Continual Engine

What is Continual Engine?

Continual Engine is a digital accessibility technology company founded by Mousumi Kapoor; since 2017 it has been helping clients in the education, publishing, government, healthcare, financial services, and corporate sectors to create accessible content. Its solutions combine artificial intelligence, computer vision, automation, and expertise from human accessibility specialists.

It is not a single generative AI tool, but rather a set of accessible products and services in the form of documents, images, videos, courses, and websites. The delivery methods include cloud-based SaaS solutions, hosted services, API integrations, as well as projects tailored to the client’s specific processes.

Product and service portfolio

PREP document repair

Automatic analysis and tagging

• After the user uploads a document, PREP identifies the headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, table of contents, and reading order, and generates initial structural tags.
• The built-in OCR function can process scanned documents, allowing users to correct recognition errors and then proceed with marking.
• AI-generated results require manual verification; complex tables, formulas, footnotes, and layout elements are especially prone to needing adjustments.

Manual review and inspection

• The web interface allows for the review and modification of the page structure, and the built-in checker can then be used to identify any accessibility issues that remain unresolved.
• Teams can assign documents or tasks and work together on them, making it suitable for large-scale projects and departments with multiple contributors.
• The output requirements cover standards such as Section 508, PDF/UA, ADA, and WCAG 2.2, but the customer remains liable for any legal obligations.

Export and integration with workflows

• In addition to allowing access to PDF files, PREP also supports converting content into formats such as text, Word, HTML, and ePub.
• The platform can be used through a browser; no desktop software needs to be installed, and it supports batch uploading of documents of various sizes.
• It can be integrated with learning management systems such as Canvas and D2L, and it also offers APIs for automatic tagging and PDF review.

Invicta image alternative text

• Invicta generates alternative text for images, charts, graphs, and visual content related to specialized fields, making it suitable for the creation of textbooks and digital courses.
• Specialized APIs cover categories such as mathematics, chemistry, accounting, and financial tables; the output can be customized to meet customer requirements and translated into multiple languages.
• AI drafts and manual human review can be used in combination; the key is to have the description convey the purpose of the image, rather than merely listing all visual elements mechanically.
• The copyright of the image remains with the person who submitted it; using a generated description does not grant the right to reproduce or distribute the original image.

Accessibility for videos, courses, and websites

• Video services include optional or hidden subtitles, transcripts, multilingual subtitles, and enhanced audio descriptions, which help users with hearing or visual impairments to understand the content.
• Online courses and training programs handle lesson materials, documents, videos, and learning activities; they are suitable for transforming existing courses on a large scale or for creating processes that are accessible from the outset.
• The PowerPoint service allows for adjusting the reading order, alternative text, colors, tables, and other structural elements, and it also supports the use of professional image descriptions.
• ContinuA11Y is used for website auditing, issue tracking, and corrective actions; there is also an API that allows the identification of PDF files on a site and their batch evaluation with regard to accessibility.

Typical workflow

1. Schedule a demonstration and submit the sample, content type, quantity, target standards, language, and delivery deadline; decide whether to use SaaS, API, or hosted services.
2. Upload documents in PREP, or deliver images, videos, courses, and website content through the designated channels.
3. Let AI handle the initial tagging, OCR, alternative text, subtitles, or question scanning, after which operators and experts conduct a review.
4. Correct the reading order, tables, formulas, language, descriptions, and other issues, and run the checker or assistive technology tests.
5. Export accessible files, subtitles, transcripts, or review reports for final approval in the actual deployment environment.
6. If changes are needed to the alternative text or the structure of the document tags after delivery, a request must be submitted within three working days.

Input and output

Pricing, Demo, and Delivery Policies

Continual Engine currently offers custom pricing; there are no publicly specified fees for page usage, minutes of service, user licenses, or API calls. The free demonstration is intended for evaluating the product, and it should not be considered a permanent free plan or an unlimited trial period.

The terms require that the fees be paid in full before the service is completed, and it is explicitly stated that no refunds will be given. The subscription can be canceled as agreed at the time of purchase; if cancellation occurs before the renewal date, access will continue until the end of the current billing cycle, and the wallet credits will remain unchanged.

For orders that have been completed, requests to modify the alternative text or the document tag structure can be submitted within three working days after delivery; one free iteration is included, and the revised version will be delivered within two working days once the request is approved. Other modifications, delays, and delivery dates depend on the file type, size, options, and the speed at which the customer provides clarifications.

Support for platforms, APIs, and open source

• PREP is a cloud-based web application that can be accessed using modern browsers; no native mobile applications intended for individual users have been found.
• The product offers some automated labeling features, alternative text for images, and PDF review APIs; it can also be integrated into learning management systems and content creation processes.
• The public page does not list the SDK, comprehensive development documentation, or prices for the general APIs; the scope of integration must be confirmed with the sales and technical teams.
• No official public source code repository or open-source license for the product has been found; therefore, Continual Engine should be considered proprietary software and service.

Privacy and security

• The privacy policy specifies that names, email addresses, job titles, organizations, countries, cities, phone numbers, IP addresses, and browser information will be collected.
• Personal information is used to respond to service requests, complete transactions, and for marketing purposes with prior consent; users can withdraw their consent and request access to, correction of, restriction on, or deletion of such information.
• The company states that the information selected for use in mobile marketing will not be disclosed to third parties, and it will take reasonable measures to prevent the loss, misuse, or unauthorized access of personal information.
• The PREP page indicates that the application is hosted on Amazon and Azure infrastructure, and has undergone vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
• In its records for 2024, the company states that it has obtained ISO certification and meets SOC 2 Type 1 standards; the details regarding the certificates, their validity period, and the audit reports can be obtained upon request.
• The public policy does not specify the retention period for uploaded documents, images, and videos, nor does it outline the data storage requirements, the purposes for which the data is used in training, or a complete list of subcontractors; sensitive content requires to be covered by contractual provisions.

Copyright, Compliance, and Restrictions

• The submitter must possess the necessary rights to upload the content; the company will not verify the copyright of the documents.
• The delivered accessible version is considered, under the performance policies, to be an work created upon commission; however, the specific commercial rights and the scope of use of the original files must still be specified in the contract.
• AI and manual processes can improve efficiency, but they cannot guarantee that all documents meet every legal or technical standard.
• Customers need to use real assistance technologies such as screen readers, keyboards, and zoom functions to evaluate the content, and they are also required to maintain the content after it has been published.
• The service does not provide any guarantees regarding compliance with legal requirements; website updates, dynamic components, and third-party content may reintroduce issues even after they have been fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problem does Continual Engine mainly address?

It helps organizations transform documents, images, videos, courses, and websites into content that is more accessible to people with disabilities, thereby reducing the time required for manual corrections.

Can PREP automatically repair PDFs?

PREP can automatically handle a large number of labeling and formatting tasks, but complex tables, formulas, reading order, and alternative text still need to be reviewed by humans.

Is there a free version of Continual Engine?

What is currently available is a free demonstration, not a complete free package. PREP, Invicta, API, and hosting services all require a quote to be obtained based on specific requirements.

Which accessibility standards are supported?

The product offers tools and services that comply with standards such as WCAG 2.2, PDF/UA, Section 508, ADA, and EAA, but the responsibility for ensuring compliance ultimately lies with the customer.

Can I get a refund after purchasing?

The compliance policy specifies that no refunds will be given. Subscriptions can be canceled in accordance with the purchase terms, and they can generally still be used until the end of the current billing cycle.

Is Continual Engine an open-source product?

It is not an open-source product that has been verified. No official public code repository, SDK open-source projects, or product licenses have been found at present.