SightCity Exhibitor Presentation 2026: The revolutionary IKONN product series for blind, low-vision and deaf-blind people (O031122)
2026-06-18 21 min
Episode Video
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Description & Show Notes
In this recording from May 27, 2026, Craig Scott of Unwired Things introduces the IKONN product system: a family of accessible smart-home devices for people who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind, controllable via a tactile remote control or app in up to 20 languages.
Craig Scott of Unwired Things presents the IKONN product series, designed to make common household devices accessible for blind, low vision and deafblind users at affordable price points.
The core idea behind IKONN arose from the question of how to make household devices more affordable and up-to-date for visually impaired users. Rather than building a new family of dedicated talking products, Unwired Things took a hub-based approach: the products themselves do not speak; instead a central controller or smartphone app handles all audio output. This allows the same range of products to be made available across many languages simply by updating the controller or app, without needing country-specific hardware variants.
The system has two interfaces. The Tactile IKONN controller is a screenless, audio-driven device with soft tactile buttons, a battery life of five to ten days and support for around 20 languages. It operates on an iPod-style audio menu interface. The my IKONN app runs on iOS and Android, has full TalkBack and VoiceOver support, and offers a large-format display mode specifically designed for low vision users who wish to preserve their remaining sight longer rather than switching immediately to audio-only solutions. Via the smartphone, the system also connects to cochlear implants, hearing aids and Braille displays, making it usable by deafblind users.
The current IKONN product range, launched in 2024/2025, consists of eight products: a kitchen scale, bathroom scale, room thermometer/hygrometer, kitchen thermometer, oven/grill thermometer, a one-and-a-half-metre flexible tape measure for sewing and body measurements, digital calipers and an angle measure. The calipers and angle measure are highlighted as particularly novel: calipers allow blind users to measure irregular objects that cannot be measured on a flat tape measure, while the angle measure supports both professional woodworking and geometry learning for children. The newest product, released today at SightCity, is the colour sensor – a plug-in unit for the controller only. Later in 2025/2026, a blood pressure monitor and a five-metre metal tape measure are planned, alongside new features for the controller and app.
Products are available in 14 European countries via resellers and distributors, with three to four further country launches expected by end of year. Multiple controllers and apps can share the same devices simultaneously, making the system well suited to shared households or care communities. Prices range from around 50 to 100 euros per product; the colour sensor is approximately 150–180 euros. All product information and short instruction videos are available in 15 languages at ikonn.info.
A question from the audience asked whether IKONN products are available in Spain. Craig Scott confirmed that ONCE, the Spanish blind organisation, is currently testing the products, but there is no active Spanish reseller yet. It is possible to purchase from, for example, France and install the Spanish-language version of the app or controller.
About SightCity
SightCity is Europe's largest trade fair for aids and services for the blind and visually impaired. The annual event brings together exhibitors, professionals, and community members to showcase the latest innovations in accessibility technology and services.
SightCity is Europe's largest trade fair for aids and services for the blind and visually impaired. The annual event brings together exhibitors, professionals, and community members to showcase the latest innovations in accessibility technology and services.
SightCity:
- Website: www.sightcity.net
- Email: info@sightcity.net
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This recording was created during SightCity 2025 from the online exhibitor presentations. The copyright of the recordings belongs to SightCity GmbH. Any use, reproduction, or distribution by third parties is prohibited without express written permission. The processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the GDPR.
Copyright © 2025 SightCity GmbH. All rights reserved.
Transcript
Welcome to the recording of the exhibitor
presentation from May 27, 2026.
The revolutionary IKONN product series for blind
low vision and deafblind people
Unwired Things
Enjoy the presentation.
hello everybody
and welcome and
sorry to keep you all waiting
I had some difficulties with the network
connectivity this afternoon
so
I'm just going to to talk a little bit about what
IKONN actually is
I think we've been out on the market now for
close to a year now we started
just launching the products in
Denmark and then we've been gradually
expanding into other countries
we have around
fourteen countries now where
we have resellers and distributors
we we started this product development
some years ago
with asking the question of
what could we do to make household
devices for for visually impaired users
more affordable and
A Little more up to Date that
led to a quite a long design process
where we involved a lot of blind and
visually impaired users asking for input
and trying to to find a way to
firstly make
some new products accessible perhaps
that that were not previously accessible
and at the same time trying to make things
perhaps aesthetically a bit more pleasing so they
they became products that the the whole family
was interested in using
we ended up deciding rather than making
A Whole new family of of Talking products
For for blind users to to to take a different approach
and to to make use of all of the the newer
developments with the Smart products
and Internet of things
technologies all of these things that have come
in the last Ten years
and and build on that
to to create a whole new range of products
and the way that we Went about doing that
was to say well
instead of the products themselves Talking
let's create a solution where we have a hub
or a remote control which can do the speaking
there's
A few advantages from
from taking that approach One is that you can put
A Lot more intelligence into the product
and and and a lot more
instructions and help for the user
another is that it becomes
A very flexible
Solution so you can keep on Adding new products
that that can can talk via this remote control
and from a
A Market point of view it also allows us to
much more efficiently and economically
Create solutions for for new countries so by
Adding for Example
Lithuanian or slovakian or french or whatever
other language to this remote control
we're able to make all of the products in our range
now Speak lithuanian french
whatever language we we Choose to put on there
and that that is
something that you know makes this economically
much
well a much more beneficial system
It means that the the products themselves
Cost somewhat less than traditional
assisted products
but it also means that you know
partly because of that we're actually able to to bring
out some some products that I would say are Probably
in many countries
never been available before for a blind user
Like a calipers or an angle measure things like that
by Virtual of the fact that we don't need to make a
slovakian speaking
tape measure or or angle measure or anything like that
so it's it's been a way
to to create a A Whole new range of products
so I'm gonna show a A Short video
which just kinda gives a
summary of of what's in the products themselves
and then you can
we'll go through a couple of the other features
of the Series and
let you ask questions after that
so One Moment
While I just share the correct screen here
Experience everyday independence with IKONN – a family
of connected products
designed for anyone with low Vision
and for the people around them
with IKONN You decide how to connect
use the my IKONN app or the Tactile IKONN controller
depending on what Works best for you
and get large
high-contrast measurements on your phone or tablet
or clear audio feedback in your own language
with IKONN compatible products
You can measure your projects
Monitor your weight or temperature and
Air quality at home
and Cook safely with Smart kitchen Tools
thermometers and Timers
add the colour
Sensor to sort Clothes and select Outfits
with Simple design
Tactile buttons and step-by-step support Videos
IKONN makes it easy to get started
Download the free
my IKONN app connect your products in seconds
and customize Colors contrast
and units to Match how you see and hear the World
with IKONN every product Works together in a Single
seamless ecosystem built for independence
confidence and ease of use
IKONN makes everyday products accessible for everyone
learn more at ikonn.info
alright
so hopefully you were able to to see that video
as I played it
now as you can see in there
we we showed the controller
but along the way
we've also introduced
the my IKONN app
so
this Idea of having a Central remote control
we've Extended out and we said okay well
if we follow this process then
then the controller can be many different things
It can be our Tactile
remote controller but it can also be a smartphone
and by following that that approach then
that the smartphone
Solution of course is is suitable for
A certain number of of blind
users who are able to use TalkBack and VoiceOver
but it also extends the relevance of these products
to to low Vision users as well
so it it means that you know rather than having to
if you're not able to see things very well
but you do have some eyesight
then you can use this
App with a large display format
and and continue to use whatever
remaining sight you have for another Five years
instead of having to Switch to to
Audio based solutions
so that's been
A Huge benefit for a lot of low Vision users
and then the the
the last thing is that with that
Smartphone based solution
that you would see there
then we're also able to connect that
to a bunch of other
solutions such as cochlear implant hearing AIDS
even Braille display so
so for deaf blind
Users this actually provides a completely new level of
of opportunity to to connect
to a lot of these products
so the
if you like the the the the Benefits
you know for for the end
User is is that these these are sort of a A Family
of quite
usable and and
accessible products
we have the very high quality audio Assistance
built into
Them Explaining how to use each product if there's
A low battery they're
informed about the low battery
how to change the battery
but the design also makes these products
something that the Rest of the family is happy to use
so it's also something
that creates inclusion in a A New way
the last thing then is is just
as I Said earlier the the the new functionality
that that you make available to people which
economically couldn't really be produced previously
at least not at a
A Price that would ever be acceptable to an end user
there are a few solutions out there
which have maybe been built
reliant on the State paying for them
and and then you know it's it's priced at
you know hundreds or thousands of Euros but
that's not really a sustainable
Solution if we're trying to
to build products that that Aim to Address
blind and visually impaired people around the World
because that's
Simply not available in most countries
and then you know
from a societal point of view I mean the
the big thing really with
with doing this is that we make more of these products
accessible for people also financially accessible
and
and give them a greater level of independence at home
and that's really what this has all been about
so as I mentioned we have two
two Ways of of addressing the
the the the products
the products themselves you Saw in the video
or Heard a little bit about them in the video
I would recommend
anybody who's interested in the products in in detail
to to look on our homepage
where we have more detailed
Information about each product and some Short Videos
that is on the ikonn.info
Website and there we have in about fifteen languages
Product information
so so as I Said the the the
remote control
that we've developed
that's aimed at at blind users
so it has soft Tactile
Buttons and operates
I suppose you could Consider it a little bit like a
iPod type Style audio
Menu interface for anybody WHO remembers the iPod
it's it's purely audio driven
so there's no screen on the device
It can be recharged
it's got a battery Life
of about sort of between Five and Ten Days depending on
on how much people use it
we can also update it via an app and
the last thing is that
You can change the language on the device
so so it can be switched to any of about
twenty different languages at the Moment
with with more on the way
now the other thing which I mentioned was the
the my IKONN app
sorry I'm just flicking here by Mistake
so so that Runs on ios and android so so any
Apple iphone
or ipad of the
at least in the last Five or Six years
will will run the the app
It has full TalkBack and VoiceOver support
now it is Possible you know today to
to find an app
somewhere or rather that Works with a kitchen scale
perhaps and and if you're Lucky then
there's some VoiceOver in it
but you know as maybe
any of you who've worked with this before would know
then you know that Sometimes the accessibility
is a little bit patchy or
A New version comes out and they forgot to check
whether it worked with VoiceOver
so so rarely these Apps are actually
developed in a dedicated way
really to support VoiceOver
and with the Intention of being really
there for blind users so
so that's also
A Key difference with this app is it it's
it's Central centered around
low Vision users
we also have about twenty languages
supported in the app
at the Moment with more on the way
the the big Deal here I think also
as I mentioned earlier is for for low Vision users
who in a
way in some Ways
were not really serviced
by any of the solutions out there previously
that there's of course you have some scales
and a couple of products
that might have a high contrast
Screen on them
but there's still a Limit to how big those could be
driven by you know just the physical size
of many products so by
doing this solution with the app and the large format
Displays you know we can really sort of make
A A very very large
Display of each measurement Value from you know
Thermometer or
tape measure or whatever it is
which just Leaves people
with the possibility to to use whatever
remaining eyesight they have for you know some
some more years
and then as I Said also the the deaf blind
accessibility is something that I think is
is completely new for for many
being able to use this together with
you know hearing Aid
cochlear implant or braille tablet
so I'm not going to to sort of you know do like a A
A A detailed run through of every product
because I think it's it's better
you know with the the materials that we have
on the Webpage people can read it in detail
or Watch the video
about the things that they're interested in I just
List up though you know the products that we have
at Present on the market and and a little bit about
what we're intending
so so last year we released
Eight different Accessories
under the the IKONN brand so that's
Starting with a A Kitchen scale Bathroom scale
A Room thermometer hygrometer
A Kitchen thermometer
or Oven Grill thermometer I guess you could Call it
then a One point Five meter
flexible tape measure for for doing
Hobbies sewing body measurements and things like that
For for clothing
on the top of that then we added a
something which I think is quite unusual for for many
that's which is the
calipers and the angle measure so we had a very
A large level of interest
in those two products because they're
they're something
rather unique
and so for anybody doing
Sort of detailed work
It could be professionally or on a hobby level
you know where you need to measure small things
but also irregular objects then the calipers
are actually a great solution for blind users
Cause it's very difficult to measure
something on a tape measure
if it's not completely Flat
so so
just using the caliper jaws
has turned out to be a great solution
For a lot of people
we've also had
quite a bit of
interest in the angle measure so obviously
something for for measuring Angles is is
interesting
For you know people doing Stuff like woodworking
but the other interesting use is for for children
so anybody Learning
Geometry or trying to get a
A A Concept of of Angles and geometry
trigonometry in mathematics
It it helps a lot to get that that perception
of of Angles working with with the angle measure
and then the last product we released last year is the
forehead/fever
Infrared thermometer so it's a A forehead thermometer
with
combined Ear the Moment of function
You can also point it at objects to measure up to
about a hundred degrees so to see if something
on the stove is boiling
this year we've just today released the
colour sensor so so that's
the only One of the products that doesn't work
with both the app
and the controller so
it's a plug-in unit to go with the controller
so so that's
being released across europe today
and then later in the year we're expecting to Release
A few more products a Blood pressure meter a A Metal
tape measure so a longer Five meter tape measure
as well as some new features
within the the app and the controller so
taking these products that we have
we're also able to to keep on Adding some new
interesting features to
just to make them more useful
to people in in different Ways
so so that's a very Short summary of of
what we've released so far
the products as I Said they're available in about
fourteen countries now and on in on our
ikonn.info
Homepage you can see the list of distributors
I expect to Release in another
three to four countries in the next
few Months so so we'll be
yeah Covering a fairly large part of europe
by the the end of the year
as I Said it's Possible to to update the app
to to use different languages
or or update the controller
to to use different languages
it's also
and this is an interesting thing for some people
You can multiple Controllers or Apps can share
the same devices so you know when I share in a shared
Community or household
where you perhaps have more than One person
they can each use their own app
or controller
together with these products as
it's not like it's a one to one
so we have some Situations you know where there's
A in a shared community
People have One kitchen scale in a shared kitchen
and then everybody
just connects to it when it Suits them with their own
App or or controller
the prices
of course a little bit varied from country to country
there's all sorts of differences in europe with VAT
and reimbursement and different things but generally
speaking everything is in the range from so fifty to
A hundred Euros
I think the colour sensors
A little bit more
it's around a hundred and fifty Euros
in most countries
hundred and eighty in that sort of price range
so fairly
economical compared with many traditional
assistive devices
so with that I think that's as many sort of
questions as sorry as many sort of
basic information Pieces that
I think I Need to share with you but
you're very welcome to ask any questions
and i'll be more than happy to answer them here
so there was one question
whether the products are available in Spain so –
the the the spanish
blind organisation are actually
Testing the products at the Moment
so so we don't have
You could say a distributor
Selling them actively in Spain
It is Possible
I guess to to buy it from elsewhere
For Example from france
and then just to install spanish onto the
the controller or
use the spanish version of the app so so in that sense
it's Possible to to use it with spanish
but we don't have a
Spanish reseller in Place at the Moment
great then
if there are no other questions then
thank you very much for your time and interest
and I Wish you all a great day
thank you very much for your for attending and
bye for now
we hope you enjoyed this presentation
For more information
visit sightcity.net/O031122
thank you and see you at the next SightCity