24 Hour Inclusive Design Challenge at the European Business Conference 2008, Oslo
Team Norway 2
Embrace – task specific ‘charms’ and charm keeper
Team leader
Adam White - Factory Design
Team members (all from Tandberg Telecom)
- Jorunn Tyssø
- Tony Jøsendal
- Atle Messel
- Erlend Østbø
- Eamonn Shaw
Lead user
Birger Berentsen Kjelbye, a visually impaired advisor to NAV.
The issue
People with disabilities do not wish to carry a sign announcing the fact but some things designed to help them inadvertently set them apart. The design language, materials used, and look and feel of many such gadgets is perfunctory, designed for function alone but not emotional needs.
The design solution
The team developed an aspect of common behaviour – the collecting with the adaptation of objects that are vital to Birger’s ability to live independently. They refined and innovated these groups to produce a series of ‘charms’, gathered together and RFID tagged to their ‘holder’ – the ‘charm keeper.’
They are:
- An oval ergonomic magnifying glass with LED illumination
- A device with a direct access button to call a taxi that gives audio and tactile feedback (GPS, cellular transmitter, Vibra and buzzer)
- An obstacle-detecting device with tactile and visual feedback(GPS, cellular transmitter, electromagnetic activation, LED)
- Design enhancements to keys through tactility and colour contrast (rubber, transparent plastics, coloured metals, LED)
- A responsive tag for locating people and luggage (transmitter, receiver, LEDs, Vibra and buzzer)
- Paired device to locate friends with audio and visual feedback (transmitter and receiver, LEDs and Vibra).
