Alina Satmari, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, and Geography at the West University of Timișoara, is the recipient of the “Innovation at UVT” Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, presented at the 2025 UVT Awards Gala.
In a recent interview, Alina Satmari talks about TactileLibrary, a project that aims to transform science, art, and knowledge into accessible resources for the blind, through adapted tactile, audio, and digital formats. The initiative stems from a “dream” that is beginning to take shape and materialize into a comprehensive archive dedicated to accessibility.
The project combines tactile boards, 3D prints, audio materials, and an accessible web platform built on ARIA standards, where the structure and logic of the information are essential for blind users to navigate. The central goal of the initiative is autonomy and equal access to knowledge, regardless of disability.
A key milestone in the project’s evolution was collaborating with blind individuals and developing initiatives such as tactile tours and adapted educational materials, which enable an understanding of cultural and scientific heritage through the sense of touch.
Over time, TactileLibrary has grown through the involvement of students and researchers from diverse fields such as geography, computer science, visual arts, and social sciences, becoming a model of interdisciplinary collaboration in the service of inclusion.
