When Victoria Watts’ son Cyrus was born blind due to a rare genetic eye disease in 2016, the mother of four readily admits that her knowledge of the community was limited to say the least.
As she observed how her son navigated daily life through touch, she noticed that one particular challenge was being able to independently identify and use everyday products.
From those concerns, CyR.U.S. Tags was born, a system of tactile symbols and raised QR codes that Watts developed to make products instantly recognizable by touch and the product information digitally accessible through a QR code scan to improve safety and independence.
Why was braille ruled out for the tags?
Watts ruled out braille for the tags, stating that less than 10 percent of legally blind people in the U.S. read braille and that it can take up to two years to master and is technically challenging to implement on packaging due to the space restrictions.
What are some of the symbols?
Watts believes her system of symbols are intuitive, likening them to emojis, and can easily be learned. For example, in skin care an upside down triangle means eye cream, a half moon is night cream and a hand with a circle in the middle is hand cream. According to Watts, they’re also a good fit for those with dyslexia, as well as foreign language speakers.
When are the tags expected to be available?
This year, Watts, is releasing the first three CyR.U.S. Tags kits across skin care, self care and home care. The self-funded business, which is being advised by Toure Capital, will start as direct-to-consumer, but Watts is in talks with retailers too.
What do you get in the CyR.U.S. Tag kits?
Each touch tag symbol features a peel off, adhesive backing making it easy to apply to a product for instant identification. They are also waterproof for use in the shower or bath.
How much will the tags cost?
Each pack containing two sheets of tags will be priced at $14.99.
