What is a .BRL file?
A .BRL file is a type of digital file specifically designed for representing braille, the tactile writing system used by people who are blind or have low vision. This file format is known as a MicroBraille File. It uses a special version of braille called Grade 2 Braille, which is a more compact form where certain combinations of dots represent whole words or parts of words, rather than just individual letters. The .BRL file encodes these braille characters using something called braille ASCII. This method uses 64 specific characters from the standard ASCII character set (which is a common text encoding system used in computers) to represent different combinations of the six dots that make up each braille cell.
People use .BRL files to make books and other documents accessible in braille. These files can be read by special software that can convert the text into speech or by braille embossers, which are printers that create raised dots on paper so that the text can be felt by touch.
To open a .BRL file, you can use programs like the Duxbury Braille Translator. Although some programs that used to open these files, like CASC Braille 2000 and Duxbury MegaDots, are no longer available, Duxbury Braille Translator is still a good option.
If you were using CASC Braille 2000 when it was available, you would create a .BRL file by starting a new braille file, naming it, and choosing "MicroBraille File (brl)" as the file type. To open a .BRL file, you would simply navigate to the file and open it through the software.
Overall, .BRL files are important for making written materials accessible to individuals who rely on braille, helping them to read and interact with text independently.
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