Braille Blinded by an accident in his early childhood, 15 year old Louis Braille (1809-1852) invented a system of reading and writing by touch. A Braille cell consists of six raised dots. By arranging the dots in various combinations, 64 different patterns cam be formed. Braille, a true alphabet, is read by moving the hand from left to right along each line. Readers average about 104-125 words per minute. Some can read 250 words by using both hands.