Center for Braille Innovation

A hub for imaginative new ideas, inventive tools, and professional expertise, National Braille Press developed the Center for Braille Innovation (CBI) in 2008 to break down barriers to information access for blind people by using braille and tactile-based technology. With technology changing daily, blind people need a variety of accessible and affordable braille tools to read, learn, and communicate.

CBI: Bridging the Technology Gap

NBP President, Brian Mac Donald, launched CBI to ensure that NBP can provide braille information faster, more efficiently, in a variety of formats, and with new technologies that allow blind people to keep pace with the world around them. Mac Donald recruited a core team of engineers and researchers with experience from IBM, Motorola, and private firms. Learn more about Team CBI.

Affordability is the Key

Blindness is a low-incident population so market forces result in companies commanding higher prices for accessible products in order to get their desired return on investment. National Braille Press is committed to expanding our efforts to ensure that blind people have affordable tools that are necessary to thrive in school and work environments.

The Center for Braille Innovation is taking on the challenge of making products affordable for everyone, with more features than currently available. The first product is a refreshable braille mobile device that will be launched in 2013.

Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation

The Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation, a $20,000 prize provided through the support of The Gibney Family Foundation, recognizes an individual or group of individuals who contribute to innovation in the field of tactile literacy for blind people. As part of the Center for Braille Innovation, the Touch of Genius Prize helps inspire innovation in technology and education and acts as a potential vehicle for exploring partnerships with those who are on the forefront of tactile innovations. Learn more about the Touch of Genius Prize.