FACIL’iti launches app to help nearly 800 million people worldwide with dyslexia at CES 2023
FACIL’iti, an assistive tech solutions provider which adapts websites for people with disabilities and seniors, launched its new dyslexia solutions app, MYdys, at the CES 2023 tech event in Las Vegas recently.
MYdys, an honoree for the CES 2023 Innovation Award, is a first of its kind, free dyslexia app that uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to enable users to customise captured textual content from a variety of mediums and adapt it to suit their needs, creating an inclusive opportunity for the millions of adults and children who live with dyslexia.
According to the WHO, nearly 800 million people worldwide, including over 6 million individuals in the UK, have dyslexia, which challenges an individual’s ability to read easily.
People with dyslexia often challenged by everyday tasks ranging from reading the contents of a restaurant menu, a bank statement, legal document, or the text of a teacher’s lesson. MYdys accompanies people with dyslexia in their daily lives, allowing them to simply snap a picture of a text on any medium (book, magazine, signage, computer screen, websites, etc.), anywhere and on the go, and customise its display to meet their needs.
MYdys’ personalised features include: Adjustable font size; spacing of words and lines; highlighting and color-coding of letters and numbers most commonly inverted (i.e. “9” and “6”, or “d” and “b”); change of background/font colour for contrast (based on WCAG 3 Standards), and predefined colour themes and voice synthesis of text.
The app also has translations of 21+ languages (with capabilities for 50+ additional languages in development) and compatibility with complex alphabets such as Latin, Russian and Hebrew (with capabilities for logograms such as Japanese and Chinese in development).
Once customisations are initially set-up by a user, they are saved in their device for any future uses. This “1-click” configuration allows for rapid, real-time use, providing a simple user experience to access a complex and robust suite of adjustments and have the ability to save the customised image to their smartphone for later use.
From reading signs at an airport, filling out a voting ballot, or simply enjoying the newspaper, MYdys was designed to help empower those with dyslexia to live their lives like everyone else, in an inclusive and accessible world.
FACIL’iti is already established in the digital accessibility world with its web solution, providing customisable, accessible and inclusive browsing experiences for those with visual, motor or cognitive impairments.
FACIL’iti’s assistive technology, developed with experts and users, offers more than 1,200 tailor-made adaptations to support the one fourth of internet users who experience difficulties browsing, It has worked on over 500 websites for its global clients, spanning top consumer brands, financial services, healthcare providers, universities and governments.
Frédéric Sudraud, FACIL’iti CEO, said: “From the success and widespread global adoption of our web solution, it has been clear to us that there is a need for greater accessibility and inclusivity when it comes to online browsing, but we wanted to help those with offline day-to-day challenges as well.”
“With MYdys, we are making a tangible difference and improving everyday experiences for those with dyslexia, providing them with more autonomy in accessing general information in all of their activities, whether they be professional, educational, or leisure.”
MYdys is available for free download from the Apple App Store and will be available from the Google Play Store starting in February 2023.
All users will have access to 30 scans per month on the free version. Apaid Discovery Offer will include 600 scans per month and a Premium Offer will include 10,000 scans per month.
A unique mobile app was also launched, dedicated to hearing health news and products.
