This SoS gadget for the hearing impaired is a lifesaver in case natural disaster strikes

When a natural disaster strikes you’ve got mere seconds or minutes to stay away from harm’s way. The split-second decision-making backed by your senses can be the difference between life and death. Now, just spare a thought for individuals who are deaf – ones who cannot depend on auditory information alone to get instant alerts about a natural disaster like a tornado, wildfire, or flash flood.

In such a situation, more often than not internet communication and even mobile networks are offline. So are the other channels for acquiring the latest news like television. This is a grave disadvantage for deaf people who rely heavily on visual information to stay aware of their environment.

Designer: YUPD

This prompted the mindful team of designers over at YUPD to create a gadget for deaf individuals to stay abreast of all the latest happening in their surroundings. Dubbed Sito, this pocketable device can be a lifesaver in adverse situations. It beams all the vital visual clues on the LCD display and also converts the ambient noise into a frequency displayed in the form of visual graphs on the small screen.

As soon as a distress situation is detected, the gadget automatically turns on the live radio feed of the local region in text format to keep the user informed. The LCD switches to low power mode to conserve energy just in case you are stuck in a precarious situation. For instance, in the event of an earthquake or flood, you can use Sito to inform others of your location with a siren button. A flashlight at the bottom of the gadget is another useful function in a dire situation, like being stuck under the rubble of a building.

A very useful concept that needs to materialize to keep the unfortunate disabled people safe without having to deal with any disadvantages. I can’t help but get a Teenage Engineering vibe from the Sito given its design. That said, the looks are not the talking point here, rather the functionality that’ll be vital in saving lives wherever and whenever possible.

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ROUTINE is an alarm clock that is designed with accessibility and beauty in mind

We take many products in life for granted just because many of us still have nearly complete use of our senses, especially sight, hearing, and touch. We use our smartphones without a second thought about how people who can’t see or touch the screen can navigate our phone-centric world today. Unfortunately, most products are also designed without considering people with special needs, and products that are indeed designed for accessibility often lack the same design appeal as more common products. An alarm clock that wakes up hearing-impaired people in an effective yet satisfying way is one such example, and this concept tries to offer a solution that would delight even those that could hear the alarm go off anyway.

Designer: Gloria Jung

Since the earliest times, alarm clocks have always been aural more than visual, using loud sounds to call attention to themselves and, therefore, the time. It was only with the advent of smart devices with screens that some alarms have taken on a more visual aspect, but even then, the primary way alarms work is to blast you with sound. It’s a simple yet effective method that is, of course, pointless for someone who can’t hear properly.

There are “silent” options available, of course, but they won’t satisfy even some fully-hearing people. Smartwatches vibrate ever so gently and are only effective if you’re already half awake. Vibrating alarms specifically designed for people with hearing problems, on the other hand, are often too strong and give people a rude awakening. Both solutions also don’t offer the same kind of visual appeal and beauty that many alarm clocks have, especially the ones designed specifically to look pretty on top of your desk or bedside table.

ROUTINE takes its inspiration from nature’s silent alarm, light. Many alarm systems and smart lighting now try to use the science and psychology of light to offer a gentler and more natural way to wake up. This alarm clock concept that’s specifically designed for hearing-impaired people uses that same principle not just to wake you up but also to call your attention. The circular face of the alarm gradually lights up closer to the set alarm time until it reaches full brightness. If the person still doesn’t wake up or react to the alarm, it starts blinking with a stronger intensity. Turning off the alarm is as simple as pulling the ball-shaped switch down.

The base of the alarm also functions as a wireless charging pad for phones or other compatible devices. Considering this alarm clock will most likely end up beside your bed, it conveniently provides two functions in one. It helps save up on space, especially since the alarm clock will actually take up some space on any table or drawer.

The ROUTINE alarm clock concept definitely looks attractive with its featureless face and minimalist design. The one odd detail with the concept is that the actual “clock” part of the device is on the base, where a phone will cover it when it is charging. That would require the owner to sit or stand up just to see the time, which might actually be a tactic to get that person up and out of bed.

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How does a deaf or mute person use a smart speaker’s voice assistant? This concept tries to build a more inclusive smart speaker

Here’s a question nobody probably ever thought of… how do deaf and mute people communicate with voice assistants? Or specifically, with smart speakers? It’s a question that Jinni, a sign-language-based smart assistant, hopes to answer.

While the most obvious use for a smart speaker is to listen to music and podcasts, the ubiquitous little gadget has much more far-reaching features, allowing users to ask questions, get alerts and weather updates, and most importantly, control aspects of one’s smart home, like the lights, thermostat, security cameras, etc… so when the smart speaker almost solely works on voice commands, its interface practically alienates an entire group of people with special needs who don’t rely on voice commands.

Designed to include a camera that can read sign language inputs, and a large screen that can communicate with its user, Jinni brings the power of virtual assistants to a subset of people that are often sidelined when designing mainstream tech. Relying on visual cues instead of audio ones, the Jinni can easily interface with people fluent in sign language, offering a more natural input technique for them. Responses are provided through Jinni’s large circular screen, taking audio entirely out of the equation. Just as the smart speaker is a ubiquitous little gadget in homes, Jinni hopes to do the same for the deaf and mute communities, giving them the same access to life-changing tech. The speaker concept runs on a battery (so it can be carried to different rooms) and even comes with a charging dock/mat to juice it up after a day’s use.

The Jinni is a winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award for the year 2021.

Designer: Zhong Zuozheng

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This transparent display for captions designed for the DHH community makes sure facial expressions aren’t missed!

See-Through Captions is a simple, understated solution for the DHH community that uses a transparent subtitle display screen to project conversations with ASR technology and incorporate facial expressions to bridge communication gaps between DHH and hearing individuals.

While there are some adaptive designs that aim to help those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH), most of them rely too heavily on subtitles and audio, losing out on physical gestures and facial expressions. Some products are designed to convert sign language to text, some AI robots are meant to replace hearing dogs, and then there’s even a wearable device that translates sign language into speech. Awarded by James Dyson with Japan’s highest award, a team of designers from Digital Nature Group developed a new solution for bridging communication gaps between hearing and hard-of-hearing folks called See-Through Captions.

Developed for those who are deaf or experience varying levels of hearing loss, See-Through Captions was designed by a team of hearing and deaf individuals and tested in real-life situations to ensure its effectiveness. See-Through Captions is essentially a transparent projector that converts audio to subtitles and displays those conversations on its two-way screen. Since most pre-existing related products only focus on translating audio to subtitles, Digital Nature Group gave See-Through Captions a transparent screen to guarantee that users’ facial expressions and physical gestures aren’t missed. In addition to the incorporation of physical expression, Digital Nature Group improved its automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology to optimize real-time captioning and ensure an accurate relay of communication.

The See-Through Captions product comes in two different physical forms, stationary and portable, so the ASR technology can be applied across different interactions. In developing See-Through Captions, Digital Nature Group demonstrated different prototypes in a museum setting. In the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, See-Through Captions was used in its stationary form at the museum’s front desk as well as its portable form on guided tours. Following its demonstration, Digital Nature Group decided some improvements could be made to the size and amount of text displayed on the portable product. Overall, See-Through Captions is a simple, understated solution for the DHH community that incorporates facial expression as well as accurate ASR technology to bridge communication gaps between DHH and hearing individuals.

Designer: Digital Nature Group

On a transparent screen, ASR technology converts audio to subtitles in real time. 

The transparent screen allows DHH individuals to maintain eye contact while engaging with hearing people. 

The portable form of See-Through Captions is handheld and can be applied in social settings such as guided tours and offsite meetings. 

After using prototypes in real-life situations, Digital Nature Group is improving the amount and visibility of text on the screen. 

Bose officially launches SoundControl hearing aids, making its audio tech more inclusive and accessible

Bose just announced their latest product, the SoundControl™ Hearing Aids – the first FDA-cleared, direct-to-consumer hearing aid developed for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. They’ll be sold by Bose (as opposed to being available at medical stores) and can be directly purchased, worn, and controlled by the wearer without needing to visit a doctor for a prescription or even an audiologist for a hearing test and professional fitting. The SoundControl hearing aids partner up with the Bose Hear app that gives wearers complete control over their wearables through their smartphone. Using its revolutionary CustomTune technology, the app lets you personalize your hearing experience in under 30 minutes, which Bose says is “a seismic shift from the process required for conventional hearing aids”.

The hearing aids come with a rather discreet design that’s virtually impossible to spot when worn. They even come in a palm-sized case that’s highly reminiscent of TWS earbuds, helping bring hearing aids into the 21st century… although Bose mentions that they’re strictly just regular hearing aids. They don’t stream music from your phone or let you use them as Bluetooth headsets while on calls or video chats. However, designed as a culmination of over 30 years of research and conceptualized along with scientists, audiologists, and engineers, the SoundControl claims to do a remarkably good job with being able to make the hearing-impaired hear crisp, clear audio, with the ability to amplify soft and easy-to-miss sounds in conversations (like consonants).

The SoundControl ‘hearables’ take on a sleek, practically invisible design featuring a tiny ear-tip that connects using a transparent cable to the receiver that sits behind the ear. Each earpiece contains one tiny speaker and two microphones, while the receivers both come with their own dedicated volume buttons that control ‘World Volume’, that helps amplify quieter audio to balance it out with louder noises. Each earpiece weighs just 3 grams (0.1 ounces) and runs on a standard 312 zinc-air battery, which lasts for up to four days when used 14 hours daily. That would imply that the case that comes along with the SoundControl is purely for storage, and doesn’t provide any charging function, as found with most TWS earbuds.

The SoundControl is Bose’s first foray into medical audio tech. “In the United States alone, approximately 48 million people suffer from some degree of hearing loss that interferes with their life. But the cost and complexity of treatment have become major barriers to getting help,” said Brian Maguire, category director of Bose Hear. The SoundControl aims at bridging the current divide by providing those people with access to the same high-fidelity audio experience that Bose provides to the rest of the world. My personal gripe with the SoundControl, however, is its absolute lack of smart features. The hearing aids don’t play music from your phone or even assist with phone calls or alarms. They don’t summon your phone’s voice assistant either – which does seem like a bit of a let-down, but then again, that could have impacted their FDA approval. They do, however, move mountains by making hearing aids much more accessible to the masses by helping customers circumvent the current system of consulting doctors and buying prescription hearing aids which can cost in the ballpark of over a thousand dollars. The SoundControl helps avoid that clinical route, and customers can purchase them for $849.95 starting May 18th in five states: Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas — with nationwide availability to follow.

Designer: Bose

This AI robot + smart home system replaces hearing dogs for those with hearing impairment!

We’ve often seen hearing dogs help those who may have trouble listening but there are a few issues with that system. Firstly, getting a hearing dog is expensive, secondly the training takes a long time, and they really aren’t an accessible solution for everyone. So this conceptual robot + smart home system was designed to fill the gap and be an alternative solution for people with hearing problems.

Called ‘Hearingbot’, this AI-powered robot comes with an integrated smart home system for seamless and reliable use through the day. One of the components is the hearing clock which wakes you up with vibrations while the Hearingbot smart home system raises the curtains for you. A cool feature is gesture recognition which makes communication easy for those who rely on sign language. The robot can recognize the signs and uses speakers as well as subtitles to communicate with its user. “It interprets sign language of the deaf through motion sensor and projects it into a projector.Through these process, it helps easy and natural conversation between deaf and ordinary people,” explains the design team. It can be paired with different products, for example, Hearingbot will manage the cooking status and schedule of the dish while the hearing-impaired person cooks and prepares the dish individually. It is also synced with a smartwatch that keeps you alert about real-time information, dangerous situations, public transport, and if someone is ringing your doorbell.

If main body of the bot has insufficient battery, it can be charged on its own. The bottom feature three wheels, an anti-fall sensor, and a vent hole. Hearingbot also uses minimal graphic facial expressions to communicate, it is a simple design detail which makes the product more organic and allows the user to form an emotional bond with it. Concepts like these are pushing boundaries for inclusive designs and showing us that we can do more to help a huge demographic that experiences the world differently.

Designers: Fountain Studio, JC HAM and Boseon Kwon

Naughty Dog details the extensive accessibility in ‘The Last of Us Part II’

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Commu helps the hearing-impaired get their pronunciations right

A hearing-impaired person usually has no frame of reference when it comes to speech, but they possess all the tools needed to speak correctly. Through process of lip-reading, the deaf can pick up how to speak, and moreover, people who have lost their hearing later on in life often have the powers of speech, but lack the practice and the ability to tell if they’re speaking correctly. That’s where the Commu helps.

Designed to help the hearing-impaired speak correctly (while also making sure their vocal muscles don’t atrophy with lack of use), Commu is a two-part device designed to capture vocal-chord vibrations and translate them into speech, guiding the user through the process of enunciation and pronunciation. One half of the Commu sits on the throat, with a vibration-sensor capturing the nuances of the waves, to translate them into text. The other half of the Commu docks your phone, allowing it to display your speech waveforms, as the phone’s app uses AI to determine whether the sentences spoken were clear or not. Gradual progress helps users retain powers of speech even though they can’t hear speech on a day-to-day basis!

Designers: Kyuseok Lee & Hyunjin Kim.

Huawei app uses AI to help deaf children read

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