Connecting Dots
Enhancing Visual Assistance for the Visually Impaired
Design for Accessibility | Social Innovation | Award-winning
About the project
Connecting dots is an initiative to make the grandiosity of large scale structures which are historically/culturally significant accessible for the visually impaired.
The aim is to make their experience delightful & memorable.
My Role & Team
Role: Design & Innovation student at ISDI
Team: 2 (Including me & IT Engineer)
Project Date & Timeline: January 2017 (3months)
Location: Mumbai, India
My Contribution: Empathy building through role playing to familiarize ourselves to the world of the visually impaired & the blind, conducting information sessions with multiple visually impaired people through a series of iterative prototyping and user testing sessions.
Project Goal
1. Introduce the visually impaired to the places
2. Empowering them by providing access
3. Sensitize people with vision about accessibility issues public areas.
Challenge
Unable to access large structures of significant importance
India is a home to the largest number of visually impaired people in the world. Out of 37 million blind people across the globe, 15 million are from India. There is a staggering scarcity in disabled friendly infrastructure & transportation facilities.
The biggest challenge for the visually impaired especially the ones with the complete loss of vision, is to navigate around places.
RE-DEFINING THE PROBLEM STATEMENT
How might we make large scale structures in Mumbai accessible for the visually impaired?
Diving In
Choosing two significant
structures in Mumbai
We chose two scenic spots in Mumbai
1. Gateway of India
2. Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Criteria for selection
1. Scenic in Nature
2. Cannot be felt closely by the visually
impaired audience
3. Accessible for us to build an experience
around it
Ideation
Integrating sensory experiences to create a unified experience
Off-site installation
Installations to enable them to get a complete experience of visiting a place. Such installations
could be placed inside museums.
On-site installation
Miniature version of the structure kept at the site at a particular distance to recreate the scene in front of them
Prototyping
Experimenting with different materials & textures
We followed a quick process of prototyping & user testing to validate our assumptions & ideas
User Testing
What our users had to say!!
We tested the prototype with a focus group of visually impaired people across Mumbai, to find out how they would interact and understand it. Here are the first impressions they have had of the product or the prototype.
Outcome
Smart 3D Model & Travel Companion App
The high fidelity prototype included a smart 3D model, a scaled down version of the monument/structure which would be placed onsite. The Travel Companion App would then be of visual assistance to the individual by helping them understand the intricacies of the monument as they navigate through the 3D Model.
Upon reaching, the app can be paired with the 3D Model through bluetooth. The person will get a audio feedback on touching the different parts of the model.
Behind the scenes
Post testing, these were the design criteria we prioritised
1. Easy navigation in public spaces
2. Minimalistic form, no photographic view
3. Prefer 3D models over 2.5D Models
4. Audio-tactile experience (not everyone understands braille)
Key-Takeaways
What I learnt...
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Designing for Accessibility & Inclusivity - This was my first project where I designed solutions for the visually impaired. It helped me to step into their shoes, role-play certain scenarios and draw several insightful conclusions for example - Their other four senses are sharper and stronger in comparison to people having complete vision.
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Iterative Design & Prototyping - The project gave me the freedom to explore materials and technology. I learnt to embrace ambiguity in the process of experimenting.