Russian Smart Medallion for Guide Dogs Wins Recognition in Europe
In Russia, the company Smart Systems redirected part of its internal expenses toward charitable initiatives. The result was the creation of smart systems designed for people with visual impairments.
These digital tools are distributed free of charge. Among them is a smart medallion for guide dogs, developed to support the training and service programs at the “Helper Dogs” center and the guide dog school of the All-Russian Society of the Blind. The organizations receive everything they need for animal microchipping, as well as the medallions themselves, at no cost.
The medallion provides the dog’s name, confirms its status as a service animal, and gives instructions on how to return it if lost. It also offers tips on how to keep the dog calm while separated from its owner. The innovation has been praised across Europe. In the Czech Republic, it was even added to the collection of the Technical Museum in Brno as part of the exhibition “Culture of the Blind,” displayed alongside a silver commemorative coin honoring Louis Braille.
The Russian developer has also created specialized paper for IDs of visually impaired individuals, embedded with NFC tags. When scanned, the paper directs to a webpage with complete legal information, allowing people with disabilities to confirm their status and enter facilities or restaurants accompanied by their service dogs.
