VIBE - Device for the deaf
Roles: User Research / Concept Development / Prototype
Team Work
M.Des. Programme 2018
University project for Tangible interaction class wherein we had to pick a stakeholder, understand their difficulties and come up with a solution which is electronic and can be touched.The aim of the project is to empower deaf people to take control of their surrounding through vibration patterns.
Research Objective
1
There are 4 main disabilities: blind, the amputee, deaf and dumb. Like any other disability deaf people poses no visual cue of their disability thus very few measures has bee n taken for their safety and wellness in public places. .
2
Hearing loss is not considered important as it does not have any health impact. But it has large impact on psychological health and socio-linguistic capability of a person
3
As per the WHO report from March 2018, there are 466 million people who are deaf.
3
Deafness causes trouble in their daily life to communicate, socialize or to travel freely.
Research Methods
Primary Research
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Telephonic Interview with an interpreter with 10+years of experience
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Survey with 10 deaf people from across the world
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Intervention
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Secondary Research
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Reading online
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Videos
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Articles online
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Papers on designing for deaf
Intervention
The biggest eye-opener for us was this new method called the Intervention, where we wear headphones with noise cancellation and play white noise, cutting out every possible sound entering the ear.
Research Challenges
The biggest problem was Communication.
The deaf in every country has its own language. Although I knew American Sign Language(commonly known as ASL), I was not able to communicate with them locally as they only knew Cantonese sign language which a regular Cantonese speaking person would not know.
The deaf society in Hong Kong did not have interpreters available in the next few days. There is 1 interpreter for every 3000 deaf in Hong Kong.
Research Insights
Largely dependent on mobile and implants/hearing aids.
In case of emergency no option to call the numbers. Not every deaf know sign language or can lip read perfectly.
No option in Service Applications which lets them know that the customer is deaf.
Language barrier major issue.
No way of getting notifications or alerts
Directional understanding of sound
Concept Prototype
We gave them a solution that could make them as aware of the surrounding like us and more. The wearable device is controlled by sensors and provides feedback through a vibrating motor.
Laser Distance sensor activates when someone comes closer.
The sound sensor gets activated when there is a sound within a 1-meter radius behind the user.
This Arduino Uno based portable device has different vibration patterns for both the sensors. It gives the user a clear indication of which sensor is triggered so that they can react accordingly.
Mechanism Used
Coding was done on Javascript for Arduino,
Laser distance sensor and analogue sound sensor.
Wires connected via soldering. 3D printing of the case.
Prototyping and Testing
Prototype Video