Zain-Din al Amidi

Zain-Din al Amidi was a blind scholar who lived in what is now Iraq in the 14th century. He is famous for inventing a system before braille that allowed him to study and recognize his books.

Source

[http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/visugate/public_rbytouch.hcsp#P58_21323 "Reading by Touch"]

http://www.muslimheritage.com/day_life/default.cfm?ArticleID=367&Oldpage=1