The 2.65 M blind Europeans are strongly disadvantaged in education, employment, mobility and participation in
society. This is caused by the fact that current output technologies only relate text. Spreadsheets, charts, graphics, maps, images,
websites, floor plans and many other information types represent an almost insurmountable barrier. The inability to
access information impedes the personal, professional and financial independence and leads to an unemployment rate of 75
% (source: RNIB) amongst blind people in Europe.
In six years Inventivio has developed the worldwide first interactive output technology that enables blind people to
access any information without the help of others. Due to its large tactile matrix with more than 10.500 tactile dots, the blind
user can read text and graphics with the fingertips.
The underlying software platform automatically transforms the information on the computer screen into Braille letters
(alphabet for the blind) and tactile graphics. The software platform is open and a wide range of tools is made available
to simplify the development of apps.The system is based on a break-through technology that is radically cheaper per tactile point
than the industry standard. This is achieved by dissociating the expensive actuators from the number of touch points used in
the device. By dissociating these, it becomes possible to offer the thousands of touch points needed to display graphics at
an affordable price. The Tactonom’s mission is to provide informational autonomy and enable blind people to lead a personally,
professionally and financially more independent life. This is achieved by providing access to any information without the help of
others and thus caters to the goals of the European Disability Strategy. With the Tactonom, Inventivio plans to help reduce the
unemployment rate amongst blind people in Europe by 10 %
within the next 10 years and enable 87.600 Europeans to access a job.
