Wearable DeSIGN
Smart Wristband for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Users
VibeGlow is a smart wristband designed for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, delivering real-time notifications through customizable vibrations, LED lights, and a unique tightening feature. With VibeGlow, users can stay informed about calls, messages, alarms, and more—empowering them to connect with the world through accessible, non-auditory alerts tailored to their preferences.
Background
This project was part of a 3-day design challenge, I had to choose between two distinct projects: designing a wearable for deaf users or creating an AR Apple product launch experience. I chose the wearable project because of my commitment to inclusivity and designing solutions for underserved communities. The goal was to design a wearable that would provide effective, non-auditory notifications. The deliverables included the device's design, notification features, and customizable settings to ensure the product met the specific needs of the target users.
Deaf or hard-of-hearing users face challenges with current notification devices, which often fail to provide reliable, accessible, and user-specific alerts. Below are key pain points identified during research:
Missing Notifications
In a world where real-time notifications are crucial, deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals often struggle to stay aware of important notifications.
Missing important alerts when not actively looking at a device.
Lack of Non-auditory cues
Whether it's a message, call, or knock at the door, traditional devices often fail to provide effective alerts for those relying on non-auditory cues.
Overlooked User Needs
Devices are not made specific for them; they’re a second-thoughts.
Unreliable Notification Systems
Inconsistent or insufficient feedback mechanisms to ensure critical notifications are received.
VibeGlow is a smart wristband designed to provide customizable, non-auditory alerts for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. Key features include:
Comprehensive Alerts
Receive notifications for doorbells, calls, messages, and alarms. The device provides real-time alerts for calls, messages, alarms, and doorbells, ensuring users stay informed.
Visual & Tactile Cues
It offers a combination of visual alerts (LED light flashes), vibration, and a unique tightening feature for a snug, attention-grabbing fit (works like a Blood pressure machine cuff), allowing users to choose the most effective notification method.
Personalization
Users can fully personalize their notifications through adjustable settings for intensity, pattern, and duration, offering a tailored experience.
Device Design
A wearable design that ensures comfort and ease of use throughout the day.
Future Expansion
While this design majorly focuses on home usage, future iteration aim to address usage in more dynamic, noisy outdoor settings.
For the research phase, I explored articles, forums, blogs, and YouTube videos to understand the needs of deaf or hard-of-hearing users. Given the scope of this three-day design challenge, I focused on secondary sources to gather insights that informed the design decisions. A comprehensive list of resources used is included here.
Around 20% of individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing regularly miss notifications on their devices due to auditory-based alerts.
KEY INSIGHTS
Visual Alerts: Devices with LED lights or screens that flash or glow help users notice important notifications.
Tactile Feedback: Vibrations and other forms of physical touch feedback are crucial, especially when visual notifications are not in direct sight.
The findings highlighted a dependence on both visual and tactile cues for communication and notifications.
According to W.H.O (World Health Organization)
1.5 billion people globally are affected by hearing loss, making up nearly 20% of the world’s population.
In some low-income countries, access to assistive products can be as low as 3%.
More than 2.5 billion people worldwide require one or more assistive products.
All These findings shaped the core design of VibeGlow, ensuring it caters to the specific needs of deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals by integrating both visual and tactile feedback mechanisms.
After gathering insights and defining the features, I began sketching initial concepts for Vibeglow. These sketches helped me visualize the device's appearance, functionality and layout. Here’s a glimpse into the creative process that brought VibeGlow to life.
I decided to opt for a smartband instead of a watch to offer a fresh take on wearable devices. The larger size accommodates better distribution of design elements, enhancing usability and effectiveness.
After brainstorming and sketching initial concepts, I continued refining my ideas and finalizing the design.
The design of VibeGlow follows a clean, modern aesthetic with a focus on accessibility . Key elements include:
Typography
Inter is used for its legibility and versatility.
Colours
The color palette for VibeGlow is designed to create a visually clear and comfortable experience:
Primary Color: Blue is the core color, representing trust and clarity.
Text Color: White is used for text, providing strong contrast and easy readability on the dark background.
LED Light Indicators: Blue, red, green, and yellow are used for LED lights, each signaling a different type of notification, ensuring clear and intuitive visual cues.
Dark Mode: The default dark mode is sleek and reduces eye strain, with light mode as an option for those who prefer a brighter interface.
Iconography
Simple, intuitive icons are used for easy navigation and to reinforce the functionality of each setting.
VibeGlow focuses on simplicity, accessibility, and user comfort. The interface is clean and intuitive, with easy-to-navigate settings for customizing notifications.
The Wristband Device
I decided to opt for a smartband instead of a watch to offer a fresh take on wearable devices. The larger size accommodates better distribution of design elements, enhancing usability and effectiveness.
While brainstorming tactile alert mechanisms, I drew inspiration from my experience using a blood pressure cuff. The way it tightens to provide feedback felt like an effective way to convey notifications, which led to the inclusion of the tightening feature in the wristband design.
The main challenge was the time constraint and my lack of experience with physical product design. To overcome this, I prioritized user experience and accessibility, opting for a simple mock/design to quickly convey the concept.
Main Screen
The main screen is designed for simplicity and quick navigation. It displays essential elements and settings, ensuring users can easily access key features while maintaining a clean, user-friendly interface.
Notifications
These designs showcase various notifications, including doorbell, alarm, call, and message alerts.
Other Screens
Settings
LIGHT MODE
Here’s a look at the light mode designs, focusing on consistency and uniformity with the dark mode designs
Although the core idea and solutions were completed within the 3-day challenge, I refined Vibeglow afterward by adding glowing effects instead of just explaining through text, adjusting colours, and improving alignment for accessibility.
The VibeGlow design successfully addresses the key pain points related to accessibility for deaf or hard-of-hearing users like Lenora. Key outcomes include:
Improved Notification System
The combination of tactile feedback (vibration & tightening) and LED alerts enhances notification visibility and ensures they are effectively received.
Customizable Alerts
The ability to adjust vibration and LED light settings allows users to tailor notifications to their preferences.
Innovative Wearable Design
The smartband design offers a unique alternative to traditional wearables, with a focus on comfort and usability.
Future Design Impact
The design sets a new precedent for accessible wearable technology, encouraging further innovation in user-centered designs for individuals with hearing impairments.
User Testing: Conduct testing with actual deaf or hard-of-hearing users to gather feedback and refine the design further. This will help tailor the product to real-world needs.
Expansion to Outdoor Settings: Adapt the design for outdoor environments, ensuring the device works well not only in enclosed environment. (e.g voice, sound recognition e.t.c)
Additional Features: Introduce more accessibility options, such as the ability to detect and notify users of outdoor sounds like voices, animal noises, incoming vehicles, and more.
Designing VibeGlow was a journey rooted in my commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Through this project, I learned the importance of user-centered design, the value of rapid iteration, and the role of feedback in refining ideas. This project reinforced my belief in the power of thoughtful design to make everyday life more inclusive, and how focusing on accessibility can truly bridge gaps. Although this project is just the start, I’m excited about VibeGlow’s potential to grow and make a positive impact in the lives of deaf or hard-of-hearing users.