Project- "Tap" Elevators- An Accessible Interactive system that uses your feet to create sounds that help you operate the elevator when you can't use your hands (holding shopping bags or a baby and unable to use your hands). #Inclusive Design #Accessible Design
Permanent Impairment- Some of us can't use our hands
Situational Impairment- Carrying a lot of bags or a baby in hands
Data
This data is based on the information provided by 6 people including their general information as well as their responses to the prompted questions.
Quantitative discoveries-
1. Half of the participants were students and others were working professionals.
2. Two of them suffer permanent impairment in which they can't use their hands.
3. All of them have suffered situational impairment.
4. Two of them experienced temporary impairment such as hand bone fracture.
2. Two of them suffer permanent impairment in which they can't use their hands.
3. All of them have suffered situational impairment.
4. Two of them experienced temporary impairment such as hand bone fracture.
Quantitative discoveries-
As per their responses-
1. Yes, I was in a situation like that a couple of times because of bags in my hand and fortunately, I was with my friends for most of the time and they took care of it. If not, I'd ask a stranger to help me with it.
2. Yes, it happened to me all the time due to my disability, I couldn't use my hands. I'd probably use my elbow or feet or nose. Or take help from someone who's passing by. Unless there's an option for me to say "Hey, Google please press the 3rd floor."
2. Yes, it happened to me all the time due to my disability, I couldn't use my hands. I'd probably use my elbow or feet or nose. Or take help from someone who's passing by. Unless there's an option for me to say "Hey, Google please press the 3rd floor."
3. I use my feet.
4. It is a great idea. Probably with a wake word that is specific to the elevator.
5. It's not a bad idea for a normal speaker who doesn't have trouble with voice control
Ethnographic Field Notes-
How:
As we learned about taking ethnographic field notes which is observing the people we are designing for and spending some time shadowing them.
As I observed people with permanent and situational impairment I learned a few things-
- They usually travel around with their siblings/friends to help them out (dependent on the other person)
- People tend to use their elbows and chins
- Some who don't want to use their chin, scream to gain attention so that someone can take notice and come for the rescue.
- People who can't use their hands tend to use their feet (Taking inspiration from the person I work with, she uses her feet to manipulate and interact with her surroundings).
Research-
Learnings- Accents can be a huge problem! Taking that into consideration only sounds can be used by users to direct the voice recognition.
The responses and learnings I gathered from the interviews led me to a physical prototype that is also an interface which can exist in addition to the existing button press system in the elevators.
Observation-
Just like we tap our hands on the table while thinking, she taps with her feet!!
Tapping (touch) with Sounds can help the user direct the elevators about their choices
Prototype
The developed prototype has the following sounds and speech:
To call the elevator (Outside elevator)
Sound 1 - Tap will produce a sound (outside the elevator to call it)
Sound 2- Feedback sound that will communicate to the user that input has been taken.
Natural sound- Elevator moving
To operate the elevator (Inside elevator)
Sound 3- Tapping again will produce a sound to initiate the action.
Sound 2 - Feedback sound that will communicate to the user that input has been taken
Sound 4- "Which floor?" The voice recognition system will ask
Sound 5- Input the numbers
Sound 6- Change the number if incorrect input
Sound 7- User satisfied with the input and gives a go ahead (Submit)
Sound 8- Input says 4th floor, moving to 4th floor now!
closed elevator with tap sign
open elevator after the user taps on the sign with foot
Inside elevator the buttons to be operated by leg or foot
inisde elevator the operational buttons
Working video- Prototype testing
