1. Overview of Braille Display Support Across Mobile & Desktop

2. Introductory remarks All findings are as of May 2017
There is more Braille everywhere than ever before, and although the specifics vary wildly they all can sort of be used
All could improve Braille input in one way or another
Although you can get very close with JAWS and iOS there is no situation where a user could do everything from the Braille display
Text formatting information needs improvement across the board, also relevant with speech in many cases

3. JAWS 18.0.2 “The Venerable Old Man” Best Braille input overall
Most customizable
Steep learning curve
Most difficult to set up

4. NVDA “The little engine that could” Most drivers included
No contracted input…yet
Only the essential keyboard commands are set, the rest need to be defined
Portable means Braille on any PC

5. Narrator (Windows 10) “It’s working EXACTLY as coded.”
Just getting off the ground, still in beta
Limited keyboard shortcuts
No Bluetooth support
All drivers included with initial download
Contracted Braille input does not take context into account

6. VoiceOver (OSX) “It just works…mostly”
No modifier key support so no way to enter non-VoiceOver Commands
Great USB connectivity/good Bluetooth
Poor design choice for back translation adds complications
Multiple simultaneous display support

7. VoiceOver (iOS) “It’s everywhere you want to be”
Most complete “Braille only” experience
Poor design choice for back translation adds complications
Connectivity is more reliable on some displays
Bluetooth only

8. ChromeVox “Comeback Kid” Starts ChromeVox when Braille is connected.
USB only
Lacking documentation
Much improved but still a work in progress

9. Android “Older, but not yet wiser” Rock solid connectivity
Very few common commands between displays
Missing a lot of basic features like word wrap and contracted Braille Input
Documentation almost non-existent

10. National Federation of the Blind Awards Ceremony “The Dotscars”

11. iOS Award: “Professionally complicating simplicity”
Connectivity and setup /20
Device control and commands 14/15
Use OS features exclusively from display 28/30
Braille translation and input/output 12.5/20
Rank st

12. JAWS 18 Award: “Some assembly and lots of patience required.”
Connectivity and setup /20
Device control and commands /15
Use OS features exclusively from display 28/30
Braille translation and input/output 15/20
Rank nd

13. Mac Award: “An apple for the teacher”
Connectivity and setup /20
Device control and commands /15
Use OS features exclusively from display 23/25
Braille translation and input/output /15
Rank rd

14. NVDA Award: “Built with love… and Duct Tape”
Connectivity and setup /20
Device control and commands /15
Use OS features exclusively from display 27.5/30
Braille translation and input/output 3.5/15
Rank th

15. ChromeVox Award: “I coulda been a contender”
Connectivity and setup /20
Device control and commands /15
Use OS features exclusively from display 8/25
Braille translation and input/output 9.5/15
Rank th

16. Android Award: “A few Braille dots short of a full cell.”
Connectivity and setup /20
Device control and commands /15
Use OS features exclusively from display 28/35
Braille translation and input/output 3/10
Rank th

17. Narrator (Windows 10) Still in Beta, Too Early to Tell

18. Contacts and further resources
National Federation of the Blind (410)
Amy Mason Extension:
Karl Belanger Extension: