Pure Contrast Tools was not built in a boardroom. It was built at a dining room table.
My partner, Stephanie, is registered severely sight impaired. As her vision changed, the apps she loved playing became unusable. It started with Sudoku. The numbers were too small, yes, but that was not the real problem. The real problem was the clutter.
Every few minutes, a flashing advert would appear. A "buy gems" pop-up would block the game. For someone with limited vision, finding the tiny 'X' to dismiss an ad is an impossible task. It is not just frustrating; it is exclusionary.
The Privacy Cost
I was also tired of the privacy cost of these "free" apps. The constant tracking, data harvesting, and GPS pings. Every tap, every swipe, every moment of play was being logged, analysed, and sold. These apps were not free; we were paying with our privacy.
So, I built her a version of Sudoku that was just Sudoku. High contrast. No ads. No cookies. No tracking. Just the game.
Then It Got Personal
Only a few days after starting the project for Stephanie, I developed a vision problem in my right eye. I could hardly see any detail, and it was like I was looking through a steamed-up window. I went to see my optician, who sent me straight to the hospital.
I then spent three weeks in hospital. The diagnosis was multiple sclerosis, which caused optical neuritis (and some other problems). They tried to treat me with steroids and plasma exchange sessions, but unfortunately the vision has not improved.
I was productive during those three weeks in hospital, though, and had my laptop brought to me so I could work on making Pure Contrast Tools amazing. Now that I have a vision impairment myself, this project feels even more personal. Between Stephanie and me, we only have one working eye out of four, so we have a vested interest in getting this right.
The Manifesto
- Simplicity: Tools should do one thing well without distraction.
- Accessibility: High contrast is our standard; audio is our ally. We design interfaces for eyes that see differently.
- Privacy: No ads, no trackers, no cookies. We practice Zero-Retention: we do not store your data, and we anonymise any external requests.
- Purity: We host our infrastructure in the EU. We ensure our technology serves you, rather than mining you.
From One Game to Many
What started as a single game for Stephanie has snowballed into a suite of 14 games and 18 utility tools. Whether it is Sonar Ping (an audio-only game that does not require vision at all) or Pure Mail (an accessible scam detector), the mission remains the same: Technology should respect the user.
Each tool follows the same principles. High contrast by default. Keyboard navigation throughout. Screen reader support. No tracking. No ads. No clutter.
Built for Real People
I am not building this for a market. I am building it for Stephanie. I am building it for anyone who has been frustrated by apps that prioritise profit over usability. I am building it for anyone who values privacy and clarity.
The modern web is broken. It is cluttered, hard to read, and watches your every move. Pure Contrast Tools is my attempt to build alternatives. Essential digital tools designed for absolute clarity and strong, no-nonsense privacy.
No ads. No trackers. Just the tool.
What's Next
This is just the beginning. I will continue building tools that respect users. If you have suggestions, feedback, or ideas, please get in touch. This project grows from real needs, not market research.
Technology should serve people, not exploit them. That is why I built Pure Contrast Tools.