Moment
Date
Sep 2020 - Nov 2020
Role
Visual & UI designer
Course
Prototyping electronics @ SCAD
Indigo Design Awards - 1 Gold, 8 Silver, 3 Bronze
Red Dot: Communication Design award winner
Rookie Awards 2021 - Draft Selection & Finalist
The project
Thinking about the vast changes that occurred around us during 2020, our group started to brainstorm different areas of interest for our project. Even though we listed many things and situations that changed in our life, we figured that many of these changes may be way harder to adapt to for people who are visually impaired.
Throughout our 10-week project we developed Moment, a product that provides mobility independence for individuals with visual impairment, including both a wearable device which provides directional haptic cues as well as a mobile app to alleviate the stress of preparatory stages.
The problem
People who are visually impaired struggle to quickly adapt to vast and drastic environmental changes that disturb their mental maps.
Our goal
Facilitate the independence of individuals who are visually impaired in public environments.
Develop an adaptive solution that evolves with the users needs throughout new and changing experiences.
The design process
Research
Our process involved extensive primary as well as secondary research in order to understand the problem area. From initial secondary research to high-fidelity user testing, this allowed us to get a better grasp on the subject and develop our key insights.Here are some research methods we used:
Key insights
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Momentary decision making: Current mobility aids do not account for on-the-spot problem-solving.
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Supplementary Sensory Inputs: Due to tactile limitations, visually impaired participants feel a decrease in independence away from sighted guides
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Environment Preparation: Individuals who are visually impaired place a large emphasis on preparatory routines prior to leaving the house.
The app
Throughout our process, we iterated on the site map and lo-fi screens to establish a clear user flow and structure. We tested different layouts and interactions internally, refining the screens to ensure the navigation and app experience were intuitive and aligned with our goals for accessibility and independence.
Research
Throughout our process, we continually user tested both our digital app and our physical device. While we were not able to meet in person for user testing with participants who are visually impaired, we conducted multiple "Wizard of Oz" tests to simulate different scenarios with our product. This helped us shape our product to be as successful as possible.
Plan your journey
Keep track of your routes in the Moment app, by adding them to your commonly used ones. Create your commute by adding multiple destinations or stops. All interactions are designed to be navigated via touch or voice, with ALT text connected to all labels.
Update your commute
Instead of memorizing specific directions, have them read back to you while also being able to add new destinations and update your route. Pin specific or all directions so that you get haptic cues to make sure you're going in the right direction.
Understand your surroundings
The Moment wearable device keeps track of your surroundings and notifies you of them via haptic feedback. It's designed to be slim enough to comfortably wear but solid enough to give accurate information. Use the app to adjust distances, haptic strength, and even the haptic language yourself.
To view our full project please check out our process book