Introduction to macOS Braille Displays:
For users with visual impairments, macOS offers robust accessibility features, including support for USB and Bluetooth braille displays. These assistive devices work seamlessly with VoiceOver, providing descriptions of onscreen items in braille. With macOS, there’s no need to install additional software for most of these braille displays, making them a convenient choice for enhanced accessibility.
USB Braille Displays Supported by macOS:
The following is a list of USB braille displays supported by macOS:
-
Alva:
- BC640 (USB)
- BC680 (USB)
- 544 Satellite (USB)
- 544 Satellite Traveller (USB)
- 570 Satellite Pro (USB)
- 584 Satellite Pro (USB)
-
American Printing House for the Blind (APH):
- Chameleon 20 (USB)
- Mantis Q40 (USB)
- Refreshabraille 18 (USB)
-
Baum:
- PocketVario 24 (USB)
- Pronto! 18 (USB)
- Pronto! 40 (USB)
- SuperVario 32 (Bluetooth)
- SuperVario 40 (USB)
- SuperVario 80 (USB)
- VarioConnect 12, also called Conny 12 (USB)
- VarioConnect 24 (USB)
- VarioConnect 32 (USB)
- VarioConnect 40 (USB)
- VarioPro 64 (USB)
- VarioPro 80 (USB)
- VarioUltra 20 (USB)
- VarioUltra 40 (USB)
-
Deininger:
- Pegasus 42/4 CR (USB)
- Pegasus 82/8 CR (USB)
-
Eurobraille:
- Esys 12 (USB)
- Esys 24 (USB)
- Esys 40 (USB)
- Esys Light 40 (USB)
- Esys 64 (USB)
- Esys 80 (USB)
-
Freedom Scientific:
- Focus 14 Blue (USB)
- Focus 40 (USB)
- Focus 40 Blue (USB)
- Focus 44 (USB)
- Focus 70 (USB)
- Focus 80 (USB)
- Focus 80 Blue (USB)
- Focus 84 (USB)
- PAC Mate 20 (USB)
- PAC Mate 40 (USB)
- PAC Mate BX420 (USB)
- PAC Mate BX440 (USB)
- PAC Mate QX420 (USB)
- PAC Mate QX440 (USB)
-
GW Micro:
- Braille Sense (USB)
- Braille Sense Plus (USB, Bluetooth – requires a Bluetooth module)
-
HandyTech:
- Actilino (USB, Bluetooth)
- Active Braille 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille Plus (USB, Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 16 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 20 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 32 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 48 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 64 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 80 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Braille Star 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Braille Star 80 (USB)
- Braille Wave (USB, Bluetooth)
- Braillino (Bluetooth)
- Easy Braille (USB, Bluetooth)
- Modular Evolution 64 (USB)
- Modular Evolution 88 (USB)
-
Harpo:
- BraillePen (Bluetooth)
- BraillePen 12 (Bluetooth)
- BraillePen 14 (Bluetooth)
-
HIMS:
- Braille EDGE 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Braille Sense (USB, Bluetooth – requires a Bluetooth module)
- Braille Sense OnHand (USB, Bluetooth)
- Braille Sense Plus (USB, Bluetooth)
- Smart Beetle 14 (USB, Bluetooth)
-
HumanWare:
- BrailleConnect 24 (USB, Bluetooth)
- BrailleConnect 32 (USB, Bluetooth)
- BrailleConnect 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
- BrailleNote Apex BT (USB, Bluetooth)
- BrailleNote Apex QT (USB, Bluetooth – VoiceOver supports only the navigation keys)
- BrailleNote mPower BT 18 (Bluetooth)
- BrailleNote mPower BT 32 (Bluetooth)
- BrailleNote PK (Bluetooth – VoiceOver identifies this as BrailleNote mPower BT 18)
- BrailleNote Touch 18 (Bluetooth)
- BrailleNote Touch 32 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 24 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 32 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 64 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 80 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant B 80 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 14 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 32 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 20X (USB, Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 40X (USB, Bluetooth)
-
KGS:
- Braille Memo Pocket (BMPocket) 16 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Braille Memo Smart 32 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Braille Memo Smart 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
-
MDV:
- Lilli (USB)
- Lilli-V3 (USB, Bluetooth)
- MB408L (Bluetooth)
-
Ninepoint Systems:
- Cebra (USB)
- Ninepoint (Bluetooth)
- Novem (USB, Bluetooth)
-
Nippon Telesoft:
- Mini Seika 8 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Mini Seika 16 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Mini Seika 24 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Mini Seika 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Seika Version 3 (USB)
- Seika Version 4 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Seika v5 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Seika 80 (USB)
-
Optelec:
- EasyLink (Bluetooth)
- EasyLink 12 (Bluetooth)
- Voyager 44 (USB)
-
Orbit Research:
- Orbit Reader 20 (USB, Bluetooth)
- Orbit Reader 40 (USB, Bluetooth)
-
Papenmeier:
- Braillex EL 40s (USB)
- Braillex EL 80s (USB)
- Braillex Trio (USB, Bluetooth)
Bluetooth Braille Displays Supported by macOS:
The following is a list of Bluetooth braille displays supported by macOS:
-
Alva:
- BC640 (Bluetooth)
- BC680 (Bluetooth)
-
Baum:
- SuperVario 32 (Bluetooth)
-
Deininger:
- Pegasus 42/4 CR (Bluetooth)
-
Eurobraille:
- Esys 12 (Bluetooth)
- Esys 24 (Bluetooth)
- Esys 40 (Bluetooth)
- Esys Light 40 (Bluetooth)
- Esys 64 (Bluetooth)
- Esys 80 (Bluetooth)
-
Freedom Scientific:
- Focus 14 Blue (Bluetooth)
- Focus 40 Blue (Bluetooth)
-
HandyTech:
- Actilino (Bluetooth)
- Active Braille 40 (Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille Plus (Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 16 (Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 20 (Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 32 (Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 40 (Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 48 (Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 64 (Bluetooth)
- Basic Braille 80 (Bluetooth)
- Braille Star 40 (Bluetooth)
-
Harpo:
- BraillePen (Bluetooth)
- BraillePen 12 (Bluetooth)
- BraillePen 14 (Bluetooth)
-
HIMS:
- Braille EDGE 40 (Bluetooth)
- Braille Sense OnHand (Bluetooth)
- Braille Sense Plus (Bluetooth)
-
HumanWare:
- BrailleConnect 12 (Bluetooth)
- BrailleConnect 24 (Bluetooth)
- BrailleConnect 32 (Bluetooth)
- BrailleConnect 40 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 24 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 32 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 40 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 64 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant 80 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant B 80 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 14 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 32 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 40 (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 20X (Bluetooth)
- Brailliant BI 40X (Bluetooth)
-
KGS:
- Braille Memo Pocket (BMPocket) 16 (Bluetooth)
- Braille Memo Smart 32 (Bluetooth)
- Braille Memo Smart 40 (Bluetooth)
-
Nippon Telesoft:
- Mini Seika 8 (Bluetooth)
- Mini Seika 16 (Bluetooth)
- Mini Seika 24 (Bluetooth)
- Mini Seika 40 (Bluetooth)
- Seika Version 4 (Bluetooth)
- Seika v5 (Bluetooth)
-
Orbit Research:
- Orbit Reader 20 (Bluetooth)
- Orbit Reader 40 (Bluetooth)
Enhancing Accessibility with VoiceOver and Braille Displays:
With macOS’s support for a wide range of USB and Bluetooth braille displays, visually impaired users can significantly enhance their accessibility and overall computing experience. By seamlessly integrating VoiceOver with these braille displays, macOS offers a powerful and user-friendly accessibility solution for individuals with visual impairments. Whether it’s for work, education, or entertainment, these braille displays open up a world of possibilities for Mac users with visual disabilities.
