What Duxbury Systems does

Duxbury Systems, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned software company founded in 1975 and headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, that develops the Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT), the dominant professional braille translation software globally. DBT runs on Windows and Mac, imports a broad range of document formats (Microsoft Word 2003-365, Open Office, HTML, LaTeX, MathML, NIMAS/DAISY, RTF, EPUB 3), and translates text to and from contracted and uncontracted braille across 180+ languages, with full support for mathematics braille codes including UEB Math, Nemeth, French, German, Russian, Spanish/Portuguese, and Arabic math. The software integrates with all commercial braille embossers (ViewPlus, Braillo, Index, Enabling Technologies, Irie, APH, TactPlus, Super Gemini, and others), screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, Windows Narrator), refreshable braille displays (Canute, Orbit Reader), and third-party math tools (MathType, Scientific Notebook, GOODFEEL music translator).

The core customer base comprises professional braille publishers, K-12 educational institutions producing accessible textbooks, government and public services requiring ADA-compliant braille documents, and individual blind or visually impaired users. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time perpetual software licenses ($795 single-user, $3,095 for a 5-seat network license for DBT; $335 for NimPro), annual Software Maintenance Agreements ($280/year for single-user DBT) that extend free update eligibility, and paid updates priced by license vintage. Distribution combines direct sales (phone, email, fax), an online storefront via FastSpring, a USA dealer network providing local embosser setup, and free companion products (SWIFT Word add-in, QuickTac tactile graphics, Perky Duck braille editor) that reinforce the core DBT platform. The company operates with 11-50 employees, releases product updates on a continuous cadence (most recently DBT 14.1 SR2 in March 2026), and has remained privately held under founder-family ownership since inception with no venture capital or institutional investment.

Name

Duxbury Systems

Legal name

Duxbury Systems, Inc.

Website

https://duxburysystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Duxbury Systems develops the Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT), the leading professional braille translation software used by virtually all major braille publishers worldwide. It supports 180+ languages, mathematics braille, and all major embossers for Windows and Mac.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistive Technology Software (Braille Translation)

NAICS

Support Activities for Printing (323120)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750)

akta.pro primary industry

Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) & Format Conversion (Braille, Large Print, DAISY) (EDAKAIAH), Accessible & Alternative Format Materials (Braille, Large Print, Audio, Tactile Graphics) (EDAGAMAD)

Keywords

• Braille translation software
• Assistive technology tools
• Braille publishing software
• Tactile graphics production
• Screen reader integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Westford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software License Sales: One-time perpetual software licenses for DBT Win and DBT for Mac at $795 per single-user license. Network licenses available for 5+ seats. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Software Maintenance Agreements (SMA): Annual maintenance contracts extending free update eligibility. SMAs priced at $280 for single-user DBT Win. Network SMAs available. When purchased with new license, provides two years of free updates.
3. Software Updates: Paid updates for licenses outside free update period. Pricing based on original purchase date: free for licenses purchased on/after January 1, 2024; $280 for 2023 purchases; $395 for 2022; $510 for older. Network seat updates also priced by vintage.
4. NimPro License: NimPro 3.0 (Windows) or 2.0 (Macintosh) sold at $335 per seat for processing NIMAS/DAISY/EPUB files for braille production.
5. Free Products (SWIFT, QuickTac, Perky Duck): Free add-on products distributed to support and enhance major product functionality. SWIFT integrates Word with DBT; QuickTac provides tactile graphics; Perky Duck is a free braille editor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Duxbury Systems develops and sells the Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT), a professional braille translation software for Windows and Mac that imports documents (Microsoft Word, OpenOffice, LaTeX, MathML, NIMAS/DAISY/EPUB) and converts print to braille and braille to print. DBT supports over 180 languages in contracted and uncontracted braille, including specialized mathematics braille (UEB Math, Nemeth Code, French/German/Russian/Spanish/Arabic math). The company also offers NimPro for processing NIMAS/DAISY/EPUB 3 educational files, and free utilities (SWIFT Word add-in, QuickTac tactile graphics, Perky Duck braille emulator).

Product overview

Duxbury Systems offers a comprehensive suite of braille translation and production software centered on the Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT). The core product DBT is available for Windows (DBT Win 14.1 SR2) and macOS (DBT for Mac 14.1 SR2), providing bidirectional braille translation for over 180 languages with support for contracted, uncontracted, and mathematical braille codes including UEB and Nemeth Code. The product portfolio includes NimPro (3.0 for Windows, 2.0 for Mac) for processing NIMAS/DAISY/EPUB3 educational materials, SWIFT (free Word add-in) for seamless Word-DBT integration, and free utilities QuickTac (tactile graphics) and Perky Duck (braille emulator). Network licensing and Software Maintenance Agreements provide enterprise deployment options. The software integrates with Microsoft Word, various embosser hardware, screen readers (JAWS, NVDA), and third-party tools including MathType, Scientific Notebook, and GOODFEEL for comprehensive braille production workflows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Duxbury DBT Win: Industry leading braille translation software for Windows, supporting 180+ languages and various braille embossers.
• Duxbury DBT for Mac
• NimPro
• SWIFT
• QuickTac
• Perky Duck

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration23 records

Feature13 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)minorOthersDuxbury Systems is a member of ATIA, participating in the assistive technology industry association.
• NCAM (National Center for Accessible Media)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuxbury Systems participates in NCAM's web access project, contributing to accessibility standards development.
• Susan ChristensenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the BANA Word Template for Microsoft Word that works with DBT and SWIFT for braille production. Reworked Word template, menus, and internal codings to match changing programming environments and braille codes.
• George Bell (Techno-Vision Systems Ltd.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated SWIFT development, tested the product, and wrote documentation for the SWIFT add-in.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Printing House for the Blind (APH):
• HumanWare: Global assistive technology incumbent producing braille notetakers/displays (Brailliant, Monarch) and TranSend embossers that integrate with DBT. Broader portfolio than Duxbury but overlapping in braille production.
• Freedom Scientific: Maker of the JAWS screen reader, which DBT integrates with directly via JAWS scripts. Major broad incumbent in the assistive technology space with overlapping customer base.

Direct peers

• Braillo: Norwegian manufacturer of high-volume braille embossers (Braillo 300/450/600 series) widely used by professional braille publishers, the same customer base DBT serves. Direct hardware peer.
• Dancing Dots: Dancing Dots produces GOODFEEL Braille Music Translator, which integrates directly with DBT for music braille production. It is a direct peer in the specialized braille translation software market.
• Index Braille: Swedish manufacturer of professional braille embossers (DP6/Dp7 series) that DBT supports. Direct peer in the hardware side of the braille production ecosystem.
• ViewPlus Technologies: ViewPlus manufactures the braille embossers (Columbia, Delta, SpotDot) that DBT supports, and sells its own Tiger Software Suite and TactileView for tactile graphics. It is the closest peer in the braille production ecosystem with overlapping hardware and software offerings.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duxbury-systems-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Duxbury Systems