Purpose:
To design an oven accessible to individuals with varying degrees of visual impairments. Many home appliances have been streamlined digitally and have removed most tactile cues necessary for people with low to no-vision. There are currently 15 million people in the United states living with blindness or visual impairments. Seventy percent of that population are aged 65 or older and have developed loss of visual perception as a part of the aging process. Everyday tasks like washing laundry or preparing food should be available to everyone regardless of sight and help maintain a level of independence as we age in place.
Working with over 100 members of the National Federation of the Blind, we targeted problem areas in current appliance designs and researched improvements in relation to tactile and audible cues.
Opportunities for Improvement
Touchscreen controls provide no tactile feedback
Sounds only include a series of beeps
Knobs have smooth transition with no tactile indication of hi or low
Flat top surfaces mean pots can easily be placed half-on creating uneven heating
Considerations:
Other signs of aging
Essential Tremors
Flexibility
Mobility
Arthritis
Ease of Use
Simplicity
Intuition
Contrast
Size
Shape
Color
Texture
Technology
Affordable price point
Relationship to specific task (ie. heat, settings, alerts, etc.)
“There are machines we can’t use because they have been improved to death.”
-Bryan
“The blind don’t need a product to do a task for them, it just needs to be accessible to them.”
- Al
Concept design for KENMORE
Optional audible output mode
Raised setting controls
Temperature is associated by the corresponding size of indicators and length of movement
Textured ceramic surfaces help to locate burners by touch
High-contrast detailing visually divides surface into 4 distinct cooking areas
Molded silicone grips guard against burns and aid those with arthritis when removing wire racks
Comfort-grip handle eases pressure points on palm when opening and closing oven door
Product Specifications
Options for on/off sound feedback allow you to toggle between audible alerts for timers, indicators, temp control, etc.
High-contrast buttons with identifying symbols are accessible to those with low-vision
Tactile feedback in the form of textured ceramic surfaces define where to center a pot on a heat source and provide audible cues as a pan moves across a smooth versus textured surface.
Heat-index sliders create a defined low-high heat scale as opposed to traditional 360degree dials.
Accessible Oven
Design an oven accessible to those with visual impairments.
SCOPE: Product design, consumer research, IRB protocol, appearance modeling, accessible design, technology integration.
MATERIALS: MDF x 3D printing x polystyrene x metalwork x paint x acrylic x 3DS rendering
Special thanks to:
the research volunteers at the National Federation of the Blind and Sponsorship by KENMORE
