News: Android TalkBack Virtual Braille Keyboard from Google
Last week, Google launched their TalkBack virtual braille keyboard for Android. This new keyboard works across all apps on Android devices and was developed to help expand braille literacy and exposure among blind and low vision people.
Before the TalkBack virtual braille keyboard, braille displays made typing accessible on devices and computers through an external physical braille keyboard, which can be time consuming to connect. The virtual braille keyboard doesn’t require any additional hardware and makes typing on your phone much more convenient.
Google worked with braille developers and users to ensure the keyboard is familiar to anyone who has typed braille before. It uses a standard 6-key layout and can be turned on and off as easily as switching between international keyboards.
The TalkBack virtual keyboard can be enabled in the Accessibility section within Settings.
This product launch helps Google practice their mission of making the world’s information universally accessible. It is available on Android devices running version 5.0 or later and supports braille grade 1 and 2 and is initially available in English.
Great going Google! This will help many born with vision disabilities and those who have developed vision issues in their lifetime to make the most of their Android devices and applications to more easily communicate in this digital world.
