Tactile Engineering
Tactile Engineering develops the Cadence Tactile Graphics Tablet, a refreshable braille display that renders dynamic moving graphics for people with blindness and visual impairments. The company serves education, workforce, and government customers across the United States through direct sales and a Touchable retail partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLafayette, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tactile Engineering does
Tactile Engineering, Inc. is a Lafayette, Indiana-based assistive technology company that designs and manufactures the Cadence Tactile Graphics Tablet, a refreshable braille display for people with blindness and visual impairments (BVI). The Cadence is positioned as the first tactile device able to render dynamic, moving graphics beneath the user's fingers, using proprietary braille dot actuators with a refresh rate of up to three times per second, a 384-dot screen (48 cells of 8-dot braille across four lines of 12 cells), Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy, and USB Type-C connectivity. Configurations range from a single pocket-sized unit to a four-tablet "Quad" desktop setup, paired with the CadenceOS companion application that controls hardware configuration and provides access to braille reading, graphics viewing, and content creation apps.
The company targets three verticals: Education (mainstream and specialist schools serving BVI students), Workforce (BVI individuals in technical workplaces needing STEM and collaborative tool access), and Government (state and federal agencies procuring disability accommodations). Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of the Cadence tablet in various configurations, with CadenceOS and associated apps representing a secondary recurring software stream. Distribution occurs through direct sales via the company website and a retail partnership with Touchable (gotouchable.com). Pricing is not publicly disclosed.
Tactile Engineering is a privately held corporation, founded in 2013, with a headcount of 1-10. The company has raised approximately $1.65M in disclosed funding through an August 2022 SEC Form D exempt offering ($150,000 sold of a $500,000 maximum) and a February 2023 round of $1,500,000 led by Purdue Foundry with participation from Elevate Ventures, QCA Ventures, and Queen City Angels. The product integrates with the NVDA open-source screen reader and the company maintains GDPR and CCPA privacy compliance frameworks.
Tactile Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tactile Engineering
- Legal name
- Tactile Engineering, Inc.
- Website
- https://tactile-engineering.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tactile Engineering develops the Cadence Tactile Graphics Tablet, a refreshable braille display that renders dynamic moving graphics for people with blindness and visual impairments. The company serves education, workforce, and government customers across the United States through direct sales and a Touchable retail partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tactile Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Assistive Technology / Refreshable Braille Displays
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Assistive & Accessibility Input Devices (Switches, Adaptive Controllers, Braille Keyboards) (HDACAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF), Assistive Vision & Screen Access (Screen Readers, Magnification, Braille Displays/Notetakers) (EDAFAKAD), Graphics Tablets, Styluses & Pen Displays (HDACAFAD)
Keywords
Where Tactile Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lafayette
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tactile Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of Cadence tactile graphics tablets and related hardware. The device comes in configurations of one, two, or four tablets connected together.
- CadenceOS and Apps: Revenue generated from CadenceOS software and associated applications for the tablet platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom configurations based on user needs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Tactile Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tactile Engineering designs, develops, and manufactures the Cadence Tactile Graphics Tablet — a pocket-sized, modular refreshable braille device with a 384-dot screen (48 cells of 8-dot braille across four lines of 12 cells each) that is the first tactile device able to display graphics that move and change beneath the user's fingers. The hardware is paired with the proprietary CadenceOS software, which controls one to four connected tablets and provides access to braille reading, graphics viewing, and content applications. Configurations of one, two, or four tablets are offered to scale from mobile use to a desktop-style 24-cell-wide display.
Product overview
Tactile Engineering offers a single unified product line centered on the Cadence tablet, a tactile graphics device for people with blindness and visual impairments. The portfolio consists of the Cadence tablet hardware and CadenceOS companion software. The tablet comes in different form factor configurations (Mini, Wide, Tall, Quad) depending on screen size needs, ranging from a pocket-sized solo handheld to a four-tablet desktop quartet. The CadenceOS software controls the tablet(s) and provides access to apps for braille reading, graphics viewing, and content creation. The system enables users to connect one to four tablets for different use cases—from mobile access to detailed desktop viewing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cadence: The Cadence Tactile Graphics Tablet - a refreshable braille tablet that displays tactile graphics for people with blindness and visual impairments. Features include multi-line braille display, real-time graphics, and modular design supporting 1-4 tablet configurations.
Products and services
- Cadence Tactile Graphics Tablet A pocket-sized tactile graphics tablet featuring a 384-dot refreshable screen (48 cells of 8-dot braille in four lines of 12 cells each) with Bluetooth 5.0 and USB Type-C connectivity. Described as the first tactile device able to display dynamic graphics that move and change beneath the fingers, including real-time graphs, live camera feeds, and animated content. Sold in one-, two-, or four-tablet configurations (the latter forming a desktop-style 24-cell-wide display). Intended for blind and visually impaired users in education, workforce, and government contexts.
- CadenceOS Lightweight computer application that controls the Cadence tablet, automatically identifies connected tablets, and enables configuration of one, two, or four tablet setups. Provides access to Tactile Engineering's apps and allows users to switch control between a computer keyboard and the tablet's own keys. Used by BVI end users and educators to operate the Cadence hardware and access braille/graphics content.
- Cadence Quad (four-tablet configuration) Configuration of four connected Cadence tablets providing eight lines of 24 cells each for expanded desktop-style viewing. Intended for detailed tactile graphics, infographics, and complex tabular or graphical content in workplace and education settings.
Quantifiable outcome
- Paper textbook braille conversion costs reduced from up to $50,000 per textbook to digital distribution
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tactile Engineering
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tactile Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Tactile Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tactile Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HumanWare: HumanWare is a long-established manufacturer of refreshable braille displays (BrailleNote, BrailleEdge) and other assistive technologies for blind and visually impaired users. It is the closest head-to-head competitor to Tactile Engineering's Cadence in the multi-line refreshable braille category.
- Vispero (Freedom Scientific): Vispero owns Freedom Scientific, maker of the Focus line of braille displays and the JAWS screen reader used widely by blind professionals. It directly competes with Cadence in the multi-line braille display and screen-reader-integrated accessibility market.
- Orbit Research: Orbit Research designs and manufactures refreshable braille displays and related assistive hardware for the BVI market, including the Braille Trailblazer and the Graphiti tactile graphics display. It overlaps directly with Cadence's positioning in tactile graphics and multi-line braille.
- American Printing House for the Blind (APH): APH is a nonprofit that produces educational tools and tactile graphics solutions (including the Monarch tactile graphics device) for blind students and distributes federally funded materials. It serves the same Education customer segment that Cadence targets.
- ViewPlus: ViewPlus manufactures tactile embossers, the IVEO tactile graphics system, and accessible science/STEM products for BVI users and educators. It overlaps with Cadence in tactile graphics and STEM accessibility for education and workforce customers.
- HIMS International: HIMS (now HIMS International, formerly HIMS Inc.) manufactures BrailleSense Notetakers and BrailleEDGE braille displays for the BVI market. It directly competes with Tactile Engineering in the multi-line refreshable braille and notetaker product categories.
Emerging players
- Dot Inc. Dot Inc. develops refreshable braille hardware (Braille Smart Watch, Dot Pad multi-line tactile display) serving blind and low-vision users worldwide. Its Dot Pad product intersects with Cadence's dynamic multi-line tactile graphics positioning, though from a different form factor and price point.
- Eurobraille: Eurobraille (France) builds the Esys line of braille displays and Notetakers for blind users. It is a smaller specialist manufacturer with overlapping product functionality to Cadence, particularly in the multi-line refreshable braille category.
- NV Access (NVDA): NV Access produces NVDA, the most widely used free open-source screen reader that Cadence integrates with via USB/Bluetooth. While NVDA is a software screen reader rather than a braille display, it is the primary interoperable ecosystem that drives demand for compatible braille hardware.
Broad incumbents
- Apple (Accessibility): Apple's accessibility suite (VoiceOver braille support, Made for iPhone hearing aids, accessibility across iOS/macOS) addresses overlapping BVI needs through general-purpose consumer hardware. It is a broad incumbent defining baseline accessibility expectations that customers compare against dedicated devices like Cadence.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tactile Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceTactile Engineering compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Tactile Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tactile Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Tactile Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tactile Engineering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tactile Engineering
What does Tactile Engineering do?
Tactile Engineering designs, develops, and manufactures the Cadence Tactile Graphics Tablet — a pocket-sized, modular refreshable braille device with a 384-dot screen (48 cells of 8-dot braille across four lines of 12 cells each) that is the first tactile device able to display graphics that move and change beneath the user's fingers. The hardware is paired with the proprietary CadenceOS software, which controls one to four connected tablets and provides access to braille reading, graphics viewing, and content applications. Configurations of one, two, or four tablets are offered to scale from mobile use to a desktop-style 24-cell-wide display.
Is Tactile Engineering a public or private company?
Tactile Engineering is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Tactile Engineering founded?
Tactile Engineering was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tactile Engineering based?
Tactile Engineering is headquartered in Lafayette, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tactile Engineering make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are cadenceOS and Apps.
Who are Tactile Engineering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HumanWare, Vispero (Freedom Scientific), Orbit Research, American Printing House for the Blind (APH), ViewPlus and HIMS International. Emerging players are Dot Inc., Eurobraille and NV Access (NVDA). Apple (Accessibility) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Tactile Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tactile Engineering.
What industry is Tactile Engineering in?
Tactile Engineering's product category is Assistive Technology / Refreshable Braille Displays. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAFAL, Assistive & Accessibility Input Devices (Switches, Adaptive Controllers, Braille Keyboards), with a secondary code of EDAKAIAF, Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification). Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3845.