[nfb-talk] Senior Thesis Design Survey

Buddy Brannan buddy at brannan.name
Tue Mar 15 16:15:00 UTC 2011


Agreed, Darien. At least she's asking us and not jost going with something. That should count for something. It should count for quite a lot, actually. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Mar 15, 2011, at 11:52 AM, Darian Smith wrote:

> Alright, let me guess...
> We can't believe that this young lady would be asking us for input
> about some things that  we might consider useless, as we've devised
> our own alternitive techniques to get much of these jobs done?
> 
> If that's the case, then we don't have to respond, or we could
> respond and  communicate ourgeneral appreciation for her desire to
> include blind people in her ideas for products that she believes might
> benifit the blind. I mean, if you think about it. we   find ourselves
> displeased (and rightfully so) when people make stuff or do things
> they think the blind will get something out of without asking the
> blind if they would benifit from it.
>   respectfully,
>  Darian
> 
> On 3/15/11, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
>> O MY LORD!!!!!
>> 
>> Mike Freeman
>> sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> 
>> On Mar 14, 2011, at 23:28, "Kubas, Amy" <kubasa at my.uwstout.edu> (by way of
>> David Andrews<dandrews at visi.com>) wrote:
>> 
>>> I have been asked, by one of our members, to circulate the following:
>>> 
>>> David Andrews
>>> 
>>> Hello All!
>>> My name is Amy Kubas and I am a senior majoring in Industrial Design at
>>> the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I will be presenting my Senior Thesis
>>> Project at the end of May and will be creating a design for people with
>>> visual impairments. I just presented 50 concepts to my professors and
>>> advisors who have in turn narrowed it down to 3 to move forward with.
>>> Though I value my professors opinions, I was critiqued by a panel of
>>> sighted individuals and wish to hear specifically from those whom I am
>>> designing for. I feel as though my design will have much more merit in the
>>> end if I am able to create it based on the responses I get from those who
>>> perform daily tasks without sight.
>>> 
>>> Below you will find my Senior Thesis Survey. The survey is entirely
>>> voluntary and may take about 15 minutes to complete. Please feel free to
>>> leave any comments or suggestions to better design for those with visual
>>> impairments.
>>> 
>>> When you are finished with the survey, please send it back to my email
>>> address at: kubasa at my.uwstout.edu
>>> 
>>> Thank you for your time. Your input is GREATLY appreciated!
>>> Amy Kubas
>>> Industrial Design - University of Wisconsin - Stout
>>> 
>>> Senior Thesis Design Survey
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Below is a list of 6 concept designs followed by a brief description of
>>> each. I would like to know which 3 products you would be most interested
>>> in purchasing if they were to be put on the market. At the end of the
>>> survey there is room for you to provide feedback for
>>> improvements/adjustments about the individual designs as well as write any
>>> suggestions about products you are interested in that I might not have
>>> considered for designing.  Thank you for your interest and helping me with
>>> my Senior Project!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 1.     Electrical Outlet: This outlet would have recessed grooves that
>>> serve as guides to direct the user towards safely inserting prongs into
>>> the power source.
>>> 
>>> 2.     Salt and Pepper Shakers: Shakers would have raised tactile marks to
>>> determine which is the salt and which is the pepper without having to
>>> sample the contents of the shaker beforehand.
>>> 
>>> 3.     Measuring Cups: Cups would be marked with tactile indicators to
>>> inform the user which one is ¼ cup, ½ cup, 1/3 cup, etc.
>>> 
>>> 4.     Silverware: Utensils would be weighted and designed in such a way
>>> that the user would instinctively grab them in the appropriate direction
>>> (in other words, when someone picks up the knife for example, he or she
>>> automatically knows which way is blade side down by how the handle feels
>>> in his or her hand).
>>> 
>>> 5.     Storage Containers: Canisters would be marked with different
>>> amounts of grooves to allow the user to associate contents with how the
>>> canister feels (for example, flour is in the container with two grooves
>>> and sugar is stored in the container with one groove, etc.) thus
>>> eliminating the need for the user to open and test the contents of each
>>> canister before finding the ingredient he or she needs.
>>> 
>>> 6.     Cutting board: Board has evenly spaced ridges at the top that serve
>>> as a guide for cutting ¼ inch slices of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, etc.
>>> It also has a small section recessed on the right to separate the scraps
>>> from portions you wish to consume and there is a ribbed surface that helps
>>> stabilize round items from rolling when you are slicing them into
>>> sections.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Please list which 3 items you wish to see come into production.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Please provide suggestions below on how I can design my products for best
>>> usability. Feel free to mention any other frustrations you run into when
>>> performing everyday tasks that you would like to see addressed with new
>>> product designs.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Once again, thank you for your interest in helping me with my Senior
>>> Thesis. Your input is GREATLY appreciated!
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Darian Smith
> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
> 
> "The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
> 
> — Robert Byrne
> 
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