Mobility AidConnecting the Blind

Sophmore Capstone- Summer 2010Matt Gillespie

“I dont want to have to depend on others to live my life.”

Problem Statement

Design a mobility aid that gives visually impaired travellers a better understanding of place, fostering confidence to explore the unfamiliar.

Benevolent Functional Empowering

HumanWare products are designed to last, to grow with the user, ttgiving them the independence to compete effectively with peers, to

feel connected – to be a vital part of the global information age in which we live.

Brand Understanding

Research

InsightsMethod

Phone InterviewsFive hours of conversation with a number of blind people in Cincinnati.

Mobility OrientationMobility Orientation at the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

-Simplicity is essential to the interpretation of haptic data.

-Many blind people have a strong will to remain independent and enjoy travel.

-Products created for the blind often fall short in that they enhance one sense at the expense of another.

-The blind are often dependent on others to show them routes to any new place they may go.

Research

Establishing Target User

Recently Impaired

2/3 of visually impaired people of working age are not in the work force

Cataracts account for nearly half of all visual impairment.

MILLION15

15 Million Americans are blind or visually impaired

“About 82% of all people who are visually impaired are age 50 and older”

-World Health Organization

“When an individual becomes visually impaired they must make a decision- wether to seek help in adapting or give up on living life”

-Patty Willits, Visually Impaired Mobility Instructor

Desire to Explore

50+

The risk of low vision and blindness increases significantly with age, particularly in those over age 65.

-2004 National Eye Institute

Design Requirements

Must improve the experience of exploring a new area and encourage further exploration.

Must not compromise one sense to enhance another.

Must escape the stigma of other products for “disability”.

Initial Laser Cane Concept: Research found that current mobility canes lack to ability to sense above waste level, and can be comberson and on occasion embaressing to use in crowded areas. The proposed device calculates proximity to pointed area and creates a relative vibrational texture.

When introduced, the concept was found to not be a sollution to the real problems faced by the visually impaired. Transportation, employment, and wayfinding wereidentified as more important aspects of independence than those addressed by the concept.

“I so it can tell me the shape of the sign, so what?I want it to tell me what it says.” -Cocreator

New Direction- Trekker and BreezeThe HumanWare Trekker and Breeze are handheld talking GPS units. Calling out routes, points of interest, and current location. Users can set routes and save favourite spots. Growing in popularity it is giving the visually impaired the ability to explore their surroundings like never before.

“You are at Main ant 13th... Intersection in 12 meters”

Trekker Task Analysis

Cumbersome User InterfaceMobility instructors complained that the Trekker technology has a steep learning curve.

Over functionalityThe PDA functions of the Trekker (email, word processing) are over-whelming and rarely used.

Poor GPS RoutesGPS routes used on the system were created for cars and lack con-siderati on for existing pedestrian foot paths.

Water SensitivitiesUsers complained that they were unable to use the device in the rain.

Emerging TechnologyMixed Anniciative Dilogue

Image and Text Recognition

Google Goggles Augmented Reality Smart Phone Application Smartphone Text Translation

Second Concept Development

Why can’t information in augmented reality be used by the sightless?

+Google Goggles Visual Search Text Reading Cammera Phone

I read text...

by

Squeeze- Start Session

Pont- Vibrational Feedback

Turn Over- Preview

Close Hand- Close Session

Features

-Universal touchless interface

-Open source route submission -Functional with bother cane and dog guide -Potential Use for Language Translation -Versatility with other readers for custom system-partally sighted, blind, or blind deaf

-Affordance of appearing to be using a phone if desired

Infrared Diode and Cammera

Silicone Wrist Band

Speaker and Microphone

1 Cammera

Infrared Diode

Vibrating Motor

Three Axis Gyro

Wireless Transmitter/ Reciever

Flexible Frame Sheet

Processor and Memory

Membrain Switch Charging Port

Electronic Tail

Speaker

Microphone

Lithium Polymer Battery

Lens Cover

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1 Cammera

Infrared Diode

Vibrating Motor

Three Axis Gyro

Wireless Transmitter/ Reciever

Flexible Frame Sheet

Processor and Memory

Membrain Switch Charging Port

Electronic Tail

Speaker

Microphone

Lithium Polymer Battery

Lens Cover

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What’s Going On Inside

Instution and Retail- The Package

Laser Cut Tactile Logo

Durable PET Outer forInstitutional Sampling

For Instution and The Home

Paul started steadily loosing vision a year ago. Now retired, he is blind, but wishes to continue living life as he had with sight.

AHI in Action

I need to get to

Peggy’s apartment!

Tram Route- 12 Minutes “tick” 1 Minute Walk

How long by tram?

Guide me by foot track.

Continue toward marker point.

Beep. Beep.

Approaching Crescent St. and walking path.

Sharp right at marker.

User Submited Foot Track Available

Vibration

Approaching Destination

AHI uses vibration as a simple dirrection guide toward points of intrest.

Touchless interface makes use intuitive. Simply squeeze.

AHI uses vibrational signatures on the hand to denote areas of interest in augmented reality. These areas include landmarks, businesses, public instutions, and typed text.

“Business Preview”

“Bills Cafe”

Hum, Duffeyroll? Tell me more.

Duffeyroll is know for its handcrafted

cinnamon rolls, in its classical store front.

Established in...

A closed fist ends all sessions

AHI acts as a portal to information collected in augmented reality databases, a quickly growing wealth of contextual information.

vPSHHH!

Duffeyroll- Since 1923

“tick”Duffy’s Famous Cinnoman Rolls $2.50

Sure, anything else?

AHI allows the visually impaired to identify and access typed text, opening the world of writen communication.

Tag this shop!I give it a 6 star

review!

AHI proves that there is a place for everyone in this global information age.

DuffyrollI love Duffy roll for its exelent rolls and appetizers, I particullary enjoy the attention to detail in their cafe areas.- Jince K