Designing For Parkinsonism

This project aims to design an experience that provides users with a sense of belonging and ownership; the users being the visually impaired kids, the ones that are completely blind.

If a design is universal, it is, by definition, accessible.

The Process

Research
Total blindness is generally the inability to use light, although the perception of light and dark may or may not exist. Blind people have problems with identifying spatial orientation, mobility, and most importantly autonomy, that is essential to the welfare and ability to move to other places.

Context
This project is located in a community center atmosphere with space and advanced devices that provide blind kids a chance of effective education. Central to the Braille writing and reading system, this project demonstrates a multi-sensory approach that can help blind kids (4-10 y/o) to integrate into the society as seamlessly as possible with the hope of providing a sense of belonging.

Goals
• Enable blind kids to develop an understanding of the space around
• Provide the kids a chance to communicate successfully
• Increase in the kids’ emotional, cognitive and social growth

Smart Braille Tablet

Ideation
The Braille system is an essential medium of communication for the blind. Keeping this in mind, I decided to design a two-sided, foldable Smart Braille Tablet that will enable the blind kids to read and write with a supporting audio. The Smart Braille Tablet will also have a function of using Google dictionary as well as socializing with others blind kids around.

Sketching
I started with initial sketching and deciding on the site map.

Low-Fi Wireframes and Prototyping
I made wireframes to decide on the basic look and user flow of the tablet. The prototype helped in understanding the functioning of the tablet.

Final Design
The Smart Braille Tablet uses a Braille keyboard to function and navigate. Though the Smart Braille Tablet looks similar to tablet-style devices, its glass at the top is perforated into a grid with holes that allow liquid-based technology to present content in Braille. The screen can change it’s orientation as per the kids’ handling.

The Smart Braille Tablet is a strong tool in the hands of the blind kids to help them provide a smart way of learning and interacting.

Smart Reading Table

Ideation
The Smart Reading Table with tactility for identifying different sections of the table is designed to be placed in a social setting and increase social interactions among the kids and their teachers.

Smart Space

In the built environment, accessibility means designed spaces that meet the needs of people with a wide range of abilities, including those who are blind. The designed smart space will provide various assistive technologies like a tactile map, tactile pavement and interactive wall for guidance and navigation as well as a library and the Smart Table.