The document discusses using air pressure as an alternative to visual and audio cues for deaf users. The project aims to understand how deafness impacts experiences with digital interfaces that rely on sound. It will explore using air pressure and the sense of touch through haptic feedback. The goal is to allow deaf users to play games or experience digital media without relying on sound alerts by using directed air flow detected on the skin.

1. Visuals, sound and haptic feedbacks hae been key
components for alerting users to the situation on
screen.
However, from a deaf users point of view, these key
elements have become inadequate or unavailable in
accurately presenting the situation on hand.
My project is to understand the implications of
deafness and explore the use of air pressure through
the subject of haptic feedback and the sense of touch.
Kevin Wong
Air Caption

2. Storyboard
2. Timmy decides to find an
alternative to gaming that
hopefully does not require sound.
He finds a site to an exhibition
with an interaction designed by a
student that allows people to play
without relying on sound.
3. Finding it interesting, he
decides to visits the exhibition and
locates the interaction.
1. Timmy is hard at hearing. He
decides to play a game on his
phone. But could not hear the
alert sounds telling him to press
a button and ended up losing the
game.
WELCOME TO THE SOCIAL
DIGITAL EXHIBITION
5. But as he starts playing the
game, he starts feeling wind
blowing on his skin. Eventually
realising that these speakers do
not produce sound for hearing,
rather, it produces wind for the
sense of touch.
4. Approaching the interaction, he
notices a game on the screen and
two speakers sitting on opposite
sides of the monitor. The question
of “how would speakers help me
play a game?” comes to mind.

3. Design
Aireal - ‘this diminutive machine will puff air rings that allow
you to actually feel objects and textures in midair--no special
controllers or gloves required.’
Inspired by the Aireal project, I chose to explore the sense of
touch with the use of air pressure.
Survey Feedback:
From user feedback I have found that within entertainment and sound based activities, the lack of subtitles or inaccurate
portrayal of closed captions has led to users difficulty in understanding the situation on hand that has only been better portrayed
through sound.
Gaming - Known to be one of the highest difficulty of successfully
alerting users to surrounding elements and subtle hints as to the
current situation. One example is the game of Prince of Persia -
sands of time. With a puzzle involving multiple doors, to correctly
enter the correct door to continue to the next stage requires the
user to listen to the sound of flowing water.

4. Technology
Computer fans. Linked to
an arduino, allows the rpm
of each fan to vary
accordingly to give a more
dynamic interpretation of
haptic feedback.
Arduino. One of the main
components of technology.
Arduino will allow the setup
of how a user will interact
with the design through
programming.
Body. The idea of a simple
design based around the idea of
speakers.
Coding.
void loop()
{
analogWrite(PWMPin, 1023); //Power on PWMPin,
tested, 1023 max, 30-50ish min
delay(5000);
}
This portion of coding allows a
specific speed for a fan to be set.

5. Weighting
People. To help
understand the issue
behind deafness, user
research is necessary
to help pinpoint the
topic which I want
to work on. Finding
experts in fields of
game development
and air mechanics
may be a viable
source of research.
Design. Researching in to
existing products, including
aesthetics, functionality and cost
will help guide my project in a
manageable direction.
Technology. Deciding on
existing technologies that
I am comfortable to work
with. Will allow an easier
approach to a working
prototype, facing issues
within the technologies such
as air flow limitations, max/
min rpm of fans relating to
coding.
P
eople
People
People
Design
Design
Techn
ology
Technology
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