LD Glasses
Problem statement and methodology
Problem:
We have observed that people who are blind, want to walk around freely, find traversing the streets safely somewhat complex. We think that an assistive technology could be designed that addresses this problem because it will provide guidance and detect incoming danger.
Our idea is an item that can be worn without being too out of place and can provide safety to those with blindness. We will do research and interview with people that have blindness or bad vision and test the product ourselves blindfolded (to ensure that anyone can use the technology) in order to explore this idea, with an emphasis on design constraints that this product is easily operable, light <1kg, and affordable. We anticipate that this will provide safety for those with visual impairments.
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In this design project we adopted the double diamond design process.
We began by reading papers on eye problems and the various types of assistive technology that help with these problems. We then focus our problem to allowing people with visual impairment to move around safely.
We came up with a few designs and many of them were glasses related or incorporated glasses in the design. In the end we decided to combine many features from the previous design to our final design.
Due to lockdown, we were not able to test the product in person, meaning we would not know how well it would work, but we still made some 3D models to envision how the product would look like.
Other issues: Three important legal provisions governing the development of new software.
1) About end-user privacy.
Consider privacy from the very beginning of the mobile application development process.
Formulate privacy policies for mobile applications to accurately and completely disclose their information activities, including the collection, use, disclosure, maintenance and protection of personal information.
2) Intellectual property (IP) rights.
When developing and releasing mobile applications, companies must consider and address the need to protect their own intellectual property while minimizing the risk of infringing the intellectual property of others.
3) Advertising and promotion.
Provide third-party advertising through the app or services associated with the app. In addition, companies should evaluate whether the app itself can be considered advertising. If so, the content of the application must comply with all relevant advertising and promotion laws.
Design work
We began by listing some assumptions we would make when doing this project. We then go search for ideas or items similar to our project or objects that are related.
We then did some research on eye impairment and the consequences of eye impairment. We found that eye impairment becomes more prevalent as one gets older. Eye examination is not frequent enough to keep up with the aging eye and this can cause many problems in a public space.
These were the articles we have looked at:
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Hawley, C., Roberts, C. & Fosdick, T. (2015). Visual impairment and Road Safety: Analysis of UK Road Casualties and Contributory Factors. https://www.college-optometrists.org/uploads/assets/ff86e812-8b41-44f5-8d64372b020716c3/visual_impairment_and_road_safety_june_2015_.pdf
JAMA. (2007). Visual Impairment and Eye Care Among Older Adults—Five States, 2005. Jamanetwork. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/205550
Sims RV, Mcgwin G, Pulley L, Roseman JM.(2001). Mobility Impairments in Crash-Involved Older Drivers. Journal of Aging and Health.13(3):430-438. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/089826430101300306
We began by researching related products. We were interested in the properties of sunglasses and what Bluetooth devices allow wireless connections. Our design would involve some sort of detection system which can inform the user of incoming danger.
List of images we referenced from:
dicksmith.co.nz. (n.d.). Dick Smith. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.dicksmith.co.nz/dn/buy/kogan-rechargeable-led-headlamp/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_ads&gclid=CjwKCAjw2bmLBhBREiwAZ6ugo7_9hDKGry5tioYq_lHU4Ilp67N-BzoFLkgD1ZKB61QLZzwPFaYIeBoCfnIQAvD_BwE
Eyewear Nz, B. (n.d.). BLACK TUNDRA POL // CANYON. Blenders Eyewear NZ. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://blenderseyewear.co.nz/products/black-tundra-polarized
EarPods with 3.5mm Headphone Plug. (n.d.). Apple (NZ). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.apple.com/nz/shop/product/MNHF2FE/A/earpods-with-35mm-headphone-plug
icoult, J. (2021, September 20). Through The Looking Glass: Why Facebook’s Camera-Enabled Glasses Will Fail. Forbes. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonpicoult/2021/09/19/through-the-looking-glass-why-facebooks-camera
Picoult, J. (2021, September 20). Through The Looking Glass: Why Facebook’s Camera-Enabled Glasses Will Fail. Forbes. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonpicoult/2021/09/19/through-the-looking-glass-why-facebooks-camera-enabled-glasses-will-fail/?sh=4c2796fd4387
New 2in1 HD1280*720 Bluetooth MP3 Player+Spy Hidden Camera Sunglasses Video Recorder Sport Wireless Bluetooth Sunglass. (n.d.). Wish. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.wish.com/product/new-2in1-hd1280720-bluetooth-mp3-playerspy-hidden-camera-sunglasses-video-recorder-sport-wiress-bluetooth-sunglass-578351ed381b2777d9d720ff?hide_login_modal=true&share=webenabled-glasses-will-fail/?sh=4c2796fd4387
Torres, J. C. (2019, December 10). OPPO AR Glasses Hands-on: OPPO's future vision. SlashGear. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.slashgear.com/oppo-ar-glasses-hands-on-oppos-future-vision-10602757/
Walking Sticks Health: Buy Online from Fishpond.co.nz. (n.d.). Fishpond. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.fishpond.co.nz/c/Health/q/Walking+Sticks
{{::og.title}}. (n.d.). ThisIsWhyImBroke. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/bose-built-in-speaker-sunglasses/
We sketched some ideas and put it on our Miro board. We chose glasses as our main idea and developed on that. The first iteration is a monocle, we then decided to make it into a full glasses as a monocle would look out of place, and the camera is also changed so it can contain more function and also brings the speaker closer to the ear. The second iteration is just a more refined version of the previous iteration with proper colors added and a slight adjustment to the shape of the camera.
Pre-Prototype
The product would be separated into 8 parts: 2x lens, 2x the arm, the main frame, the bluetooth device and 2x screws for connecting the arm to frame.The glasses frame should be made out of polystyrene and the lens part should be made of polycarbonate for its light weight and scratch resistance properties.
The arm and the mainframe and the casing for the Bluetooth device would be 3D printed or use plastic injection for mass production. The lens of the glasses would be fitted into the frame, the arm and the frame would be connected via a hinge joint and is tightened using screws.
The Bluetooth device contains a mini camera, speaker, mini projector and a circuit board, the device would be chargeable using a USB C charger. The camera would scan the surroundings and when it detects any anomaly the speaker would warn the user. If the user wants to view a specific road sign or bus timetable, the camera can send a photo or convert the sign into letters and send it to the phone or can be displayed on the glasses.
Picture below is a POV of the glasses displaying a sign:
The final product looks similar to a normal sunglasses, but there is still an obvious protrusion on the left. Since the final product was never manufactured, we could not know if there would be an issue with balancing and whether the product actually functioned as it should. We know that our idea is possible because of the Bose wearable speaker glasses, but we do not know if the glasses would work as we intended.
The way this glasses function is that there is a camera and speaker that are able to detect oncoming danger and could also notify the user. The glasses will be light weighted and will come with an adjustable anti earslip so that it can fit on the user comfortably.