Beacon Street Innovations grew from an MIT undergraduate thesis into an engineering-led company focused on making digital information more accessible to blind readers. Its NSF-supported Braille cell technology is being developed into affordable multi-line displays for people who need more context than conventional single-line devices provide.
National Science Foundation grant-supported research
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OrCamOrCam develops AI-powered wearable and handheld assistive devices that read printed and digital text aloud and help people who are blind, visually impaired, or facing reading difficulties access visual information. Its MyEye devices attach to glasses, while the OrCam Read line provides a pocket-sized reading companion; the technology is used by tens of thousands of people across 50 countries and 25 languages. OrCam also supports users through distributors, demonstrations, training, and dedicated customer resources.NEW YORK, NY
Touch Graphics IncFounded by Steve Landau after he began studying raised-line diagrams for blind people in 1998, Touch Graphics Inc. creates tactile and audio-tactile products and exhibits that let people understand spatial information through touch. Its Newark-based team has built accessible museum exhibits, talking maps, signs and educational tools, with tactile materials reviewed for conformance to BANA standards by certified teacher Lucia Hasty. The company’s work includes interactive installations at the Smithsonian and U.S. Capitol as well as its T3 tactile tablet platform.ELKTON, MD
Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually ImpairedFounded in 1903 by sisters Florence and Georgia Trader, Cincinnati’s Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired produces more than 30 million Braille pages a year while providing employment for people who are blind or have low vision. Its century-old Braille Printing House anchors a broader mission that includes pediatric low-vision care, youth recreation and accessible resources for the blind and visually impaired community.CINCINNATI, OH
Tactile ImagesFounded in 2008 by former LIFE Magazine photographer John Olson, Tactile Images creates custom 3D tactile renderings that let blind and visually impaired people experience visual knowledge through touch, sound, and sometimes smell. Developed in partnership with the blind community, its patented technology supports custom installations and traveling exhibitions for cultural and educational institutions worldwide. The company’s work ranges from accessible art displays to exhibits on subjects such as the James Webb Space Telescope.CHATHAM, NY