The Next Generation - Less force, less weight, less noise, more possibilities

Why making the Next Generation

In over 170 countries, individuals of all ages have made the Perkins Brailler® their product of choice for typing braille. Fifty seven years after its unveiling, the Perkins Brailler remains at the forefront of international braille literacy efforts, both in schools and daily living.

The NEW Next Generation™ Perkins Brailler® carries this mission into the future thanks to the combined efforts of the Perkins School for the Blind and American Printing House for the Blind (APH).

“Thanks to the unparalleled support of Tuck Tinsley and the APH team, the Next Generation Perkins Brailler will be part of a brighter future for so many people,” says Perkins President Steven Rothstein.

Tuck Tinsley, APH President, says, “This sleek, lightweight, quiet version of the much-loved Classic Perkins Brailler will make writing in braille much easier and more accessible.”

Employment statistics prove that braille literacy is essential to productive, independent living for people who are blind. The Next Generation Perkins Brailler weighs 25% less than its predecessor, meaning that more children around the world who are blind can carry their braille writing machines to and from school.

“Essentially, the Next Generation will increase the possibilities for learning,” said Perkins Products General Manager David Morgan, who orchestrated the re-design. “That’s what we’re all about.”

User Feedback Fuels the Next Generation

We began the redesign process with exhaustive international user research - speaking directly with those who know the brailler best. We also engaged the services of an internationally recognized product engineering and design firm, Product Development Technologies PDT, based in Chicago.

Their product design experts, in concert with our engineers at Perkins Products, did user testing with children, adults and teachers in the US, Malawi, South Africa and India, to ensure that we received input from users of all ages and from widely varied geographic regions.

A young boy reads braille written with his Next Generation Perkins Brailler

Users told us that they wanted a Perkins Brailler which is:

• Lighter and more portable
• Easier to press the keys
• Quieter

In our research, we discovered that users also wanted an easier way to:

• Erase a braille error without using a fingernail or a wooden eraser
• Adjust the margins without reaching around the back of the machine
• Read what has just been brailled without having to support the page with one hand and read with the other

We are thrilled to report that the Next Generation Perkins Brailler grants all of these wishes and more.

Perkins School for the Blind and American Printing House for the Blind (APH) wish to thank our international partners, Worth Trust in Vellore, India and the Perkins Brailler Facility, a part of SANCB, in Cape Town, South Africa for their assistance in developing the Next Generation Perkins Brailler.