Tactile Compass
A2B is part of my year long Senior Studio Project regarding the use of wearable technology to improve the quality of life for individuals with visual disabilities. Research was conducted during the Fall 2013 semester as “Seeing Eye Co.” with Andrew Martin and Geoffrey Eselgroth. Primary research in the form of interviews and discussions occurred thanks to the gracious staff at the Arizona Industries for the Blind. For text only, click here.
A2B is an assistive device for individuals with visual disabilities intended to help them navigate urban environments. A2B was designed to address three issues:
Non-visual Perception of Landmarks
Directional Orientation
Time Awareness
The Commute
The daily commute of an individual with visual disabilities can be much more difficult than someone with out. Taking public transit doesn't guarantee that they will make it to their destination, with distracted drivers, unfamiliar transfers, and poor communication preventing an easy commute. With out visual surroundings to provide a reference of familiarity, it is necessary to establish landmarks. The concept of familiarity also translates to the pedestrian walking level.
"I wish I could plant a tree"
This was said by a woman who works at the Arizona Industries for the Blind in Phoenix, regarding walking around her neighborhood and establishing differentiation between homes by using a hypothetical landmark.
Current Products
Comprehensive GPS navigation products do exist but they are expensive and rely on multiple components to relay information back to the user, and only through audio feedback.
Goals
Consolidate essential features of current GPS devices to one device
Use tactile feedback instead of audio to increase situational awareness
Create a product that is discrete and desirable
Brainstorming
During brainstorming sessions, a classmate provided this idea for a rotating location pointer, and this inspired my idea for a tactile compass.
Early Concepts
I focused on applying the tactile compass idea to white canes and GPS breadcrumbs, but also experimented with the idea of haptic guide dog harnesses and haptic backpack straps. I chose to elaborate on the tactile compass due to its practicality, simplicity, and potential as a real product with currently available and affordable technology.
Design Language
In order to create a product with an excellent tactile experience, I borrowed elements from electronic instruments, drum pads, and samplers. I also took inspiration from the intuitive controls of classic video game systems (an element that found its way in to the final design). I synthesized these specific languages in to a singular, unique design language.
On Time, In the Right Direction
Holding down the A or B button will drop a GPS pin on the user's current location and save it as a landmark. Pressing the A or B button will retrieve one of two saved landmarks and point towards its location.
Users can check the time, or their directional orientation while using a white cane or guide dog.
The primary pointer indicates the direction of the chosen landmark.
In watch mode, the primary pointer acts as the minute hand, while the secondary pointer acts as the hour hand.
Functionality
The technology behind A2B is currently available in products such as a GPS devices and consumer quadrocopter drones. A simple micro controller interperets GPS information and translates this to the appropriate amount of electric motor rotation. A gyroscopic module ensures that directional orientation is not effected by the angle of the user's wrist. An ABS enclosure with polymer components enable conventional injection molding during manufacture.
Although A2B is intended as a assistive device in a niche market, it's usefulness as a GPS compass and watch give it potential as a crossover accessory for mainstream consumers.
Design Excellence Award Recipient Spring 2014
A2B was featured in an ad for ASU in this season's issue of Innovation.