Description
Monarch - The 1st dynamic Tactile and Multi-line Braille Tablet.
Advanced braille reading and real-time tactile interaction providing equal access to information
Take flight with the Monarch, a revolutionary multiline braille device that renders tactile graphics integrated with braille on a 10-line by 32-cell refreshable display. With access to downloadable digital textbooks and APH’s Tactile Graphics Image Library (TGIL), the Monarch significantly reduces the time to fingertips for users who are blind or have visual impairment.
The Monarch is more than a braille display – it’s a graphing calculator, an e-book reader, a Brailler, and more! It represents a shift toward an inclusive landscape, breaking down barriers and paving the way for a future where everyone can enjoy equal access to information.
How does this product change your life?
With Monarch, educational resources are readily available, reducing the need for specialized materials and reducing classroom expenses. Time spent adapting lesson plans and creating materials is dramatically decreased, allowing you to focus on teaching. With over 2000 graphics in the TGIL and connections to various online libraries, your students can explore concepts and ideas with newfound freedom.
The Monarch comes loaded with applications powered by HumanWare’s KeySoft accessibility suite. The Interactive Startup Tutorial, created by APH, gives you a head start on using Monarch. KeyWord is a word processor that supports MathML, .docx, .doc, .txt, and PDF files, allowing you to receive, read, edit, and send Word documents in braille, including math content. KeyMath, in partnership with Desmos, is a graphing calculator for tactile functions. The Tactile Viewer app connects to APH’s Tactile Graphics Image Library to display graphics in various formats. Victor Reader provides access to hundreds of literary titles through online libraries like Bookshare and supports Daisy and ePUB files. KeyBrf is a braille editor that supports BRL and BRF formats, offering a dynamic digital interface for spatial braille content. KeyMail, compatible with Exchange and Office 365, makes sending books and resources easy. The Internet Browser, developed with Ecosia, is a Chromium web browser focused on environmental impact.
And there's more to come! An SDK has been made available to close partners, allowing APH to develop various educational applications for Monarch. One such app is Monarch Chess, which gamifies learning with a built-in tutorial. Stay tuned for new releases!
Dual functionality
The Monarch's 10-line by 32-cell refreshable braille display can simultaneously show braille text and tactile graphics. It allows for the reading of text and braille documents in multiple lines, just like reading braille on paper, with customizable line spacing that helps younger learners adapt more easily to refreshable braille technology by using double line spacing. With over 1,800 searchable tactile graphics, it enables users to interact with and better comprehend complex concepts through touch.
Note: Includes 3-hours training for Monarch. Extra training available.
Monarch Accessories
- Carrying Case (ACCC-0050)
- Power supply Kit (ASSY-1211)
- Membrane (MECM-0011)
- Membrane Screw Driver (TOOL-0004)
- External LCD 15.6 inch 1920x1080 for Monarch (FGZZ-0009)
Monarch Care Program (maximum 4 years total coverage)
- One Year Care Program (CP1MON)
- Two Year Care Program (CP2MON)
Monarch Training
- 3-Hour Training for Monarch (TRMON3HR)
Upcoming features
eBraille
A new file standard, eBraille, developed by APH and global partners, will allow braille and tactile graphics to be read together in one electronic document, compatible with multiline braille displays like the Monarch, set for release in September 2024. eBraille utilizes markup tags to maintain formatting across devices, inspired by BrailleBlaster's transcription software. The eBraille Working Group, with over 40 organizations, is creating best practice documents for tagging, metadata, CSS formatting, and packaging.
These guidelines help maintain organized braille collections. Technical aspects aid software developers in creating and reading eBraille files, ensuring seamless integration and accessibility.
Impromptu app
The Impromptu app will allow the user to draw on their iPad and instantly get the tactile graphic on the Monarch. With this application teachers can instantly draw on their Apple or Android tablets, and the user will get the tactile image simultaneously. Creating a tactile graphics on the fly with braille labels and textures will give instant access to tactile resources on demand for those commonly impromptu situations.