Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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How can Haptic Technology (Sense of Touch) be used to improve the quality of life for the blind? (self.Blind)
submitted by Morris_Design
Hello,
I am currently in my final year as a Product Design and Innovation student. I have decided to work on the them "Using Sensory Technology to Improve the Lives of the Blind". Specifically in the feild of Haptic's, otherwise known as things relating to the sense of touch.
The scope for Haptic Technology has became huge since the outbreak of Virtual Reality with game engineers trying to make it possible to "feel something that isn't there". Haptic technology is also making huge breakthroughs in medicine and creating new design opportunities.
What I want to find out is how could some form of Haptic recognition be used to improve the quality of life of someone living with sight loss. To do this I would really appreciate any feedback or anyone who would be willing to have a discussion with me about it. Even the smallest amount of information, possibly suggesting problem faced each day that need to be solved!
Thank You!
I am currently in my final year as a Product Design and Innovation student. I have decided to work on the them "Using Sensory Technology to Improve the Lives of the Blind". Specifically in the feild of Haptic's, otherwise known as things relating to the sense of touch.
The scope for Haptic Technology has became huge since the outbreak of Virtual Reality with game engineers trying to make it possible to "feel something that isn't there". Haptic technology is also making huge breakthroughs in medicine and creating new design opportunities.
What I want to find out is how could some form of Haptic recognition be used to improve the quality of life of someone living with sight loss. To do this I would really appreciate any feedback or anyone who would be willing to have a discussion with me about it. Even the smallest amount of information, possibly suggesting problem faced each day that need to be solved!
Thank You!
OneFishTwoFish 1 points 6y ago
I'm not blind, but I have a poor sense of direction -- I get 'turned around' way too easily. I love early morning and evening because the sun gives me a reference point.
I've seen a few DIY haptic belts that always let you know which way is north. The first time I saw one I thought it would be a great way to set a reference point and understand how my movements / changes in direction related to that reference point.
I imagine this would be useful to blind people as well.
Unfortunately, the DIY versions have had too many of the negative aspects of DIY -- they are too bulky, expensive, and failure prone to wear every day.
I would gladly buy a production quality haptic belt in the $50-200 price range. It seems like one of the more practical, useful, and relatively inexpensive ways to experience augmented reality.
I've seen a few DIY haptic belts that always let you know which way is north. The first time I saw one I thought it would be a great way to set a reference point and understand how my movements / changes in direction related to that reference point.
I imagine this would be useful to blind people as well.
Unfortunately, the DIY versions have had too many of the negative aspects of DIY -- they are too bulky, expensive, and failure prone to wear every day.
I would gladly buy a production quality haptic belt in the $50-200 price range. It seems like one of the more practical, useful, and relatively inexpensive ways to experience augmented reality.
Morris_Design [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I really like this idea! I aim to make my design as inclusive as possible, so that everyone can make use of it. For a product like this I could see many possibilities from someone who loses there bearings easily, or it could be used for directions on the go or even prove useful to hikers.
I agree that this could be greatly useful for blind people, potentially when commuting around cities. There is the opportunity that this could also provide warnings or alerts when approaching roads or when you have arrived at your destination.
I will keep this in mind as I progress with my research. It would be interesting experiment with this to find out how we can react to haptic feedback around our waist, and wether we can process this feedback easily so that it is helpful to us.
Thank you for your insight, interesting idea!
I agree that this could be greatly useful for blind people, potentially when commuting around cities. There is the opportunity that this could also provide warnings or alerts when approaching roads or when you have arrived at your destination.
I will keep this in mind as I progress with my research. It would be interesting experiment with this to find out how we can react to haptic feedback around our waist, and wether we can process this feedback easily so that it is helpful to us.
Thank you for your insight, interesting idea!
awesomesaucesaywhat 1 points 6y ago
A haptic watch that isn't expensive! I got an Apple Watch because I loved the haptic time feature but didn't like other portions of the watch and couldn't justify the cost.
It doesn't even have to look like a watch or have a round face, but something that either provides haptic feedback with a touch or a button.
It doesn't even have to look like a watch or have a round face, but something that either provides haptic feedback with a touch or a button.
Morris_Design [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I know there are other forms of Haptic watches on the market that are a lot cheaper than the Apple Watch. What was it you specifically liked about Apples time feature? There are some haptic watches on the market with physical displays, for instance a watch that replicates a analogue wrist watch using a pair of different sizes dimples to represent the time and some that display the time with Braille print.
For a while now I have been interested in the idea of a Haptic Watch that can tell the user the weather by relating certain Haptic responses to the weather conditions in your local area. This is a project that intrigues me but is there a need for a product like this?
For a while now I have been interested in the idea of a Haptic Watch that can tell the user the weather by relating certain Haptic responses to the weather conditions in your local area. This is a project that intrigues me but is there a need for a product like this?
awesomesaucesaywhat 1 points 6y ago
I looked at the Braille Watch (the dot, I believe it's called) and it's about three hundred dollars last I checked. The other watches are similarly priced and haven't impressed me. Ideally I would like something that I can use very quickly.
The Apple Watch voice over was impressive, I had no idea it could do so much. My main problem was that the haptic time only worked when voiceover was on, and half the time it spoke the time instead. If my Bluetooth headphones were paired then this was a problem.
But that leads to my biggest issue: Bluetooth pairing. I listen to mainly podcasts, live radio, and audio books, NONE of which can be downloaded onto the watch. Only two gigs of iTunes music can be downloaded onto the watch. If the audio is not downloaded onto the watch itself then the watch only controls the music playing from the phone. However, if my headphones are paired to the phone to listen to music then they can't be paired with the watch to control it. If my phone is close enough to me that i can listen to the audio without headphones then it is close enough to touch and i have no need of the watch to control it.
Basically, the Apple Watch is pretty cool, but for the way I wanted to use it the price was way to high. If someone made a watch app that would tell the time haptically without voice over having to be on then I might buy an older version of the watch. But currently I've returned the watch.
I would love a simple haptic watch that used long and short pulses. Something like a bracelet or a charm.
Edit: people who need to discreetly check the time in meetings would also be a market for a Watch like this.
The Apple Watch voice over was impressive, I had no idea it could do so much. My main problem was that the haptic time only worked when voiceover was on, and half the time it spoke the time instead. If my Bluetooth headphones were paired then this was a problem.
But that leads to my biggest issue: Bluetooth pairing. I listen to mainly podcasts, live radio, and audio books, NONE of which can be downloaded onto the watch. Only two gigs of iTunes music can be downloaded onto the watch. If the audio is not downloaded onto the watch itself then the watch only controls the music playing from the phone. However, if my headphones are paired to the phone to listen to music then they can't be paired with the watch to control it. If my phone is close enough to me that i can listen to the audio without headphones then it is close enough to touch and i have no need of the watch to control it.
Basically, the Apple Watch is pretty cool, but for the way I wanted to use it the price was way to high. If someone made a watch app that would tell the time haptically without voice over having to be on then I might buy an older version of the watch. But currently I've returned the watch.
I would love a simple haptic watch that used long and short pulses. Something like a bracelet or a charm.
Edit: people who need to discreetly check the time in meetings would also be a market for a Watch like this.
Morris_Design [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I have done a small amount of research on "The Dot" and I actually thought it was quite impressive, it may not be quite there but things are definitely heading in the right direction. You must remember that for $290 you are not just getting a time device, but this also claims to connect via Bluetooth so you can read text messages and such. Although with just one small line of Braille I can't imagine it would be particularly good for reading long messages. It is good to see that they are trying to make information more accessible for the blind even if they may have a while to go. It's nice to see progress!!
Thank you for the excellent feedback! I think I am going to explore different ideas for a Haptic time device for the blind. It is evident that there is lack of innovation in this area.
I will be posting a survey sometime in the near future to try and gather a range of thoughts on what people living with sight loss would like from a wearable device. Hopefully be designing this wearable with the blind in mind It crossover as a useful device for the fully sighted also. The idea of checking the time discreetly in meetings is the exact type of thing I'm thinking of.
Thank you for the excellent feedback! I think I am going to explore different ideas for a Haptic time device for the blind. It is evident that there is lack of innovation in this area.
I will be posting a survey sometime in the near future to try and gather a range of thoughts on what people living with sight loss would like from a wearable device. Hopefully be designing this wearable with the blind in mind It crossover as a useful device for the fully sighted also. The idea of checking the time discreetly in meetings is the exact type of thing I'm thinking of.
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