News

We are pleased to announce the release of firmware version B0.xx.00.69rxx for the Orbit Reader 20.

Following are the new features and improvements.

1. Added support for setting the Orbit Reader 20 device nickname using the Orbit Chat app.
2. Resolved an issue affecting the naming of files received from the Orbit Chat app.

Notes:

Please note that if the device’s current firmware version is B0.xx.00.69r36 or an earlier version, following points must be considered:

1. The device settings will be reset to their defaults after the upgrade.
2. If localization has been applied, you will also need to re-apply it after the upgrade using the package available on our website at https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit-reader-20-support/#LocalizationPackage

The firmware package can be downloaded from our website’s Support menu.

To identify the proper firmware package for your unit, you will need to check the version number of the firmware currently loaded on your unit. If your unit does not turn on or if you are not able to read the version number from your device, please contact our technical support team at [email protected].

To check the version number of your current firmware package please follow the following steps:

1. Power ON your unit.
2. Press the Select + Up key to open the menu.
3. Scroll down to the item “Ver.” by pressing down the arrow key.
4. It should display the firmware version number on your Braille display.

Check the first four digits of the version number and click on the respective link in the table on our website to download the appropriate firmware package. Once downloaded, you can install it using the SD card method or using the Windows utility program.

The firmware package is available here – https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit-reader-20-support/orbit-reader-firmware-download/

The Localization package is available here – https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit-reader-20-support/#LocalizationPackage For instructions on upgrading the Orbit Reader 21, please refer to Section 21 of the User Guide available on the website at https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit-reader-20-support/orbit-reader-20-user-guide-downloads/

We are pleased to announce the release of firmware version A1.xx.00.09r62 for the Orbit Reader 20 Plus.

Following are the new features and improvements.

1. Added support for setting the Orbit Reader 20 device nickname using the Orbit Chat app.
2. Resolved an issue that prevented file transfers from the Orbit Reader 20 to the Orbit Chat app.
3. Resolved an issue affecting the naming of files received from the Orbit Chat app.
4. Resolved an issue that prevented message transfers from the Orbit Reader 20 to the Orbit Chat app.

Notes:

Please note that if the device’s current firmware version is A1.xx.00.09r49 or an earlier version, following points must be considered:

1. The device settings will be reset to their defaults after the upgrade.
2. If localization has been applied, you will also need to re-apply it after the upgrade using the package available on our website at https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit-reader-20-plus-support/#LocalizationPackage

The firmware package can be downloaded from our website’s Support menu.

To identify the proper firmware package for your unit, you will need to check the version number of the firmware currently loaded on your unit. If your unit does not turn on or if you are not able to read the version number from your device, please contact our technical support team at [email protected].

To check the version number of your current firmware package please follow the following steps:

1. Power ON your unit.
2. Press the Select + Up key to open the menu.
3. Scroll down to the item “Ver.” by pressing down the arrow key.
4. It should display the firmware version number on your Braille display.

Check the first four digits of the version number and click on the respective link in the table on our website to download the appropriate firmware package. Once downloaded, you can install it using the SD card method or using the Windows utility program.

The firmware package is available here – https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit-reader-20-plus-support/orbit-reader-20-plus-firmware-download/

The Localization package is available here – https://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit-reader-20-plus-support/#LocalizationPackage For instructions on upgrading the Orbit Reader 20 Plus, please refer to Section 23 of the User Guide available on the website at http://www.orbitresearch.com/support/orbit-reader-20-plus-support/orbit-reader-20-plus-user-guide-downloads/

We are delighted to announce BARD support for the Orbit Speak Plus and the Orbit Player. The long wait is over!

The BARD Mobile app from NLS arrives on all units on July 15 through a software update. Browse the collection and download titles directly over Wi-Fi, with electronic braille titles read aloud through TTS speech output – your next book is only a search away.

To learn more about the Orbit Speak Plus and the Orbit Player, please call us at 888-606-7248 (US), visit https://www.orbitresearch.com/, or email us at [email protected].

I updated MBraille Desktop for Windows.  This release is now fully self-voicing, as NVDA and JAWS had trouble navigating it fully.  So the advice is to suspend those while using MBraille.

Windows version is a free application.

If you don’t know what MBraille is, below is a “pitch”

MBraille is an innovative typing and notetaking application designed to let you type in braille using standard hardware. It bridges the gap between traditional braille writing and everyday modern technology, allowing blind, visually impaired, or sighted individuals learning braille to type efficiently without needing expensive, specialized braille hardware.

What It Does & How It Works

Standard Key Mapping: The application turns a regular QWERTY keyboard (or a mobile touchscreen) into a braille input device. It maps the standard 6-dot braille cell to six home-row keys: S, D, F represent dots 1, 2, and 3 (left hand), and J, K, L represent dots 4, 5, and 6 (right hand). You press these keys simultaneously to input characters.

Speech Feedback & Screen Reader Integration: As you type, MBraille provides immediate audio feedback, reading back letters, words, and commands. On desktop platforms like Windows, it integrates seamlessly with leading screen readers such as NVDA and JAWS.

Support for Multiple Formats: It supports both contracted (shorthand/Grade 2) and uncontracted (character-by-character/Grade 1) braille across many different languages.

Core Features

Learning & Skill Building: The desktop version includes guided exercises specifically designed to help beginners master the 6-dot system, build muscle memory, and improve typing fluency.

Rich Text Editing & Utilities: Beyond simple entry, it offers full word-processing capabilities including cursor movement, text selection, copy/cut/paste, undo, search, and bookmarking.

A Mobile Powerhouse: While the Windows version acts as an excellent training ground and stationary desk tool, MBraille transforms on iOS and Android. On mobile devices, it operates as a full-fledged, braille-first notetaker. It allows you to use the touchscreen for chorded braille entry, utilize voice dictation, use a one-handed mode, and use specific braille command shortcuts to send texts, make phone calls, and manage daily tasks.

Cloud Connectivity: The platform syncs seamlessly with popular cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive so you can access your notes across devices.

Who Is It For?

MBraille is ideal for individuals who are blind or visually impaired looking for a fast, “eyes-free” way to type on everyday devices without carrying heavy external braille displays. It is also an excellent tool for educators, students, or anyone wanting to learn the mechanics of braille typing.

MBraille is localized to 24 languages.

Welcome to BrailleBlaster 3.2.2. This release has improvements with tables and with the backspace and delete keys. This release is now available to download from the BrailleBlaster website.

Bug Fixes and Improvements

• The Ctrl+End and Ctrl+Home Keystrokes and Hot Keys are functioning normally.
• Able to open file with a definition list that is using Pandoc Importer.
• In tables the last column is blank, and guide dots are now being shown in the last column to show as empty.
• Two-rowed table cells have correct widths in the table.
• Alt text is working accordingly. There are transcriber notes visible in the braille view for when there is alt text seen.
• Customer service issue where the backspace button was not functioning properly has been fixed.
• Customer service issue where deleting five lines at the top of a document cause an exception error has been fixed.
• Copying for internal documents matches style from one document to another.
• The page break drifting up as typing is no longer occurring. The difficulty typing before the page break has been fixed.
• List paragraph style from Word will convert to list braille content as it should.
• No longer seeing the Displayed Blocked Text in Style View.
• Opening a bad filename at the C Prompt is now fixed.
• Imported Math has all characters and exhibits a completed equation from a ASCIIMath rendering.
• Brailleblaster Quick Reference Card.brf file is embossable on Pageblasters embossers.
• MathML is working accordingly.
• A number of other minor improvements and bug fixes.

This announcement will be useful for other developers, especially those who, like me, prefer developing desktop solutions in C# (CSharp).

For one of my work-related projects I needed to integrate the LibLouis Braille translator.

Let me introduce SharpLouis, a .NET wrapper for the LibLouis Braille translation library.

It’s currently at version 2.0 and bundles LibLouis 3.38.

GitHub: https://github.com/accessmind/sharp-louis

NuGet: https://www.nuget.org/packages/AccessMind.SharpLouis If you have any issues, questions, requests, report them on GitHub.

In Touch discusses braille’s future and how it adapts alongside today’s variety of assistive technologies that can aid with reading, writing and consuming information. We are helped by young braillists from St Vincent’s School in Liverpool and three seasoned braille users, Jackie Brown, Ian Macrae and Dave Williams.

Listen on the BBC website

The New Horizons weekly radio programme from Blind Citizens Australia is back, and recently featured a series on the 2026 conference of the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities.

• Round Table Part 1 featuring Dr Frances Gentle and the ICEVI/WBU Global Braille Literacy Campaign
• Coverage from Round Table Part 2 featuring Aasha Rose and her PhD research on braille literacy
• Round Table on Information Access Special Feature featuring the unedited versions of the above programmes

The recording and the transcript from yesterday’s meeting is now on my web site.

The recording is in the usual zip file at: https://www.turner42.com/OrbitResearchJuly2026ZoomMeeting.zip

And the Transcript is at: https://www.turner42.com/OrbitResearchJuly2026ZoomMeetingTranscript.txt And, as always, all other Orbit Research recordings and transcripts for some are at: https://www.turner42.com/ori.html

We were recently reminded of this article on the RNIB website which, though some months old now, may still prove an interesting read.

Read how braille changed Dave Williams’ life