Monarch Makes History with First Public eBraille Support

The Monarch is making history with its 1.2 update, which introduces the world’s first public implementation of eBraille support! This groundbreaking feature gives users their first opportunity to experience eBraille, marking a major step forward in digital braille accessibility.  

For the first time ever, braille readers can download and read an eBraille book—Treasure Island, available through the APH website on the MeetMonarch page. This means users can enjoy fully structured braille books in a format designed to retain important navigation elements like headings, lists, tables, and embedded tactile graphics. eBraille represents a shift toward a more dynamic and interactive digital braille reading experience, offering a level of flexibility never before possible.  

Watch our Monarch Snapshot Using Keymail to Download Treasure Island video for instructions on downloading the first publicly available eBraille file! 

What is eBraille? 

Unlike traditional BRF files, which flatten formatting, eBraille preserves structural elements of a book, allowing for a richer reading experience. This means users can navigate using those structural elements for the first time in a professionally transcribed braille document. Additionally, with eBraille on the Monarch, users can “zoom in” on the braille, changing the spacing between lines to their preference while maintaining all the correct formatting.  

A Glimpse into the Future of Braille Reading 

One of the most exciting aspects of this update is how the Monarch seamlessly integrates tactile graphics with eBraille text. With Treasure Island as the first publicly available title, readers will be able to explore the new format and see how eBraille enhances their reading experience. With this book in particular, readers will get to explore one of the most famous maps in literature! As eBraille adoption grows, we can expect more books and educational materials to be available in this new format, making braille reading more efficient and interactive. 

Getting the Update 

If your Monarch is connected to the internet, you should automatically be prompted to update when you turn it on. Just follow the instructions on the screen and make sure your Monarch is charged before beginning the update process. 

Additional Changes 

While eBraille is the star of this release, the update includes other enhancements, such as: 

• Expanded Language Support – Turkish and Finnish have been added, along with translation improvements for Russian and Swedish. 

• Improved KeyMail Functionality – Fixes have been made to ensure smoother email management, including resolving authentication issues for Gmail and Exchange. 

• Stability Improvements – Several fixes address issues in KeyWord, KeyMath, and Victor Reader, making the overall user experience more reliable. 

Try eBraille Today 

This update is a monumental step in the evolution of digital braille. With eBraille support, the Monarch continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in accessible technology. If you own a Monarch, don’t miss the chance to be among the first to experience the future of digital braille reading. 

Download the latest update, grab your copy of Treasure Island, and explore the possibilities of eBraille today!