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3D printed accessible biology study tools

Published June 30, 2026 by Tom

Over the last couple of years, Even Grounds has been working on a very rewarding project with the Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We are creating 3D printed tactile objects for schools for the blind around to world to help the teaching of biology.

The way this program works is that they build relationships with schools for the blind from around the world, ship 3D printers and printing materials to them, together with 3D design files. This way, at a much lower cost than sending each piece individually, schools can print and distribute their materials locally.

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Meta Ray-Ban glasses may change how blind people travel

Published June 22, 2026 by Tom

On Friday, June 12, 2026 Mark Zuckerberg announced a donation of approximately 130000 Meta Ray-Ban glasses to blind veterans. The goal is to provide each blinded veteran with one in the United States. This does not mean that they will now start mailing one out to each eligible person. Rather, people who can prove eligibility will be able to request one from the Blinded Veterans Organization or from any of their partners. Most likely over the next few days we are going to receive more information.

This distribution will be somewhat similar to how eligible blind people can receive a digital book reader, or a currency recognizer.

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Interview with Jessica Hipp, the COO of WayAround

Published July 25, 2024 by Tom

One of my big finds this year was the WayTags which let me label things around me, and I discovered how to enhance my travel with WayAround. I had a few conversations with Jessica, and I was just amazed by the creativity people can use WayTags to make their lives easier. I was curious, how was such a great product born and all the ways it is used, so I asked Jessica for an interview, which you can read below.

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Simple Ideas for a More Accessible Headset

Published June 10, 2024 by Tom

The other day I was searching for a headset which I could use for work and entertainment, when I came across the JVC gaming wireless GG-01W. This headset, with a few extra features, adds an extra layer of accessibility. This headset incorporates features which can be a game changer for people with visual impairment and for people with certain physical disabilities, however, these features can be useful for all.

JVC GG-01W headset

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WayAround: A Practical Tagging System

Published April 28, 2024 by Tom

Recently I have come across a simple and practical system to tag objects for blind people, called WayAround. It has practically unlimited uses, and people are coming up with all kinds of innovative ways of making their lives easier. I was wondering if I could use it during my trips to simplify a few things.

But first let me explain how it works. There are 7 different types of WayTags that you can attach to any objects. Then you take the WayAround phone app, touch the tag to the phone and add any text. With the same app, you can also read tags, you just touch it to the phone and it will read the text you recorded previously. The uses are unlimited, practically it is up to your creativity. People use it to label cans, spices, food containers, clothes, etc.

the seven different waytags

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Designing an inclusive and accessible alarm clock

Published February 19, 2024 by Tom

Let’s play a design game. The task is to come up with the most accessible, most inclusive alarm clock.

I used to give this task to my classes when I was teaching at IBM, and we had the most thought provoking conversations.

There are no good or bad ideas here. But consider that the more inclusive you make it, the more features you add, the more expensive it will get, at some point it will be unreasonable. But the more you compromise on features, the less people will be able to use it.

Let me set one more rule here, it is a standalone clock. Anything it can do it is part of the clock you design. Otherwise, it would be easy to say that you will just connect to it using your phone and an app, which probably would be your most inclusive solution.

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Why do drive-through ATMs have braille?

Published September 19, 2023 by Tom

Drive-through ATMs with Braille buttons have long perplexed many, giving rise to questions, jokes, and urban legends. After all, blind individuals don’t drive, so why would there be Braille on machines explicitly designed for drivers? As it turns out, the presence of Braille is based on a combination of practical, legal, and manufacturing reasons. This article delves into the explanations behind this seemingly contradictory design choice.

ATM machine

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