Feelobject and 3D printing in the service of disability

While 3D printing is developing more and more to accomodate disabled with things such as 3D printed prosthetics, the French startup Feelobject is doing well with its Virtuoz solution. It offers a tactile and interactive 3D printed plan that helps people with visual impairments better understand their environment. Whether at home, at work, in transport etc. Feelobject won the first edition of the Startup Contest at the 3D Print Congress & Exhibition in Lyon back in June! We met one of the co-founders, Sylvain Huin, to find out more about the solution created and how 3D technologies can help people who are suffering from a disability today.

3DN: Can you introduce yourself and your link to 3D printing?

Sylvain Huin, co-founder of Feelobject

My name is Sylvain Huin, I am president and co-founder of Feelobject. In Toulouse in 2015, we created Feelobject with Céline FAVY-HUIN and Pascal GARRIN. The team relies on its own Engineering Studio to imagine, design, test and manufacture the objects of the future through professional 3D printing. We have strong values ​​and we are involved in different actions to promote the intelligent inclusion of fragility and difference in business. At the end of 2016, this led us to design and market high-quality, socially-customisable objects made using 3D printing technology.

3DN: What is your Virtuoz solution?

Virtuoz is the first tactile and interactive plan that allows visually impaired and blind people to move independently in buildings. It represents a raised and simplified building floor plan. In this respect, the indispensable marks are added in the form of symbols. Through touch, the person gradually discovers the space and creates a clear mental image of his environment. By pressing the symbols you obtain sound information that enriches her understanding of the place. It allows access to multiple spaces thanks to a patented plan change system.