Project Ray: Providing a Ray of Sunshine to the Visually-impaired with NFC

Project Ray enables visually-impaired individuals to use NFC-enabled smartphones to benefit from the advantages of digital services and connected tools to increase their independence, sense of security and social inclusion.

Modern digital products, such as smartphones, offer a wealth of functionality and benefits to their users. However, they’re not easily usable by the visually impaired. Project Ray is seeking to change that. Project Ray created a product called RAYclick that helps the visually impaired communicate with family, friends and caregivers using digital devices like a smartphone.

RAYclick was recognized as an NFC Innovation Award finalist in the “NFC For Good” category by the NFC Forum in 2018. RAYclick is an adhesive NFC sticker with two clickable buttons that include an innovative tactile touch feature. A combination of two such stickers — or four clickable buttons total — attached to the back of any touchscreen device provides a navigation wheel that enables the visually impaired to manage their smart devices and use mobile applications by manipulating the physical buttons with their fingers.

To read more about Project Ray and RAYclick click here.

 RAYclick showcases how NFC technology can enable people with visual impairments to participate more fully in life. Project Ray’s commitment to leveraging NFC to enhance digital technology is shared by the NFC Forum’s Internet of Things (IoT) Special Interest Group (SIG). Our IoT SIG encourages broad adoption of NFC technology by working with key players in the Internet of Things industry. This working group understands the business and technical needs in the IoT area and develops initiatives and marketing programs to support the industry.

To learn more about the Internet of Things click here.

The NFC Forum is proud to showcase NFC-enabled products from around the world. If you’re interested in seeing your product showcased in a short blog post and on the NFC Product Showcase feel free to reach out to SLayne@virtualinc.com. You can also share your product with us on Twitter @nfcforum. With NFC technology on the rise we expect more NFC-enabled products coming out soon.  Share the news and tell us how you’re innovating with NFC.