Newcastle software firm focuses on a screen for sore eyes
Jan 21 2010 by Chris Knox, The Journal
A SOFTWARE firm that aims to make headaches caused by computer screens a thing of the past is in talks with mobile phone companies as it kicks off expansion plans that include recruiting more staff.
Newcastle-based OmniRead Group has now completed the developmental stage of its unique software TintMy Screen after receiving a £91,000 research and development grant from One North East last year, which enabled it to secure a further £150,000 from its Three Pillars Fund.
The investment was used to develop and market the software, which is designed to improve people’s ability to read from monitors by adapting the colour of the screen to suit the reader’s biological make up.
The bespoke software, which was developed at the firm’s site on the Quayside, also ensures that the user's type font and size is suited to their needs.
As well as helping to aid office workers, the software also helps those living with conditions such as dyslexia, eye and neck aches and photophobia, which is discomfort to the eye caused by exposure to light.
The firm, which employs five staff, said it had lined up a number of talks with technology companies to help increase its exposure to the IT market, including a number of mobile companies that were interested in adapting the software for use on their displays.
The company has also used the investment to create an online test that will allow users to download the package that best suits them, based on the data provided.
Although the software can be used by anybody who uses computers, the firm said that it would be marketing the solutions to the region’s business sector to help bosses provide staff with improved working conditions.
OmniRead chief executive Mark Kelk said: “Often the computer screen is taken out of the box with its factory default settings, plugged in to the computer and used with very little regard for its settings and set-up. This default, bright white background is acceptable to some but often not.
“Now that we have completed the research and development phase, we are ready to market the service to the North East’s business community and beyond.”
Although the firm said it was still early days, it did say that it was looking into the long possibility of joining forces with hardware manufacturers so that the solution was included on purchase.
According to research conducted by OmniRead, the new system will improve a user’s reading speed by around 40%. Mark Kelk, OmniRead’s chief executive, said: “As we have patented this unique service there is a lot of potential. We believe it will prove useful to everyday users as well as those that spend hours in front of their computer at work.”
