Frequently asked questions​

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Explore our FAQs to find quick insights about LibreTactile, our projects, and how you can get involved.

LibreTactile

What is LibreTactile?
LibreTactile is an open organization advancing human computer interaction technologies through participatory innovation. We develop tools like the TOMAT Navigator and Wearable Sensations to improve accessibility of information and technology systems.
An open organization is a type of organization that values transparency, collaboration, inclusivity, and community. It means that everyone in the organization, regardless of their position, can contribute their ideas and work towards a common goal. The goal is to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, which leads to a more innovative and effective organization.

We develop open-source tactile technologies.

Touching ideas:
  1. Human-Centered Ideas
    Assistive technology designed for real needs—accessible, adaptive, and empowering.
  2. Embodied Ideas
    Interacting with ideas physically—through multimodal, embodied interfaces.
  3. Interconnected Ideas
    Open systems that link ideas and people for participatory problem-solving.
To connect researchers, developers, users, and enthusiasts across fields to equitably research, develop, distribute, and support open-source tactile technologies for human-computer interaction.

While each project is unique, we prioritize these design principles:

  • Equitable: Creating technology that considers the diverse needs and perspectives of all people, especially those who are historically excluded. It involves collaborating with communities to understand their needs and incorporating their feedback into the technology design.
  • Open-source: Anyone in the world can build, support, improve, and sell the hardware so it can mature over time.
  • Modular: Simple and scalable designs that allow for different configurations to build more complex tactile human-computer interfaces.
  • Low-cost: Ensure accessibility for all users.
  • User-friendly: For users, hobbyists, makers, technicians, clinicians, and researchers.
  • Easy to build: With basic software or electronic skills, tools, and components.
  • Easy to modify: To facilitate innovation and adaptation.

“I am, because we are; and since we are therefore I am.” – expression of Ubuntu by J. S. Mbiti

  • The concept of interconnection and interdependence fosters an appreciation and sense of responsibility towards others.

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”- Issac Newton

  • The open source principles, which empower people with the collective knowledge and achievements of humanity.
  • Communities like Makers Making Change, which help skilled individuals assist others.
We would love your help!
 
Whether you’re passionate about:
  • Creating: Code, customize or build hardware, graphics, or documentation
  • Researching: Sharing insights, testing or extending prototypes
  • Sharing: Promoting, translating, creating or managing collaborations and events
  • Dreaming: Bringing new perspectives to our work
Here’s how to start:
  1. Explore our GitHub contribution guidelines
  2. Try a prototype and share your feedback
  3. Share the word!
  4. Contact us for partnership ideas.
Small efforts add up—thanks for joining us!

Projects

The TOMAT Navigator is an open-hardware device that helps blind and visually impaired users navigate websites through touch. It works like a tactile map, paired with a screen reader for audio feedback.

Not yet. You can build your own using our open-source files or follow updates on our Projects page.

Yes! All designs, code, and documentation are free to use, modify, and share under open licenses. Check our GitHub for details.

Absolutely. Our tools are modular by design—whether you’re a researcher, developer, or maker, you’re welcome to customize them.

Open source

The Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA) defines Open Source Hardware (OSHW) as:

“… hardware whose design is made publicly available so that anyone can study, modify, distribute, make, and sell the design or hardware based on that design.”

To learn more about open source hardware licensing and certification, you can check out the OSHWA FAQ. Their resources have been invaluable in the development of this project.

Hardware licensing can be more complex than software licensing, as copyright laws treat hardware differently. It’s not advisable to use a software license, such as MIT, for hardware designs. Instead, the CERN has created an open-source hardware license (OHL) that follows the same principles as open-source software licenses and is compliant with the OSHWA definition of open hardware. This license is applicable to both hardware and software.

Our projects are licensed under the CERN Open Hardware License version 2, which has three variants: strong reciprocal (S), weak reciprocal (W), and permissive (P). We’ve chosen the permissive ( CERN-OHL-P v2) variant for our designs.

“CERN-OHL-P is a permissive licence. It allows people to take your code, relicense it and use it without any obligation to distribute the sources when they ship a product”. – CERN OHL FAQ.

Through a “delayed open source” approach developed in partnership with Axelys (Quebec’s nonprofit tech transfer experts).
 
  1. Now: Initially release of projects under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
  2. Future: Transition to permissive open-source (Apache/CERN-OHL) after completing Axelys‘ technology validation and sustainable innovation model.
This balanced framework:
✓ Enables full research access and community adaptation
✓ Protects against patent trolling and predatory commercialization
✓ Guarantees perpetual public access to these vital tools

More questions

We’re all ears!

For quick answers:

Your questions and feedback don’t just help us—they spark ideas for our whole community. So don’t hesitate to reach out!

Ready to redefine the future of technology together?

The future of interaction is collaborative, inclusive, and human-centered. At LibreTactile, we bring together users, academia, nonprofits, and the tech industry to co-create accessible, intuitive technologies. Join us in shaping a future where innovation aligns with equity and empowers everyone.

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