Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Blind and visually impaired individuals lack readily available tools to create, modify, and share tactile graphics, hindering their ability to communicate graphically and limiting access to educational and professional opportunities, especially in STEM fields. Existing solutions often lack the ability to easily edit and revise tactile drawings.
Solution
E.A.S.Y. Tactile Graphics provides a suite of tools designed to enable blind and visually impaired individuals to independently create and edit tactile graphics. The inTACT Sketchpad allows users to create freehand tactile drawings, while the inTACT Eraser enables quick and easy revision of these drawings by flattening the raised lines. These tools facilitate tactile literacy and graphical communication, allowing users to learn, explore, and express themselves through tactile representations. The company also developed the inTACT Printer, which produces interactive tactile graphics worksheets, and a digitizing sketchpad that captures freehand raised-line drawing images digitally in real time.
Target Audience
The primary audience includes blind and visually impaired children and adults, educators, parents, and professionals who require tactile graphics for learning, communication, and professional activities, particularly in STEM fields.
Features
- inTACT Sketchpad: A tool for creating tactile drawings by hand, producing raised lines as the user draws.
- inTACT Eraser: A thermal eraser that flattens tactile lines, allowing for quick and easy revisions.
- inTACT Printer (Beta/Alpha prototypes): Produces interactive tactile graphics worksheets with pre-printed graphics for student modification.
- Digitizing Sketchpad (Alpha prototype): Captures freehand raised-line drawing images digitally in real time.
- U.S. Patents: The company holds patents for both the thermal eraser (US Patent 9,403,401 B2) and systems for digital recording and reproduction of tactile drawings (US Patent 9,460,634 B2).