The presentation made at World usability Day seminar in ISB, Hyderabad on 14 Dec 2006. It talks of interactive device for visually challenged to share personal media.

1. Design for All World Usability Day, 14 November 2006 Rashmin - Vishwanath - Pudi

2. Project Brief Design of interactive device for sharing personal media Microsoft Research Project Industrial Design Center, IIT Bombay

3. Sharing - Personal - Media Why? Emotional co-existence

4. Sharing - Personal - Media What do we share? Ideas Opinions Memories Secrets Knowledge Language Culture

5. Sharing - Personal - Media Your possessions … very special … close to your heart … MINE

6. Sharing - Personal - Media A means for storing or communicating information

7. User Segment Physically Challenged 500 million of the world population is physically disadvantaged

8. User Segment Physically Challenged ( Acquired Blind ) 80% of information that a normal person gets is through visual means.

9. Understanding the User lack of opportunity lack of vision lack of confidence Restricted performance and participation in society

10. Current Reality Conflict between how the society looks at them and how they want the society to look at them. - Lack of medium for self expression - Trauma, frustration and depression - Activity limitation and participatory restriction

11. Current Reality - adaptation of the devices designed for the privileged

12. Sharing? Personal? Media?

13. Design Methodology - User and agents study - Understanding existing devices - Habits and activity analysis

14. Understanding the User Being Sensitive

15. Understanding the User Observations: Listens to his wife while she reads novels. Isn't comfortable with Braille. Goes out with an escort, recognizes the path using landmarks like speed breakers and familiar sounds. Doesn’t use the cane. Records relevant information when someone reads out technical papers. Finds audio to be greater advantage then Braille. Is very organized. Remembers telephone numbers by way of memory chunking Recognizes people by height from which the voice emanates, tone and mannerisms of the other person Prof. Uday Boumik IIT Bombay

16. Inferences An alternative for Braille is needed in view of the changed pace of information exchange. - the blind would want to be as independent as possible - a major hurdle is the lack of immediate availability of information - do not want their blindness to be made obvious

17. Understanding the User Observations: Was always interested in business before he lost his sight after class X Started by selling soaps, agarbatti etc and now deals with supply of computer hardware Does salesmanship while father takes care of accounting Intends to encourage other blind people to start their own business Enjoys playing chess Doesn't like to use the cane for navigation Meets friends over the weekends and talks about business, movie and music Kumar Businessman Mumbai

18. Inferences They can be independent if given adequate training. - any device used by the blind should not carry the stigma associated with blindness

21. Devices - Lack of special device for communication

22. Concepts Interactive media + sharing + personal = Intimate Media

23. Concept1 - Acoustic Album Capture, organize and share random sounds

24. Scenario of Use Arun captures the chirping of birds on his way to school. He had attended a marriage later in the day. The next day he shares it with Mohan and Radha.

25. Product

26. Concept2 – Sound Links Capture messages, audio, video and share

27. Scenario of Use Arun comes back from school. He goes out to meet his friends. His mom can see where he is. His friends know he has arrived. buzz

28. Product

29. Concept3 – Virtual Pub Audio chat, 3D space, surround sound, haptic feedback

30. Scenario of Use Bob comes home tired. He is bored with the radio and wants to talk to someone. Feels depressed. But not so with the Virtual pub in his house.

31. Product

32. User Feedback