Timeline – Bristol Braille Technology

2008

Second prototype: Ticker tape embosser.
Worked with N Krishnaswamy and Keith Shaw to help NK develop the Natesan Display: Single line, Natesan Disc based, serial actuation from carriage head.

First General Meeting in January.
Founded Bristol Braille Technology CIC in February.
Fourth prototype: single cell, per dot shape memory alloy actuation.
Moved to shared office with Fear of Fiction, Clare St.
Fifth prototype: two cell, parallel shuttle and per dot solenoid locking.
First Quixote prototype: single line, parallel actuating, slider-encoder, parallel shuttle, per half cell solenoid locking.
Second Quixote prototype.
Attended World Blind Union’s Braille 21 conference at Leipzig.

Third Quixote prototype.
Moved to Bristol Hackspace.
Quixote development continued by third party.
First Canute prototype: three cell on one line, double size cells, multiline-capable, rotor-encoder, parallel stepper motor driven line, per half cell solenoid lock.

Second Canute prototype: two cells over one line, normal size cells.
Fourth Quixote prototype developed by third party: 32 cells over one line.
Quixote indefinitely post-poned.
First Midas prototype: pseudo-Braille, one cell, glove mounted, vibration actuation.
Third Canute prototype.

For Canute demonstrations since 2014 see demos.

Third Midas prototype.
Braillists becomes independent of BBT.
Sixth Canute prototype: 112 cells over four lines, stand-alone e-reader functionality, PEF compatibility, 2 built.
Midas development indefinitely postponed.
Seventh Canute prototype: 512 cells over 16 lines, per line refresh by DC motors, parallel per half cell actuation by stepper motor.

For publications since 2016 see publications.

Eighth Canute prototype: 256 cells over 8 lines, encoded Natesan Disc, display only (not stand-alone).
Ninth Canute prototype: 256 cells over 8 lines, stand-alone e-reader.
Tenth Canute prototype: 360 cells over 9 lines, BRF compatibility.

Eleventh Canute prototype: 360 cells over 9 lines, 2 built.
Twelth Canute prototype: 360 cells over 9 lines, reduced size to 1/5th (7.5“x14”x1.7“).

Thirteenth Canute prototype: 360 cells over 9 lines, fully injection moulded and ready for mass manufacture.
Moved to Ferodo House, Bedminster.

The Canute 360: Release of the world’s first mass produced multiline Braille display.
Moved to Paul O’Brian, Bedminster.

Built and distributed 100 Canute 360s.
Moved to our current home in BV Studios, Bedminster.
Our sister charity the Braillists becomes incorporated as a charity, the Braillists Foundation.
BBT and the Braillists help hundreds of blind people cope with the effects of the pandemic.

Work begins on the Canute Console.
BBT sponsors the Braillists’ Computer Science Masterclasses.
BBT sponsors the release of the Braillists’ Now That’s What I Call Braille learning resources and SD card.

Release of the Canute Console.
BBT and FIRST LEGO League begin a partnership to bring accessibility to FIRST LEGO League Challenge.