Vision Impairment
Research + Aid Proposal
Challenge: Research and understand a problem facing a large percentage of the aging population. Propose a physical product to address the issue.
User Research
Researched to understand users and obstacles. Research methods included contextual inquiries, observational research through site visits, expert and subject interviews and surveys, and subject self-reported tracking.
Identification of obstacles that are daily
and/or interfere with quality of life
Survey example
Subject self-reported tracking
Insights
Distilled findings from from observational research, site visits, and interviews into three key categories.
Problem Exploration
Digging deeper to understand the problems’ complexities
Ideation and Development
Initial product sketches, mockup, and user feedback
Ideal digital device
While one version of the reader is a low cost, analog option, a digital version offers some advantages.
The “digital” design uses a lens and built-in digital sensor on the back of the device to capture the external or environmental text and translate it to enlarged text on the front digital display screen.
Similar to the “analog” version, the “digital” device also converts captured text to audio, with the option to project the audio through a speaker. Unlike the “analog” device, the “digital” version offers the option for the user to “read to self” via bluetooth.
Low-cost analog device
The low cost “analog” option relies on a set of magnifying lenses to enlarge text.
An opening on the side of the device allows the magnifying lenses to be swapped for varied strengths.
Like the “digital” option, the “analog” device contains digital sensors to “read“ the text. As the built-in back sensor processes the text, it converts the print to audio, which is projected via built-in speaker or through the headphone jack.
Proposal
Final iteration of the visual impairment aid
