TouchNET
- Internet for the visually impaired -“A psychological study regarding fears related to disability and disease found that loss of sight was the number one fear.
Death was number two.”
GOAL
Design a product that would transform web access, a visually based media, into a physical and sound based system for the blind.
RESEARCH
- Existing solutions -
Braille:
Text Reader Applications:
- Web Interface Issues -
Identifying Links:
Identifying Images:
USER STUDY
All user’s need the ability to email, shop, pay bills, read articles, and “surf” the internet.
FORM IDEATION
Inspiration:
The most inspiring piece of technology I found in my research was the bed of pins toy. By nature it lends itself well to the braille form. Programming the pins to raise would create endless braille communication on a single surface.
Rough Model:
Rough Sketches:
Final CAD Model:
Final Dimensions
FUNCTIONALITY
Power:
A large, easy to locate button is placed in the upper corner.
Scrolling:
The scroll bar size changes based on the size of the web page - similar to what a sighted user experiences.
Links:
Incorporating a standard keyboard:
Text Boxes:
Borders:
Drop Down Menu:
Check Boxes:
OTHER FEATURES
