Identiv has collaborated with Danish edtech startup TUK to support early literacy development through a screen-free reading tool. Utilising secure near-field communication (NFC) technology, the solution allows young readers to follow along page by page alongside a guided audio recording – no screens or internet required.
For millions of children, learning to read doesn’t come easily. More than 250 million children worldwide are failing to acquire basic literacy skills, unable to read or write simple text even after years of schooling. At the same time, education systems are projected to face a shortage of 44 million teachers by 2030. Parents, teachers, and librarians are looking for solutions that motivate children to read while being easy to implement in classrooms, libraries, and homes.
To address this challenge, Kasper Engstrøm Lyhne founded TUK: a child-friendly speaker that plays audiobooks when placed on physical books that have NFC tags added by teachers or parents. With just one button, the speaker activates a story and guides the child page by page, no smartphone, tablet, or internet connection required.
Secure by design, built to scale
To scale the platform and protect licensed book content, TUK needed more than a creative idea or an off-the-shelf solution. TUK turned to Identiv to deliver a customisable, secure, resilient NFC solution that could withstand everyday classroom use while being intuitive enough for young readers to operate independently.
“TUK had very high expectations, and rightfully so – they’re building a new model for educational engagement,” said Stefan Genser, Director of Sales, Identiv. “We needed to deliver something that performed like enterprise-grade IoT but was approachable and enjoyable to use in a classroom or home.”
TUK’s platform now features more than 10,000 Danish audiobook titles and is being rolled out across homes, schools, and public libraries. Educators, parents, and librarians are embracing the tool to engage reluctant readers, support students with dyslexia, and provide multilingual learners with an accessible path into books.
“We’re starting to see teachers and librarians use TUK in ways we never expected,” said Engstrøm Lyhne. “When you pair an NFC tag with a speaker, it unlocks entirely new educational opportunities for helping children learn to read. It’s powerful to see how much creativity this enables.”
TUK’s fully offline design addresses a growing priority among educators: reducing screen time while still embracing digital literacy tools. Once a tag is paired, the system works entirely without an Internet connection or additional devices – making it easy to integrate into reading instruction, quiet time, or take-home learning.
TUK’s success demonstrates how embedded connectivity can be instrumental in education. By digitising physical objects like books, educators can enrich learning without increasing screen time, a growing priority among parents and teachers.
“This project reminded us of what IoT can be,” said Genser. “Real, human experiences are made better by secure connectivity. The impact we’re seeing with TUK is just the beginning of what’s possible.”
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