EnableLens: Your smart ‘glasses’ for every inaccessible website.

Over het initiatief / About the initiative

In welke fase zit jouw initiatief? / In what stage is your initiative?

Uitgewerkt conceptfase

Heb je jouw initiatief al gevalideerd? / Did you validate your initiative?

Yes, EnableLens has been validated during a program at the HAN University of Applied Sciences. Through usability tests, visually impaired adults tested the prototype in their own environments and provided very positive feedback. They were enthusiastic about the concept's potential and found its core functions, like describing images and links, to be highly valuable. These tests have provided a clear roadmap of improvements for developing a market-ready product.

Meer informatie over jouw initiatief / More info about your initiative

The Problem: A Digital Maze for Many

Imagine navigating the internet with your ears instead of your eyes. That is the daily reality for hundreds of thousands of people with a visual impairment. They use a “screen reader”: software that reads the text on a website aloud. But what happens when a website is full of buttons that only say “click here”? Or images without a description? The internet then becomes a frustrating maze. This is not an exception, but a widespread problem that leads to digital exclusion.

The Solution: EnableLens – The ‘Interpreter’ in Your Browser

EnableLens is an innovative, AI-driven browser extension that puts control directly back into the hands of the user. Once you’ve installed EnableLens, it acts as a smart ‘interpreter’ that automatically makes any website understandable in the background.

How does that work in practice?

• An image of a product? EnableLens describes what is in the picture, so the screen reader can say: “Image: a pair of red running shoes.”
• An unclear button? EnableLens analyzes the context and translates “Button 123” into “Button: Add to shopping cart.”
• An obstructive pop-up? The tool recognizes it and ensures that you remain in control.

What makes this unique is that the user is not dependent on the website developer. EnableLens works on every website, making the entire internet more accessible, not just a handful of sites.

Wat is er anders/nieuw aan jouw idee/oplossing t.o.v. bestaande oplossingen? / What is different/new about your idea/solution compared to existing solutions??

EnableLens is fundamentally different from existing solutions on several key points:

1. Focus on the User, Not the Company: Most “accessibility overlays” are sold to businesses. The user depends on whether a company has purchased such a (often criticized) tool. EnableLens is for the user. You install it once and have the key to make every website more accessible. The power shifts from the website owner to you.
2. Universal Application: Other tools only work on one specific site. EnableLens is designed to function on all websites, providing a much broader and more consistent improvement of your online experience.
3. Smarter Technology: Many existing tools use simple scripts that often don’t truly solve the underlying problems. EnableLens uses advanced AI (Gemini) that understands the context of a webpage on a much deeper level. This results in more relevant and accurate solutions (like image descriptions).

Wat zijn jouw volgende stappen om het verder te ontwikkelen? / What are your next steps to develop the initiative?

In the coming period, I want to develop EnableLens from a validated prototype into a stable, market-ready product available to everyone. I will achieve this through the following steps:

• • Improve and Expand: Make the tool smarter and more robust so it can recognize and correct a wider range of accessibility issues (in line with official guidelines) on complex websites.
  • Add Personalization: Develop a feature that allows users to create and manage their own profiles. This will enable them to save specific settings and preferences, ensuring the extension optimally meets their individual needs.
  • Create a Tool for Developers: In the long term, I plan to develop a version as an extension for developers (IDEs). This would provide them with direct feedback on the accessibility of their code, tackling the problem at the source.
  • Ensure Privacy and Speed: I will research how to set up our own specialized AI infrastructure. This is crucial to fully guarantee user privacy and to make the tool even faster and more efficient.

Wat heb je nodig om (nog meer) impact te maken met dit initiatief? / What do you need to make (more) impact with this initiative?

To make EnableLens a success and achieve maximum impact, I need support in three areas:

1. 1. Funding (€): Seed capital to set up the necessary technical infrastructure. This includes server costs and the computing power needed to train and specialize our AI model, making it even more accurate and faster than generic models.
   2. Expertise & Mentorship: I am seeking access to:
      • Technical experts in the fields of scalable AI and secure server architecture to guide the platform’s growth.
      • Legal knowledge, particularly concerning the new European AI Act, to ensure full compliance.
      • Entrepreneurs with experience in bringing software (SaaS) to market to assist with strategy.
   3. Network & Visibility: I would like to connect with:
      • Interest groups and organizations for the visually impaired for validation and to reach our target audience.
      • Technology partners and investors who share our mission for an inclusive internet and want to contribute to our growth.