For our project during intergrated smart systems we made an app to make it easier for blind people to navigate the train station. The app is connected to two bracelets. The person in question puts the bracelets on both wrists. The bracelets will give off a vibration according to where the subjects is walking. In the app the user will press what platform they have to go to. Based on the chosen platform the bracelets will vibrate to make the user go left or right. If the right bracelet vibrates, you go right. If the left bracelet vibrates, you go left. If both bracelets vibrate once you have arrived at your destination. If both bracelets vibrate in a constant wave, you have to make an emergency stop.
Before starting on our design we had an interview with a blind person from the Stichting Koninklijke Visio, expertisecentrum voor slechtziende en blinde mensen. It was very interesting to talk to somebody who is actually visually impared and learing from his perspective.
We spend a lot of time designing the bracelets, the packaging and the app. For the app it wasn't too important what it looked like, but more so that is was easy to use. That's why we made it so every time you touched a button it would read the button out loud.