In July 2021, I posted Improving Shopping for the Visually Impaired which discussed how Navilens codes on packaging make it easier for visually impaired shoppers to find the product they want.  Navilens codes need a specific app to scan but can be scanned from further away and provide location data.

This week Navilens have launched Accessible QR codes that combine standard QR codes with Navilens to make them easier to scan while still allowing the standard QR code to be scanned.

Across the globe, an immense quantity of QR codes exists, possibly numbering in the trillions. They can be found ubiquitously, from restaurants and coffee shops providing menu access to technical manuals offering detailed instructions for various products. QR codes appear on flyers, granting access to website URLs for additional information, or to schedule appointments, and on product packaging, allowing users to access promotions, among many other applications.

Scanning a QR code poses a challenge for individuals who are blind because it requires precise camera focus at the correct distance on a mobile phone, framing the area containing the QR code, a task that can be challenging at times.

To solve this problem, you can now easily create your own NaviLens Accessible QR Code that combines, in the same space, a special NaviLes 9x9 code and a standard QR code. The special NaviLens code surrounds the QR code, which is placed in the center.

As the NaviLens code can be scanned much better than the QR codes, the combination brings multiple benefits for everybody when the user needs to scan the URL of a QR code, such as:

  • The NaviLens Accessible QR code is much easier to scan than a QR code, even from a further distance and at an extreme angle.
  • When the QR code is read, the NaviLens Apps announce contextualized information about the content of the QR, which is very useful for deciding whether to open the URL or not.
  • The QR code in the center of the NaviLens Accessible QR code can still be read by any QR code reader without the need to use the NaviLens Apps (as with regular QR codes) which is important to achieve massive adoption.

The even better news is that for a limited period of time anyone can create their own NaviLens Accessible QR codes for free, simply by signing up to the NaviLens Accessible QR code portal that you can access by opening this link 

I look forward to seeing Navilens Accessible QR codes used widely to make scanning QR codes easier.