Blind Industries & Services of Maryland
Designing an ergonomic grip for the long white cane
Awarded the 2023 Dean’s Design Award by John’s Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering
Blind Industries & Services of Maryland
Designing an ergonomic grip for the long white cane
Awarded the 2023 Dean’s Design Award by John’s Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering
ROLE
User Researcher
DURATION
Sep 2022 - May 2023
KEY SKILLS
User Research, Accessibility, Engineering Design
PARTNER
Blind Industries & Services of Maryland
CLASS
Multidisciplinary Engineering Design I & II
DURATION
Sep 2022 - May 2023
CLASS
Multidisciplinary Engineering Design I & II
ROLE
User Researcher
TEAM
Leela Gowland (Engineer), Rumani Kafle (Engineer) & Renee Nerenberg (Engineer)
PARTNER
Blind Industries & Services of Maryland
KEY SKILLS
User Research, Accessibility, Engineering Design
What's wrong with the long white cane?
What's wrong with the long white cane?
While the long white cane works great for many blind folks, it lacks support for people who are dealing with more than blindness, like weakened/broken arms or wrists. The constant grip needed to hold the cane puts unnecessary strain on their bodies, which prevents them from traveling independently.
For this project, we partnered with the Blind Industries & Services of Maryland (BISM), a nonprofit that trains people with blindness on independent traveling and living, to design a physical engineering solution that solves this problem.
While the long white cane works great for many blind folks, it lacks support for people who are dealing with more than blindness, like weakened/broken arms or wrists. The constant grip needed to hold the cane puts unnecessary strain on their bodies, which prevents them from traveling independently.
For this project, we partnered with the Blind Industries & Services of Maryland (BISM), a nonprofit that trains people with blindness on independent traveling and living, to design a physical engineering solution that solves this problem.
The Solution
The Solution
The ergonomic cane grip is a silicone rubber accessory for the long white cane that aims to alleviate hand and wrist fatigue while using the cane by making the cane easier and more comfortable to hold.
There is a soft (made of Oomoo) that has a cushiony texture that suits new users with weakened wrists and a hard version (made of Sugru) that has a more firm and rigid feel that suits users who have greater wrist fatigue/pain.
The ergonomic cane grip is a silicone rubber accessory for the long white cane that aims to alleviate hand and wrist fatigue while using the cane by making the cane easier and more comfortable to hold.
There is a soft (made of Oomoo) that has a cushiony texture that suits new users with weakened wrists and a hard version (made of Sugru) that has a more firm and rigid feel that suits users who have greater wrist fatigue/pain.
Research
Research
As a team, we interviewed around 15 users made up of people with blindness, BISM trainers and managers, and leaders in disability policy and research. I interviewed 2 trainers and the former Director of Blind Services in Maryland.
As a team, we interviewed around 15 users made up of people with blindness, BISM trainers and managers, and leaders in disability policy and research. I interviewed 2 trainers and the former Director of Blind Services in Maryland.
01 - USER INTERVIEWS
02 - SECONDARY RESEARCH
Contextual Research
To understand the problem space, we read news articles, personal testimonies, and social media posts from accessibility advocates and watched documentaries.
Technical Research
We also read academic papers, researched competitors, and interviewed BISM staff and instructors about the long white cane and other accessibility devices, such as braille blocks, braille readers, and screen readers.
Technical Research
We also read academic papers, researched competitors, and interviewed BISM staff and instructors about the long white cane and other accessibility devices, such as braille blocks, braille readers, and screen readers.
Technical Research
We also read academic papers, researched competitors, and interviewed BISM staff and instructors about the long white cane and other accessibility devices, such as braille blocks, braille readers, and screen readers.
03- SPATIAL OBSERVATIONS
We also visited BISM’s site 4+ times to understand the training space, interview BISM stakeholders, and conduct usability tests. We discovered these insights…
Simplicity
Many users prefer the simplicity of the long white cane without any additional features, that most canes are not built for individuals with multiple disabilities.
Confusion
Instructors are not always familiar with how to teach people with multiple disabilities.
Fatigue
Learning requires physical stamina. Training can be emotionally taxing both for students and instructors.
Safety
Canes sometimes break and need to be replaced. Students (and especially seniors) have additional difficulties with transportation and overcoming fear of independent travel
Training
Structured discovery is at the forefront of learning to travel with a cane. Students sometimes find it easier to rely on someone else to help them navigate even though they will not learn as well.
We also visited BISM’s site 4+ times to understand the training space, interview BISM stakeholders, and conduct usability tests. We discovered these insights…
Simplicity
Many users prefer the simplicity of the long white cane without any additional features, that most canes are not built for individuals with multiple disabilities.
Confusion
Instructors are not always familiar with how to teach people with multiple disabilities.
Fatigue
Learning requires physical stamina. Training can be emotionally taxing both for students and instructors.
Safety
Canes sometimes break and need to be replaced. Students (and especially seniors) have additional difficulties with transportation and overcoming fear of independent travel
Training
Structured discovery is at the forefront of learning to travel with a cane. Students sometimes find it easier to rely on someone else to help them navigate even though they will not learn as well.
We also visited BISM’s site 4+ times to understand the training space, interview BISM stakeholders, and conduct usability tests.
Simplicity
Many users prefer the simplicity of the long white cane without any additional features, that most canes are not built for individuals with multiple disabilities
Confusion
Instructors are not always familiar with how to teach people with multiple disabilities
Fatigue
Learning requires physical stamina
Training can be emotionally taxing both for students and instructors
Safety
Canes sometimes break and need to be replacedStudents (and especially seniors) have additional difficulties with transportation and overcoming fear of independent travel
Training
Structured discovery is at the forefront of learning to travel with a cane. Students sometimes find it easier to rely on someone else to help them navigate even though they will not learn as well.
Research Synthesis
Research Synthesis
04 - AFFINITY DIAGRAM
Defining the Problem
Defining the Problem
To narrow down the scope of our solution, we conducted root cause analysis, created a list of criteria for our solution, and generated a need statement:
Blind people need a way to operate the long white cane that achieves increased physical/emotional comfort and increased independence because the long white cane requires a constant grip, leaving one hand occupied at all times.
To narrow down the scope of our solution, we conducted root cause analysis, created a list of criteria for our solution, and generated a need statement:
Blind people need a way to operate the long white cane that achieves increased physical/emotional comfort and increased independence because the long white cane requires a constant grip, leaving one hand occupied at all times.
05- NEED STATEMENT, ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS & CRITERIA
05 - NEED STATEMENT, ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS & CRITERIA
06 - HOW MIGHT WE QUESTIONS
Ideation
Ideation
07 - BRAINSTORMING
Design
Design
From our initial sketches, we used cardboard and Model Magic to create quick-and-dirty prototypes of an ergonomic grip. We then iterated on this prototype by making it detachable and using 2x less material. In our final rounds of prototyping, we used Composi-Mold and Oomoo/Sugru to cast the Model Magic mold into a high-fidelity silicone rubber material.
From our initial sketches, we used cardboard and Model Magic to create quick-and-dirty prototypes of an ergonomic grip. We then iterated on this prototype by making it detachable and using 2x less material. In our final rounds of prototyping, we used Composi-Mold and Oomoo/Sugru to cast the Model Magic mold into a high-fidelity silicone rubber material.
08 - PROTOTYPES
Testing
Testing
Our testing results showed that the ergonomic grip was comfortable and easy to use. We also found a low error rate and found that it does not interfere with tactile feedback or spatial awareness strategies.
"This feels good, reaaaaaal good!"
According to qualitative feedback, the hard version of the ergonomic grip would be more likely to be used by BISM trainers because it is molded to your hands more firmly, whereas the soft version could potentially shift and slide with hand movements.
Our testing results showed that the ergonomic grip was comfortable and easy to use. We also found a low error rate and found that it does not interfere with tactile feedback or spatial awareness strategies.
"This feels good, reaaaaaal good!"
According to qualitative feedback, the hard version of the ergonomic grip would be more likely to be used by BISM trainers because it is molded to your hands more firmly, whereas the soft version could potentially shift and slide with hand movements.
🧑🏿🦯
🧑🏿🦯
What impact did we create?
What impact did we create?
We created a long white cane training tool for blind individuals that have multiple disabilities. As supported by our testing, this tool increases the comfort and ease of using the long white cane for beginner students with low wrist endurance and folks with low grip strength.
We created a long white cane training tool for blind individuals that have multiple disabilities. As supported by our testing, this tool increases the comfort and ease of using the long white cane for beginner students with low wrist endurance and folks with low grip strength.
In short, this was a valuable, educational project.
In short, this was a valuable, educational project.
LESSON 1
I learned that designing for stakeholders ≠ designing for user.
Initially, we designed beyond the scope of project and tried to create a solution for blind users at large instead of for BISM. Going through multiple iterations of the design process taught me how to overcome attachments to your design solutions through communication and reevaluating user and stakeholder needs.
LESSON 2
I adopted the engineering language to communicate with my teachers and teammates.
Specifically, I learned to combine design thinking skills with new understanding of engineering FDA standards, specifications, and testing protocol. This taught me how engineers think and work and what is within their means in terms of technical constraints
LESSON 1
I learned that designing for stakeholders ≠ designing for user.
Initially, we designed beyond the scope of project and tried to create a solution for blind users at large instead of for BISM. Going through multiple iterations of the design process taught me how to overcome attachments to your design solutions through communication and reevaluating user and stakeholder needs.
LESSON 2
I adopted the engineering language to communicate with my teachers and teammates.
Specifically, I learned to combine design thinking skills with new understanding of engineering FDA standards, specifications, and testing protocol. This taught me how engineers think and work and what is within their means in terms of technical constraints