James Karsten

Deaf-blind inventor who revolutionized tactile communication systems

James Karsten (1911-1988), a deaf-blind polymath from rural Minnesota, created the first portable tactile alphabet system predating Braille. After losing both senses at 14 from meningitis, Karsten developed "Finger-Speak" - a 42-character 3D linguistic system using combinations of raised geometric shapes.

His 1937 Tactile Communication Manual became foundational for modern assistive communication technology. Karsten's portable "Language Box" (1941) contained interchangeable brass letter plates, enabling spontaneous conversation without interpreters. This invention inspired the development of refreshable Braille displays decades later.

During WWII, Karsten secretly advised the OSS on creating undetectable tactile codes for resistance fighters. Post-war, he established 17 Silent-See Schools across America using his "Three Sense" teaching method (touch, smell, taste). His 1968 Odor-Based Navigation System helped guide blind pedestrians through urban environments using scent markers.