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Final project idea - improving communication aids device
For final project of Designing for Constraints class, I'm thinking about improving or redesigning communication aids device(communicator). Since I'm taking Developing Assistive Technology class this semester, I'm interested in Assistive Technology (AT).
In the AT class, I've been to Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center and Rusk Medical Center as field trips. I saw several communication helpers that are devices developed or adapted for use by people with severe communication impairments, for example, DynaVox.
 
(Communication aids device at Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center)
Unfortunately, I couldn't have a chance to observe how children use this device, but I found several problems.
1. Expensive (about 15 grand)
2. Slow response
3. Heavy and Big, even for me. That means a lack of portability.
4. Difficult to navigate in the program. It may slows conversation down.
5. Impossible to create new sentence. It has pre-programmed sentences so there is a limitation to express.
Before dig more into this existing device that needs improve, I gave thought to communication itself to loot at everything around this issue and to think another option. Here are two of many thoughts.
1. How can we communicate with an alien? I mean the alien from other universe, but natives in new world or people from other civilization might be an alien in terms of conversation.
Propagators used translator who could speak both languages, or just jumped into new world and then learn each other's language.
2. For me, since English is a second language, I would like to say I have some levels of communication disabilities in English. Sometimes I can't understand what people say, or can't catch the sentence at all. In addition, I have to look a thesaurus while I write because I know possible words but can't figure out appropriate words quickly.
3. What we need in communication? Verbal messages, facial expressions, body languages. What else?
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One day my father told me about his interesting experience at a workshop. I couldn't remember the detail story, but the workshop was a kind of assistive technology one that gave attendees situations as old people. For example, attendees wore glove and were given mobile phones to operate correctly, or attached packs of weight on their bodies and were asked to do daily life movements. Those simple activities might give many insights and understandings how older people as well as ourselves will have lots of constraints in daily life.
I'm taking Developing Assistive Technology and thinking about what I can do for disables people, especially children. Disabled children were also suffered from various constraints we sometimes can't figure out. Anyway, I think we all people have some sort of constraints whether they are noticeable or not.
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I'm interested in the constraint situation in which we lost our manual so that we don't know how to operate simple tasks. And also I think this idea will be useful when we design OS or other stuffs, because we usually don't read manual but do trial-and-error.
I'm still working with Polder clock, and I made an operational prototype using I-PAC2 interface and processing language. While making it, comments of my team, Michael and Anh, were helpful, especially Michael's processing code saved my time.
I put all switched on plastic panel which I found in a kitchen, and labeled with a marker. But I only connected few switched to I-PAC2 for simple test.
 
Back side and overview.
Here is the applet:
http://risknfun.com/processing/PolderClock/
http://itp.nyu.edu/~yc581/PolderClock/ (mirror) |
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I decided on exploring more about the "Trial and Error" phase, and how I can express the improvement of new design with the Polder Electronic Clock what I've used. I made a paper prototype shown below, and tested it with two of my friends.
I just put one new button for "Time Set" near a battery cover since we usually adjust the time when we change a battery, and labeled "AM/PM" on "12hr <-> 24hr" button.
 
I drew both front and back side of clock's new interface. When tester press a button, I manually changed the display with a piece of paper such as a blinking cursor or an one-digit number.
1. I tested them with a paper prototype.
2. I gave them a real timer.
I'm not sure it was a proper order, but I just wanted to know my new interface works well. Because I thought they couldn't find out how the clock works even after they tested with the paper prototype.
1. new interface test for the paper prototype
After some instruction how to test it, the tester and I communicated each other through the paper prototype. The "Trial and Error" phase was dramatically shorten.
2. asking a tester set time without any instruction and help
Over 1 munites, this tester gave up and said bad words while he was trying to find out how to set the time. I should take this video to contain both the tester and the prototype because emotional changes are important observation elements in this test.
3. asking same tester set AM to PM after giving how to switch to "Set Time" mode
He also failed to find out how to switch AM to PM.
Interim conclusion
We usually either don't have a manual have forgotten the instruction of many electronic devices especially the tasks are rarely used. Even for simple tasks, we sometimes waste time as well as mental energy. Therefore, we need to improve interface design to shorten "Trial and Error" phase.
The Plan
Using an I-PAC interface and a simple processing program, I will build an operational prototype to check the time and other difference between the original and new design. However, I should think about the order of testing because, I guess, each test may affect other test.
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The Developing the Assistive Technology class have been to the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center on January 25th. It was very windy and cold day but I couldn't complain because I have a healthy body and a warm clothes.
We've seen the classrooms, the wonder room, the dining rooms and bedrooms. We also saw several kids and nurses at there. It was my first time to visit this kind of specialized hospital so everything I saw was interesting.
children can see videos before going to bed
adjustable tables in a dining room
Giraffe in casts in front of an elevator. Children who have casted their body parts will feel relief by seeing this giraffe.
 
 
One of the room contains wonderful chairs and cushions with various decorations. Children might feel their were in a wonderland.
 
Interactive Video projection in wonder room. There were many programs in it so that children can play and learn with it.
 
 
Like the giraffe in casts, the hospital has a room of puppets in various surgical operations such as leg casts, CAT scan, skin disease and in tracheotomy.
 
Children make these kinds of arts and crafts
Personal communicators which enables children communicate with other people. It contains own voice and several preset words.
It looks like a sandbag for a boxer, but it is a seat for a physical therapy. Therapist sit behind the children and give them a physical therapy or stretching.
Lights on wall have a lamp shade for protecting children's eye. There were many little but important things all the corners.
After visiting the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, I'm deeply thinking about what and how can I do for some helpful things to them. It maybe various approaches like I posted above, but the mothods like interactive technology we saw in the wonderland will be a good start for me. However, if I think more, I can find other good ways using simple technology turns to very useful and effective for them.
@ photos: flickr > risknfun > Elizabeth Seton set
@ some photos are from John Schimmel's flickr |
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Commented by Daniel Soltis at 2007/02/27 13:12 