For most people learning to code today, the starting point is a screen. A cursor blinks, blocks of colour shift, and feedback arrives visually, instantly. 

It is a setup so standard that it rarely gets questioned. But for learners with visual impairments, that single assumption — that a screen is simply part of coding — has quietly kept them out of one of the most consequential skill sets of the 21st century.

Three students from Galgotias University in Greater Noida decided to question it. The result is TACTO, a hands-on learning device that teaches foundational coding concepts through touch, interactive sensors, buttons, and audio feedback — with no screen involved at any step. 

The innovation recently won top honours at EDVentures 2026, an international student innovation competition held at The Education University of Hong Kong, where 19 teams from 10 countries presented solutions built around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Why coding tools need to work beyond screens 

India is home to around 4.95 million blind people and 35 million visually impaired people, making up nearly one-fourth of the world’s visually impaired population. For many of them, learning to code can feel out of reach from the very first step, especially when the tools available depend so heavily on sight.

The difficulty often begins much before a student reaches a coding class. Many visually impaired children are gently pushed away from science and technology........

© The Better India