Tactile Images READER2.0.9

Replicate the tactile learning experience at your own place & pace. Meet the virtual assistant that describes tactile graphics just like a specialist and allows blind people to study at home.

This educational tool is part of the Tactile Images e-learning platform, where teachers and parents can find, personalize and create interactive tactile graphics, with audio descriptions.

The Tactile Images Reader app teleports the voice and knowledge of the teacher at home. How? Let’s say that we have the tactile graphic of an African elephant. You will explore it with both hands, as you usually do, to contextualize. So far so good.

But when you place the phone above the graphic, the magic happens. Just point at the ear of the elephant and the smartphone will tell you: ”This is the ear of the elephant. The ears of an African elephant are bigger than the ears of an Indian elephant because they help the elephants cool down by radiating the excess heat. The ears can also be used to communicate visually, flapping ears signifying either aggression or joy.” The descriptions are customizable and can be adapted to the specific needs of every person.

The Tactile Images Reader mobile assistant empowers you to discover the world independently. It gives you the freedom to explore untouchable objects and study school subjects based on graphics, such as Maths, Geography or Biology at your own pace.

Using this app feels like watching the Discovery Channel for the first time.

How does it work?
The app works only with interactive tactile graphics from our e-learning platform. Join for FREE right here www.tactileimages.org and get access to a Library of 800 tactile graphics with multilingual descriptions and drawing software that allows teachers and parents to create their own interactive tactile graphics.

Download your first interactive catalogue for FREE https://bit.ly/Catalog_UrbanLandscapes, emboss the drawings and explore with the app!

Remote teaching and homeschooling have never been easier for blind and visually impaired people!

How to use?
Position the phone above an interactive tactile graphic.
The app will read the QR Code placed in the upper left corner and tell you the title of the graphic.
Position the index finger on the Braille-written title (available for the tactile graphics in the Library) and the app will tell you the description of the graphic.
Start exploring with both hands.
The app will identify the position of the index finger and beep once when you come across an area with descriptions.
Point the index finger if you want to find out the description of that area. Preferably, clench your fist and extend the index finger as if you were pointing to that area.
Be steady for 3 seconds.
The app will send you 3 beeps and deliver the audio description of the area.
Additionally, you can touch the QR Code to listen to general information about the subject of the graphic.

Features
- Audio descriptions can be in these languages: English, French, German, Italian, Turkish, Romanian, Finnish, Spanish
- You are free to personalize the descriptions of any graphic
- Multi-sensorial learning
- Mobile assistant (works anywhere: school, home, park, library, museum, city hall, train station, metro)
- You can either hold it with your hand or use a phone holder (Gooseneck)
- Modern technologies: AI, machine learning, interactive augmented reality, finger tracking

This app was featured in the American Alliance of Museums http://bit.ly/exploration-at-museums and other 35 publications.

The Tactile Images e-learning platform was financed by The Romanian Ministry of Culture, the Administration of the National Cultural Heritage, the Civic Innovation Fund, the Orange Foundation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, OMV Petrom, ING Bank Romania, Microsoft Romania, Electrica SA.

This app is created by the Urban Development Association, which has the mission to improve the life quality of blind children through education.

Version History Added support for Youtube shorts links for Deaf and SEN modes. 2.0.9 Jun 14 Improved finger tracking.
Translation to Romanian language. 2.0.8 Feb 16 bug fixes 2.0.7 09/21/2025 minor improvements 2.0.6 09/09/2025 After 3 seconds in a no-data area, show “No Information.”
Add an in-app Home/Settings button linking to GDPR
Show “No Internet” error messages
Provide haptic feedback in active zones for deaf users/sensory mode. 2.0.5 08/07/2025 New Deaf mode
Multiple app improvements and bug fixes 2.0.4 02/05/2025 New features added:
- Now you can create an account or use the app without an account.
- Multiple bug fixes and improvements.
- Blind mode. 2.0.3 12/18/2024 Added tutorial translation to English, Romanian, Spanish, Italian, French, Finnish, German, Turkish. 2.0.2 03/22/2021 Added support for Finnish language 2.0.1 03/05/2021 Added support for multiple languages (Spanish, German, Italian, Turkish, French) 2.0.0 11/17/2020 1.0.0 02/12/2020