Access + Ability Exhibit

Prime TC Transport Wheelchair

The Prime TC Transport Wheelchair is a complete remodel of the hospital transport wheelchair. In its redesign approach, actual users of the chair were considered and involved like the patient, transporter, and hospital staff. Designed by Michael Graves Design Group, the new design of the wheelchair is in accordance with quite a few design justice principles. It has been designed to sustain, heal and empower the hospital community. It makes it easier on the transporter and more comfortable for the patient. By including the ones concerned, they centered the voices of the people being directly affected. Also, the Group didn’t change the design of the chair drastically. They uplifted traditional knwoledge and practices and only upgraded and modified the existing wheelchair. The use of these design justice principles enhances the importance and usefulness of this improved wheelchair.

 

 

Canes

Chatfield Walking Cane, IQ Stick, Walking Stick System, OMHU Cane, LED Walking Stick Torch Light

Canes are essential hepling tools for senior citizens and/or people with certain mobility disabilities. By redesigning the old, boring walking stick and making it more fashionable, customizable and even more functional, designers have provided a new perspective towards these aids. Some canes have colorful mix-and-match handles, which makes them more attractive to and enjoyable for users. This makes the designers facilitators. The IQ Stick has a pendulum effect according to which it swings while walking and comes back to the original position. This enables greater range of movement. These innovations are ways by which the organizations are sharing their design tools and knwoledge with the concerned party. People who need mobility aids feel more involved when their personal tastes are considered. They are also exposed to a new variety of possibilities. A few more exapmples include the silicone handles on canes which allow the user to prop them up against any surface without them slipping or falling, and self-righting sticks that come back into position by just a toe tap on their wide bases. Again, this is all just an amelioration of the original walking cane. The original concept has been working for decades for the people who need it, so the designers have clearly added to what was already working.

 

 

Blindways

Blindways is an app that was created by Perkins School for the Blind to assist people with sight deficits in finding a bus stop. It basically guides blind pedestrians through 30 feet of obstacles, towards the nearest bus stop using crowdsourced clues. The app allows the user to select a bus stop, read or listen to existing clues, and edit or submit a clue. In the way of facilitating the blind community, the design works. However, the app seems risky. What guarantee do they have that the clues being submitted are honest? Since anyone can edit or add clues, the design is not community-led or community-controlled.

           

 

 

 

 

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