Information at Your Fingertips

Frequently Asked Questions

WayAround General

WayAround is an NFC-based information system that works with an app on your Android or iOS based smart device. It gives on-demand details about everyday things, just by scanning a smart tag placed on any object.

We are big fans of labeling, no matter what kind of label you use. WayAround lets you store much more information than traditional labels do. The description can be many paragraphs long (up to 2K characters). Our smart fields let you add other details, too, like expiration dates, ingredients, laundering instructions, and more.

WayAround was created by Blind InSites, LLC, a company started by two architects with vision loss. Learn more about our founders, Darwin and Armand.

Yes, and it's here! WayAround 3.0, released in Fall 2019, included WayAround for Public Spaces. This powerful software gives anyone the ability to write public information. It's great for schools, universities, museums, municipalities, and facilities that want to provide better information for everyone, especially those with vision loss.

Absolutely! Even though WayAround was created for people with vision loss, sighted people can benefit from our smart information system. Like many products that have been created with accessibility in mind, WayAround's focus on an easy experience for those with vision loss results in a product that’s intuitive and useful for everyone.

WayAround App

You can download it for free on the Apple App Store or get the Android version from the Google Play Store.

We sure do! You can download the free app from the Google Play Store.

No! WayAround uses Near Field Communication technology, which only requires that you hold your NFC-compatible smart device really close to a WayTag. No camera required.

Any modern Android phone or iPhone can work with WayAround. WayAround uses NFC technology (that's Near Field Communication). Many devices have a built-in NFC reader. If your device doesn't have one, you'll need an external NFC reader, like the WayLink.

iPhones 7 and above have a built-in NFC reader. iPhone 6, 6+, SE and earlier models either don't have a built-in NFC reader, or Apple doesn't allow third-party developers (like WayAround) to access it. With these models you will need a WayLink.

Android devices vary by manufacturer and model, however most do carry NFC readers.

Yes, we have an iPad app available! You will need to use a WayLink scanner, since the iPad doesn't have an NFC reader.

Not yet. We may develop an app for the Apple watch in the future. If that’s something you would like, please let us know.

WayTags

WayTags are placed on items to make them “smart”.  The app reads the information from a WayTag and gives it back to you based on the accessibility settings on your device.

Just about anywhere! WayTags come as stickers, magnets, buttons, or clips, so there’s a tag that should work for anything and everything. If you’re placing a WayTag on something that’s metal, be sure to use a square WayTag that will work on metal.

Yes and no. There are WayTags for just about anything. One thing to keep in mind is that if an object contains metal, you will need a square WayTag. Square WayTags have a protective barrier that prevents the metal from interfering with the technology. Also, if you're using a WayTag on something that will get wet or be stored in an extreme temperature (hot or cold), be sure to choose an appropriate WayTag. WayTag buttons are waterproof and can withstand very hot or sub-freezing temperatures. Use the popular oval-hole button with a rubber band to attach it.

Attach WayTags to anything in your business, including doors, windows, equipment, files, and more. By default, information written to a WayTag is private to the account that wrote it. To write information that anyone can read, you'll need a subscription for WayAround for Public Spaces. When you sign up, we can recommend which type of WayTag will best suit your needs.

Metal interferes with the NFC technology. Our square WayTags have a protective barrier that prevents the metal from interfering with the technology.

It’s not ruined. The tag simply won’t work while it’s on the metal object. If you place the round WayTag on a non-metal object, you should be good to go.

It’s easy. Just hold your smart phone or WayLink on top of the WayTag. Wait for a moment, and your phone will vibrate when it has read the WayTag.

Here's a video about reading a WayTag.

You’ll need to know where the NFC reader is located on your device. For iPhones, the NFC reader is located at the top, center of the back of the phone. For Androids, it is either at the top, center of back of the device or near the fingerprint sensor. The NFC reader is in the center of the WayLink. You may use the front or back side of the WayLink to scan, though we find you’ll get a quicker read when using the front.

It’s quick – reading takes just a moment.

WayTags are about the size of a quarter or a postage stamp.

You can order WayTags from our website. We also have many distributors in the US and internationally. Most WayTags come in packs of 25. We also offer a starter pack that gives you a sampling of all the different types of WayTags.

WayTags cost about $1 each. Some are a little more, and others are a little less.

Yes! Both styles of WayTag buttons are waterproof and heatproof. Be sure to use a rust-resistant safety pin to attach the oval hole button.

The temperatures used in dry cleaning should not affect the WayTags, however some chemicals may affect it. Some chemicals used in dry cleaning may degrade plastic, PVC, or polyurethane, so the WayTags may be affected. Your best bet is to check with your dry cleaner and let them know your clothes have plastic tags inside.

We recommend the oval hole laundry button. It is waterproof and can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees F. You can loop a rubberband through the oval hole and attach it to frozen food.

We’ve formatted WayTags to work specifically with the WayAround app. We’ve added privacy and security measures to keep your information safe. Other NFC Tags will not work with WayAround.

We do not offer different color WayTags, however you can put color dots or puffy paint on the WayTags to create a color-coded system. Doing so will not affect the readability.

Audio

If your phone is silenced, you may not hear certain audio cues. Try turning up your phone’s volume and be sure your phone isn't muted.  Also make sure VoiceOver or TalkBack is on.

WayAround works with the accessibility settings on your phone. Turn on VoiceOver or TalkBack to hear your information spoken aloud.

NFC

Near Field Communication, or NFC, is a type of wireless communication much like RFID. As the name suggests, it only works when the reader and the tag with information on it are really close together.

NFC isn’t a new technology. If you’ve ever used Apple Pay or Android Pay, that’s NFC! Our WayTags come as stickers, magnets, buttons, and clips, so you can use them just about anywhere.

It depends. If you have an iPhone 7 or above AND you’re running iOS11 or newer, then your phone’s NFC reader will work with WayAround. If you have an older iPhone, your phone may not have a built-in NFC reader or developers like WayAround may not be able to access it. Many Android devices have an NFC reader.

To find out whether your Android phone has NFC, go to your phone's settings and tap Connected Devices. If you see NFC or a similar option, be sure it's turned on. These instructions may differ from phone to phone. If they don't work, visit the manufacturer's website for more information.

If you can use Apple Pay with your iPhone, then you have an NFC reader, however that doesn’t mean it will work with WayAround. Apple has allowed app developers like WayAround to access the NFC reader only on iPhone 7 and above.

We’ve got you covered! Our WayLink Scanner is an external NFC reader that connects to your phone via Bluetooth Low Energy. If your device doesn’t have an NFC reader, you can use the WayLink Scanner instead.

To make NFC work, you just need to hold your phone or NFC reader against a WayTag. No camera is required, so you don’t have to focus anything. The tags are 3-dimensional, so it is easy to feel where they are located.