Perkins Brailler Gets a Digital Upgrade, Podcast Reveals

The Perkins Brailler, the mechanical writing tool that has taught generations of blind and low vision students to read and write braille, is getting a digital makeover. According to the podcast Eyes On Success, the update is designed to help students move more easily into STEM careers and give them better access to online content.

The episode, titled "Braille Blooms with New Tech from Perkins," aired July 1, 2026, as episode 2626 of the long-running show. Hosts Nancy Torpey and Peter Torpey sat down with Kim Charlson and Megan from Perkins to talk through what the new technology actually does.

What the Upgrade Does

At its core, the new system translates mechanical typing on the Perkins Brailler into digital text. Someone using the classic Brailler, the same slate-and-stylus-era tool many blind students learn on first, can now produce output that works on a computer or online.

That matters for a simple reason. Braille written on paper does not talk to a laptop, a learning management system, or a coding environment. This upgrade is meant to close that gap without asking students to give up the tactile, hands-on tool many of them already know and trust.

Why It Matters for STEM

Charlson and Megan told the Torpeys that the digital bridge is aimed squarely at students heading into science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Those subjects increasingly run through digital platforms, coding tools, and online coursework, all places where a paper braille page alone will not get a student very far.

By converting mechanical Brailler input into digital text, the technology gives students a way to keep using the device they grew up on while still keeping pace with classmates using screens and keyboards.

Kept Affordable

The hosts and guests emphasized that the tool is designed to stay budget-friendly. Braille technology has a long history of high price tags shutting students out of the newest tools, and Perkins appears to be trying to avoid repeating that pattern with this update.

Voice of the Blind has reached out to Perkins for further detail on pricing, availability, and rollout timing, and will update this story as more information becomes available. For now, the full conversation with Charlson and Megan is available on the Eyes On Success podcast.