Hello, everyone!
Today, we have two special guests joining us. First, we have Mazi Zarrehparvar, Dot’s Global Business Strategist and an ESG Researcher at Oxford University. And alongside Mazi, we are honored to introduce Alison Long, Dot’s Head of European Operations and the Director of Business Services at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the UK.
Mazi and Alison stand on either side of the Dot logo in the center, both giving a thumbs-up and smiling brightly.
01_ We’re curious—what made you join Dot?
During our interview with Mazi, the reason he joined Dot really stood out. He mentioned how deeply impressed he was by Dot's co-founders, Juyoon Kim and Gigwang Sung, who are tirelessly working to advance Dot’s social mission.
Mazi
"I was amazed not only by the two co-founders but by the entire Dot team’s dedication to the mission. It really showed me how much the company’s culture and mission matter."
Mazi stands on the right of the Dot logo, smiling at Merzel Pro on the left, who is pointing at Mazi with a playful smile.
Mazi Zarrehparvar realized that not only in Korea, but globally, there has been a lack of innovation in the visually impaired market. He resonated with Dot’s efforts to bring about real change in this space, which led him to eagerly join the team!
With 35 years of experience working with visually impaired communities, what does Alison Long see as 'innovation for the visually impaired'? In her eyes, Dot stood out as a truly innovative company.
Alison is seated, listening attentively with an open notebook on the desk in front of her.
Alison was particularly captivated by Dot’s groundbreaking efforts in the braille space. With a strong desire to share her valuable experience with more visually impaired individuals, she happily joined the Dot team!
02_“What is Dot’s greatest strength?”
According to Mazi, the best of the best is Dot's "teamwork and fearless attitude." When Mazi visited Dot’s headquarters, he was amazed by how deeply everyone was immersed in the company’s mission and how smoothly they tackled projects.
Seeing this, Mazi had a realization:
"Aha! This is how important it is to be courageous and push forward like a bulldozer when you work!"
Mazi smiling while having a conversation.
During the office tour, Mazi shared his thoughts, saying:
Mazi Wow, the energy here is something special! It feels like everyone has a 'nothing is impossible' mindset. Seeing how collaborative everyone is, it looks so much more relaxed and enjoyable compared to other companies.
Alison Long also expressed that the visit exceeded her expectations. She mentioned how much she enjoyed her time at Dot headquarters.
Alison I had such a wonderful time. Everyone was so cooperative, and there was this curious atmosphere. I feel like we all learned a lot from each other.
With this visit, I’m even more excited to work with Alison Long on developing products for the European market!
In the meeting room, the Dot Pad team, Mazi, and Alison are participating in a discussion.
With Mazi’s back turned, Alison and the Dot Pad team members are smiling as they talk.
Alison Long emphasized how software products like Dot Canvas allow students and teachers to collaborate instantly. She spoke about the transformative potential of Dot Pad.
Alison While traditional braille devices focused mainly on literary works, Dot Pad enables much better visualization, bringing images, charts, and even entertainment to life.
Alison extending her right hand while speaking.
03_What are the upcoming plans and expectations?
You must be curious about what plans Mazi, our advisor who always shares positive energy with the Dot team, has in store.
Mazi smiling broadly with a thumbs up.
Mazi "We are partnering with the Oxford AI team and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). Our shared mission? To develop technology that converts digital images into tactile formats that can be felt at your fingertips! We're also creating a tactile visualization certification program as part of this process, which will open new dimensions of learning!
Also, we are opening opportunities for developers to participate in Dot's unique content ecosystem. We're helping creative developers spread their wings through the Dot App Store.
Alison Long’s main project is introducing Dot Pad to the UK and Europe.
Alison I’m really looking forward to visiting schools and visually impaired individuals to let them experience Dot Pad for the first time. I’m sure they’ll be excited, and they’ll give us a lot of ideas on how to make the most of it.
Recently, I introduced Dot Pad to a visually impaired person studying science, and they said they wished they had something like this during their school years. I’m excited to receive even more positive feedback in the future!
Alison resting her chin on her left hand, looking at the whiteboard in the meeting room
Any words of advice? Mazi Zarrehparvar
“The innovative technology of Dot Pad and the Dot team makes digital accessibility more convenient for users, enhancing their document creation skills and boosting their confidence. Additionally, the multi-sensory learning experience using tactile feedback is expected to open up a new and exciting digital world for users.”
Any words of advice? Alison Long
"Dot’s mission is to make visual information accessible to everyone around the world. Their groundbreaking technology enables equal access to information that has been inaccessible to people with severe visual impairments. Dot Pad will not only improve educational outcomes and employment opportunities, but also provide innovative and fun experiences!"
The Dot Pad team, Alison, and Mazi are posing with finger hearts, with the Dot logo in the center.
We feel incredibly fortunate to have experts like Mazi Zarrehparvar and Alison Long on our team. Thanks to their knowledge and experience, our technology is advancing rapidly.
I also loved what Mazi said in the interview.
Mazi With Dot, anyone can move forward in the digital world without being left behind, and they can enjoy the journey. This new experience we’re creating is called 'Gestalt' in German. Isn’t that cool? Would you join us on our journey, to ensure that visually impaired individuals can enjoy more new experiences and that more people can benefit from technology?
We’re really lucky to have experts like Mazi Zarrehparvar and Alison Long on our team. With their knowledge and experience, we’re going to make great progress!!