The display, Dot Pad, is the creation of Dot Inc, a tech company specializing in tactile communication and braille-based technology solutions. Dot Pad is compatible with the iPhone and iPad, along with Apple's built-in screen reader, VoiceOver.
"My wish is that many global developers within Apple's ecosystem can use this API to develop games, entertainment, and educational apps compatible with our tactile display," said Ki Kwang Sung, co-founder at Dot Inc. "There is a growing opportunity for blind and low-vision users to connect through visual games and educational tools."
The new device offers visually impaired users a refreshable tactile display with the option to touch whatever is displayed on the screen, “bringing the community one step closer to digital equality.”
The device helps users render images and text from iPhone or iPad to the tactile display instantaneously, and is compatible with devices running iOS 15.2 or later, or iPadOS 15.2 or later. VoiceOver support for tactile representations of images and graphics “builds on Apple's long history of creating and supporting accessible technology,” Dot Inc said in a statement.
"Many blind/low-vision users around the world rely on iPhone and iPad, due to the industry-leading screen-reader VoiceOver," said Dot Inc. co-founder Eric Ju Yoon Kim. "We are very excited that Dot's tactile technology is now optimized for VoiceOver, and that this will expand digital accessibility. Beyond speech or literary braille, these users can now feel and improve their understanding of images."
According to Dot Inc, the task of creating a viable and refreshable tactile display for blind/low-vision users has posed one of the greatest challenges for developers in the consumer electronics industry.
Traditionally, tactile displays only had one line, and were primarily connected with computers and phones to translate written text to Braille. However, they have lacked the technical capability to display graphical elements such as images, maps, and UI, ultimately limiting the experience.
Dot Pad is now available to developer communities and early adopters via Dot Inc's website.
The company will provide technology support for an expanded Dynamic Tactile Device project with the American Printing House for the Blind and HumanWare slated to be launched in 2023. Learnings from the Dot Pad developer community will contribute to that later project, the company said.