6B01 - Inclusive Design Lab –

fall 2014

caren jacob nancy vanessa

Accessible toolkit for organizers in TDSB

junior middle schools

to create and execute

inclusive fundraiser

fairs/events

Easy and reliable

navigation device with a sensory system, to be used mainly for people with blindness to navigate and

travel through the city independently, safely and

avoid chances of injury and/or accidents. Additionally,

changes in physical spaces to adapt to the

needs of diverse users

Sharing urban + architectural

spaces between people with electric

mobility/ assistive

devices and other users

Understanding

flexibility in a

physical space, to increase inclusive

collaboration. Specific to a classroom

environment. Using our classroom as a case

study. looking at furniture,

technology,systems to adapt to an existing

environment.

The Team

Team Brainstorming – Mind Mapping

Common notions, ideas, concepts

Flexibility. collaboration. Engagement. physical space. Way

finding. Accessibility. Creativity.

Adaptability.

Common notions, ideas, concepts

Flexibility. collaboration. Engagement. physical

space. Adaptability.

Cultural / language / physical Barriers

- Visually Impaired Barriers

- Blind student - School Accessibility - Urban navigation &

way-finding - Flexible adaptable

physical space - Assistive/ wearable

technology

Shared use of sidewalks In noisy locations (e.g.

streets) pedestrians can’t hear

electric wheelchairs and scooters.

A multi-modal signaling device could increase situational awareness.

-- Audio impaired barriers.

-- deaf or hard of hearing student

Focus Edge Cases

caren jacob nancy vanessa

Urban – School – Classroom – Event

Physical Space – Connection

Increase awareness of electric mobility devices sharing sidewalks

“People ignore design that ignores people.” - Frank Chimero, Designer and Illustrator

Integrate/shadow 3 different families during a weekday and weekend to observe barriers

faced in day to day living (require translators). Document.

Discover through

conversation and open questions how

community can be built amongst all diverse families in school

catchments--intention to not leave any family excluded due to

cultural, language or physical barriers. Topics could include

valued cultural traditions, cultural

traditions in Toronto that are unusual. The conversation will be

informed and organically built through time spent with families

Co-design conceptual model with

families

Shadow students with visual impairment at school or

going to school

Interview/ questionnaire (audio) mainly ask what they use now,

how they would like to

navigate, why they prefer certain devices or why not

Read ethnographic scholar

studies on blind navigation

Compare accessible spaces with non-accessible spaces

being navigated by individuals with blindness

focus groups with both mobile

pedestrians and scooter/wheelchair users, to flesh out problem, and to identify possible

solutions

observation of street situations under various

conditions

survey of existing mobility devices

testing of various potential solutions

Case studies

Existing environments

furniture manufactures flexibility – moveable

walls

observation,

Focus groups with students + faculty

Research technology

PAR - Interviews

Ethnography Approaches “recipes” of research

caren jacob nancy vanessa

A model made of [the] composition of concepts to [show a set of relationships between factors that are believed to

impact or lead to a target condition] help people understand. To SIMULATE.

“a simplified reality” source: wikipedia; dictionary.com

Conceptual Models

Fun Fair Model – physical model

Digital model

A child or student going to school from home by walking and using public transportation; going to the classroom and attends school activities. Solutions: either consider changes in the physical space or

providing assistive wearable technology to students who are blind.

Examples: using Audio in the classroom + video description, school lockers with

audio, textured flooring or a line on the floor in the school that draws a path, color coded sections in the school in which the device can detect and label spaces

The model of a car horn is the most obvious. Consider other conceptual models, particularly multi-sensory warning devices: ● emergency vehicle--sound +

visual (i.e. siren + flashing light)

● transport vehicles--user-activated intermittent sound when unpredictable activity occurs (i.e. beep tone when vans back up)

● alarm clock--signal volume increases if ignored. Sound signal volume adjusts automatically to ambient noise level

Flexibility is key

Physical model + Digital model of space

With technology, furniture, walls,

The approach to learning

itself. Making active, flexible for all learners.

Multiple forms of expression, especially when it comes to

design + art.

Tools to make content more visual

Conceptual Model Ideas

caren jacob nancy vanessa

caren’s conceptual initial ideas

Maquette - MAPPING OF A FUN fair – experimental Physical model to stimulate what is expected

Texture for change

Connection to iPad, students to games

jacob’s conceptual initial ideas

Laser lights with sounds

Models to research

nancy’s conceptual initial ideas

Digital screens to connect, students work, drawing tools

Flexible walls

Collaboration digital zones

vanessa’s conceptual initial ideas

Brainstorming + LINK of conceptual Models

maquette + technology + existing technologies why? More

functional for specific students + possible “existing” models, could be used to get ideas + possible solutions that

could be integrated into the models.