Sound Map - Accessible Product

Accessible Sound Recording Device for the Blind community

Timeline: Sep 2019 to Mar 2020

Role:

Industrial Design

Skills: User Research, Physical Prototyping, User Testing, Sketching, 3D Modeling

Sound Map is an accessible device that enables blind individuals to preserve their travel memories through sounds. Each city has its unique Sound Map, allowing the visually impaired to record, collect, and share their journey experiences.

As an industrial designer, I developed an electronic product inspired by two years of research on the visually impaired community. This project ignited my passion for accessible design, and I am eager to apply my skills to create inclusive environments.

[CHALLENGE]

The main challenge behind Sound Map was finding a better solution for the visually impaired to navigate and recall their surroundings. While sighted people use visual cues, the visually impaired depend on auditory information, which is often not captured or preserved effectively.

[SOLUTION]

In this project, I actively engaged with the visually impaired and blind community. I conducted multiple rounds of user testing to gather valuable feedback, which guided the design process. By continually iterating and refining the product based on user insights, I was able to develop a more effective and user-centered solution.

→ Jump to Final Design

Context

0.0

After spending two years engaging with the blind community, I began to understand the challenges they face in navigating and recalling their surroundings. One member, Ada, particularly inspired the development of Sound Map. He often struggled with recalling specific moments from his travels due to the limitations of existing technology, which deepened my commitment to accessible design.

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During one conversation, Ada recounted his travel experiences in Japan. When attempting to share a specific memory, he had to click through multiple audio files, relying on VoiceOver to identify the correct one. This process, intended to be simple, quickly became frustrating. The excitement of sharing his story faded as the search became cumbersome,

Interviews

1.0

I conducted interviews with visually impaired individuals at Superstar Massage, a blind massage parlor, and the Taiwan Blind Union. My goal was to gain deeper insights into their experiences with auditory memory, as well as the social, emotional, and mental challenges they face.

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Key Takeaways from the Interview

1.1

I’ve learned that capturing moments through sound goes beyond preserving memories. For those who are visually impaired, listening to meaningful sounds can bring joy and enhance their daily appreciation of life.

My goal is to create a device that allows them to easily capture and preserve meaningful soundscapes, while ensuring a simple, intuitive interface with minimal buttons for effortless recording and playback. Additionally, I plan to integrate features that promote sharing auditory experiences, helping to foster deeper social connections. This design will aim to address both the practical and emotional needs of the blind community.

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Brainstorming & Sketch

2.0

I followed an ideation process based on my design objectives, with a focus on creating an emotional connection for users while ensuring simple and intuitive interaction. I explored various design concepts, experimenting with different shapes, materials, and minimal button layouts to enhance and simplify the user experience.

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Interactive Prototype & Function Test

2.1

In this process, I started by creating initial prototypes using laser-cut plywood and cardboard to quickly test the interaction with blind individuals. This approach allowed me to gather feedback and make adjustments early on. Moving into the final prototype phase, I developed the necessary coding to observe how users interacted with the product. By testing the functional aspects, I was able to gain valuable insights into how well the design met the needs of visually impaired users and refine it further for usability and effectiveness.

Final Design

3.0

In this project, I designed an accessible audio device to help blind individuals preserve their travel memories through sound. The device features a simple, tactile interface with lightweight portability, enabling users to easily record and replay audio memories.