Comparison

Submersible Audio Light Sensor vs Tactile Images READER

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Submersible Audio Light Sensor

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The Submersible Audio Light Sensor (SALS) app works with the SALS probe, a Bluetooth Low Energy device, purchased separately from the American Printing House for the Blind. One end of the probe detects light in either air or liquids and the other end coverts detected light to sound (in the form of a tone) and sends the data to the app downloaded on an iPhone or iPad. Use of the app and probe alert a student with visual impairment or blindness that a chemical reaction has taken place (e.g., a precipitate has formed, pH has changed) in a beaker or test tube. Differences in luminance between the surfaces of objects in air (e.g., rocks or pH paper) can also be detected by the probe and app.

About

Tactile Images READER

This educational tool provides audio descriptions for tactile graphics, allowing blind and visually impaired individuals to learn independently. It works with interactive tactile graphics from an e-learning platform, offering a virtual assistant to explain details when a phone is placed over the graphic.

Highlights
  • Audio descriptions for tactile graphics
  • Virtual assistant for detailed explanations
  • Supports independent learning
  • Works with interactive tactile graphics
  • Customizable descriptions
  • Multilingual support
Features
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Replicate the tactile learning experience at your own place & pace. Meet the virtual assistant that describes tactile graphics just like a specialist and allows blind people to study at home. This educational tool is part of the Tactile Images e-learning platform, where teachers and parents can find, personalize and create interactive tactile graphics, with audio descriptions. The Tactile Images Reader app teleports the voice and knowledge of the teacher at home. How? Let’s say that we have the tactile graphic of an African elephant. You will explore it with both hands, as you usually do, to contextualize. So far so good. But when you place the phone above the graphic, the magic happens. Just point at the ear of the elephant and the smartphone will tell you: ”This is the ear of the elephant. The ears of an African elephant are bigger than the ears of an Indian elephant because they help the elephants cool down by radiating the excess heat. The ears can also be used to communicate visually, flapping ears signifying either aggression or joy.” The descriptions are customizable and can be adapted to the specific needs of every person. The Tactile Images Reader mobile assistant empowers you to discover the world independently. It gives you the freedom to explore untouchable objects and study school subjects based on graphics, such as Maths, Geography or Biology at your own pace. Using this app feels like watching the Discovery Channel for the first time. How does it work? The app works only with interactive tactile graphics from our e-learning platform. Join for FREE right here www.tactileimages.org and get access to a Library of 800 tactile graphics with multilingual descriptions and drawing software that allows teachers and parents to create their own interactive tactile graphics. Download your first interactive catalogue for FREE https://bit.ly/Catalog_UrbanLandscapes, emboss the drawings and explore with the app! Remote teaching and homeschooling have never been easier for blind and visually impaired people! How to use? Position the phone above an interactive tactile graphic. The app will read the QR Code placed in the upper left corner and tell you the title of the graphic. Position the index finger on the Braille-written title (available for the tactile graphics in the Library) and the app will tell you the description of the graphic. Start exploring with both hands. The app will identify the position of the index finger and beep once when you come across an area with descriptions. Point the index finger if you want to find out the description of that area. Preferably, clench your fist and extend the index finger as if you were pointing to that area. Be steady for 3 seconds. The app will send you 3 beeps and deliver the audio description of the area. Additionally, you can touch the QR Code to listen to general information about the subject of the graphic. Features - Audio descriptions can be in these languages: English, French, German, Italian, Turkish, Romanian, Finnish, Spanish - You are free to personalize the descriptions of any graphic - Multi-sensorial learning - Mobile assistant (works anywhere: school, home, park, library, museum, city hall, train station, metro) - You can either hold it with your hand or use a phone holder (Gooseneck) - Modern technologies: AI, machine learning, interactive augmented reality, finger tracking This app was featured in the American Alliance of Museums http://bit.ly/exploration-at-museums and other 35 publications. The Tactile Images e-learning platform was financed by The Romanian Ministry of Culture, the Administration of the National Cultural Heritage, the Civic Innovation Fund, the Orange Foundation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, OMV Petrom, ING Bank Romania, Microsoft Romania, Electrica SA. This app is created by the Urban Development Association, which has the mission to improve the life quality of blind children through education.

Screenshots

Submersible Audio Light Sensor1 screens
Tactile Images READER4 screens

Verdict

The call

Submersible Audio Light Sensor and Tactile Images READER are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Submersible Audio Light Sensor ships an update every 6 months, Tactile Images READER every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Submersible Audio Light Sensor versus Tactile Images READER: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSubmersible Audio Light SensorTactile Images READER
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAmerican Printing House for the Blind (APH)Asociatia pentru Dezvoltare Urbana

In-app purchases

None

Submersible Audio Light Sensor

No in-app purchases

None

Tactile Images READER

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Submersible Audio Light Sensor free?
Submersible Audio Light Sensor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tactile Images READER free?
Tactile Images READER is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Submersible Audio Light Sensor or Tactile Images READER have ads?
Neither Submersible Audio Light Sensor nor Tactile Images READER shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Submersible Audio Light Sensor or Tactile Images READER?
Submersible Audio Light Sensor ships an update every 6 months, and Tactile Images READER every 4 months. Most recently, Submersible Audio Light Sensor was updated on October 7, 2026 and Tactile Images READER on October 24, 2026.

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