Author: Matthew Horspool

Braille, Brands & Questions, Wednesday 28 October at 4:00 PM

Dear Braille Display Users,

We are writing on behalf of the Braille Working Group of the European Blind Union (EBU).
More information about EBU and our braille-related activities can be found here:
https://livingbraille.eu

This message is about our next expert table talk; BBQ – Braille, Brands & Questions, an informal online table talk dedicated to braille displays and their use.
This public online event for braille experts and braille users is part of a series of table talks with different braille display manufacturers.

📅 The meetings are planned to take place on the last Wednesday of each month, of autumn 2026 and spring 2027.

We will welcome you on our next BBQ:
on Wednesday 28TH of October 2026 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm CET (16:00 GMT);
with our guest Thomas Friehoff from BBTF GmbH;
on Zoom.

🎧 We plan to record each meeting and publish the recording on our YouTube channel, together with a text summary on livingbraille.eu. You can find the summaries and reports of our previous Table Talks on the livingbraille portal. You can also listen to previous sessions comfortably in your podcast player in the LivingBraille.eu podcast.

During the table talk, we will discuss following topics with our guests:

EBU Braille Working Group team is looking forward to welcome you on our online BBQ.

Register for Braille, Brands and Questions

From Blazie Technologies: The October Update has landed!!

The October update is here!!

The October 2026 software update for BT Speak and BT Braille is huge! From email in Blazie Mode to new ways to connect your devices and write in Braille, this is an update you won’t want to miss. Check out the full release notes now!

Your Email, Now in Blazie Mode with BT Mail

One of our most requested features has arrived! Read, write, reply, and forward messages using familiar Blazie menus and reading commands. Manage multiple accounts in one inbox, work with attachments, and keep your conversations organized.

Connect an External Braille Display to BT Speak

Connect a compatible Braille display by USB or Bluetooth to read your apps, menus, and documents in Braille across Blazie Mode, Desktop Mode, and the shell. Supported display keyboards also let you enter text and commands, giving you more flexibility in how you use your BT Speak.

Control Your Phone, Tablet, or Computer with BT Speak

Your BT Speak keyboard can now control your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows computer over Bluetooth. Read a message on your phone, then switch back to your work on BT Speak without losing your place. BT Braille users also gain a redesigned menu for switching between connected devices.

Type Contracted Braille Directly in Desktop Applications

Write emails in Thunderbird and documents in LibreOffice Writer using contracted Braille directly in supported text fields. Available on both BT Speak and BT Braille, Direct Braille Input lets you write, review, and correct your text without opening a separate Braille editor.

And There’s Much More

This release also brings dozens of additional features and improvements, including easier Wi-Fi management, clipboard sharing with other devices, an offline dictionary, saved speech and Braille profiles, podcast transcription, and enhancements throughout your favorite applications.

Ready to Get Started?

On your device, open Options, choose BT Speak Management or BT Braille Management, and select Check For Updates.

Blazie Technologies Introduces New BT Mail Webpage

It’s an exciting time at Blazie Technologies! With the recent release of BT Mail, one of our most requested features, we’re continuing to bring new capabilities to BT Speak and BT Braille based on the feedback and requests of our users.

BT Mail is our new email application designed specifically for Blazie Mode, allowing users to read, write, and manage their emails using the familiar menus and commands they already know. From managing multiple email accounts to organizing messages and attachments, BT Mail brings everyday email functionality directly into the Blazie experience.

To help everyone get started, we’ve launched a brand-new BT Mail webpage! This dedicated resource walks users through everything from setting up an email account to exploring key features, compatibility, and everyday uses. Whether you’re new to BT Mail or looking to learn more about what it can do, the page is a great place to start.

Explore BT Mail

At Blazie Technologies, we’re always listening to what our users want to see next. BT Mail is just one example of the exciting improvements we’re bringing to our devices, and there’s plenty more on the way! We’re continuing to expand the capabilities of BT Speak and BT Braille, making them more versatile, accessible, and useful in everyday life.

We invite you to explore our new BT Mail webpage, join us for the upcoming training, and stay connected as we continue introducing new features and improvements. If you’ve been thinking about getting a BT Speak or BT Braille, there’s never been a more exciting time to get started!

BrailleSense 7 Software Update V1.2 Is Here

Software update V1.2 is now available, bringing new features and improvements to the BrailleSense 7. Highlights include easier Android app discovery through Quick Search, file attachments for Gemini prompts, and enhancements to File Manager and reading features, along with many other improvements and fixes across the system.

For the full list of changes and update instructions, visit the Selvas BLV BrailleSense 7 Download Center.

Before updating, back up your settings and files, ensure the battery is above 40%, and keep the device connected to AC power throughout the update. Do not interrupt the process once it begins.

From Selvas: New Premium Leather Carrying Cases for BrailleSense 7

Turtleback premium black leather carrying cases, custom-designed for the 32-cell and 40-cell BrailleSense 7 models, are now available for order. Each case features a protective key cover, carrying strap, and convenient front storage pocket. Please be advised that this case is intended for the BrailleSense 7 unit only. The Power Pack Module and QWERTY Keyboard cannot be stored in the case.

Price: $159 per case. Selvas North America is offering free shipping through the end of the year. (Offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii.)

We expect the 32-cell case to begin shipping by the end of next week, and the 40-cell case to begin shipping the following week.

Order the case for the 32-cell and 20-cell BrailleSense 7 from Turtleback

Order the case for the 40-cell BrailleSense 7 from Turtleback

Order from Selvas BLV

Share your Braille resources as part of the More Braille, More Empowerment Campaign

The campaign is building an international, curated database of braille and tactile resources, so that braille readers, families, teachers, transcribers, researchers and policy makers can find reliable material in one place. The collection currently holds 108 resources from 14 countries or regions. Coverage is strongest in English and in well-resourced countries, and we especially need resources in other languages and on tactile graphics, accessible STEM, teacher preparation, deafblindness and braille in low-resource settings.

Every submission is reviewed by campaign members before it is published. A fully accessible public website for the collection is planned for World Braille Day, 4 January 2027.

You can suggest resources using the ICEVI WBU Resource Collection Form. We are also looking for reviewers in every region who know the braille resources available in their own languages. If you would like to help, please email [email protected].

2027 Braille Calendar from the EBU Braille Working Group

The Braille Working Group of the European Blind Union are pleased to announce the release of their 2027 braille calendar. Each month’s page features a tactile graphic made from braille cells, each graphic from a different country. Information about each graphic is provided at the back of the calendar.

You are welcome to download it and emboss it for yourself. The file is suitable for all embossers. The graphics are produced using standard braille cells and therefore do not require a special graphics mode.

Organisations are welcome to sell hard copies of the calendar, provided they charge no more than the costs incurred in its production and distribution.

The calendar may also be translated into other languages. Translators should please send their translated files to the EBU Braille Working Group so that they can be uploaded to the website for other people to use.

Find out more and download the calendar