SightRoute
January 2022
A mobile application designed for people with visual impairments to improve their mobility in their neighborhoods and allow them to feel safer and more oriented while traveling outside. I wanted users to be able to access the information they need for their journey with easier interaction for them. The design focus of this project was on accessibility and ease of use.
DESIGN RESEARCH
There are more than 253 MILLION People living with visual impairments around the world. This staggering number highlights the need for innovative solutions that can help these individuals overcome everyday challenges.
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Navigating the outdoors can be a challenge for individuals with visual impairments. Current navigation tools are often limited, making it difficult for these individuals to travel independently and with confidence. The lack of accessibility and adaptability in existing tools creates even more barriers.
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Have you ever been on a journey when you use navigation software to start a journey and simply can't see which direction you should go because the sun is so harsh outdoors? For the visually impaired, they are "hard to see" almost all the time. In addition, when they are waiting for a bus, how should they know if the bus is the one they want to take?
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Considering the difficulties that people with visual impairments can encounter, there is a clear need for a better solution that is specifically designed to address the unique challenges of individuals with visual impairments.
This is why the SightRoute project was initiated - to provide a comprehensive navigation tool that enables users to move around with ease and independence.
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By helping them improve their mobility, we can assist them in living more independently and reducing their dependence on others. If they can move around more easily, their quality of life will significantly improve. This includes easier access to community resources, enjoyment of leisure activities, meeting friends and family, and expanding their employment opportunities. At the same time, I hope that this product can raise awareness of society towards the visually impaired community.
PRIMARY RESEARCH
During the early stages of research, I discovered that despite the significant population of people with visual impairments, traveling is still not an easy task for them in the current social environment. Through interviews with people with visual impairments, I discovered...
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The cost of training guide dogs is too high, both in terms of money and time, and cannot meet the needs of the large visually impaired population.
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Most public facilities are not designed with their needs in mind, such as elevator buttons and public transportation lacking voice prompts.
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Smart devices developed for them (such as smart canes) are not suitable for use due to technological limitations.
Q: Is a smart cane helpful?
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Participant 1:
“I didn't use it before. But my friend told me that it has a small detection range and a low accuracy rate, especially in complex environments.”
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Participant 2:
"When I walk upstairs, or when there are many people around, the smart cane is almost completely ineffective because it identifies everything around it as an obstacle."
Q: What are the most struggled problems when you get around?
Participant 1:
“When crossing the street, if there is very little traffic around, it can be difficult to hear the traffic signal and determine whether it is safe to cross or not.”
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Participant 2:
"When waiting for the bus at the bus stop, I have to ask the person next to me or the driver to know which bus is arriving because I cannot identify it. Sometimes there is nobody at the bus stop, and I have to ask the bus driver. When they are far away, they have to get off the bus to hear what I am saying."
I also gather some feedback from them to identify pain points and unmet needs. I learned that current navigation tools often do not work as well as they should, creating difficulties for users and limiting their mobility and independence. Especially when using public transportation, as they have to rely on others to complete tasks such as confirming the bus route before boarding and verifying the destination after getting off the bus. Although most people are willing to help, they still want to maintain their independence as much as possible while traveling.
TARGET USER
According to my primary research, I figured out my target user for SightRoute.
SightRoute aims to be inclusive and accessible to a wide range of users with different abilities and needs. The app's features and design take into account the specific challenges faced by these target user groups--
People who are Blind or have low vision
It offers features such as voice input and auditory alerts to assist with navigation.
Color blind people
SightRoute takes into consideration the needs of individuals with color blindness, ensuring that the app's interface and visual cues are designed to be accessible and distinguishable for color-blind users.
Elderly people
SightRoute can be beneficial for elderly individuals who may have visual impairments or age-related difficulties in navigating outdoor environments. The app's user-friendly interface and voice input make it easier for them to navigate and receive guidance.
People with cognitive impairments
SightRoute's intuitive interface and simplified navigation features can be helpful for individuals with cognitive impairments. The app's clear instructions, voice input, and gesture control provide a more accessible and user-friendly experience.
USER NEEDS
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​Based on these insights, we developed SightRoute, a navigation app designed to provide a better solution to help visually impaired people navigate with confidence. The app offers multiple modes of interaction, such as voice input, gesture control and shaking the phone, to meet different user preferences.
We also prioritized key features such as timely alerts for route deviations, easy access to public transportation information, and an intuitive interface to ensure that the app addresses the needs and benefits sought by users.
STYLE GUIDES
To ensure that the SightRoute app is suitable for as wide a range of users as possible, I have considered the needs of people with low vision and color blindness in the design style. I use high-contrast colors, with bright background colors and dark text colors, to ensure that users can clearly see the information on the screen.
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Those colors have all been tested with Contrast Checker and meet WCAG AAA standards. This means that they are readable for most people with low vision and color blindness.
​I have chosen to use the Arial font, with a minimum size of 20px and a maximum size of 40px. This font provides a clear reading experience on different screen sizes and resolutions, and is easy to recognize.
LOGO DESIGN
The logo of SightRoute is based on the shape of the location icon, with an overall circular outline representing the essence of navigation services. In the center of the circle, I added a shape similar to the pupil, symbolizing that users can accurately find their desired destination with SightRoute just as they would with unimpaired eyesight.
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For the color scheme, I chose the green and yellow colors from the Style Tile. I aimed to create a simple, clear, and recognizable logo design that aligns with the positioning and image of SightRoute.
WIREFRAME
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To provide guidance for new users, there will be a beginner's guide available.
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A fixed dialog box will appear at the top of the screen, displaying corresponding text when the software provides voice prompts.
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Users can input their starting point and destination through voice input. This feature enables users to simply speak their desired locations, making the process more convenient and accessible, especially for individuals with visual impairments or those who prefer voice commands.
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At the bottom of the main screen for entering the starting point and destination, there will be buttons for "Route Details" and "Start Navigation" for users to view and select the desired route and initiate navigation.
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When the user deviates from the intended direction, the software will provide vibration and voice prompts to guide the user toward the correct direction, such as "Turn left at a 45-degree angle."
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Once navigation has started, a GIF will be displayed below the dialog box to indicate whether to continue straight or make a turn, along with a microphone button that users can click to activate the voice assistant.
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During navigation, users can swipe left or right on the screen to receive updated prompts, such as the estimated arrival time of a bus at the next stop. This feature allows users to stay informed about real-time information while navigating, ensuring they have the most up-to-date details for their journey.
USER TESTING
After creating a low-fidelity prototype, I conduct user testing.
Since the prototype was unable to simulate some of the features of the app and mobile system (e.g., vibration prompts, voice assistants...), I chose to conduct "out-of-the-box" user testing.
This type of user testing allows the tester to intervene or help the participant during the testing process. This allows me to manually simulate the phone's voice and vibration prompts to help participants become more immersed in the user test. I can also guide the participant or explain certain features or tasks if the participant is experiencing difficulties.
The scenario I set up for the tester was that you are a blind 16-year-old girl named Jenna and you want to go to Oakville Place to meet your friend today.
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The tester has several tasks:
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Go through the tutorial for beginners
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Enter your destination, Oakville Place, find the route to take the #19 bus and start navigating.
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While waiting at the bus stop, check how long the #19 bus has to arrive.
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Once on the bus, check when to get off
Although the user basically completed the task with my help, there were many problems in the process.
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The tutorial for beginners is a bit too much for users to remember the exact operation for the first time
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The user doesn't know how to start after the newbie tutorial
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The "START" for entering the starting point is a bit confusing, not sure what it is to start
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No prompt for the user to start when entering the destination by voice
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Don't know how to ask to repeat the voice prompt
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Rely on the voice assistant instead of using gesture operations during the whole testing
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No sound prompt when switching pages
PROTOTYPE
​Iterations:
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The Route Details and Start Navigation buttons on the start page could be displayed after the user has successfully entered the destination to reduce the possibility of users clicking on them incorrectly.
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To help users with low vision, use the GUI to prompt the users to input the starting point and destination by swiping up and down on the screen.
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The box at the top of the screen could be hidden after a period of time so that more screen space could be saved.
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Overly detailed angles (e.g. 30°) may confuse users and could be replaced with a more common language, such as "turn slightly left".
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Change the route details to be toggled by swiping left and right. -
Then there is more space to show the details (Walking distance, total time spent, etc.)
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Overly detailed angles (e.g. 30°) may confuse users and could be replaced with a more common language, such as "turn slightly left".
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Divide Route Details into separate pages and add a back button
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Switch between routes by sliding the card
SightRoute is a navigation application designed to assist individuals with visual impairments to navigate with ease and confidence. The app offers multiple modes of interaction, such as voice input, gesture control, and shaking the phone, to cater to different user preferences. Key features include timely alerts for route deviations, easy access to public transportation information such as bus arrival times and distance to the next bus stop, and an intuitive interface that simplifies navigation for visually impaired individuals.
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Overall, SightRoute aims to provide a seamless and enjoyable navigation experience for its users. It has the potential to make a significant positive impact on the lives of individuals with visual impairments. By providing a user-friendly and accessible navigation app, we can increase their independence and mobility.
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