For our wearable technology project we proposed NaviGo an assistive wearable technology (classified, in this case, as a high tech device) for the visually impaired that complements their instinct and auditory sense. The device can be connected to computers and uses a tactile braille display that sends information to the wearer in the form of simplified commands.
1. GFE601: Technology in Fashion
Wearable
Technology –
NaviGo
NaviGo – Assistive Wearable for the People with Visual Impairments
Arpita Bhagwat
Aleksandra Nazintseva
Shraddha Kutty
Ryu Wakabayashi
Riti Mishra
2. Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................2
Objective...................................................................................................................................................2
Target Market............................................................................................................................................3
Industry Review........................................................................................................................................6
Benefits and Characteristics......................................................................................................................8
Competitors...............................................................................................................................................8
Product Design Decisions.......................................................................................................................10
Cost of Manufacturing............................................................................................................................14
Marketing................................................................................................................................................15
Disposal of Product.................................................................................................................................16
Problems and Solutions...........................................................................................................................17
Future Applications.................................................................................................................................17
Appendix.................................................................................................................................................18
3. Introduction
Assistive Technology is described as any item, piece of equipment or product system
whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized that is used to
increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of a person with disability or
disabilities.These may be broadly classified as:
High tech, mid tech, low tech, no tech.
NaviGo is an assistive wearable technology (classified, in this case, as a high tech
device) for the visually impaired that complements their instinct and auditory sense. The
device can be connected to computers and uses a tactile braille display that sends
information to the wearer in the form of simplified commands.
We realized there is a number of (crowdfunded) software and programs developed, that
when put together, could make an adaptive person even more self-reliant.
Some features include;
• Voice recognition / command
• GPS - Information is translated into symbols
• Indoor navigation using haptic feedback (sensors that measure distance and
provides feedback to the wearer so they can navigate themselves)
• Gesture recognition
• OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
• Emergency command
These are some basic forms of technology that already exist. The product is to be as
sensitive as possible with respect to function, design, terminology and ability.
Objective
To enhance the emotional well-being of the visually impaired consumer and enable
them to participate wholly in society. We have drawn inspiration from existing
smartphone based application programs such as Say Text, that allows the user to snap
photos of text they want to read, such as a restaurant menu or label, and hear it
prompted aloud; even smartphone-based GPS programs that alert blind users to nearby
cafes or other points of interest are available in the market. By integrating these
application concepts to our device, the visually impaired wearer can go about his or her
daily life with little to no hindrance with a variety of social options. Thus, increasing their
independence and allowing them to be socially more participatory. Especially given the
commercialization of assistive technology ex. Siri and VoiceOver, the device would be
welcomed in the wearable market.
4. Target Market
Overview:
Visual Impairment refers to a decrease in vision that
cannot be corrected by use of glasses of contact
lenses. People with vision that is worse than 20/200
with glasses or contact lenses are considered legally
blind in most states in the United States.
Blindness has many causes. In the United States, the
leading causes are:
• Accidents or injuries to the surface of the eye
(chemical burns or sports injuries)
• Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration
In 1934, the American Medical Association adopted
the following definition of blindness:
“Central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better
eye with corrective glasses or central visual acuity of
more than 20/200 if there is a visual field defect in
which the peripheral field is contracted to such an
extent that the widest diameter of the visual field
subtends an angular distance no greater than 20
degrees in the better eye.”
‘The Americans with Disabilities 2010 report
categorizes types of disabilities into communicative,
physical, and mental domains according to a set of
criteria described in the report. People who are blind
or have difficulty seeing are grouped into the
communicative disability domain.
While the characteristics of individuals with
disabilities in a domain may be heterogeneous, the
domains may group individuals with some common
experiences. Because people can have more than
one type of disability, they too may be identified as
having disabilities in multiple domains. In the report
disability among children aged less than 15 years are
not included.’
‘The population of people with disabilities inhabit a distinct position in the U.S. economy,
both for their contributions to the marketplace and roles in government policies and
programs. People with disabilities bring unique sets of skills to the workplace,
5. enhancing the strength and diversity of the U.S. labor market (U.S. Department of
Labor, “Building an Inclusive Workforce: A Four-Step Reference Guide to Recruiting,
Hiring, & Retaining Employees with Disabilities”). In addition, they make up a significant
market of consumers, representing more than $200 billion in discretionary spending and
spurring technological innovation and entrepreneurship (U.S. Department of Labor,
“Diverse Perspectives: People with Disabilities Fulfilling Your Business Goals”). People
with disabilities also often rely on various government interventions to maintain their
participation in the community.’ (Americans with Disabilities: 2010, Matthew W. Brault)
Disability Statistics, American Community Survey (2013):
The number of non-institutionalized males or females, ages 4 and under through 20, all
races, regardless of ethnicity, with all education levels in the United States who reported
a visual disability in 2013.
Prevalence:
• Total: 694,300 (2.4%)
• Girls: 333,500 (2.3%)
• Boys: 360,700 (2.3%)
(Erickson, W., Lee, C., von Schrader, S. (2015). Disability Statistics from the 2013
American Community Survey (ACS). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Employment and
Disability Institute (EDI). Retrieved September 9, 2015, from
www.disabilitystatistics.org.)
Prevalence of Visual Disability:
The number of non-institutionalized, male or female, ages 16 through 75+, all races,
regardless of ethnicity, with all education levels in the United States reported to have a
visual disability in 2013.
• Total (all ages): 7,327,800 (2.3%)
• Total (16 to 75+): 6,846,000 (8.7%)
• Women: 3,793,300 (9.3%)
• Men: 3,052,700 (8.1%)
• Age 18 to 64: 3,805,600 (1.9%)
• Age 65 and older: 2,966,300 (6.8%)
(https://nfb.org/blindness-statistics)
Psychographics:
• Adaptive
• Progressive thinking
• Already tech savvy
• High School Diploma Educated
Demographic Statistics:
• 79% White; 12% Black; 6% Hispanic
6. • (This government survey categorizes race and ethnicity as Hispanic, non-
Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Asian or Pacific Islander, and other.)
• 49% are married
• Average education is 11.4 years
Gender:
• 58% are men between 18-44 years
• 61% are women over the age of 75
Marriage and household:
• Blind men are more likely to be married than blind women, regardless of age
• As blind men age, they are more likely to be living with a spouse
• As blind women age, they are more likely to be living alone or with a relative
Location:
• 78% live in an urban area
• 35% live in the South
• Rural and urban blind adults do not differ in terms of age or sex
Poverty:
• 1 in 5 live in poverty (19%)
• 19% are currently employed
Family Income and Education:
Annual family income ranged from between $5,000 to more than $50,000, with almost
equal distribution in all income categories.
Blind Adults Living Alone:
One out of every four (26%) blind adults lives alone, but the patterns are different for
men and women of different ages. Blind women are more likely to live alone as they
age. Only 7 % of blind women between the ages of 18-44 live alone, but the percentage
more than doubles to 16% between the ages of 45-64. In the 65-74 age group, more
than one-third lives alone. More than half (52 %) of blind women 75 and older live alone.
In contrast, approximately 20% of blind men live alone at all ages, falling to 16 % for
those over 75.
(http://center4research.org/medical-care-for-adults/disabilities/blind-adults-in-america-
their-lives-and-challenges/)
7. Industry Review
Our project will be a part of the healthcare and medical applications category since it will
assist the visually impaired. It is deeply related to health care and we could garner
support from medical personnel.
The current global market for IT outsourcing is USD 34.5 billion and is estimated to be
68.3 billion in 2020, which indicates that the market has a growth potential to double in
the next four years.
(http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/12/prweb13118163.htm)
Wearable technology in the global market is estimated at USD 5.8 billion in 2018, and
health care and medical applications at USD 2000 million as shown below (Market
Growth Trends: Wearable Technology End Use). According to Transparency Market
Research (TMR), the Healthcare and Medical area is predicted to have the largest
growth (Fitness, Infotainment, Industrial and Military). This indicates that the market we
are entering is expanding and has great potential.
8. According to the TMR, in our product (Handing and Portability and Real Time and
Integrated Data) are marked both highest for impact in adoption and buying decision.
The following graph shows further segments in the categories of Healthcare and
Medical, Fitness and Wellness, Infotainment, and Industrial and Military.
(http://www.wearabletechworld.com/topics/from-the-experts/articles/323855-wearable-
technology-next-mobility-market-booming.htm)
9. Benefits and Characteristics
NaviGO will significantly help blind people; the main benefit being easy navigation
outdoors and indoors by wearing our wristband. The device has 4 mini sensors and a
voice operated GPS receiver, all to act as both - a ‘walking stick’ or cane and a mapping
system.
All information about directions and obstacles will be relayed to the wearer via a special
earpiece that will be connected to the device. The user will be able to make emergency
phone calls by using two fingers to tap thrice on the display. This function will be
programmable (during setup), so it will be possible to choose a phone number from their
contact lists.
The device will track biometrics data and send a signal to 911 services if there is an
abnormal change in user’s health metrics. Moreover, tactile braille display will also help
users to check directions and time on the small display of the wristband.
The design of the device was inspired by the latest fashion trends and is inconspicuous,
so that people without disabilities would find it interesting as well.
NaviGO will be a one of its kind in the market. All devices that currently exist are still in
prototyping stage and are very expensive. The unique selling point of the product is its
affordability thereby widening its reach in the market.
Competitors
There are a lot of navigation/ scanning devices, such as: walking sticks or canes, hand
disks, wristbands, glasses and headsets. But for the comparison of pros and cons we
decided to consider only devices that apply to wearable technology segment – our
direct and indirect competitors.
Function
Navigation
Demands of the Body
Protection
Cannot be used for sports, Water-
resistant, Non radiactive
Antropometry 14 - 45 years old
Ergonomics Movements
Non bulky, Doesn't hinder
wrist/hand movements
Thermo-Psychological regulation N/A
Psychological Considerations
Increase convenience of day-to-day
life, Enhancing, Complementary to
person's abilities
Demands of the Activity
Duration of the Activity up to 48 hours
Safety Maps are stored in the device
Range of Likely
Factors that are dependent on the
device
10. In the table below we enlisted benefits NaviGO offers in comparison to other existing
alternatives;
Function / Device Eyeronman
Microsoft
Handset
Munivo
VI
A
Navigation
Glasses
Touch
& Go
NaviGO
Navigation
Obstacles
only
+
Obstacles
only
+ + + +
Voice Control - + - + + + +
Voice Assistance - - - + + + +
Tactile Braille
Display
- - - - - + +
Emergency Call - - - - - - +
Biometrics Track - - - - - - +
Time - - - - - - +
Inconspicuous - - - - - - +
(Table 1.1)
According to Table 1.1, Eyeronman (Lewis), Microsoft Handset (BBC) and Munivo
(Burns, Hand Map For the Blind) provide only one or two functions that NaviGO offers.
Thus, these devices are indirect competitors. On the other hand, VIA, Navigation
Glasses and Touch & Go are more likely to be considered as similar devices to NaviGO
or are direct competitors.
VIA (Visually Impaired Assistant) is a pair of hand-centric devices that help the blind to
navigate. The device has two hand pieces and use VMD (Video Motion Detection
technologies), 4 mini cameras, and a voice operated GPS receiver. It uses two different
vibration mechanisms to guide the user away from obstacles and toward their final
bespoken destination. The device is charged via a wirelessly functioning mat. (Burns,
Visually Impaired with Fine Hands)
Navigation Glasses is a pair of special glasses teamed with an earpiece. It helps the
sight impaired to visualize their surroundings. Sensors in the glasses pick up the
elements around the person and kind of guides them with auditory feedback. A
strategically placed microphone allows the user to communicate with the device and get
accurate real-time feedback. (Seth, Touch Freely Navigation)
Touch & Go is a navigation system for the blind folks to make them autonomous in the
“outside world”. The device includes a hand gadget and an earpiece. The system is a
wearable navigator with a tactile display that shows the directions as a relief map. (Seth,
Touch Feely Navigation)
(See Appendix 1 for links to websites of other available competition)
11. Product Design Decisions
Our product is an elastomer wristband with a tactile braille display. Tactile braille display
displays time as well as provides simple directions. It provides auditory output as well by
means of an earpiece. It has a sensory range of 50 meters. It will have swipe and tap
motions that can be programmed according to the needs of the user (For e.g. Double
Tap to make your phone call your emergency contact). The end of the band will have a
USB so that the watch can be plugged into a PC so as to take advantage of the open
source operating system. The band will also have a simple biometrics tracking system
that will notify emergency services in case of sudden change in biometrics. The device
will be water resistant and shockproof. It will have a volume control button on the
bottom.
Flat Drawing:
12.
13. Aesthetics:
It will be closed like a cuff so it will have elasticity on the center of the band. Fitbit and
Apple Watch bands are made from the same material. The color and texture are
inspired by the WGSN trend Infusion of minimal lines, flat warm colors and metallic
finishes.
Electronics and Computing Elements:
• The device will have four sensors facing all four directions. They will emit laser
beams to create a 3D image of its surroundings and project that onto the tactile
braille display. (Similar to the one mounted on top of Google Cars)
• Built in GPS system (Google Maps)
• Motherboard with memory chip, Bluetooth chip, battery, OS.
• Volume button input and output
• Voice input and auditory output
• Smaller version of tactile braille display
(http://www.damngeeky.com/2014/04/24/20680/anagraphs-electronic-braille-
reader-hooks-mobile-devices.html)
14. Identification of Design Requirements:
Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment or vision loss, is a decreased ability
to see to a degree that causes problems not fixable by usual means, such as glasses.
The term blindness is used for complete or nearly complete vision loss. Visual
impairment may cause people difficulties with normal daily activities such as driving,
reading, socializing, and walking.
This assistive device is meant for everyday use. A watch is something that people wear
every day without even realizing that it is on their wrist. Which is why we decided to
make it a wristband. The design has to be such that it does not interfere in day-to-day
activities and is light enough to be worn for the whole day. It would have to water
resistant to survive rainy/snowy weather as well as any splashes from washing hands.
The size has to be enough for easy interpretation of the tactile braille display but not so
big that it becomes bulky. It has to be easy to put on so that the visually impaired
person does not have trouble wearing it.
Fashion Vs. Regulation:
Our product will be extensively tested before we put it out in the market. However,
buying NaviGo will require the user to agree to terms and conditions that will not hold us
liable for any accidents. We can guarantee that wearing the product will not cause any
skin reactions. Any data recorded with biometrics or Google maps will not be sold to any
third party. However, we will use the data to improve user experience based on usage
statistics.
15. Cost of Manufacturing
An extremely rough estimate of costing has been made for the purpose of this
prototype. The costing is based on the assumption that the laser sensor system used in
Google Cars has been condensed into a smaller version that is cheap and easy to
program for.
This prototype also assumes that the one-time cost of developing the software will be
$25,000. It also uses the cost of manufacturing the Apple watch as a reference.
Cost of Individual Components:
Elastomer band ($8 per kg) = $0.10
Sensors ($10 each) = $40
Motherboard (including all chips and battery) = $10
Tactile Display = $15
Charger =$3
Earpiece = $4
Packaging = $5
TOTAL COST OF MANUFACTURING = $77.1
(Source: Wholesale prices from Alibaba.com)
For a 60% profit margin, the product has to be sold for $192.75. Thus, we can have a
retail price of $200.
16. Marketing
Overview:
The accessibility, comfort and sentiments of the visually impaired people were taken
into consideration while designing the marketing plan. Besides targeting the visually
impaired we also plan to reach out to their friends and family. This assistive technology
aims to enhance the quality of life of the blind.
To make sure that we reach out to as many people as we can, we will be using the
following strategies:
1. Website:
The website will be completely accessible for visually impaired people. Blind visitors will
most likely be using assistive technology like screen readers, refreshable braille
displays and digital screen magnification, so we will make sure that our site is tech-
friendly. We will refer to the information and tutorials provided by The American
Foundation for the Blind and WebAIM before designing the website, to make sure that
our website is welcoming for people with low or no vision.
Navigation is to be made as efficient, simple and logical as possible, because top-heavy
navigation forces visually impaired people to sit through long descriptions of menus
before reaching the actual content of the page. We will include appropriate ALT and
TITLE tags for images, as screen readers use these to interpret image data.
2. Promotion:
Our product will be exhibited at different conferences held by AFB, American Council for
the Blind and the National Federation for the Blind, Closing the Gap and the Northridge
Conferences. The product may also be exhibited at ophthalmological conferences and
can be promoted via pharmaceutical representatives to ophthalmologists themselves.
We may target younger demographic by making aware our presence across school
(blind school) fairs to display our product to parents and schoolteachers.
Brochures (in braille and type) will be distributed at all the places of promotion
(conferences, senior citizens’ organizations, special schools, rehab centers, hospitals
and doctors’ offices). We will send press releases to publications dealing with
education, health, technology and specific publications for the visually impaired.
3. Packaging:
The packaging of our product will be minimalistic and hassle-free. It will consist of
braille-embossed paperboard, fold-flat box design and our logo (in type and braille),
laminated by a thin layer of polystyrene plastic to prevent abrasion.
Color palette will remain true to the design – white and (insert) representing today’s
tech-savvy consumer and creating an inclusive statement.
Information will be provided in 3 different formats - braille, type or large-print and a
computer disk (CD). We are serving the blind and visually impaired market and we
understand that accessible documentation is part of the price of doing business with this
particular segment.
17. Clear, easy-to-follow instructions will be available in a variety of formats on set up and
usage, with the objective to keep as self-explanatory to the blind wearer without having
to ask for outside assistance (although it will be provided on request).
An audio CD will be included with a manual on opening of the box so that our
consumers will have access to it immediately. The CD will have braille in matte to
indicate the correct side to insert it, we are fully aware that now-a-days the use of CDs
have decreased dramatically but blind or visually impaired people most certainly have
access to CD players or have this feature in their laptops as they heavily rely on audio
materials. We firmly believe that people who have learning disabilities may also benefit
from listening to auditory information.
4. Advertisements:
We will include blind actors and models in our marketing materials. It is not enough to
simply use actors pretending to be blind, which can seem disrespectful. We understand
the fact that they and their friends and family members naturally want individuals who
can relate to living with visual impairments and we respect that. We will advertise on
Websites for visually impaired people like, WebAIM and AFB. We will also sell and
advertise our product on assistive technology online stores like Enablemart, Infogrip and
Enabling Devices. We will also advertise on local television and radio to reach out to as
many people as possible.
(See Appendix 2 for list of websites used to develop marketing strategy)
Disposal of Product
We take sustainability very seriously. Electronic products are made from valuable
resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require
energy to mine and manufacture.
Every piece of NaviGo must be recycled so that we can conserve our natural resources
and avoid air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions caused by manufacturing
virgin materials.
Damaged goods can be returned to us and will be dissected for reuse and disposal. We
will send the frames in bulk to our manufacturing units where they will be directly
recycled by melting and remaking new pieces. We will partner up with an e-waste
recycling company like “All Green” and provide them electronic parts in bulk for
disposal/recycling. Recycling these electronic parts will keep toxic materials out of the
environment. Small electronics like NaviGo contain metals such as lead, mercury,
cadmium and beryllium. They also contain hazardous materials such as brominated
flame-retardants. All of these can have negative effects on the environment. When
these materials are placed in a landfill they can leech into the soil and water and be
released into the air. Recycling is the key to protect our environment and keep these
metals and hazardous materials out of landfills. We are committed to protecting the
environment and give 100% assurance that the damaged pieces will not reach landfills.
We also want our customers to feel good about the fact that they are being responsible
citizens by taking this small step and hope they will be encouraged to make recycling an
integral part of their lives. (See Appendix 2.1 for websites used)
18. Problems and Solutions
The first and foremost problem that we would face is market penetration. People can be
skeptical and unsure about our product and we need to build up a brand image of trust and
confidence. Litigation will also be a problem as there might be people who will try to sue us if
something goes wrong. While we will have FDA approval, we must take care to not across as
uncaring and give due diligence if an actual case of negligence comes up. Because it is an
electronic product, malfunctions are bound to happen. We will provide a three year warranty for
certain malfunctions not caused by fault of the user. Another problem is the inevitable knock-offs
that will start appearing in the market as our production will mostly happen in China. These
products might harm our image as they might not meet the same safety and quality standards.
We should take adequate steps such as filing patents and trademarks to protect our intellectual
property.
Future Applications
In the future, NaviGo can be made available in different countries. We can even perhaps
collaborate with NGOs in those countries to make NaviGo more accessible to the visually
impaired population of that country.
This technology can be adapted other disabilities as well. With the advent of virtual and
augmented reality, similar devices can be used in tandem with ocular implants.
