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Young Inventor

12 Louis got the idea for his new written alphabet for the
blind from a military captain, Charles Barbier. Barbier’s
“night writing” system was comprised of raised dots and
dashes on paper that could be felt by one’s fingertips.
This method of writing was used by soldiers who needed
to communicate silently and without a source of light. Braille Letters

13 Barbier’s system, however, was too complex. The
number of dots and dashes needed to communicate
made it laborious to read quickly and understand. Louis

knew he could do better. From ages 12 to 15, he worked
on developing his own system of written language that
could be read by touch.

A Lasting Impact

14 The braille system uses only six dots for each letter, and
the dots are placed in columns so that the reader is able

to quickly and easily comprehend them. The most
important aspect of the system that Braille created is that
each letter can be felt with just one fingertip. From the
start, Braille’s system could be written as well as read—
simply by poking raised bumps into paper.

15 Louis’s system of writing is still used today. You can
find it on signs in subway stations and airports, and

braille users today can even read computer screens using
refreshable braille displays. For writing, people can use a
computer that prints with an embossed printer so that
they and others can read their work. Thanks to Louis
Braille, many people who are blind have access to the This is the braille system that Louis
world of reading and writing for pleasure, education, Braille invented. Each letter can
work, and life in general. be completely felt with just the tip

of one finger.

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