I tested the on-device document editors: the Braille Viewer and the RTF-based word processor. I was surprised that once a file was saved and opened in the Braille Viewer, I couldn’t easily edit the text in place. In contrast, the RTF word processor behaved as expected—basic editing, saving, and reopening worked smoothly.
Functionally, the Braille Viewer felt closer to a read-only reader for quick review, not a full editor. The RTF editor supported a typical draft–revise workflow and preserved content reliably. For day-to-day use, that means choosing the RTF app when I need to create or revise text, and reserving the Viewer for fast reading.
I don’t understand why there weren’t style based editing options. Heading levels and formats are so essential to non-visual navigation, as well as having a resulting document that is sharable, polished and professional. I also need citations in almost everything I write, so without a citation manager plugin, I think I am much more likely to use the Monarch predominately for graphics rather than word processing. (Or playing chess, but I’m clearly too bad at chess for even the easy mode, can we get checkers and go and sudoku on here too please?)
I also explored many of the apps on the Monarch. I love braille and really enjoyed using the braille editor! I can definitely see students using the braille editor or word processor to take notes! I can also see candidates in our program using the Monarch when writing lesson plans and teaching! I am also tutoring a student who has a Monarch but is not using it for math. I look forward to figuring out why. There is a learning curve, so I wonder if that is part of it.
I explored both KeyWord and KeyMath. In KeyWord, I liked being able to create and save documents that could be translated back and forth between braille and print, which is huge for resumes, reports, or communication in a job setting. In KeyMath, generating tactile graphs and exploring equations felt like something that could really change how students approach math and technical training. I see both of these applications improving independence and workplace readiness by letting students handle the same types of files their peers and supervisors use. Challenges may come with learning the new commands and gestures, especially for those who have only used single-line displays. I would help students by building in short, repeated practice sessions and by using the HDMI display so they can confirm their actions visually alongside an instructor or peer. Compared to other braille displays I have used, the Monarch feels more complete since the applications are integrated into one system, which makes me confident recommending it as a primary tool for both students and professionals.
Daniel, it is great that you were able to get Bookshare (I got mine set up too! ) and Newsline running in Victor Reader. I agree that the multiline display really supports fluency and recall, and I like how you showed the student how zooming could make the text easier to follow. I can also see portability being a drawback, but I think for classroom or work settings the strengths in reading and navigation outweigh that limitation.
William, I like how you are using the Monarch for both reading and exploring graphics, and those steps you shared for opening web graphics in the Tactile Viewer are really helpful. I still need to get my Google Drive and iCloud set up and haven’t jumped on the internet yet, but hearing how you are using it makes me feel more ready to give it a shot. I’m also curious what you think once you get to play around with Wing-It.
Try Space + X in the Braille Editor if you are finding that you can’t edit a document. This command toggles between “Read” and “Edit” modes in both the Braille Editor and the Word Processor.
In the Word Processor, if you press Space + M in an open document to go to the Context Menu, then navigate to “Format functions,” then “Paragraph style,” then “Style, Normal” there are options for creating headings and types of lists. “Paragraph Style” will also give you options for single and double spacing. A good start toward having even more functionality like you described in an Android “to-do” list app!
Unfortunately it is not part of a Monarch app yet, but one of our RISE participants, Chris Cooke, shared these Sudoku games that can be opened in the Braille Editor and then played there. Chris recommends using dropped numbers for inputs so that they are contrasted with the raised numbers used in the puzzles.
The experience within tactile viewer was that exploring the application was necessary and the missteps were also key. It allowed me to import existing images and look through the available images.
Graphing is almost even more exploring and an interactive experience.
It can help through the use of maps around or even to the worksite. Lack of training could be a barrier so training could be embedded in the the introduction of the monarch, especially to those that have not used a refreshable braille display.
In addition to the web browser (the most stable way to scroll through discussions on this board), I have now explored the Victor Reader to access NFB Newsline, the file manager, and KeyWord to access relatively simple work documents. The applications were all straightforward to use. Support for tables in KeyWord NEEDS work because they do not yet display consistently as they would on a PC’s screen or using screen reader navigation keyboard commands. With better support for tables as well as support for spreadsheets (I use a lot in my CEI STEM work) and support for PowerPoint as several in the cohort have pointed out, the Monarch has real potential to become a powerful tool in CEI settings.
It is exciting to see how the Monarch is a powerful benefit in teaching blind students throughout many grades. With the sort of better support for tables and new support for spreadsheets and PowerPoint, these students have a bright future as they enter CEI settings. As support continues to progress, I look forward to seeing more how I can incorporate viewing spreadsheets more fully and editing locations of graphics and text in PowerPoint slides.
Finally, it has been interesting and useful to see how graphics on websites can be opened in the Tactile Viewer. I’ve looked at pictures and graphics both on the NFB homepage as well as on my government agency’s own webpage (which is very 508-compliant).
Now that you’ve explored different applications share your thoughts in a discussion post.
Discussion Prompt:
Which application(s) did you explore? Describe your experience and what you learned. How do you see this application being used by students or clients in CIE settings? Think about how these tools improve independence, efficiency, or workplace readiness. What challenges might arise when introducing these applications? How would you help students or clients navigate these barriers?
One of the first apps I explored was Word Processing since my students are required to take a lot of notes and read a lot. I often convert PowerPoint presentations to word documents and add image descriptions. I will continue to do so even with tactile images being available because I find it easier for my students to have both tactile images and image descriptions for when they are working indepdently. I thought note-taking ability was great. I also dabbled with Bookshare on the Monarch Rise since some of my students read audio textbooks, novels, and magazines through Bookshare. Bookshare tends to be a second or third choice for audio novels and magazines since there is also Audible and BARD Mobile. They tend to prefer the narrator voices on Audible over all else. Bookshare is still first choice for textbooks because they as well as myself like how books that are not on Bookshare can be requested, saving my college age students tons of money. I skimmed through a few textbooks that Bookshare already had available. I found no issues with how the text was presented. I actually found it easier to read on the Monarch Rise than other displays. This is definitely going to be something I will encourage.
Optional Extension:
If you’ve used other refreshable braille displays or screen readers, how does the Monarch’s application suite compare? Would you recommend it as a primary tool for students or professionals?
I never thought of the NFB Newsline! Thank you for the great idea! I’ll have to give it a go next time around. I can see where that would work well. I would also like to explore more PowerPoint presentations on the Monarch since my older students read a lot of them. I would also like to explore more higher ed level graphs in subjects like Trigonometry and Geometry. My students currently use the talking scientific calculator from APH, which is great with sounds and vibrations, but I think it would be nice to have a tactile option for my kinesthetic learners.
I can also see students using the Word Processor to take notes. I also like your lesson plan idea! I know part of our field testing is to come up with a lesson plan. I already started mine in Word, but I can see where it can easily be “loaded” on the Monarch. Math was always a toughy for some of my students too, but really only when it came to spatial thinking. I used the APLH Brannum cubarhythm (probably spelled that wrong) board to teach my students long division. Mostly for the mental map. I am hoping the Monarch Rise will have for me to show my students how to read spatial equations rather than linear.
Being that I have had access to a Monarch for a year and a half now since my training in Orlando, I have explored several apps. My first was the Braille Editor. It was such a thrill to compose a document that night for homework. It was wonderful to have multiple lines to read. I really liked decreasing and increasing the space between the lines. I see this feature is beneficial in teaching a new braille reader. Also, for CIE, it could make reading easier depending on the technical level of the text. The next app I explored was the Startup tutorial. This is where I began to explore tactile graphics and point and click feature. In my opinion the tutorial was very well done and fun. My favorite app is the Tactile Viewer. I have explored it and helped others develop graphics and I have begun to learn more how to develop graphics on the computer with Microsoft Word. With Key Math, I am absolutely amazed that equations can be entered then with a shortcut a graph instantly appears. I learned how to do it at the training last year and I have demonstrated it to my coworkers using a visual display. I do not have any reason in my work to use it although I can see it being useful in some math professions. I have also explored the Monarch Chess. One of my students even played chess against the Monarch (and lost!). I love the tactile graphic of the pieces. I explored how to move the pieces on the board. I am mainly interested in the TGIL and the literary aspects of the Monarch. Therefore, I still need to learn the Victor Reader. I am especially interested when the Monarch can be turned around so the Perkins-style keyboard is out of the way when reading text on the braille display. When will that happen? Meantime is there a way to lock the keyboard so a person does not accidentally depress keys?
While you are in the Braille Editor or Word Processor, if you press Space + X to enter “Read Mode,” then you can scroll through a document without worrying about making any changes to it. Press Space + X again to re-enter “Edit Mode,” where you can make changes again.
explored the Braille Monarch’s tactile graphics viewer and file reader applications. Using the tactile graphics viewer, I noticed how helpful it was to adjust zoom and detail levels. Zooming out gave me a sense of the overall structure, while zooming in revealed details I had missed before. I also liked how the file reader let me move easily between text and graphics in one device, which felt efficient and practical.
I see these applications supporting students and clients in CIE settings by making workplace materials like charts, floor plans, and digital documents more accessible. I believe this improves independence since people don’t have to rely on someone else to emboss or explain the content for them. It also builds efficiency and workplace readiness because it mirrors how information is really shared in digital environments.
At the same time, I think some challenges will come up. I know I felt overwhelmed at first by the number of commands, and I can imagine others feeling the same way. I would address this by starting with simple tasks, giving lots of hands-on practice, and teaching strategies for reorienting in a graphic. Compared to other refreshable braille displays I’ve used, the Monarch stands out because it integrates tactile graphics. For students and professionals who need both braille and graphics, I would recommend it as a primary tool.
explored the Braille Monarch’s tactile graphics viewer and file reader applications. Using the tactile graphics viewer, I noticed how helpful it was to adjust zoom and detail levels. Zooming out gave me a sense of the overall structure, while zooming in revealed details I had missed before. I also liked how the file reader let me move easily between text and graphics in one device, which felt efficient and practical.
I see these applications supporting students and clients in CIE settings by making workplace materials like charts, floor plans, and digital documents more accessible. I believe this improves independence since people don’t have to rely on someone else to emboss or explain the content for them. It also builds efficiency and workplace readiness because it mirrors how information is really shared in digital environments.
At the same time, I think some challenges will come up. I know I felt overwhelmed at first by the number of commands, and I can imagine others feeling the same way. I would address this by starting with simple tasks, giving lots of hands-on practice, and teaching strategies for reorienting in a graphic. Compared to other refreshable braille displays I’ve used, the Monarch stands out because it integrates tactile graphics. For students and professionals who need both braille and graphics, I would recommend it as a primary tool.
I explored the Braille Monarch’s tactile graphics viewer and file reader applications. Using the tactile graphics viewer, I noticed how helpful it was to adjust zoom and detail levels. Zooming out gave me a sense of the overall structure, while zooming in revealed details I had missed before. I also liked how the file reader let me move easily between text and graphics in one device, which felt efficient and practical.
I see these applications supporting students and clients in CIE settings by making workplace materials like charts, floor plans, and digital documents more accessible. I believe this improves independence since people don’t have to rely on someone else to emboss or explain the content for them. It also builds efficiency and workplace readiness because it mirrors how information is really shared in digital environments.
At the same time, I think some challenges will come up. I know I felt overwhelmed at first by the number of commands, and I can imagine others feeling the same way. I would address this by starting with simple tasks, giving lots of hands-on practice, and teaching strategies for reorienting in a graphic. Compared to other refreshable braille displays I’ve used, the Monarch stands out because it integrates tactile graphics. For students and professionals who need both braille and graphics, I would recommend it as a primary tool.
Besides exploring and geeking out over the Tactile Graphics library, I explored the Wing-it app. I am completely blind and have a sighted 6-year-old daughter. She was so fascinated to see me zooming in on the butterfly and feeling the life cycle of a Monarch. When my daughter brings art home, she has to take my hand and trace her art and describe it to me. With AI, I have been able to take pictures of her art or school work and it has described it to me. However, I wanted to explore the Wing-it app to see if I could feel her drawings. We were both so excited to try it. When I looked at the app, I saw that it was mostly meant for a sighted person to draw things for a blind person. The controls weren’t super accessible but I was able to tell her what to look for and she turned off Voiceover on my phone and started to draw. The joy I felt was so real! My daughter made silly shapes and tried to draw me and my husband, (her mommy and daddy) with canes. She also wrote her name and I was able to feel her handwriting for the very first time. I will never forget how she forms her S’s now. I was able to zoom in and see her drawings in more detail. I was also able to mess around with the app with a combination of screen recognition and image descriptions of the buttons and controls on the app and I was able to draw a graphic and see it on my Monarch as well. This is so amazing because I can see this app being so useful when someone needs access to information on the fly. I believe that I saw a feature where you can upload a picture from your phone to the app and tactilely feel it as well. So innovative and I believe this is another way to assist with providing equal access to information. I am just amazed and still can’t get over feeling my daughter’s graphics. In my work capacity, I work with 2 K-12 blind students and can see this app being very useful for them in all classes.
The application I explored was Wing It. This app lets you draw on an iPhone or iPad and instantly display the drawing on the Monarch as a tactile graphic. This has been my favorite app on the Monarch so far. It is amazing how you can draw anything and get immediate tactile feedback. It truly feels game changing. What stood out most to me was how quickly the drawing appeared on the Monarch, providing instant results.
I see Wing It as a valuable tool for my high school transition students as they prepare for future school and work opportunities. In school, it can be especially helpful because it gives students instant access to educational material. Teachers can quickly draw and display the concepts they are covering, which is especially valuable in math when accessing tactile diagrams on the spot is often challenging. Students could use the app to explore geometry, diagrams, or review science visuals in real time.
In a workplace setting, Wing It could support tasks like understanding floor plans, mapping out seating charts, or following visual instructions. Beyond academics and work, it also promotes independence in everyday life by allowing students to draw and explore practical graphics, such as bus routes or room layouts. By giving students immediate tactile feedback, Wing It helps build both confidence and independence.
One challenge that may arise is learning to distinguish between different textures or patterns when exploring more complex drawings. To address this, I would begin with very simple activities, such as drawing basic shapes or labeling a simple diagram, and then gradually introduce more complex projects. Providing guided practice and consistent positive reinforcement would also help students build confidence and use the app effectively.
I explored the word processor and the web browser. In the browser I am still adjusting the layout and commands but was able to search for a couple pages and navigate by headings. This would be a good resource for employees because it allows quick access to workplace resources or searching for additional information.
I also mentioned the word processor because something I use traditional braille notetakers for is word processing for taking notes or writing moderate length emails or messages. This also helps in the workplace because I can manage writing and reviewing notes and documents easily. I think it would be an easy transition to using the word processor on the Monarch.
Students would need to understand the web browser is more similar to an android tablet and might be limited in accessing graphical web pages with the braille interface.
I downloaded Wing It on my Ipad and connected it to my Monarch then I started playing. I am definitely not an artist but I am very interested in a congenitally blind person learning how to sign their name rather than using an X. I was impressed how instant the drawing appeared on the Monarch. This is amazing! It is in the infant stage but I can see it as a game changer. Let me get back to drawing!!
) and Newsline running in Victor Reader. I agree that the multiline display really supports fluency and recall, and I like how you showed the student how zooming could make the text easier to follow. I can also see portability being a drawback, but I think for classroom or work settings the strengths in reading and navigation outweigh that limitation.