Banca Sella is the first bank in Italy and Europe to use a QR Code for blind and visually impaired people

The innovative TQ Braille system, developed by Piedmont company Arti Grafiche Parini, enables people with visual impairments to listen to content via screen reader systems such as iOS’ VoiceOver and Android’s TalkBack.

„Banca Sella is the first bank in Italy and Europe to adopt TQ Braille, an innovative tactile identification tool developed by Piedmont-based company Arti Grafiche Parini that, thanks to a QR Code, makes data and information about products, services and other initiatives accessible to blind and visually impaired people.” – according to the press release.

Starting from October, in fact, Banca Sella, with the support of UICI (the Italian blind and visually impaired association), is including in its printed materials compatible with TQ Braille technology, such as information and notices, a frame punched in Braille font that allows a QR code to be located. This code redirects to a web page or document accessible through screen reader systems, such as iOS’ VoiceOver and Android’s TalkBack, that can read and play an audio of the content, enabling people with visual impairments to independently find out about the bank’s products, services, and other initiatives and to make better-informed choices and decisions.

The World Health Organization estimates that there are approximately 2 million blind and visually impaired people in Italy, equal to 3.3 percent of the population, and nearly 30 million throughout Europe, or 4.1 percent of the total.

The introduction of TQ Braille is another initiative in line with Sella Group’s new strategic plan “Make an impact” which aims to generate a positive effect, in terms of inclusiveness, sustainability and attention to the customer.