Tools for the visually impaired
A Louisville company is working to help the visually impaired stay organized and mobile. LevelStar has developed the Icon, a personal digital assistant that lets users store a wide range of information and listen to it anytime.
The Icon will speak calendar appointments and address information. With 30 gigabytes of storage, users can also store music and audiobooks. It also contains Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities.
The Icon can be inserted into a basic or Braille keyboard/docking station developed by LevelStar so users can input information, such as class notes.
Marc Mulcahy co-founded the company with his father and brother two years ago to fill a need for a device that was portable and could serve as a notetaker.
“We took the best of both worlds,” Mulcahy said. “With the docking station, it’s large and ergonomic enough to take notes for two hours but small enough to carry around with friends. We wanted to build something that you could carry with you everywhere.”
Mulcahy developed the Icon’s proprietary software based on the Linux open-source operating system.
Mulcahy said the assisted-technology market is underserved, and he plans to sell the Icon and its accessories on the company website, levelstar.com. The Icon and docking station will sell for $1,750, with the Icon alone retailing for $1,395.
“I think there are a lot of people that don’t classify themselves as blind but could use this product,” he said. “Our goal is to reach these people.”
LevelStar is privately funded and has four employees.
