in different circumstances, or be spaced in a certain way, or interact with extent indicators of various kinds,
and so on. The "example" entries are intended to show some of the basic issues, e.g. how entire numbers are formed, but these
too are very limited, in part by the linear nature of the format. In time, perhaps, we may want to prepare some much richer
examples, most likely in a different document format.
- Some braille codes have explicit indicators for entering and leaving "technical notation" within otherwise literary text.
In this list, it is assumed that any such indicators are in effect or in any case that technical notation is established.
In UEB, grade 1 (uncontracted) mode is assumed.
- Most of the symbols (excluding indicators and the opening and closing quotation marks) are shown as they would appear
if spaced, which is not always the same as if they were unspaced. In CBC, for instance, the 456 prefix on lower signs is
used only when a single such sign is surrounded by spaces.
I hope this proves helpful, and welcome your comments. joe@duxsys.com