T1.Tactile Explorer (TE)
TE is a complete system of access to computer information for the blind based on a tactile mouse. The tactile mouse resembles a regular computer mouse, but differs in having two tactile pads on top that have pins that go up and down. These translate the data on the screen to tactile sensation (e.g. letters, Braille, graphics etc.) See Demos.
Being easily switched from “Navigation” to “Reading” mode and back, TE provides wide possibilities to find, select desirable on-screen information and study it with different options. TE is the only product providing not only text but also GRAPHIC information.
Tactile World is continuously working on increasing the Tactile Explorer’s capabilities and scope.
The Tactile Explorer is being vigorously tested by a wide range of blind and visually impaired individuals including, employees at government and private offices, teachers and university students.
One of the early prototypes of the Tactile Explorer was awarded the European Information Society Technology prize.
On October 2010 Tactile Explorer was awarded a SILVER MEDAL at iENA (International Trade Fair “Ideas – Inventions – New Products”) that took place at Nurnberg, Germany.

2.TW affordable compact Refreshable Braille Display (TW mini RBD)
TW mini RBD can be used with existing Screen Readers. Due to our new patented technology it is by far the cheapest RBD in the world ($695). This will be of special interest in countries such as China and India as we develop planed new models and mass production brings the retail price under $ 300.
3. TW high resolution tactile graphic display
having pin matrix with N (e.g. 30) rows and M (e.g. 20) columns has a significantly smaller amount of moving actuators than N*M (600); the cost of these actuators is a main part of RBD prices. Pin density is at least twice as much as standard Braille cells presently used for construction of RBDs. Such a display will open new areas for use of tactile displays for graphic output and, especially, for mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, etc.
4. TW on-screen magnifier system
Existing on-screen magnifiers widely used by visually impaired computer users suffer from serious negative aspects caused by the nature of magnification where the user is able to manipulate only the location of the magnifying area and value of a scale factor. The TW on-screen magnifier with orientation and navigation abilities is a system for assisting the visually impaired to view displayable textual, graphical and contextual data in a way most convenient for the user, depending on the content and form of the displayed data.
5. TW games
The possibility for tactile access to graphics from the computer screen creates a unique opportunity for creation of computer games for the blind and visually impaired. Moving the tactile mouse and sending commands with it to achieve a game goal is one of the most attractive feature for our customers! TW created:
Labyrinth games based on tactile perceptions of graphic texture on the screen: Car racing, Target shooting, Star war, etc.
Directional games where the player achieves a goal orienting on tactile animations directing the player to move the mouse to required location: Hide&Seek games.
Gesture games where the user controls the game process by making special motions gestures: Protect Yourself games.
And many more.