Zappar’s accessibility-enhanced QR codes can now be scanned using the Envision App, available on both iOS and Android, expanding the reach to hundreds of thousands of people who are blind or who have low vision.
The new accessibility-enhanced QR codes are already incorporated into a select number of Unilever’s homecare products, including Persil in the UK
Envision App users can instantly scan the new accessibility-enhanced QR codes directly from within the main menu of the app.
London Sep 28, 2023 - Today Zappar, in partnership with Envision, is pleased to announce the integration of their Accessible QR codes (AQR) into the award-winning Envision App, expanding the reach of this new assistive technology to hundreds of thousands of blind and partially sighted people around the world.
Already on millions of Unilever Persil packs across the UK, this innovation continues the conversation around enhanced, accessible QR on packs, helping blind and partially sighted communities more easily access product information from product packaging both in a store and at home.
Zappar's Accessible QR solution, Zapvision incorporates a unique D3 ‘dot-dot-dash’ pattern (patent pending) around a traditional QR code. This pattern increases the scanning distance of a standard QR printed at 15mm on pack by 7x to announce the product category, and 4x for detailed information related to the product. Giving blind and partially sighted people access to all the information available on pack - instructions, ingredients, safety warnings, recycling information, promotions etc. The information presented is provided in a structured way designed with blind and partially sighted users in mind and interacts with the device’s configured accessibility features, displaying information in larger text or via audio.
“We are thrilled to partner with Envision App to bring our Accessible QR codes (AQR) to an even wider audience," said Caspar Thykier, CEO at Zappar. "This collaboration is at the core of our mission to bring greater accessibility to product information on packaging for those who are blind or partially sighted while utilising the apps they are most comfortable with and already use in their daily lives. This is just the start of the journey, but is another important step in making product information on packaging more equitable, to everyone, everywhere."
To access the functionality within the Envision App, users can navigate to the ‘Scan Accessible QR’ button from the app’s main menu and effortlessly scan the AQR codes on the front of selected Unilever products. They then hear an audio narration of all the information available on the packaging in a structured and accurate way.
Accessible QR codes are powered by Zappar’s Zapvision technology which as well as being integrated into the class-leading Envision app, is available in Microsoft’s SeeingAI app and the free-to-download Zapvision app on iOS and importantly is also available as a royalty-free SDK for developers to integrate into their own app.
Karthik Mahadevan, CEO at Envision said: “We are delighted to add the Accessible QR scanner to our App and to give our users more options on how to access product information on their terms. We hope that consumer goods companies the world over adopt this new standard of accessibility.”