        A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE HISTORICAL
      DEVELOPMENT OF THE TACTILE MODES OF READING
      AND AN ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF RESEARCHES
         CARRIED OUT IN ENDEAVOURS TO MAKE THE
        BRAILLE CODE EASIER TO READ AND TO WRITE
                            
                            
                           by
                            
                            
                     Pamela Lorimer
                            
                            
  A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education and Continuing Studies
            of The University of Birmingham
                   for the degree of
                  DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
                            
                            
               School of Education
                             Faculty of Education and Continuing
                             Studies
                             The University of Birmingham
                             December 1996
                                         
                             