Ability and ULUND on IKEA Sweden’s Internal Accessibility Day

Ability and ULUND were invited to participate in IKEA Sweden’s internal Accessibility Day. To demonstrate the potential of the future Ability system, we showcased the DotPad software, a tactile display, and our custom-developed iPad app. With the Ability iPad app, users can place a tactile swell image on top of the screen and assign sound feedback to different regions of the image—providing a multisensory experience for exploring visual content.

Figure 1. Ability iPad app with a swell paper image of an IKEA bathroom layout (in perspective).

We prepared tactile renderings based on images from IKEA’s 3D kitchen and bathroom planners. This aligns with the development scenario of online shopping—one of four central scenarios explored in the project.

Figure 2. DotPad with a pin array image of a kitchen layout, front view (no perspective).

The Accessibility Day saw a steady flow of visitors. For many, it was their first experience with tactile pin displays for graphical content, sparking curiosity and interest in accessible design solutions.