[Blindtlk] Adjusted Design Proposal

[Kubas, Amy]

This is a follow up from Amy Kubas who is the person who asked that 
we send out an informal survey, on her behalf, the other 
day.  FYI:  she is a relative of one of our members here in Minnesota.

David Andrews



First and foremost, thank you all for taking the time to help me with 
my Senior Project. I hope you don't mind me contacting you for 
further inquiries about your suggestions. I was not able to provide 
more background information in the previous survey and I hope you do 
not mind if I do so now. As part of our design process we are 
required to create a target persona of whom we will be designing for. 
My persona is an 80+-year-old woman whom has recently -gradually yet 
rapidly- lost her sight due to age. Part of my research presentation 
to my professors included the statistic that 70% of the 15 million 
blind and visually impaired persons in the United States are aged 65+ 
and their visual impairments are most often because of the inevitable 
aging process. The designs that were selected, I presume, had merit 
to my professors when dealing with the mobility issues that come with 
age (essential tremors, arthritis, etc.) and were reviewed in sketch 
form as opposed to a 3D model. I was worried I might step on some 
toes with some of the concepts I presented as the recipients of the 
survey were not privy to my entire research process up to this point 
(I understand that someone who is blind can more than easily plug in 
a cord, and am sure I came across as very naive to the majority of 
readers). I am hoping 3D modeling will help determine which concepts 
are more appropriate for those with visual and physical limitations 
and how to create them in such a way as most beneficial to the user. 
Further along that note, other survey readers had suggested that the 
products I had listed would benefit more for the user in a commercial 
setting as many of them have adapted to using those products in their 
homes in their own ways. (For example, the silverware concept would 
be more beneficial for use during a business meeting at a chain of 
restaurants that currently use more mainstream flatware than 
necessary for a user at his or her home. Moreover, picking up a fork 
instead of a spoon by mistake isn't the world's biggest problem.)



That being said, some of my original concepts not chosen by my 
professors were actually written in as suggestions from other survey 
readers. I had a few designs based on stovetops that allow the user 
to distinguish where the actual burner is (as opposed to more common 
flat-topped ceramic stoves we have today) as well as interfaces that 
'stick' at each interval rather than having a smooth transition from 
high heat to low heat. I also had a design for a tactile microwave 
interface as well as one for touch-screen ATMs. I explored washing 
machines and dryers, and even offered a 'schematic' of sorts that 
would map out a room for the user that would be an extension of the 
Braille signs they have now outside of offices, bathrooms, 
auditoriums, etc. Another approach I had was redesigning US paper 
currency to be more obvious to its denominations than it currently is 
today. I now know the majority of people I have been able to contact 
via the NFB mailing list are well past the transitioning stage and 
have already adjusted to a lifestyle without sight. As the majority 
of my responses came from individuals who do not fit the 80+ female 
demographic, I am hoping to re-examine my concepts and target persona 
in the next stage of development and provide my professors with the 
suggestions written in by your readers.



I understand with product design nothing is really original. The 
majority of products are based off of already existing products and 
the main element that changes how those appear is technology. I feel 
as if some of my concepts were disregarded by my professors (the 
tactile stove for example) because it has existed in some form or 
another before (not that the salt and pepper shakers haven't already 
been out there, but a stove has been redone based on technology so 
many times over whereas a salt shaker has stayed relatively the same 
in it's basic form and function). I came across a quote from a blind 
man attending the CES convention who said, "There are (products) we 
can't use because they've been improved to death" which had inspired 
a lot of my low-tech concepts. There were numerous suggestions I had 
received about implementing technology into products and I am hoping 
to get back to each reader to get further help from them.



Again, thank you for your sincerity in your response to my survey and 
for being patient with my very 'sight-minded' view of those with 
visual impairments.  If you don't mind me writing you with further 
inquiries, I would love to hear more about your opinions of my 
concepts that weren't selected by my professors but seem in common 
demand by those I have been able to be in contact with. I hate to 
bother you all with another posting of a survey, but it seems as if 
there are things that need to be addressed that my professors might 
have overlooked from my original designs. Of the following, which 
would be most appealing to you as a user:

1] A cook top surface with more distinct ways of determining 
temperature gauges and specific heat surfaces (ex. Knobs that 'stick' 
at every temperature level from high heat to low heat, a thermostat 
that audibly tells you what temperature your oven is heating to, etc.)

2] A more tactile or audible way of determining settings on a washer and dryer

3] Tactile interfaces on touch-screen ATMs to help those with low 
vision select the right buttons to navigate through transactions

4] A universal schematic as an extension of already existing Braille 
signs that inform the user of floor plans for areas such as public 
restrooms, auditoriums, large office spaces, etc.

5] US currency (though I know bill-readers already exist I was hoping 
to design currency that could be determined without the aid of a 
reader. I received one survey response that suggested maybe even 
adjusting things ever so slightly so that a new less expensive 
bill-reader would be able to be used to do the trick. While a new 
design for reader-free currency might be the ideal option, the 
reality is that a more cost-effective approach to what already exists 
might be the best solution. And that suggestion just saved me quite 
some headache when it comes to tackling a national dilemma!)

Other suggestions that weren't in my original 50 concepts but were 
written in by other recipients included:

6] A way of labeling or organizing electronic cords (ex. Printer 
cords, USB cords, Internet cables, cell phone chargers, etc. that 
seem to be kept in the same location)

7) A TV or TV Remote interface that provides more feedback to the 
viewer. In other words a system that informs someone they are on 
channel 31 as opposed to 65 or a way of reading scrolling text on 
news channels, severe weather alerts, the stock market updates, etc. 
Another recipient suggested a better informative way of interacting 
with the cable menu systems that come with most cable services.

8) A more cost-effective and more efficient color detector and/or 
clothes labeler

9) A universal labeling system for things such as canned goods, 
frozen goods, dry goods, etc. One reader mentioned he had magnetic 
labels for his canned goods, but if his sighted wife went shopping 
for groceries she might not always fully understand his system of 
labeling and will either put cans away without labels or mislabel 
cans with the wrong ones.

10) An all-inclusive carrying case for things such as a cell phone, 
iPad, and Braille display.

11) Audible sports equipment (balls that have sound so the blind and 
sighted can enjoy a game of soccer, etc. mutually. The reader also 
suggested an audible sensor that could be pinned to a sighted friend 
when skiing, biking, running, etc.)

12] A potting system for plants that will assist the user in keeping 
and caring for multiple plants in one pot.

13] a type of recipe holder that can be controlled by voice. One 
woman told of how it was cumbersome to have to wash her hands every 
time she wanted to read her braille cookbook to determine the next 
step in the recipe she was cooking. So potentially something that 
could be controlled by a simple vocal "Pause", "Back", or "Next" etc. 
during the cooking process.



Are any of the concepts mentioned above of any interest to you? If 
so, which of those stand out to you? Could you please also provide me 
with any feedback as to whether audible or tactile cues might be more 
appropriate for one design versus another?



Furthermore, as I hope to design a product that is also appropriate 
for someone who is currently adjusting to their vision loss, could 
those of you who have had experience with partial sight fill me in on 
any difficulties you ran into when transitioning into life without 
sight? What were your biggest obstacles? What were your frustrations? 
What things gave you the most relief in the transitional period? I 
now know the majority of people I have been able to contact via the 
NFB mailing list have already adjusted to a lifestyle without sight, 
but I am hoping you might be able to help me better understand the 
difficulties of the transition period in particular.



Again, I apologize for the lengthy email, but want to sincerely thank 
you for all your help and patience! I look forward to hearing the 
responses from those of you willing to take the time and am excited 
to inform my professors of the concepts and improvements you have 
suggested me to move forward with!



Warmest thanks,

Amy Kubas
kubasa at my.uwstout.edu