About CyR.U.S.
My name is Victoria Watts and I created the CyR.U.S. System to improve product accessibility, safety and independence.
CyR.U.S. is not only named after my son Cyrus., it is an acronym for our mission - Raised Universal Symbols.
My Journey
Shortly after launching my first beauty brand, VictoriaLand, I learned that my fourth and youngest child, Cyrus, was born with a rare hereditary disorder that affects the retina with symptoms that include vision loss or blindness, retinal detachment, and strabismus.
As I watched Cyrus navigate his unsighted world every day, I became in awe of the mind-body connection and Cyrus’ ability to turn his other senses – especially touch – into “superpowers.”
I started to experience the world through Cyrus and realized this world could be a more inclusive place for people with vision loss. It was then that I became determined to offer people with low vision the same ability to experience and enjoy products as my sighted friends.
People with low vision crave independence just like everyone else, and with today’s technology and resources, it should be a standard practice that products are packaged in a way that makes them accessible for all.
“My mission is to empower those with low vision, providing them with the ability to experience and enjoy products independently and safely.”
How was CyR.U.S. Designed?
Existing Braille solutions are bulky and hard to learn. In 2018 we set out to change this.
The CyR.U.S. team did extensive user-centered research including interviews and observations to fully understand the needs of those with low vision. We worked closely with The Lighthouse Foundation, most specifically the Collier County, Florida Chapter.
We made dozens of prototypes and tested them with actual users to gain feedback on comprehension, performance and symbol size and depth.
Then for a period of 2 years, CyR.U.S. we did proof of concept using the 4 VictoriaLand Beauty products.