The next design phase. Design Phase 2 for prototype 2.

I had to work out the positives and negatives of the first design phase. I worked out that the main strength of the first prototyping phase was the actual functionality I wanted to install into the design.

The first design had a lot of major flaws. The gun handle grip idea seemed great at the time but I soon realised it was an outlandish Idea that had one major flaw, it had to be gripped in the left hand and naviagated with the right hand.

The main screen would be far too small and the touchpad was inept as again it seemed too small. Another main positive I thought was the layout of the keypad with the big on and off switches which could be easily identified.

I looked at size of phones and dimensions and how the menu was set out on the phone itself. I looked at the dimensions of my own phone which is a Nokia 5310 Xpressmusic. I took a picture of the notes I made of the dimensions and menu order on my phone:-

I looked at the size of the iPhone and decided I wanted the design for my phone to be of similar size of the iPhone. The iPhones dimensions are 4.5 inches in height, 2.5 inches in width and 1cm thick. I started to sketch design ideas for the next prototype phase. I took pictures of my sketched designs.

My first idea for the second protoyping phase came from a mini sketch I made.

As you can see from the sketch, I wanted to install the new more sleak designed idea with canvas straps / handlesto make the phone more easily grippable for the user.

I began to also toy with the idea of having a separate touchpad but I then definately decided that I wanted the main screen to be touch functional with a stylus. The black balls where the canvas straps join could also act as a protective function if dropped.

Here is a bigger image of the one seen above: -

I then started to sketch the decided main design for the next prototype (2):-

I decided to opt for the design seen. It has the dimensions of 2.5 inches in width, 4.5 inches in height and 1.5 cm thick.

The screen is of a decent size it is 4.5cm in height and 5.5 cm in width. This is so a user can easily see the screen and touch it to make actions on the phone. I have also put on the bottom bar of the screen a zoom in and zoom out function and also the time and a battery symbol on the top right corner of the screen.

If the user would tap on thes symbol on the phone, the phone would talk back to the user via a screen reader and tell them what is happening on the phone.

The keypad, I decided it will have braille indentations on each button with braille alphabet on each key. The big buttons in the centre will be on and off.

I have opted not to show the photoshopped designs of this phone as they will be revealed in the presentation. This will be the main design of the partially sighted and blind persons mobile device.

The Visifone logo

Every major idea or product needs great logo attached to it. This is what I brainstormed for the idea for the Visifone logo.





I chose the rainbow colours as they connote the spectrum of colour. This is used on the Visifone logo as the Visifone enables the blind or partially sighted user to visualise how they can use a phone like full sighted people.

More research and part 1 of the prototyping phase for prototype 1

Some reading I did regarding the future of design, that is by Donald A. Norman crept into my thoughts when researching.

According to Norman (The design of future things, 2007, p.168-169);

"We need the best designs possible, ones that are sensitive to people, that follow all the best rules of human-centered, activity-centered design."

I put some serious thought into this bit of information given by Norman. Our design needed to be sensitive to the possible users needs. Not like the previous designs I have found in researching that are one track orientated towards one problematic such as so the user can send message via a braille keypad.

I researched some more designs of mobile devices for the blind and partially sighted: -

Universal phone for the blind
http://www.designlaunches.com/gadgets/universal_phone_for_blind_as_well_as_sighted_people.php
The b-touch
http://www.wallacek.com/wkusumo/cellphone-for-blinds-by-zhenwei-you/

The BSR
http://www.mobileuserexperience.com/mexdesign/?p=52

All of the above seemed in the concept stage. If you look at the links you will see that the BSR looks similar to a grenade as such but it sits in the hand like a joystick grip. I thought about the menu items and functions the first idea could have I wanted to install these ideas.

- A small but high resolution screen

- A touch pad so a stylus could be used to navigate the menu with certain strokes on the touchpad.

- A braille keypad for totally blind users and braille readers.

- A screen reader would also be installed in the phone so that the user could surf the web etc productively.

With this in mind I started to shape my prototype out of polystyrene with the help of a set of mini rasp files and sandpaper. The following images are of me shaping prototype 1. I will not show full images of the prototypes as these will be saved for the main presentation date.

I finished prototype 1 succesfully. You will see this in our main presentation. I found that the gun handle grip linked to violence too much and that a touch screen and high resolution colour screen could be implement like the Nintendo DS does which would save space. I decided on a new idea but with the same functionality.

Research and first sketch of my design

I thoroughly researched into current concepts and designs for mobile phones for partially sighted and blind people which had already been made available to the public via the outlet of the internet where people have posted their own ideas for devices and companies that have devised possible designed and even released models for blind and partially sighted people.

The first design I came across was the Samsung Touch messenger mobile phone.

(See post posted on July 16, 2006 at Samsung hub http://www.samsunghub.com/2006/07/16/touch-messenger-mobile-phone-for-blind/)

I found this design to be directly aimed at people who read braille only. It had limited functionality and no real visual interface even though the design was aesthetically pleasing. According to Samsung hub;




"Samsung has developed a mobile phone for visually impaired users. Named as the Touch Messenger, it allows a blind user to read messages with the help of Braille display screen. The phone also features 12 Braille buttons which enables the user to even write a message. This design will surely help blind people as they would be able to read and write messages without anyone’s help."

As the above states it is very message orientated, even though it tackles the issue of blind people being able to send messages easily it has no functionality that blind or partially sighted users could enjoy. I did not want the design which me and Thomas Lett were brainstorming to be aiming towards one problematic which could be overcome. We wanted to tackle a number of issues that blind and partially sighted people had come across, braile can be used, yes, but what about voice activated functions and screen readers and also a touch screen? These additions could also have to be considered.


For more information on the above Samsung touch messenger phone see the following links: -

http://www.samsunghub.com/2006/07/16/touch-messenger-mobile-phone-for-blind/

http://news.soft32.com/samsungs-phone-for-blind-people_1751.html

http://www.mobilenest.com/images/samsung_braille.jpg

http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/braille-phone-1.jpg

http://technabob.com/blog/2009/08/28/samsung-braille-phone-touchscreen/

http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/braille-phone-2.jpg

http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/braille_phone_is_a_dream_come_true_for_the_visually_impaired.php

The next idea I came across whilst researching was a concept put forward by the company Toshiba. The concept is called the Toshiba Tactility phone.


(See post posted September 15, 2009 http://www.designlaunches.com/gadgets/the_toshiba_tactility_phone_a_concept_mobile_phone_for_the_blind.php)


I found this concepts again aimed towards people who are totally blind and that can read braille. This again separates those who can read braille and cannot read braille. There are people out there who are fully blind who would not be able to use this concept / idea as it is too braille orientated.



It again seemed elegant in its design with finely crafted edges and glow lights at the sides. These aesthetics do not sadly make up for its lack in functionality.

According to design launches.com;

"The Toshiba Tactility concept phone is a clever phone designed for the blind. Designed by designer Siwei Liu, this concept phone has a simple 3D Braille face and functionality and boasts of technology which is used today. Thus, the chances of this phone turning into a reality have become extremely strong. The sleek phone even has a hole at the bottom that allows you to loop a tie through it and hang the phone around your lanyard or belt.

A great design, the simple design and technology make this phone are what make this phone stand out. Truly a class apart, his phone needs to get manufactured soon."

The information above does not give much away in terms of its functions or problems it solves ither than that braille readers can use it. This again is not something I want our design to focus upon.

For more on the Toshiba Tactility see the following links -

http://www.designlaunches.com/gadgets/the_toshiba_tactility_phone_a_concept_mobile_phone_for_the_blind.php

http://www.mobile-t-mobile.com/Mobile-news/toshiba-tactility.html

http://www.touchuserinterface.com/2009/10/toshiba-tactility-mobile-phone-concept.html

http://m.yankodesign.com/2009/09/14/blind-phone-with-fashion/

http://www.luxuo.com/gadgets/toshiba-siwei-liu-mobile.html

After looking into these researched concepts and designed I then decided to sketch some ideas of my own. The following images where the sketches of my initial first design for prototype 1.

You can see with the sketches situated in the middle and the bottom right hand corner that I was starting to bring together an idea.





From a brief chat with a friend of mine who is partially sighted he informed me that he would like a better grip on the phone so I started to play around with a few ideas, had a brainstorming session by myslef and thought of the use of a gun handle grip as it is not widely used on really anything else other than D.I.Y tools and types of guns.



As you can also see I started to visualise the layout of the keypad I wanted for the device. I also started to visualise the design with a high colour screen, a touch pad, and a speaker device. Ialso wanted there to be a stylus installed into the handle grip so the user could perform actions with the stylus on the touchpad that would make the user able to navigate the phones functions easier.


I then put this into Photoshop and I drafted this initial design: -































I wanted the size of this phone to be around 5 inches in height 3 inches in width and around 1.5 cm thick.

In my next blog post you will see some more of my research into devices for the partially sighted and blind and also some images from the shaping of the hands on start to the construction phase to prototype 1 of the above.

Change to plans.

I was initially planning to post an image with the estimated measurements the first design idea but i decided to scan my original ideas from my notepad in, where the thought process began.

This is where the idea for a mobile phone device for the visually impaired and blind started to come together.

The design process for the idea was inspired by one of my first investigative blog posts describing which company invented the first handheld portable music playing device.






















This picture (above) was took before I had an in class presentation, which detailed our thoughts, design process and progression at this moment in time.

The problematic as such was to design a suitable device for blind / partially sighted people. The main issues when researching were that blind and partially sighted people had trouble using conventional mobile phones.

Conventional mobile phones had caused issues for blind / partially sighted people. Issues such as:-

- The screens are too small and had no zoom functions.

- The handsets are too small or sleek and slender and therefore could easily slip out of their grasp easily.

At this point I started to research other designs and concepts for mobile phones for blind people which where already on the market. You will see the findings along with my first sketch of my design idea in my next blog post.

The first design attempt - description - without measurements

The design seen above has been an individual effort by myself so I can visualise what me and my assignment partner Thomas Lett are trying to lead towards. This can be seen as a starting design. This is a very basic design with little detail which will help me and Thomas channel our good, solid ideas towards the "hands on" prototyping phase.

 

The possible name of the device

 

I came up with the name Visifone as it contains what the whole device entails. "Visi" from the word visual connoting the fact the phone is dedicated towards those who need visual aid and "fone" as this is the main function of the device. It is spelled "fone" and not "phone" as this links to text/sms spelling language which people now relate to more than ever it can also be said "fone" is used purely for future marketing reasons.

 

Colours and aesthetics

 

Before all functions are described I opted to choose the aesthetics for the design. As you see from the shape I want the device to have nice curved and rounded contours. This is so the device has no sharp and dangerous edges for any users to injure themselves with.

 

The handle on the device is shaped like a gun grip. This is because when I had a conversation with someone who was blind and someone who was partially sighted they both agreed that the grip on the device was important and that a normal mobile phone shape would be tough to use as it would slip out of their hands too often. The "gun handle" shape is used so it can be gripped comfortably but also reduce the chances the device will slip from a users hand. This handle may be amended or changed in future designs due to the iconography it has with weapons. The handle and design itself I think will be changed considerably as one major flaw in the design is

 

The overall shape is designed to be light, neutral but very practical with huge amounts of usability. The colour itself was inspired by the pure, crisp, neutral, un-tainted, wholesome colour of the original white and grey coloured iPods which are iconic in this era of technology.

 

The Keypad functionality

 

The keypad will contain Braille embossed keys so that the Braille can be felt easily by the user. The keypad also contains numbers. The user will have a choice of interchangeable key cover. One will have the Braille for the fully blind users and another key cover with large numbers and letters for the partially sighted folks.

 

The on and off keys are bigger than the rest this was justified when I spoke to a partially sighted person and a blind person and they both agreed that on conventional mobile phone devices the on and off key was always the smallest keys and it was hidden on the side of the device and hard to find.

 

Not seen in the image - I have thought of the idea of quick function keys such as a button for sms and call lists but this could be used for the stylus / touch screen function which would be hidden in the top right of the device.

 

The Touch Screen pad and Stylus

 

The stylus would be situated inside the device itself (top right) and be seated like the stylus on the Nintendo DS but a smaller version. The stylus would be on a draw string which would click when fully extended out of the device and if dropped this draw string would stop the user from losing the stylus.

 

The touch screen pad is the screen below the main display screen. This would be small but effective. The stylus would be used in conjunction with this pad and the user would be able to signify movements on the pad to make things happen on the device e.g. a number 1 is drawn on the touch pad, the phone would navigate to the number 1 section on the menu list - call and contacts.

 

The Main Screen

 

The main screen is situated above the touch screen pad. This screen would be navigated by a number of ways - 

 

1 - Voice activated

2 - Stylus movements on the touch screen pad

3 - Keypad number shortcuts

 

The colours on the main screen are very bright but can be seen easily so that partially sighted people can signify which colour means which section on the phones interface.

 

Not seen on the image - The phone would also have a zoom function and screen reader which could be used at the users pleasure. The phone would also have slots for inclusion of extra memory on the device and also headphone / hands free earphone sockets.

 

In my next blog post I will discuss the estimated measurements of this device , alongside a new edited image with more functionality.

Handheld Idea for people with visual impairments - Inspired by looking at early handheld devices

In previous blog posts I have looked at the historic lawsuit battle which took place over a number of years about who invented the first handheld personal music playing device.

 

I started to think about the different concepts for handheld devices. I thought about what handheld devices where available on the market. Mp3 players, handheld TVs, handheld media players which play all types of available media - images, music and video, palm sized digital radios, Palm PCs, minidisk players, some cassette players are still available and mobile phones.

 

I focussed on mobile phones and thought about the availability of these devices. These devices seemed to be worldwide and available to most people. Prices ranged from £10 to £300 and above for new models. I thought the spectrum of availability to users of mobile phones was pretty gargantuan but the major brands did not seem to consider those with disabilities too much or even not at all.

 

I then had a 'eureka' moment in a lecture where we did group work. We discussed ideas. We then discussed handheld and mobile devices. Then I quipped what about a mobile phone for blind and visually impaired people.

 

We discussed this issue and how we could tackle it with what senses visually impaired people rely upon and we used this to our strengths when brainstorming a device.

 

We narrowed it down to 3 senses which we could optimise to use in our device idea:-

Touch, hearing and smell. 

 

Touch

 

The use of a Braille keypad. 

The concept of stylus device alongside a touch screen where the user could perform actions which made functions on the phone happen.

The handle on the device fitted for gripping so it would not fall out of the users hand too easily.

Vibrations, a certain pattern of vibrations when different operations have been performed, e.g. an error or an incoming call the vibration patterns would be different.

 

Hearing

 

The use of screen reading software for navigating SMS, phone internet or menu navigation.

Voice recognition e.g. say a persons name and the phone calls that person.

 

Smell

 

This option seemed outlandish at first but when discussed with our lecturer (Diana Xu), she informed that some interactive devices release odours for different operations. I brainstormed this concept and how it could be used in our device, a good example I came up with would be for different smells for different operations on the phone e.g. your mother calls you and you get an odour released which smells like her cooking, or bread baking, you do a wrong operation on the phone and a bad smelling odour is released. These odours could be added by a cartridge of some sort inside the phone.

 

I then went on to try and design how the device would look in Photoshop. This image will be seen in my next blog post.