Sixth Sense
Project Type: UX Design / UI Design / Branding
Accessible Running App
Research Partners: Lydia Anderson, Rebecca Hawkins, Alex Kim, Tommy McDowell
Instruction: Bryan Satalino
Institution: Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Introduction
How can the visually impaired get the necessary tools exercise independently and safely?
The National Institutes of Health has projected the number of Americans living with visual impairment or blindness to reach 8 million. Visual impairments have been known to cause emotional stress and social isolation. Many people with visual impairments also get too little exercise, which is associated with lower qualities of life and higher rates of morbidity and mortality. This can be due to: lack of transportation, fear of getting hurt, or financial hardship among other factors. Even those who choose to run often must do so are dependent on a partner to guide them.
1 CDC National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2009-2012
A new app designed with visual impairment in mind
Sixth Sense is a running app for the visually impaired to exercise safely and independently along easy to follow routes. The user interface is designed to accommodate for low visibility and also connects to screen readers. The app connects to wearable technology via bluetooth to provide GPS-assisted guidance with audial and tactile cues to alert the user of upcoming turns or obstacles, similar to the technology in self driving cars. Users can also connect with other runners, visually impaired or not.
Design
Visual impairment-friendly design
Screen reader compatible
Large type for high visibility: type and image size can be adjusted in settings
High contrast for color blindness: no red-green or blue-yellow color combinations, WCAG 2.0 AAA compliant, color palettes can be adjusted for specific color blindness in each user
Simple Icons for easy recognition
Sixth Sense + wearable technology
Sixth Sense utilizes vibrations and audio through compatible earbuds to guide the user through routes and to avoid obstacles. Audio cues and vibrations in the right earbud only notifies the user to turn right and vice versa, similar to turn signals in a car. To stop, the app will tell the user to stop in combination with pulsing vibration in both earbuds.
Straightforward user flows
Process
Building empathy
Sixth Sense was initially researched and developed as a team effort. The design team kicked off the process by interviewing Jule Ann Lieberman, the accessibility consultant at Temple University. The team interviewed Lieberman, who is legally blind, about her experiences. Afterwards, the team looked at institutional studies and conducted competitor analyses.. The team then split up to design separate iterations of the app. Card sorting created the information architecture that would define the user flow and prototype.
