What is the Inclusive Technology Award award for?
“This category recognises technology that has been designed to improve accessibility, inclusion, and quality of life for neurominorities. This could be an app, a piece of software or a physical tool.”
This category award is sponsored by the UKs’ Leading Workplace Adjustment and Assistive Technology Partner, Microlink. The Genius Within CIC 2023 Awards have been sponsored by The Institute of Physics, Amazon.co.uk and, News UK
Ocean 3Ds’ interactive 360° tours have been shortlisted for Genius Within CICs’ Inclusive Technology Award. Ocean3d.co.uk utilises interactive 360° virtual tours to create more inclusive and accessible spaces for people who may have hidden conditions or disabilities. People with hidden conditions or disabilities, such as those with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing disorders, often face challenges in navigating and engaging with physical environments due to sensory sensitivities, anxiety of the unfamiliar/unknown, or difficulties with spatial awareness.
By creating virtual tours of any location accessible on any 4G/5G/ Wi-Fi connected smartphone, tablet or desktop (no headsets or apps required), Ocean3d.co.uk provides an interactive, free at the point of use, solution to journey and destination planning 24/7 as well as a low-cost reasonable adjustment under The Equality Act 2010.
The virtual tours provided by Ocean3d.co.uk offer a detailed and immersive representation of physical spaces. Using advanced 3D imaging technology, they create interactive digital replicas of real-world environments, including hospitals, public spaces, museums, and more. These tours enable users to explore and familiarise themselves with these spaces remotely, before physically visiting them.
For many people (and not just people with hidden conditions), this technology presents several advantages. Firstly, virtual tours allow users to preview the environment and gain a sense of its layout and possible sensory characteristics in advance. This can help reduce anxiety and sensory overload by providing a controlled and predictable experience. In-tour multimedia points can deliver location specific potential audio or video experiences which are user-controlled.
Additionally, virtual tours offer the flexibility to explore spaces at a users own pace; enabling individuals to take breaks, repeat sections, or focus on specific areas of interest to them. This autonomy can be particularly beneficial for individuals with attention-related challenges or difficulties with transitions., creating a more inclusive society where everyone can participate and enjoy public and private spaces without unnecessary barriers.
Who are Genius Within?
“Genius Within CIC is a social enterprise established by Professor Nancy Doyle in 2011 to help neurominorities unlock their talents, whilst acknowledging and celebrating that this diversity forms part of the rich tapestry of human experience.We advise governments on policy and provide consultancy to businesses, driving systemic change that allows all employees to thrive. We provide in-work support in the form of coaching, training and assessments. We also support neurodivergent thinkers who are not in the workplace, who might be studying, unemployed or in the criminal justice system.
The BBC2 series, Employable Me and now Employable Me 2, which was franchised to five countries internationally, featured our work with disabled jobseekers as they prove that disability should not be a barrier to employment.
As a company actively championing the rights of neurominorities, it is only fitting that we are a Disability Confident Leader. We are led by a dyslexic CEO and a board and senior management team that is 67% neurominorities, with all conditions represented. 68% of our employee team also identify as neurodivergent and /or disabled. This means that we can deliver balanced, co-produced services drawing on lived experience combined with our expertise as psychologists, workplace coaches and HR practitioners.”