Braille computer equipment made by Sydney Smith, Manchester, in 1984.

This Braille computer equipment was developed by Sidney Smith, an inventor and educator who developed technology and teaching tools and programmes for the blind in the 1970s and 1980s. Smith was a teacher in Manchester who worked with the Open University and the department of Trade and Industry to install his devices and training techniques in eight local schools in 1984.

His equipment consisted of a Braille training computer keyboard, a prototype adapted microcomputer and Braille equipment developed to teach Braille to children. The device uses lights as visual aids to provide feedback to the child when writing Braille. This was seen to be a simpler way of learning Braille than by using a Braille frame on its own.

Braille training computer keyboard made by Sydney Smith, Manchester, in 1984.

LED displays are red, green and combined red/green/yello. Can be used plugged into dummy keyboard or brailler.

This Braille computer equipment was developed by Sidney Smith, an inventor and educator who developed technology and teaching tools and programmes for the blind in the 1970s and 1980s. Smith was a teacher in Manchester who worked with the Open University and the department of Trade and Industry to install his devices and training techniques in eight local schools in 1984.

His equipment consisted of a Braille training computer keyboard, a prototype adapted microcomputer and Braille equipment developed to teach Braille to children. The device uses lights as visual aids to provide feedback to the child when writing Braille. This was seen to be a simpler way of learning Braille than by using a Braille frame on its own.

Braille training computer light display unit, made by Sydney Smith, Manchester, in 1984.

LED displays are red, green and combined red/green/yello. Can be used plugged into dummy keyboard or brailler.

This Braille computer equipment was developed by Sidney Smith, an inventor and educator who developed technology and teaching tools and programmes for the blind in the 1970s and 1980s. Smith was a teacher in Manchester who worked with the Open University and the department of Trade and Industry to install his devices and training techniques in eight local schools in 1984.

His equipment consisted of a Braille training computer keyboard, a prototype adapted microcomputer and Braille equipment developed to teach Braille to children. The device uses lights as visual aids to provide feedback to the child when writing Braille. This was seen to be a simpler way of learning Braille than by using a Braille frame on its own.

Braille training computer dummy keyboard, made by Sydney Smith, Manchester, in 1984.

LED displays are red, green and combined red/green/yello. Can be used plugged into dummy keyboard or brailler.

This Braille computer equipment was developed by Sidney Smith, an inventor and educator who developed technology and teaching tools and programmes for the blind in the 1970s and 1980s. Smith was a teacher in Manchester who worked with the Open University and the department of Trade and Industry to install his devices and training techniques in eight local schools in 1984.

His equipment consisted of a Braille training computer keyboard, a prototype adapted microcomputer and Braille equipment developed to teach Braille to children. The device uses lights as visual aids to provide feedback to the child when writing Braille. This was seen to be a simpler way of learning Braille than by using a Braille frame on its own.

Braille training computer LED visual aids, made by Sydney Smith, Manchester, 1984.

This Braille computer equipment was developed by Sidney Smith, an inventor and educator who developed technology and teaching tools and programmes for the blind in the 1970s and 1980s. Smith was a teacher in Manchester who worked with the Open University and the department of Trade and Industry to install his devices and training techniques in eight local schools in 1984.

His equipment consisted of a Braille training computer keyboard, a prototype adapted microcomputer and Braille equipment developed to teach Braille to children. The device uses lights as visual aids to provide feedback to the child when writing Braille. This was seen to be a simpler way of learning Braille than by using a Braille frame on its own.

Positive Braille frame with two hand punches and rule for line drawing made by Sydney Smith, Manchester, in 1984.

Perkins Brailler, made and distributed by Howe Memorial Press, Watertown, USA, and modified for use with the training LED display, c.1980.