Class: Objects and Spaces
Professor: Brooke M. Davis
Time: 1 Month
Designers: Just Me.
Tools used: Miro, Rhino 3D, 3D Printer, Pencil and paper.
My first thoughts were to create some sort of watch that had a light and laser, which could be useful for people working in poor lighting conditions I did this by defining what I thought safety meant concerning the senses: “Enhancing the senses in dangerous conditions.” I then listed out possible consumers and what the consumers need to navigate their lives and jobs effectively. I also listed out possible things I might include in the watch to fulfill the needs I listed. This design aimed to transform the watch into a multifunctional tool, prioritizing safety and heightened sensory perception in various scenarios.
I compiled images on Miro.com to help me amalgamate various design elements from headlamps, watches, laser sights, and combinations of the three. This allowed me to visualize what the product was going to look like. As I navigated through the images, I envisioned a product characterized by sleekness, tactical functionality, rugged durability, and a futuristic aesthetic, ensuring a blend of form and function in the final design.
I had a turning point in my design process when I walked under this tree branch near the Art Building. I imagined a blind person walking through this path and hitting their head on the thick tree branch. This gave me the idea to turn my design into something for the visually impaired, I would just have to replace the lights with distance sensors. I believed that going this route would be much more interesting than the previous one. I would just have to see how it would function and how a visually impaired person would interact with it.
I redefined my problem to the daily struggles faced by visually impaired individuals, who often rely on traditional walking aids that do not provide comprehensive obstacle detection. This involved envisioning a solution that surpassed current technological limitations, necessitating the integration of cutting-edge sensors, advanced computer algorithms, and wearable accessories. The goal became to create a transformative device that not only mobility aids but fundamentally enhances the independence and safety of individuals with visual impairments by providing real-time, comprehensive obstacle detection.
