This document discusses designing assistive technologies for the visually impaired. It proposes a digital impression board and haptic pen that work together to allow users to feel textures and routes on a map. The digital board would use magnets to change textures under the pen tip, while the pen contains buttons, a microphone and vibration to provide feedback. It also suggests expanding these ideas to develop an assistive jacket with integrated GPS and texture detection to guide navigation without maps. The goal is to mirror human abilities and transfer tasks to natural actions through biomimicry and intuitive, memorable interfaces.

1. DESIGNING FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIREDENABLED BY DESIGN

2. Introduction >>WHO?WHAT?WHAT NOT?

3. Learnabilityfirst time accomplishmentEfficiencyperform quicklyMemorabilityReestablishing proficiencyOur approach >>Biomimicry

4. “The role of technology is to mirror our humanness. We were born with everything we need:good technology reminds us of that.”Jack Dorsey (@jack), CEO Twitter Conceptual design >>

5. PLANASSISTIVE DEVICEINFORMATION FLOW >>

6. Audio-to-text Plug-ins for google maps >>Tablet Connectivity

7. Audio registered as text on-cueGiven point appears on map

8. List of Suggested routes can be toggled for change on map

9. Screen grayed out (inactive)Highlighted select route (active)

10. DIGITAL IMPRESSION BOARD - HAPTIC PENThe next few slides have used images of Wacom’sIntuos 4 for illustration purposes only**

11. Digital impression board >>Magnet clay/ Magnetized liquidCustomizable Button initiators

12. Digital impression board >>Button initiators mapped for similar on-screen functionality Button also serve as cue initiators to commandsElectromagnetic waves change texture to imprint the chosen route

13. << HAPTIC PEN In-built microphone to receive voice commandsFinger-tip grip pad for haptic sensesAutomated nib changer for texture-feelThumb-button to initiate text-to-speech

14. << HAPTIC PEN A comic illustration of the tracing of a route using the Haptic pen on texture

15. What it doesn’t do GPS tracking

16. Security

17. Retract ability

18. Automation

19. Texture detection What it does Ultrasonic obstacle detection

20. Vibratory buttons Adding on to the ultra-cane >>

21. Pointing you to the right directionUnderside of Haptic torch integrated with GPS /compassRetractability option for non-obtrusivenessGrip transfer force probe to feel textureHandle covered to give *grip* feedback (handholding)

22. Pointing you to the right direction- navigating without mapsForce exerted at points for ‘pulling’, ‘pushing’ sensationShoulder and Waist studied to be the turning points in assistive/guided walkingAssistive jacket >>Automating the Ultra cane

23. Scenario >> Planning

24. Scenario >> Assistive device

25. “ If we want users to like our software, we would design it to behave like a likeable person.”Alan Cooper Self assessment >>