In this edition V.I.Pod we look to the world of braille, particularly to the work of Sheffield Talking News’ Alan Thorpe who not only teaches braille but is the only certified repairer in the UK of the Perkins braille typewriter, the world’s most widely used braille machine.  Here, we run an interview that our colleagues at Doncaster Talking Newspaper did with Alan just a few weeks ago where we learn of the continuing importance of braille, even in the digital age.