Proof of Usefulness Report

Tangible Surface Research LLC

Analysis completed on 2/26/2026

+53
Proof of Usefulness Score
You're In Business

Tangible Surface Research LLC is a verifiable entity producing 'HALOS' (Home Appliance Labeling and Overlay System), a tactile sticker solution for the visually impaired. While the project solves a genuine and critical accessibility problem (high utility), the submission contains significant exaggerations (e.g., claiming 'most people have used my product' when verified sales are ~5,000 units). The technology is currently low-tech (static overlays) rather than the 'programmable surfaces' described in the R&D vision. The 'marketcap: 500000' likely refers to valuation or lifetime revenue, not public trading. The score reflects a functional, socially useful small business with poor submission accuracy.

Ready to Compete for $150k+ in Prizes?

Move this data into a HackerNoon blog draft to become eligible for your share of $150k+ in cash and software prizes

View All Reports

Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+26.4
Audience Reach Impact+1.5
Technical Innovation+5.25
Evidence Of Traction+9.0
Market Timing Relevance+7.5
Functional Completeness+0.5
Subtotal+50.15
Usefulness Multiplierx1.05
Final Score+53

Project Details

Description
Research and development of programmable surfaces and research on tactile object recognition. The goal is to further the development of dynamic three-dimensional tangible touchscreens. Instead of Internet of Things, perhaps IoT should stand for the INTERFACE of Things. Adding physical buttons to touchscreen surfaces will greatly improve the user experience for both sighted and not-sighted users of digital devices.

Algorithm Insights

Market Position
Growing utility with room for optimization
User Engagement
Documented reach suggests active user community
Technical Stack
Modern tech stack aligned with sponsor technologies

Recommendations to Increase Usefulness Score

Document User Growth

Provide specific metrics on user acquisition and retention rates

Showcase Revenue Model

Detail sustainable monetization strategy and current revenue streams

Expand Evidence Base

Include testimonials, case studies, and third-party validation

Technical Roadmap

Share development milestones and feature completion timeline