# Braille block — For visually impaired people > Navigation aid for visually impaired to detect Braille blocks and warning blocks. (iPhone/iPad app by MASAO MIYAKE.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/braille-block/id1172646239 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [MASAO MIYAKE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1074506448) - Category: Navigation, Health & Fitness - Price: Free - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 4 MB - Languages: American English, Japanese - Released: 2016-11-08 - Data updated: 2026-06-05 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/braille-block/id1172646239/reviews.md ## What is Braille block? 1. Overview When a visually impaired person is lost sight of yellow Braille block (formal name "Visually Impaired Guidance Block") at a station or a public facility, its existence and the approximate direction is estimated by the App, and also Warning block (dotted sureface block) is detected. Furthermore, the App judges the route of Braille block and informs how to proceed. As another function, the App recognizes a railroad track on a station platform and notifies the approximate position. Also, you can check the direction you are facing. All of these recognition results are transmitted by voice. 2. how to use Hold your iPhone vertically and hold down the home button. You can use the App just by tapping the screen towards the front ground. Because it is weak against the screen shake, please stop and fix the screen. The App will guide you by voice so that it is inclined from 25 degrees to 46 degrees with respect to the ground. The shutter sound does not sound because of consideration to the surroundings. Also, flash does not shine. Please cancel manner mode. VoiceOver function can be used either ON or OFF. Using iPhone's Siri, you can also start the App by talking to “Braille block". (To use Siri, press and hold the Home button) Details of it’s use can be read by displaying the explanation screen with the "Explanation, Screen" button on the App screen. Please be sure to read it. 3. Caution Even with yellow Braille block, the App can not recognize it if it’s tint is different. Also, since outdoor Braille block is often unrecognizable due to dirt and aging, please use the App mainly in buildings such as a railroad station. Since there are also misrecognition and undetected due to the lighting environment and similar color objects. Please use it for reference only. Please use the cane to check the safety. Because the App recognizes a track based on the black line, it is sometimes judged that a line other than a track is a railroad track. Orientation may be incorrect because it is affected by the surrounding magnetic field. Please understand these and use it. * Developer can not be responsible for accidents, etc. by using the App. So be careful and use the App. (Examples of recognition results) * Braille block may be vertical direction, next, lateral direction. Warning block is recognized. The route has a left and right branch at the end. * Braille block may be in front, right diagonal direction, next, lateral direction. The route turns to the left. * Braille block may be in front, lateral direction, next, vertical direction. The route has a branch going straight ahead. * Railroad track ahead. Please be careful. * Railroad track on the left , ahead. Please be careful. (Reference) In Japan, Warning block is used to notify visually impaired people of dangerous places and cautionary places. Warning block has dotted protrusions and it is installed near the end of the station platform, up the stairs, before the descent, branch point of Braille block, turning point, end point etc. * For more information, http: //irosirabe.net/color/en/ * Developer: Masao MIYAKE, Doctor of Engineering. ## Key features - Detects Braille and warning blocks - Estimates direction and route - Recognizes railroad tracks - Provides voice guidance - Supports Siri activation - Adjustable screen angle ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/braille-block/id1172646239/reviews.md ### 2/5 — It better be perfectly accurate and I doubt that. *2025-11-25* I'm not an O&M instructor but I'd hazard a guess that most would recommend using a cane to find the "braille block" or as it's officially named, truncated domes. ## Frequently asked questions about Braille block ### How does Braille block help visually impaired users? Braille block assists visually impaired users by detecting Braille blocks and warning blocks, estimating their direction and route, and recognizing railroad tracks. All recognized information is transmitted via voice for guidance. ### What is the recommended way to use Braille block? Hold your iPhone vertically and tap the screen towards the ground at an angle of 25 to 46 degrees. It's important to stop and fix the screen to avoid screen shake, as the app is sensitive to movement. ### Can Braille block be used outdoors? The app is best used indoors in places like train stations, as outdoor Braille blocks can be difficult to recognize due to dirt and aging. Recognition can also be affected by lighting and similar colored objects. ### Does Braille block have ads? No, Braille block does not contain advertisements. The app is designed to be ad-free to ensure an uninterrupted user experience for its users. ### What devices is Braille block compatible with? Braille block is supported on iPhone and iPod devices. It is designed to work with Apple's mobile operating system. ### How often is Braille block updated? The latest version of Braille block is 4.50, which was last updated on September 24, 2018. Users can check the app store for any newer updates. ### Is Braille block suitable for children? Braille block has an age rating of 4+, indicating it is suitable for children. The app's features are designed to be helpful for a wide range of users. ### Can I use Braille block with VoiceOver? Yes, the VoiceOver function can be used either ON or OFF with Braille block. This allows users to customize their accessibility settings according to their preferences. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 4.50 — 2018-09-24 The occurrence of trouble at the time of launching of the application has been reported, and in order to prevent it, the localization method of the language of synthesized speech was modified. ### 4.40 — 2018-09-18 As for the camera access by the user, since the correction in the previous version was insufficient, the code was further corrected. ### 4.30 — 2018-09-12 ＊ Regarding the use of the camera to detect braille blocks and tracks, and the posture detection permission of the camera, in the latest iOS usage environment and in the Japanese localization environment there is a possibility that it may not operate correctly, so it is fixed. did. ### 4.2 — 2018-03-06 I improved the route judgment algorithm and made it possible to express more appropriate route. So, I added the following new representation. * The route looks like the 'V' letter shape. ### 4.1 — 2018-02-06 English was specified to the primary language. ## Apps similar to Braille block | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [ミエルサ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id6496858309) | — | Free | Navigation | | [Walk & Mobile](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/walk-and-mobile/id1535368125) | — | Free | Navigation | | [ナビエディット](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1544658324) | — | Free | Navigation | | [Hear2There Install](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hear2there-install/id6499000367) | — | Free | Navigation | | [kotonavi](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kotonavi/id1272710426) | — | Free | Navigation | | [ナビレコ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1150248156) | — | Free | Navigation | ## More apps by MASAO MIYAKE - [Examine Clothes Color](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/examine-clothes-color/id1074506449) - [UpGo!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upgo/id1296516232) - [Trace See](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-see/id1439683197) - [Trace See Plus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trace-see-plus/id1445347155) All apps by MASAO MIYAKE: https://appshunter.io/developer/1074506448 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-05.*