Senscom - Vi-Phone

Start up design agency Alloy, set about to use its inclusive experience to aid users in the workplace with limmited sight

Improving the working experience for those with limited sight

Alloy were set the task of improving the experience and re-designing the Senscom Vi-Phone. There were 12 million people of limited sight in Europe without a low cost mobile handset available in the marketplace for blind or partially sighted people. Blind and partially sited people were having to use third party software on normal phones to access them. This is becoming and increasing problem as mobiles became more complicated.

The whole Alloy team were involved in testing a variety scenarios of use in order to gain the most appropriate insights to take froward. We were driven down the path of audio lettering/ selecting due to text entry proving extremely difficult for most users. Issues related to the increased length and complexity of text entry relative to number entry, coordinating fingers around these potentially long and complex set of entries and finally, memory - remembering what letters are on what keys.

Start up design agency Alloy created a work product to improve production, Ear peice modular design fits into the underside of the device
Alloy, start up eesign compnay went through a variety of prototypes to develop the most effective workplace design solution

Designed to be strong, simple, weather proof, and entirely dedicated to the needs of people who cannot, or are unable to interact with a phone screen. As well as providing a lifeline for blind and partially sited people, the Senscom phone can also work in situations where a phone user cannot look at the screen, or is in an environment unsuitable for normal phone usage. This may include flying, or severe weather conditions.

Forward facing joystick style form is easy to orient in the hand without sight. Tactile grip zones to fit the form of the hand can help the user to confirm the correct orientation through feel. To eliminate the need for numerous small keys a single input wheel enables linear, therefore accurate number and letter selection. As the user scrolls through the list they hear the number or letter through the Bluetooth headset or loudspeaker.

This project received full support from our stat-up package, the longest stage of development was in creating the best form for the user to hold the joystick in so they could clearly know the correct orientation. Particular detail was taken in ensuring the headset could be packaged inside the joystick so an all in one compact solution could be achieved for the user.

Start up design studio Alloy, based in london, created a range of cmf options that would result in the most comfortable and safe workplace material choices
 

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Alloy Ltd