SUWON-- FINTIN V1, a smartphone Bluetooth QWERTY communicator for the visually impaired developed by Korean startup ONECOM, won the Best of Innovation award for the most innovative product in the Mobile Devices, Accessories & Apps category, and an Honoree in the Computer Peripherals & Accessories category at CES 2024.
ONECOM‘s FINTIN V1 features Structured Mini QWERTY technology, which modularizes 36 keys into 6 keys. This technology is the world’s first to realize blind typing, which enables keystrokes without checking the position of the keys with the eyes in a Mini QWERTY size that fits in one hand. It also enhances the user experience by using a universal QWERTY arrangement, making it easy for the visually impaired to use ‘FINTIN V1’ with little practice.
Additional features include dedicated keys for screen readers such as VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android), along with haptic feedback, enabling visually impaired users to access the full range of smartphone functions without the need for manual operation.
Visually impaired people face many challenges in the smartphone era, dominated by touch interfaces that require visual confirmation. On-screen keyboards cannot accurately distinguish keys by touch, requiring more effort to input text.
With FINTIN V1, ONECOM has removed this barrier, significantly improving access to social digital connectivity for the visually impaired.
It is ONECOM‘s vision to realize a world where the world’s 285 million visually impaired people can independently socialize with non-disabled people, communicate in real-time, educate, interact, work, live their daily lives, and create content.
The Structured Mini QWERTY technology used in the FINTIN V1 is set to be implemented not only in products designed for the visually impaired but also in a wide range of text input devices. This includes console game controllers, smart TV remote controllers, and controllers for Metaverse/XR headsets, enhancing compatibility and user experience across various platforms.
ONECOM's award-winning products, recognized for their innovation at CES, will be showcased at CES 2024 in Las Vegas on January 9, 2024, at the KOTRA Korea Pavilion in Eureka Park. Among the exhibits will be the FINTIN XPANDER, an innovative solution designed to facilitate rapid text input across various gaming and smart devices.