Definition of Braille system Braille system: A system of raised-
dot writing devised by Louis Braille (1809-1852) for the blind
in which each letter is represented as a raised pattern that can
be read by touching with the fingers. The System: Each braille
character or "cell" is made up of 6 dot positions that are
arranged in a rectangle comprising 2 columns of 3 dots each. A
dot may be raised at any of the 6 positions. Counting a space in
which there is no dot raised, there are 2 to the 6th power
(2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64) possible combinations. A specific combination
is described by naming the positions where dots are raised. The
positions are numbered 1 through 3 from top to bottom on the
left, and 4 through 6 from top to bottom on the right. For
example, a combination of dots 1-3-4 describes a cell with three
dots raised, those dots being at the top and bottom in the left
column and on top of the right column. The 1-3-4 combination
denotes the letter "m" in French and in all other languages
(including English) that