Exploring Braille
Foundation – The Braille Cell
The six dots of the cell are numbered and are referred to as dot 1, dot 2, dot 3, dot 4, dot 5 and dot 6. This is helpful in describing the combinations of dots that make the different braille signs.
This simple six-dot arrangement is the invention of Louis Braille, who was a teenager when he completed his alphabet. The original braille alphabet consisted of various arrangements of raised dots within a six dot pattern, combined with short dashes. For ease of use he later removed the dashes.
The braille letter a is formed by raising dot 1.
The braille letter b is formed by raising dots 1 and 2.
The braille letter c is formed by raising dots 1 and 4.
