2021, PRODUCT DESIGN
Designing an assistive device
This design project was done during my second year of Industrial Design Engineering during the module “Designing for specific users”. With our design, we won the jury award.
Convo is a small device which makes it easier to communicate with people who have auditory disabilities. Through the use of technology which measures speech volume and speech speed, targeted feedback is given towards interlocutors. Instead of repeatedly giving the same feedback during a conversation Convo will provide subtle feedback to the interlocutors without disrupting conversations. What is interesting about Convo is that the interlocutor has to adjust, instead of the person with a disability. For this project, we won the jury award during the module “Designing for specific users”. The jury consisted of Dr Ir. Wouter Eggink and Dr Ir. Edwin Dertien, both working at the University of Twente and participators in the Dutch TV program “We gaan het maken”, which focussed on designing personalized assistive devices for people with disabilities.
A short article has been written by Utoday about our solution which won the award.
Context mapping
To gain insight into the current knowledge about design for people with disabilities, we conducted a Context Mapping Study. Specific research has been done about visual, auditory, and physical impairments.
Disabilities have always been present throughout history, though they were seen as abnormal. This has caused disabled people to feel powerless. Fortunately today, plenty is being done to replenish their independence again. One way of doing this is with the use of assistive technologies. Another way to help is by designing following a Human Centered Design process.
Co-design
We learned some important things during the co-design phase. Not only about the problems that we could find a solution for but also about the participant. We did this through interviews, where we learned for example that their sight was only 5-6% and only 70% of words could be understood. After getting to know the participant a little bit better, we visited them for a day. There we did four types of co-design activities, which are the day reconstruction method, sensitizers, brainstorming, and a home safari. We learned that the participant had many practical problems with fairly simple solutions, such as a measuring cup that is difficult to read, or not being able to see depth which makes avoiding curbs difficult. There were however some underlying more serious issues, which are a lack of mobility, independence, and communication. We identified this last problem as the most important problem because the consequences of the problem caused the participant to feel isolated, lonely, bored, and frustrated. Therefore we chose to tackle this problem in this project.
Concept development
With the information gathered from the context mapping study and the co-designing activities, the concept development phase started. We looked at a broad range of concept ideas and solutions to the problem of communication, keeping the design vision and our list of requirements in mind. The concept development happened in six phases, and in each phase, we came closer to the final solution. Between phases, advice and opinions were asked from our participant and various experts.
In the development of the product, our project group generated a broad variety of ideas in the form of sketches, research and short lists. The general idea to solve ‘communication’ was the first direction we wanted to go. This was the basis of the first design challenge as well as the subject for the ideation phase.
The sunflower concept was created with the idea that the interlocutor would get indirect feedback about his speech, in this case in the shape of a sunflower. The sunflower would hang low when the interlocutor is speaking unclear, and the sunflower would stand upright when the participant could understand everything clearly.
Based on the research and the opinion of our participant and various experts, we chose to continue with this concept. In the next phase, we ideated on other ways to present this feedback on the speech of the interlocutor and came up with several ways of presenting it. Important aspects to keep in mind were to design something that is not stigmatising and does not draw a lot of attention.
After contacting another expert in mechanical engineering who is also a caretaker of the participant, we had more information about the usability and functionality of our concept. To measure the sound, we should put the device as close to the ear as possible, to catch the same volume and speed as the user is hearing. We discussed a lot about incorporating the device in pieces of clothing like a cap or a scarf, but those pieces of clothing were mostly seasonal, personal, and not appropriate for every occasion.
After considering all the positive and negative sides, we came to the conclusion that a button of some sort would be the most convenient and most ‘stylish’ way to give feedback to an interlocutor.
Interfaces
Next, we designed the interface of the button. We decided to go for a screen over a mechanical interface because it allows for more options and it will have a cleaner look. We made a template of the shape we wanted to use and ideated on some interfaces. These interfaces were analysed by doing research and testing with different people. The final interface is suitable for colourblind people, is legible in the sun, is still clear from a distance, and has understandable and clear icons.
Prototyping
The visual prototype was created to show how the product works in a real-life context. The visual prototype consists of two parts: the Convo device and the necklace. The functional prototype is a proof of concept to show that it is possible to measure volume and speed. The volume is being measured using a sound sensor and an Arduino. The LEDs on the left are used to show how loud the sound is. In the software, the analogue values of the sound sensor are converted to a certain number of LEDs that should turn on when a specific value is reached. The sensitivity can be adjusted at any time, by rotating the potentiometer on the sound sensor. On the right, LEDs are used to show the speed. The more LEDs are on, the slower you speak. The program Inton Trainer is used to measure the speed of the conversation. This software is not available for Arduino, but to show that speed can still be measured in an electronic device, the prototype can connect to your phone using Bluetooth. The feedback from the software can then be manually sent through your phone to the Arduino, and a certain number of LEDs will be turned on, giving an indication of how slow or fast you speak.
User testing
The first usability test has already been completed. Here the interface options were evaluated to find which ones can be seen, read, and understood the best by the interlocutor. The interfaces were evaluated, qualitatively, by showing the participants in our test three interface options each in multiple colour combinations and with a white and black background. The interfaces were shown on a mobile phone, which best represented the display of the final product, and from a distance of 1.5 m. The participants were asked how well they could understand and see the symbols and feedback columns on the display.
The next step in our user research would be testing with a hard-of-hearing person and participants unknown to the product to see how a conversation would flow.
Personal contributions to this project
During this project, I was responsible for keeping the team on track as a secretary. I also did a lot of theoretical and practical work during the project, such as conducting the co-design sessions, identifying the main problem, making the sun-flower concept, designing the interface of the button, and making the visual and functional prototype. During this project, I found my love and interest in designing for specific users. I really enjoyed playing an important role in this project and making a fitting product for our participant.
Personal contributions to this project
During this project, I was responsible for keeping the team on track as a secretary. I also did a lot of theoretical and practical work during the project, such as conducting the co-design sessions, identifying the main problem, making the sun-flower concept, designing the interface of the button, and making the visual and functional prototype. During this project, I found my love and interest in designing for specific users. I really enjoyed playing an important role in this project and making a fitting product for our participant.