Zehao Cheng Portfolio-UX Designer

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+86 18971666040 kyleczh@163.com kyleczh.wixsite.com/ blog
Zehao Cheng’s
Graphically 2019.01- 2019.05 Summary 01 05 The Route 2020.05- 2020.12 Blind-fold 2019.11- 2020.05 Other Works SKETCHES & GRAPHICS

GRAPHICALLY

A bridge linking texts and graphics

As the pace of our daily lives keeps accelerating, letters and books are failing and fading, while emojis and short-form videos are on a rapid rise. Our generation is sending a message that text is struggling to support high frequency information exchange, and a more effective approach is urgently needed. That’s where “Graphically” comes in, as not only an interpreting tool, a creator platform, but also a lifestye. With its assistant, we can see more graphically, speak more graphically, and most importantly, think more graphically.

PROJECT 1

Mind Map

Misunderstandings

Direct Translations & Culture Background

Grammar differences

Hard to concentrate & appreciate

Time-consuming Tedious

Slangs Exclusivity

Sentences

No understandings

Words Phrases

Articles Lengthy Pile up

Fixed collocations

Pictographic characters

Image annotations

Understand

Film adaption & Animation

Indigestion of knowledge

Easy to... Remember Read

Graphic Emotional

Graphic interpreter

Factors

Pain

points Ideation

How our brain works? How is text working out for us now?

Most preferred lengths of readings(pure text).

The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual

How is graphics helping us?

For over 100 people in my research, 82% of them have encountered translation errors.

Do the various translation tools they use have illustrating pictures?

56% Very Little

25% None 19% Yes

Think that the errors are less likely to happen if with images.

People’s tolerance of text is significantly lower than of graphics and still decreasiing. Graphics help us greatly when it comes to learning and expressing.

27.12% 72.88%
did they occur? 57.45% 40.43% 40.43% 36.17% 10.64% Dictionaries Other TV Series App Movies Books Why did they occur? Literal Translations 80.85% 59.57% 44.68% 42.55% Other Cultural Differences Grammar Differences Slangs Short Medium Long 55.74% 36.07% 8.19% Most preferred way to gain knowledge. TV Program Class 80% 100% 60% 40% 20% 0% (Animated) Documentary Newspaper & Book Other People Anxious 23% 42% 78% Boring Chaotic Feelings during text reading.
Where
Research

Persona

I want knowledge to be given in a more enjoyable way rather than in pure texts which i read everyday.

I’m having constant need for translation apps, but encounters a lot of translation errors and slangs. I can’t understand them.

I’m a big fan of histories and fun facts. But I don’t like them to appear in pure texts form since I’ve read tons of books when studying.

Communication should never be confined to words.

I’m having a hard time communicating with foreign clients.

I can’t convey clearly and accurately in the constant briefs and presentations with my poor English.

I love literature but I’m too busy to read. That amount of words after work only gives me a headache.

Goals

I want to express my own opinions regarding hot topics. But I’m incapable of publishing essays or making animations myself.

Using mobile as the main study tool, PC and books as the auxiliary help. Frustrations

Find a way to understand translations more thoroughly than just word explanations.

Better access to knowledge with more than texts.

Get to express interesting opinions on a more inclusive platform.

Find a more efficient way to express and communicate with co-workers.

Get to enjoy literature in a faster and easier manner.

Yeah, I almost agree but the answer is still gonna be no. The man is still a green hand This kind of tasks will only run him down

Why did he agree but still reject my proposal? What is a green hand? How can the tasks run somebody down?

Frustrations Frustrations
Frustrations Platform Frustrations Environment
Frustrations Frustrations
Scenario
Motivation Enjoyment Education Interaction 21% 56% 32%
Haley Dunphy 32 Shanghai Female Marketing Employee Single 21 Wuhan Male C. Science Student Single
Goals
Home-space Office-space Collaborator Solo worker Desktop Mobile

Design Concept

My idea is based on, but more than translation tools. I wish to build a platform, and everybody in it can use graphics to interpret not just words, but articles, topics, and events between cultures and backgrounds.

Who

Students Youngsters

People who need to thoroughly understand foreign languages for academic or business purposes

People who desire rapid input and output of knowledge.

App Website

Application, as the main medium for the product, offers convenience and efficiency through multilayered functions.

Website provides channels of cooperation between PC and smartphone for trickier functionsg

Dictionary Interpreter

1. A sharp change in direction

2. A slow pace of running

Automatically create videos or image combinations for long paragraphs.

Reader Workshop

Read with graphics showing you more than what you can digest between the lines.

Do-it-yourself! Customize your very own graphics to express and interact.

We turn text into graphic

How Logo
What
] n.
Jog [dʒɑɡ
おはよう salut 嗨 Hola Guten Tag Graphic Text Graphically

User Journey

What’s the meaning of this word?

It’s quite lucid, I can understand right away.

That’s how I should use it. No more misunderstandings.

Remember the image, remember the word.

I like this topic and feel comfortable of it’s length.

So that’s what was going on in this scene.

My mind is clearer due to the help of the annotations.

The story is becoming more vivid.

I can use many materials other users made and shared online.

It’s fun to make them.

I can make my points lively They’ll absolutely understand.

I’m so proud!

What’s the meaning of this word?

So complecated. I can’t thoroughly understand

I don’t know what it represent in my own language.

It’s too hard to remember

I like this topic and feel comfortable of it’s length.

I forgot some of the previous plot.

It’s hard to understand without any annotations.

The story is becoming boring / time consuming

I can’t quite describe all my points by merely speaking.

My writing skills are too flat and dull

I can’t find the perfect graphics and I also do not have the skills to make them myself

Word Searching Article Reading Opinion Expressing Curious Confused Clear Informed Satisfied Entangled Discouraged Interested Amused Content Pleased Confident Proud Bored Worried Worried Unsatisfied Perplexed
DOING THINKING FEELING DOING THINKING Finding words or phrases Locating the word in native language Reading the exact explanations Trying to memorize Choosing article Giving up (possible) Reading & Processing plot Express by writing (optional) Express by saying (optional) Express by presentation (optional) Finding words or phrases Watching scenarios related to the word Reading explanations with graphics Trying to memorize Choosing article Processing plot with graphic annotations Reading with graphic annotations Show it to your audience Design you own graphics to express Exchange opinions with others
App experience Rough experience

Information Structure

Trending

Usere Posts

Graphics & Videos

Further Details Like & Share & Collect & Comment

Dictionary

Search

Language options

Word / Phrase (Graphic style options)

Image ranking

Explanations

Graphics Words

Share & Collect

Interpreter

Search

Sentences Explanations

Camera

Other means

Items

Workshop

Setting area

Customize

Materials

Timeline

Dubbing

Graphics Videos Words

Voice input

Share & Collect

Characters / Objects / Pictures / Infographics...

Upload Preview & Save

Share

Wrap text

Overlap text

Reader

Library Upload

Graphic help

Annotations Add by yourself

Below text Off

Use lines, figures and colors to create your own unique images.

Then upload them for others to understand and employ them.

Video workshop

Use materials provided by the app, others, and yourselves to compose videos that interpret phrases, quotations, and events.

Dictionary Interpreter Workshop Reader Account Cancel Pie chart English Chinese Pie chart Rank Simplified Dictionaries Sign up Forgot password Dictionary Interpreter Workshop Reader Account Pie chart Comments Created by Account Send Pie chart A circle divided into parts by lines to show differences between statistics. 饼图 Title Dictionary Interpreter Workshop Reader Account English Chinese Word of the day English Chinese Dictionary Interpreter Workshop Reader Account Bookshelf Dictionary Interpreter Workshop Reader Account Your works
Result
Interpreter Registration
Details Layers Graphic
Book name
Reader (list)
Reader Dictionary
workshop
English Chinese Dictionary Interpreter Workshop Reader Account Favorites My works Voice interpreter Account
Show more Voice input Setting area Function area
Wireframe

Mood board

Colors

Typography

AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm

NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYy

Zz1234567890

Century Gothic Regular

AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm

NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYy

Zz1234567890 Bold

Hucklebuck JF 方正清刻本悦宋简体

AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPp

QqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz1234567890

AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm

NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYy

Zz1234567890

Since the iconic type of graphics composed of geometric figures can be more concise and explicit, which matches what this project is trying to achieve, the APP will follow this art style in general. (But works of all styles are also welcome here)

Pure colors

Rounded shapes

Grometric figures

Basic collocation

Regular Regular
#F76B39 Tangelo Icons Graphic style #073B59 Prussian #C3CED4 Lavender Gray

Under various cross-cultural situations, Graphically can always translate texts into graphics in order to help your gain information more effectively, accurately, and comprehensively.

By interpreting a word, a phrase, an idiom, even an entire book into concise graphics in the creator mode, thoughts and ideas from every corner of the world can be easily exchanged !

1. Interpreter 2. Creator Kyle Cheng’s Production

Applying piezoelectric induction technique to free our hands from handheld equipment without changing the traditional usage method. The monolithic design serves as both a wrist protector and a rectifier, creating a genuinely healthy and pleasant operating environment.

PROJECT 2

“Revolutionary, yet classic”

Secondary research

Main problems

As an indispensable handheld hardware with such high usage rate, mouse is always jeopardizing our health, and none of our product really solves this problem.

It mainly causes two kinds of illnesses...

Tenosynovitis

Also known as trigger finger.

It hurts so much when I bend my hand this way !!!

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

More than 1 million new cases of carpal tunnel syndrome occurred in 2019, 47% considered to be work related.

Main reasons

Due to the defects in the original design of mouse and the fact that few of us know the cor rect way of mouse using, pain and illnesses are for excessive mouse users.

Main research

67% of the mouses in the market are poorly designed, they tend to sacrifice utility for novel appearance and other factors. Customers do fall for that.

A research covering 100 office workers observed their ways of using mouse, 63% of them are operating falsely, and nearly half of their mouses don’t suit them.

Wrong usage 16% overlay Unfit mouse 67%
Twisted radius & ulna Misplacement Pain & Illnesses Friction 1 2 & 3 Tension Insufficient support Pressure 31 days or more of work loss. 35%

User research

I observed the usage of mouses of 20 students who engage in computer-related activities at least 3 hours a day.

The way they grip

They gave up the right way within...

The way they operate

the hight of the mouse

the presence of gravity

it didn’t last long for their hands to fall and misplace

Everybody experienced , but they still tend to use this kind of rotation to control mouses.

75% grip the right way Rotate

Radial deviation: 15°

Ulnar deviation: 25°

How they operate

Way more pressure centers on the wrist and incline the hand. (Usually impulsive)

Flatten the hand and spread the pressure evenly. (Arm and hand in line)

Within Number of people 5m 1m 2 10m 15m 20m
1 3 8 6
14 4
the arm (Pressured area)
Rotate the wrist

Issue analysis

Is your mouse failing you?

I also conducted a survey concerning handhelp products that covers 226 individuals, most are students and office workers. 52% of them use computer 1~4 hours a day, 21% of them reach 5 hours.

Make sure my design reserves the origi-

People are using their mouses wrong.

Most users experience the pain on a regular basis. But since it comes and goes, most of them aren’t taking this problem seriously

Based on the fact that most of the mouses in the market are defective, the ergonomic mouses we have now are still failing to solve the problem. They can only moderate, but unable to eradicate the pain.

The mouse body and gravity will bring pressure on the wrist no matter how accurate your posture is, which made the pain and illnesses inescapable.

3 main problems in the
on the
Frequency Severity Availability 85% 32% 6/12
products
market.
Solution
Still pressure in the pisiform area
A support device is indispensable.
Solution
Problem A
72% 40% Frequency 9/12 Severity Availability Hard to get used to Problem
nal way of controlling the mouse.
B Solution
people’s erroneous usage. 66% 26% Frequency 12/12 Severity Availability No rectification Problem C
Add corrective actions on my design No rectification for
Wired Ergonomic & other Wireless 35% 5 %8 %7 Mouse kinds Feeling pain after mouse using Number of people Constantly 12 2 20 Sometimes 59 38 7 Rarely 45 26 6 Never 7 3 1
Conclusion

Persona

OFFICE WORKER

Brad

34 years old, from New York

Frustrations

carpal tunnel syndrome due to long time computer work. But I have to keep doing it because it’s my job.

I need more hand exercise, but it’s only a temporary solution rather than a perma

COLLEGE STUDENT

Rachel 19 years old, from Los Angeles

Frustrations

I don’t know the right way to use mouses so my pisiform bone is always rubbing with the table and it hurt.

The wrong usage has became a habit of mine, I tired but I can’t change.

I tried controlling the cursor with touchpad, but it’s way trickier than normal mouse.

I can’t find a mouse that really fits my hand shape and size.

Goals

My design will be able to stably reduces the friction between the wrist area and the platforms.

The form of my design will be less confining for people to hold and to do some exercises while using it.

My design will also be a “straightener”, rectifying the erroneous usage of mouse.

User journey

Purchase Phases

Employ

Behaviors

Choose the mouse online / in store

Grip the mouse Click the mouse Move the mouse

After use

Sore, painful, annoying, getting diseases

Conduct exercises, buy new mouses, go see doctors

No time for exercises

Problems

Touch points

Online: The mouse shape don’t fit you

Feelings

The self-adaptive ability of the mouse

Too large or too small to grip

Annoying noise while clicking

No mouse solves the problem

Relapse after seeing the doctor

The mouse buttons

Use the mouse incorrectly Excited!

The shape of the mouse

The whole form of mouse

I need something better......

Not what I expected...

I can’t get rid of this bad habit.

I’m so sick of this!

Kind of annoying.

Product research

I picked 4 representatives out of the 12 main types of mouse products in the market that can help with current problems.

Advantage

Your forearms won’t be twisted, reduce frictions

Disadvantage

It’s hard for people to get use to the unusual mouse-holding gesture.

There are still pressure on the pisiform bone area, which may leads to inflammations.

Advantage

No need for twisting bones. The “pen and paper” form helps you to way better.

Disadvantage

Very inconvenient when using it to com mand the cursor.

There are still pressure area, which may leads to inflammations.

Advantage

xquisite, easy to transport, store, and employ. No need of holding an actual object.

Disadvantage

equire large scale activities from your fin gers, tiresome from repetitive users.

There are still pressure on the pisiform bone area, which may leads to inflammations.

Advantage

Ease the wrist pressure be used on both arms.

Disadvantage

A device separates from the mouse and keyboard, rather inconvenient when using and transporting.

Users may pick up the bad habit wrist as the center of mouse moving.

Ergonomic mouse Padrone ring RestMe wrist support Stylus mouse

Concept sketches

The wrist support part and the cursor controlling part will be integrated into one multi-functional device.

Keypoints

Based on above researches and ideas, 3 parts will be indispensable in my design, integrated into one with the help of sensors and gestures.

Sensor part

Different tendons control different fingers, and separately distributed across the back of the hand. I can put sensors in this area.

Technical practice

Piezo sensor & Wiring

Cushion part

Mainly protect the median nerve and the pisiform bone, this part will locate slightly below the palm, covering the wrist.

Connection part

This part will connect the two parts above, and make sure your wrong hand posture will be rectified.

Small, shapable, sensitive.

Able to sense different gestures’ tendon movements on the back of your hand.

Gestures

Clicking Sliding Clenching

Left & right button Up & down wheel On/off type mode

Customizing

Design gestures

Final design

BIn the premise of reserving all functions of a normal mouse, the M-band protects your wrist perfectly and rectifies your using habits.

Materials & Functions

Measurements

Inches

Fluororubber
2.6 2.3 3.1 7~9.5 1.5
Scenarios

“THE ROUTE”

FERENCE INTER

With the rapid development of our communication and transportation techniques, the world is getting much more united and centralized. However, the closer we get, the clearer it is that to interfere is one of the fundamental instincts of humanity: Parents steering their kids, friends giving you too many “advises”, coworkers meddling with private matters. “To interfere” became a collective act while we intergrate, affecting our way of life...

Regarding such phenomenon, this project wish to design a cautionary installation that visualizes the sequential course of the act of interference, revoking moments of introspections from the audience.

PROJECT 3

/06

RESEARCH01

WHO INTERFERES?

The dots distribution fits the regression curve, which shows positive correlation between the factors. The closer people are with you, the more they interfere. (Boss is the only exception since this rule won’t apply when a role has absolute power over you.)

Electoral intervention Family intervention Armed intervention Other Other

According to the search engine data, these are the most dicussed types of interference distributed based on occurrence frequency.

Some of these searches are two-sided but, using technical terms, over 80% of them are destructive interference, and less than 20% are constructive interference

43% Collective interference

YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TALENT IN THIS ARE YOU KIDDING?

SHE’S NOT THE ONE REALLY?

IT’S WAY OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE

BETTER THIS WAY

YOU CAN’T MARRY HER

KEYWORDS STOP! NO

INTEREST DOESN’T FEED YOU HE’S NOT THE ONE THAT’S WRONG LISTEN TO ME!

IT’S A DEAD END

IT’S NOT YOUR PLACE TO TALK FUNNY

IT’S OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE

FORGET ABOUT IT WEIRDO UNREALISTIC Mock Bullying

A BAD CHOICE JUST GIVE UP TAKE MY ADVICE NOT A GOOD CHOICE Advise Order

IT DOESN’T FIT YOU REDO IT

HOW? WHY

This is a wordcloud based on the usage rate and the intensity of tone of the keywords in interference, most of them can be divided into these three categories: Denying, Mocking, and Commanding .

Boss Colleague Friend Relative Lover Parent Relevance
Interference rate
YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG

I conducted a survey of 200 individuals from all ages about interference they personally experienced, interferences around them, and their own actions of such.

WHAT THEY INTERFERE

AFTER INTEFERENCE

HOW OFTEN

YOU EMOTIONS?

after others

I gathered 6 main emotions of people after others’ intervention. Almost all of them are negative, and more than 67% of people are experiencing two or more negative emotions at the same time.

CONCLUSION

Interpersonal interference always exist.

The forms of interference are becoming more and more diversed, especially from people who are intimate with you.

These interventional behavior brought mostly negative influences, and smote on people’s minds.

The majority ignore the dual traumas others imposed on them by verbally or physically interfering. They tend to blamed it on their current seniority or social status, and just cope with or even obey.

Love life Occupation Direction Appearance Hobby Method 12% 49% 26% 13% Enter College Start Career Become Senior < 16 16~22 22~40 40 > SURVEY /06
02 & the level of aversion
Better Unchanged Worse 63% 26% 11%
do people
you Constantly Occasionally Rarely Never 60% 40% < 16 16~22 22~40 40 >
interfere
20% 0%
Aversive 39% Fretful 51% Scared 21% Indifferent 37% Aggrieved 25% Else 19%
you
interfere
things got...

judge the apperances or life styles of others base on their own cognition, even apply harsh words

/06 03
INSPIRATIONS

THE VICTIMS

A path, a stream, a beam, a flow, a track, a planet ring...Anything that exhibits its gorgeous self in its own route.

THE FACTORS

Rocks block streams, clouds shade sunbeams, but that’s the way nature operates. When it comes to authentic, intentional interference, Human Being should be the main supplier. What does human body bring into a room?

“POINT”

To make my point, I need something that‘ll be able to ference among the crowd.

Heat Voise Frequency Noise Magnetic Feild Solar system Magnetic levitation Subwoofer Vocal cords Vocal cords Earthquake Flash light Light Expansion Distance Dam Rules Gravity S N Barrier Vibration

HOW MIGHT WE...

The entire process of interference is unobservable

The original and fluent paths of others before interference. The initial start, the continuous process, and the ending of interference.

Create a self-driven installation that exhibit the process visually.

It will operate in its own pattern, and create an aesthetically pleasing flow.

3. Certain external factors will slow down, disturb, or even interrupt the ongoing flow.

There exist multiple types of interference around us

An action, a few words, even a subtle look can be intrusive. People sometimes don’t even realize the fact that they are interfering or being interfered.

External factors will be various. Spectators will participate, or even be the factors.

Can’t experience the damage and aftermath brought by interference

Change your hobbies, dicisions, even lifestyles.

People may never know how destructive their “advises” can be, and how long it’ll take for others to recover.

The operation of the installation will be repetitive. 1.

The disruptions and causes need to be noticeable.

Two angles for the spectators. You can be the observer of the interference, or the guy who interferes.

The disruptions of the installation depend on the quantity and severity of external factors. The more the worse. 2.

It will take a long period for the installation to recove and get back on its own track. 3.

Smaller installation that requires magnifier

Advantages: Easy to practice, more space to distinguish interference. Disadvantages: Weaker visual apperance. Needs accessory equipments to exhibit.

Disadvantages: Hard to practice, more external factors need to be considered.

Advantages: Visual impact, authentic experience to the viewers. More versatile installation, more precise sensors.

01
Effectivity Interactivity
Practicability
02 Bigger
Effectivity Interactivity
installation Practicability
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.

INSPIRATIONS

SKETCH

Pendulum

With an initial force, pendulums will operate on their own and slowly draw beautiful trails under the impact of

In my mind, it represents the destined route of individuals.

(Maybe combine with a drum to create pleasing tunes)

offers people not only a state of inner peace, but also the visualization of the circulation of life. It’s the ideal carrier for this

Maybe magnetic balls can be controlled by magnets beneath to form various patterns.

Very visual, but nonautomatic

A combination of the formal solutions with all their merits. It can function by itself perfectly, and display the whole course of interference.

Swing arm with a bob connected at the end

Sands in the tray, magnets around the pedestal ready to interfere at anytime.

Visual, natural trails, interactive Automatic, but invisible

The Lissajous patterns

The graphs of a system of equations which alters with various parameters.

The speed ratios of pen dulum periods

A Y-shaped string gives the same pendulum different lengths in different directions create such patterns.

/06 04
1. Zen Garden
2.
Directions of the initial force
0 π 4 π 2
X
Y (Parameters) Y
X :

Enter

The installation operates on its own route.

USER FLOW

Stand by Observe the whole process of interference, and the contrast of before and after.

PATTERNS

Restoration

Without further interference, the pattern start to restore.

Your acts determine whether you are the observer or the enforcer of interference

Make noises Approach Flash lights Disruption

A few typical interfering acts that people tend to apply in public space .

Realization

The viewers visually experience the power of interference,

According to calculation, the length ratio on the final installation will be about 6/7 .

The closer the speed ratio is, the more complex patterns can be.

/06 05
7 6

MATERIALS

WIRING DIAGRAM

PROTOTYPE

TECHNICAL FLOW

Irradiate bright light directly to the installation

Approaches or even try to touch the installation

Creates noises with dialogues and movements

Light sensor

Send signals when detects light source above 20 candelas

Ultrasonic sensor

Send signals when detects any object within 4 inches

Make sure the surroundings won’t trigger the sensors.

Observe the motions quitely without triggering the sensors.

Intervene with noise and barrier, altered the natural route of the pendulum successfully .

the

Decibel sensor

Send signals when detects noises above 60 decibels

Pendulum Electromagnets

Draws random routes on the sands after magnets interfere from every angle

How strong people interferes determines the magnetic strength

Plumb bob Silver sands Power cables Ultrasonic sensor Electric relay Decibel sensor Light sensor Arduino uno 1. Materials 2. Process 3. Outcome

“THE ROUTE”

The supporting column with more strings inside for adjustment.

SCENARIOS

Clip Sands

Embodies interference and its whole process

“The planetary ring” Container

Control the length and patterns of the pendulum.

Bob

The victim of interference, made of magnetic materials

The installation smoothly operates, attracting Visitors start to interfere with minor acts, which to you. covers its

Rounded but edgy, telling people to “stay away”. The 16 planes have 3 sensors and 1 electromagnet each, covering interference from all angles.

/06 06
OUTCOME

Blind - FOLD

With the continuous refinement of the society’s welfare system, a wide range of facilities were built for the disabled. Under such background, how to enjoy life and be entertained became the major issue for people with disabilities. This project mainly focuses on the visually-impaired community and wish to make the amusement of poker accessable to them.

PROJECT 4

BACKGROUND

There currently exist 76 million people who are either suffering from low vision, visual impairment, or complete vision loss. While almost 90% of the recreational activities we have now are vision-based and extremely unfriendly to the blind community.

During social events...

SURVEY

I posted a survey about what blind people do during free time sincere responses from the visually impaired groups. The responses are rather polarized so I chose 4 representatives.

Blind people

Feels

Lack of confidence /

Diminished mobility /

Increased loneliness /

Social exclusion /

Entertaining activities

Requires

Constant contacts / Adequate responses / Timely info receptions / “Feel the room” /

“My biggest problem...I have absolutely nothing to do.”

“I can’t even stare at the walls.”

“Basiclly the same things as sighted people do for fun.”

“Pretty much everthing, with a lot of adaption of my own.”

Passive Positive Analysis

Special Designs With Other’s Assistant 52% Homemade “Plug-in” Tough Self-adaption 17% 26% 5%

CASE STUDY

Kitchen utensils design

With flames, gas, shape blades and all kinds of dangerous objects even for sighted people existing, the kitchen can be a forbidden area for people with visual disabilities. But we can’t prevent this healthy hobby from them.

This design includes a plastic protective jacket around the blade, a collector for chopped-up vegetables, an easy-using, dual-purpose pot cover and a spoon that tells you water level.

Protective Assistant

- Ergonomically designed

- Easy to learn, easy to use

- Extremely practical

- Preserved the original ways.

- No interactions.

Exhibit

for the blind

By using the technique of scanning and 3D-pringting, a museum recreate art masterpieces for the visually-impaired as they can now touch the paintings and feels the brush strokes.

Keyphone

1 2 3

In the form of an outer coat for handheld devices, this design has made the complex cell phone operations quite understandable and access able for blind people with its geometric figures.

Tactile Assistant

- Focused on texture

- Scanning

- 3D-printing

- Changing textures

- Difficult to produce.

Braille
Shortcuts and contacts Yes/no, up/down Menu, emergency key
typing keys

What can’t we do?

Analysis & Goals

According to the rather polarized results from my online post, I divided my mindmap to “positive” and “passive”. The positive part lists out plenty of activity types that serve as inspirations, while the passive part provides the vulnerabilities of the visually impaired so they can be clearer targets that need to be resolved in the final design.

Limited things to do.

A designed game

An auxiliary device Rules that allow the visually impaired to play equally with others.

MIND MAP

PERSONA

Frustrations

I tried to entertain myself in my free time, but it’s always so inconvenient due to my poor abilities to locate and gain information.

I need to play solo in most of the recreational activities since I need to make major changes in the rules and I can’t really nteract with others.

I tried to adapt myself to activities by using homemade gadgets and plug-ins. But it’s complex to compose them even with my daughter’s help.

Interests

Terry

Cooking Board game Classical music

New and more ways to present information in recreational activity. The activity can be played on one’s own with no additional help. The activity can be conducted with others equally.

69 years old GOALS /

Frustrations

My father Terry gets bored easily since he receives no visual information. I need something that can entertain him conveniently without my presence.

His reactions are getting slow due to the aging and the visually impairment. He needs games that can exercise his mind.

It’s hard to help him understand trending entertainments with new rules and technologies. We might need some old-fasioned activities.

My dad became visually impaired as he age, and the incapability of doing things he loved really bums him out. I feel his pain and wish to bring the joy of life back to him.

An activity that can be conveniently operated. The activity should be developmental and can exercise our minds. Preserving the activity’s original way.

GOALS /

ROSA 34 years old

“ “

Phrase

Preparation Operation Aftermath

1. Choose a recreational activity that requires less use of vision and make adjustments to fit the blind participants.

Behavior

2. People got confused by the new rules thus use a rather long time to reach consensus.

1. It’s so embarrasing having everybody waiting for me.

Thought Pain Point

2. I’m not sure if this can work.

3. Hope we will move much faster once the game starts.

1. People with visual disabilities begin to run into troubles.

2. The whole process stops and people become impatient.

3. Minor comflict about the rules appears.

1. It’s still so hard to play along even with all the efforts.

2. The game is advancing so slow...

3. Why all the rules are changing in his favor? It’s so unfair.

1. Party ends, people left unpleased.

2. Two groups fail to sympathize with each other.

3. Fails to entertain.

1. I’m hardly entertained but rather embarrassed and confused.

2. I know we need to look after people with disabilities, but I can’t waste my saturday night on this anymore.

Less visual demands. Simpler or the classical rules. More fluent process. Fair and healthy interactions. Make their feelings interchangeable.

Emotion

Behavior

Thought

1. Use braille poker and decide how to play.

2. Briefly go through the rules which people are already familiar with.

1. This is just like poker, I can totally handle it.

2. Let’s get this party started! This is such a fresh way to play poker.

1. The game progresses smoothly.

2. People have fun during this brand new experience and bond with each other.

1. I have no trouble playing with others!

2. It’s the first time for me to use my sense of tactile to play board games, it’s like I’m learning braille.

1. What a great night! They appoint for more.

2. Understands how hard it is to do basic entertainments with low sight.

1. I needed no additional help and was treated equally.

2. I can relate to people with visual disabilities more now.

Excited Confused Weary Bored Frustrated Disappointed Nervous Complaining Unpleased Delighted Amazed Sympathetic Curious Confident
USER JOURNEY

GAME DESIGN

Plans

In my design, the card numbers are replaced by brailles in the top right corner and the bottom left corner, and the card suits are showed by card faces with different textures while all the card backs stay the same.

Special texture covering the entire card face in

PROTOTYPE MAKING

Materials

Select textures

Braille alphabet

Availability

Practicability

Interactivity

Card suits

Numbers & shapes

Hearts Diamonds Spades Clubs

Though four suits will be shown by different textures, the color of the card faes will all be black in order to reduce the visual information to a minimum.

Measurements

Deep enough, but not too deep to thicken the card

Bridge size: 56 x 88.9mm

Most common size in recreational card games.

A C B D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number Sign 1 2
4mm 1mm
JOKER J 10 K JOKER Q A 3 2 4 5 6 7 8 9

DEVICE IDEAS

The Slide

When there are a small quantity of community cards which need to be read and remembered, we can use this device to store the cards and with our touch whenever we want.

The Loop

With this wearable device, we can just sweep our hand above the community cards, and the audio device will broadcast the card numbers.

The Bowl

When the game involves dealing big amount of cards from multiple players, “the bowl” can help fot it gathers cards from all angles, and will scan and broadcast the cars all together.

The Coaster

With an ID chip in every card, the “coaster” will be able to identify each one of them(even when they overlaps), then announce the num bers and suits of the cards through the speak er in the bottom.

Easy to store and easy to charge since they can easily pile up with each other.

1 device, 1 player. No matter what card games you

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

As the more advanced techinique that can identify tags, the bidirectional NFC control the censoring distance more precise but can only do one-to-one recognitions.

RFID can identify multiple tags at the same time by changing its working frequency. It’s also a more economical choice.

Process Charging

Apply charging method of the coaster pager for reference

With a RFID tag in every card, the reader will be able to identify the numbers and the suits on them, then announce them with the speaker

POWER TAG
PLACEMENT

GAME SCENARIOS

Step 1

Place your own pad in front of you, and remember it’s location. (Very easy to locate especially for blind people.)

Step 2

Identify the specially made cards with your touches before the game starts.

Put 3 public cards on the pad and it

Step 4

Put your pocket hands on the pad and start the showdown! The pad will calculate and announce your best hand.

Step 5

After the game, pile them up and store them in wherever you need them!

THOUGHTS

Blind-fold not only is a new entertaining concept suitable for the visually impaired, but also can be a figurative “blind-fold” on normal people, offering them no additional information to ensure a completely fair game for both parties.

As the most diversed board game, every country, every culture has their own way of playing poker, which made my design a great way for the visually-impaired to “see” the world. This project shouldn’t be confined to poker, every game has the chance to adapt to this game mode, like how every blind person has the chance to enjoy life like everyone else

Beats Sephora American Express Levi’s Marriott UI DESIGNS
VeryStar Minisite Lululemon Family Mart VeryStar Nippon Paint

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