Every day balance moments don’t usually look dramatic. Standing up from a low chair after a long meal, stepping off a curb while carrying bags, and steadying yourself in a narrow hallway without anything to grab are the small transitions that feel minor until they don’t. Safety gear tends to be designed for bigger problems, but the real friction lives in these frequent, unremarkable moments that add up over the course of a day.
SafeGrip is a modular safety handle designed to offer a versatile solution to exactly those “micro safety issues,” particularly for elderly individuals and anyone who needs balance support in daily life. The tagline is “Grip life with confidence,” and the design backs that up by turning a single compact object into a walking cane, a carry hook, and a furniture anchor point, depending on what the moment requires.
As a cane, the handle shape does a lot of quiet work. The large grip opening and soft, rounded edges allow different hand sizes and grip styles, so it doesn’t demand a precise hold. That gentler geometry reduces pressure on arthritic or tired hands, and the clean, non-clinical look means it’s the kind of thing you’d keep by the door or beside a chair rather than hiding it away, which matters more than most cane designers seem to realize.
Carrying bags while walking is one of those everyday tasks that throws off balance in ways that accumulate slowly. The built-in hook function lets SafeGrip carry shopping loads, taking the pull off the wrist and keeping the user steadier. At a doorway, elevator, or checkout counter, having the bags on the cane instead of dangling from a hand changes how the body distributes weight, even slightly, which counts when stability is already a concern.
The mechanical retractable ring system is the feature that makes furniture anchoring possible. The ring extends to create a secure loop that can grip onto a table edge or chair, turning the nearest piece of furniture into a temporary grab rail. That makes the sit-to-stand transition, one of the most commonly risky daily movements, feel more controlled without requiring any installed hardware or home modifications.
A telescopic height adjustment mechanism at the neck of the handle allows incremental length changes through nesting profiles, with numbered level indicators so users can identify and return to the right height reliably. That repeatability matters when the cane is used by more than one person or when it’s stored and reset regularly throughout the day.
SafeGrip treats stability as an everyday design problem rather than a medical category. It combines three helpful roles without adding complexity, and it looks like a considered product rather than hospital equipment. The best safety tools are usually the ones people actually keep nearby, and a handle that fits into daily life instead of announcing its purpose makes that a lot more likely.
Picture yourself arriving home on a rainy afternoon. You reach for your coat rack to hang up your wet jacket, but instead of leaving it behind, you grab one of its branches and head back out the door. That branch? It’s now your walking stick. Welcome to Cesare Miozzi’s brilliantly weird world, where furniture refuses to stay put.
The Walking Coat Rack recently won the Ideas for Business Call #4, a design competition that challenges creators to reimagine everyday objects. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a coat rack that moonlights as a walking stick. Or maybe it’s a walking stick that moonlights as a coat rack. Either way, it’s one of those designs that makes you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner.
Miozzi, a young Italian designer, started with a simple observation: coat racks are boring. They stand there in your entryway, silently judging you for that jacket you draped over the chair instead. They’re functional, sure, but they’re about as exciting as watching paint dry. Yet we can’t escape them because we’ve been hanging our clothes on hooks since Ancient Rome, when tunics and togas needed somewhere to rest.
Rather than accept the coat rack’s fate as furniture wallflower, Miozzi decided to give it a personality and, more importantly, portability. His design draws inspiration from trees, which makes perfect sense when you think about it. Trees are nature’s original coat racks, after all. The Walking Coat Rack features a tubular structure that mimics a trunk, with three large branches emerging from a hollow top. These branches do double duty: they hold your coats when the rack is standing still and become walking sticks when you need to venture outside.
The details are what make this concept sing. A circular ring at the base represents roots, anchoring the design both literally and metaphorically. At the top, another ring serves as a pocket emptier, that perfect little spot for your keys, coins, and whatever mysterious receipts you’ve accumulated throughout the day. It’s the kind of thoughtful touch that shows Miozzi wasn’t just designing a coat rack with legs. He was designing an object that understands how we actually live.
What’s refreshing about this design is its playfulness. We’ve become so accustomed to our furniture staying in its designated corner that the idea of taking part of it with us feels almost rebellious. There’s something delightful about blurring the line between what stays home and what goes out into the world. It transforms a purely domestic object into something with agency, something that participates in your life beyond the front door.
The contemporary aesthetic keeps things clean and approachable. This isn’t precious design that makes you nervous about actually using it. The tubular construction suggests durability while maintaining visual lightness. You can imagine it fitting into different spaces, from minimalist apartments to eclectic homes that celebrate conversation pieces.
Of course, the real genius lies in how the design increases our interaction with the object throughout the day. Traditional coat racks sit quietly until you need them twice: once when you come home, once when you leave. The Walking Coat Rack inserts itself into more moments. Heading out for a stroll? Grab a branch. Need support on an icy sidewalk? Your coat rack has your back. It’s furniture that earns its keep.
This kind of multifunctional thinking feels particularly relevant right now, when smaller living spaces make every piece of furniture work harder. Why own separate items when one clever design can do both jobs? It’s efficiency wrapped in whimsy, practicality disguised as play. Miozzi’s creation also taps into our growing interest in objects that tell stories. Nobody asks about your regular coat rack at dinner parties. But a coat rack that transforms into a walking stick? That’s a conversation starter. It’s the kind of design that makes people stop and reconsider what furniture can be, what it can do, and how we relate to the things we live with.
Settling in for “just one more run” usually means your thumbs, wrists, or forearms start complaining long before the game is done. Most controllers are fixed objects that expect your body to adapt, which can lead to repetitive strain or numbness. You either push through the discomfort or take breaks that feel like interruptions, but rarely can you adjust the hardware itself to match how your hands actually feel in that moment.
Morphable is a DIY adjustable gamepad built around a peanut-shaped shell and sliding modules for the joystick and buttons. It is designed to reduce strain by letting you reposition inputs to match your hands and play style, and if something starts to feel off mid-game, you can shift the layout instead of stopping. The whole thing is open-source and 3D-printable, built by someone who wanted their controller to adapt.
Playing a demanding game for an hour or two, you might start with a familiar layout and then nudge a button rail closer to your thumb when your reach starts to feel tight. Maybe you slide the joystick slightly inward so your wrist can straighten, or move a frequently used button lower so another finger can take over. The controller encourages micro-adjustments that let different muscles share the work instead of overloading the same joints.
Each button sits on a small sled that rides on a rail, held in place by magnet tape. Underneath, copper tape runs along the base, and wires press against it to carry signals. The joystick uses a similar sled and rail. This setup means you can slide modules around freely while the Arduino inside still sees every press and movement, maintaining electrical contact as things shift without needing screws.
Morphable uses an Arduino Leonardo, which can pretend to be a USB keyboard. The three buttons and joystick axes are wired to specific pins, and the code maps them to keys like E, J, and K for games such as Hollow Knight. Because it shows up as a keyboard, you can remap controls in software and experiment with different layouts without being locked into a console’s default scheme.
The main body is a smooth, 3D-printed peanut shape that fills both palms and keeps wrists in a more neutral position than a flat gamepad. There are no sharp edges, and the weight is spread across the hands instead of concentrated under the thumbs. Combined with the movable modules, the shell lets you tune the controller to your posture instead of the other way around.
Morphable is less about one perfect layout and more about the idea that your ideal layout changes over a night, a week, or a year. Hardware does not have to be static; it can be something you keep adjusting as your body and habits shift. Fixed plastic shells dominate the market, but a controller that invites you to move things around to stay comfortable feels like a quietly radical prototype.
There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a designer solve multiple problems at once. William Young’s Jigsaw Chess Set is one of those rare designs that makes you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner. It’s a chess set, yes, but it’s also a sculptural object, an accessibility tool, and a logistics solution all rolled into one beautifully executed package.
At first glance, the set looks like something you’d find in a modern art museum. The pieces are geometric, almost brutalist in their simplicity, fabricated from contrasting steel and aluminum. One side gets the cool, dark patina of steel, while the opposing army gleams in lighter aluminum. They’re angular, tessellated forms that look more like miniature architectural models than traditional chess pieces. But this isn’t just aesthetic posturing. Every design choice serves a purpose.
Designer: William Young
The most compelling aspect of the Jigsaw Chess Set is how it approaches accessibility. Most chess sets rely entirely on visual distinction. You know a knight from a bishop because you can see the carved horse head or the pointed mitre. But what if you can’t? Young’s design flips the script by making tactile identity the primary means of recognition. Each piece has a distinctive weight and texture that immediately identifies it in your hand. The king feels different from the rook, the pawn from the bishop. You could play this game with your eyes closed and know exactly what you’re moving across the board.
This isn’t a novelty feature. For visually impaired players, most chess sets require specialized modifications or Braille labels that still mark them as “other.” Young’s design makes accessibility intrinsic to the aesthetic, not an afterthought. The result is a set that works beautifully for everyone, regardless of visual ability. It’s inclusive design at its best, where accommodation becomes innovation.
Then there’s the fabrication process, which deserves its own moment of appreciation. The pieces are created using a zero-waste cutting method. Picture a sheet of metal that gets sliced into interlocking forms, like a precision jigsaw puzzle where every cut produces a usable piece. Nothing gets tossed in the scrap bin. In an era where we’re increasingly aware of material waste and manufacturing impact, this approach feels refreshingly thoughtful. Each piece is then hand-finished, giving the set that tactile quality that makes it so satisfying to handle.
But wait, there’s more. (I know, I know, but genuinely, there’s more.) When you’re done playing, the entire set interlocks back into a dense, self-contained block. All 32 pieces fit together like a three-dimensional puzzle, creating a compact square that takes up minimal space. This is where the “jigsaw” name really earns its keep. The design is scalable too, meaning different size versions can be produced while maintaining the same interlocking logic.
From a shipping and storage perspective, this is genius. Traditional chess sets are bulky, awkward to pack, and wasteful in their use of space. Young’s design ships flat (well, flatish), reducing packaging materials and transportation costs. For consumers, it means easier storage when the set isn’t in use. For retailers, it means more efficient inventory management. Again, multiple problems solved with one elegant solution.
What really strikes me about the Jigsaw Chess Set is how it challenges our assumptions about what a chess set should be. The game is over 1,500 years old, and the basic design language of its pieces has remained relatively stable for centuries. Young doesn’t throw that all away, but he does ask: what if we started from scratch with contemporary materials, modern manufacturing techniques, and a genuine commitment to universal design?
The answer is something that feels both familiar and radically new. You can still play chess exactly as you always have, but now you’re doing it with an object that works harder, thinks smarter, and includes more people in the experience. It’s a reminder that even the most traditional games have room for innovation when designers are willing to question the fundamentals. Whether you’re a chess enthusiast, a design collector, or someone who simply appreciates objects that do multiple things exceptionally well, the Jigsaw Chess Set deserves your attention. It’s proof that good design isn’t about adding features. It’s about rethinking everything from the ground up.
Look, here’s a design problem that most people never think about: what happens when wheelchair users get caught in the rain? Traditional umbrellas require a free hand, ponchos bunch up awkwardly, and standard rain gear just wasn’t designed with wheelchair ergonomics in mind. Nicolas Odorizi’s Mobidry tackles this overlooked challenge with a solution that’s both elegantly simple and surprisingly sophisticated.
At first glance, Mobidry looks almost futuristic. A transparent dome-like canopy wraps around the wheelchair and user, supported by a minimal aluminum frame. But what makes this design genuinely clever isn’t just how it looks. It’s how thoroughly Odorizi thought through every detail of the user experience. The frame itself is lightweight aluminum, which matters more than you might think. Wheelchair users are already managing equipment weight with every push and transfer. Adding bulky protective gear to that equation creates real physical strain. The aluminum structure keeps things light while maintaining enough rigidity to hold the canopy securely in place, even when wind tries to turn it into a sail.
The canopy material is transparent and waterproof, which solves two problems simultaneously. Waterproofing is obvious, but transparency is crucial for maintaining visibility and reducing that closed-in feeling that opaque covers create. You can see the careful seaming along the edges where the material curves around the frame, following the wheelchair’s contours rather than fighting against them. This isn’t just fabric draped over a frame. It’s a precisely engineered shape.
One of the standout features is the rotation and fixation system. The entire canopy structure can pivot and lock into position, which means users can adjust coverage based on wind direction or simply fold it back when the rain stops. This kind of flexibility transforms Mobidry from a single-purpose rain shield into something more versatile. The mounting mechanism appears robust but unobtrusive, integrating with the wheelchair frame without requiring permanent modifications.
The coverage itself is comprehensive. Top, front, sides, and rear protection work together to create an enclosed protective zone. But look closely at how the design handles the transition points. Where the canopy meets the wheelchair frame, there’s a bias-tape finish that contours around the wheels. This detail prevents the material from catching on moving parts while maintaining a weather-tight seal. It’s the kind of thoughtful touch that separates good design from great design.
What really strikes me about this project is how it balances protection with dignity. Accessibility products often veer into two extremes: either aggressively medical-looking or trying too hard to be “inspirational.” Mobidry just looks like well-designed gear. The transparent material and clean lines give it an almost architectural quality, like a tiny modern pavilion that happens to travel with you.
The project documentation shows Odorizi worked through multiple prototypes, refining the form and testing the mechanics. You can see evidence of 3D printing used for component development, suggesting an iterative design process that prioritized function over flash. The technical drawings reveal careful attention to dimensions and clearances, ensuring the canopy provides adequate coverage without restricting arm movement or visibility. There’s a quote in the project materials that really captures why this matters: “Rain affects our independence and autonomy to go places.” That’s the core insight driving this entire design. It’s not about staying dry for comfort’s sake. It’s about maintaining the freedom to move through the world on your own terms, regardless of weather.
From a broader design perspective, Mobidry represents a shift in how we think about accessibility products. Rather than adapting existing solutions poorly or creating specialized equipment that screams “medical device,” it asks what a purpose-built solution could look like when designed from the ground up with wheelchair users in mind. The result respects both the technical requirements and the aesthetic expectations of its users.
Nicolas Odorizi, working from Porto Alegre, Brazil, has created something genuinely useful here. Not revolutionary in the sense of reinventing wheelchairs, but revolutionary in addressing a specific, frustrating gap in the market with intelligence and style. Sometimes the best design isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about solving real problems with grace and precision. Mobidry does exactly that.
For visually impaired people worldwide, identifying everyday items like medications, kitchen containers, switches, or personal belongings can be a daily challenge that affects independence, safety, and quality of life. Most labeling solutions are either expensive, complicated, or simply not designed with accessibility in mind, forcing users to rely on others or expensive assistive technology for basic organization. Finding a simple, affordable way to create tactile labels remains frustratingly difficult.
The Sakshar Braille Embosser concept reimagines labeling as a tactile, intuitive experience that anyone can master quickly without extensive training. By combining a mechanical interface with smart ergonomics and careful attention to usability, it aims to bring independence and dignity to visually impaired users everywhere, making Braille labeling a simple part of daily life. Sakshar means “literate” in Hindi, reflecting the concept’s mission to empower through accessible information.
Sakshar’s compact, tabletop form is both modern and approachable, with a rectangular body, rounded edges, and large, raised buttons for Braille dot selection across the top panel. The device is shown in a range of colors, including orange, green, and blue, making it easy to identify by touch or sight for sighted family members. The clean, minimalist aesthetic fits naturally into kitchens, bathrooms, or workspaces.
The tactile interface is designed specifically for comfort and ease during extended labeling sessions, with button spacing and feedback optimized for users with limited dexterity or hand strength. The embosser’s compact size and stable base make it easy to use at home, school, or work without requiring special furniture or a dedicated workspace. The handle makes it portable enough to carry between rooms or take when traveling.
At the heart of Sakshar is a precise Geneva mechanism that advances vinyl tape automatically after each character is embossed, ensuring consistent spacing and proper alignment for readable Braille throughout longer labels. Users simply press the tactile buttons to select Braille dots representing specific letters or numbers, roll the driver to advance the tape forward, and tear off the finished label when complete.
The device is fully mechanical, requiring no electricity or batteries whatsoever, making it reliable and low-maintenance for users in any environment, location, or economic situation. The mechanical operation means there’s nothing to charge, no software to update, and no risk of digital failure when you need to create labels quickly for important items. This simplicity makes Sakshar accessible to users of all ages and technical comfort levels.
Sakshar is built from durable, easy-to-clean materials designed to withstand daily use in demanding environments, with water-resistant construction for use in kitchens, bathrooms, or medical settings where spills happen regularly. The vinyl tape is strong, self-adhesive, and sticks securely to medicine bottles, pill strips, light switches, storage containers, or any household item that needs identification. The embossed text is concave and convex for enhanced readability and durability over time.
By making Braille labeling accessible, affordable, and intuitive through thoughtful design principles, Sakshar empowers visually impaired users to organize their lives independently without constantly asking for help from family members or caregivers. The concept supports a wide range of ages and abilities, offering tactile feedback and a frustration-free experience that respects users’ autonomy and dignity in managing their personal spaces and belongings throughout daily routines.
There are a lot of walking aids in the market for those who need short-term or medium-term assistance due to some walking-related disability. But of course there’s always room for improvement. Great product designers think about what they can do better for existing products to make it more usable and to improve the quality of life of the users. The Pedestrian is one such product that tries to make using the walking stick more modular and more practical.
Designers: Jonas Krämer and Ayla Warncke
Pedestrian is a 3-in-1 Assistance System for those who need assistance and is actually in between short-term solutions like crutches and long-term assistance systems like wheelchairs. Its goal is to minimize the consequential damages that can sometimes result in using the usual walking aids. They also want to be able to adjust to the needs of the user and when not needed anymore, pass it on to someone who needs it more and adjust to that person’s needs as well.
The walking aid has three modes for the different needs. Mode 1 or strong support is for those that may need an aid as they work through their arthritis. Mode 2 is medium support and serves as forearm crutch. Mode 3 is light support for those who may just need a walking stick. Shifting through these three modes is actually pretty easy and the elements are interchangeable and modular.
The foot or base is made from flexible rubber material and has a textured surface to prevent slipping. It can stand by itself in any mode but can also be compressed. It is also hands-free so you can do other actions and you can make it more secure by using the wrist strap. There is also a mechanism so you can adjust the height so it can be used by users with different heights. This seems to be a pretty useful aid to those that would need assistance walking.
With one in eight individuals globally aged over 60, it’s important to design products that specifically cater to our elderly population. As most senior citizens are healthy, active, and financially stable, they are expected to represent around 20% of the global population by 2050. Explore these guidelines for developing inclusive products, considering diverse user needs, especially those of the elderly.
Simplicity in design is crucial, especially for senior-centric products. Complexity and confusing features should be avoided at all costs. Interfaces should be kept simple to minimize confusion, with easily readable and clear fonts enhancing the overall user experience. Moreover, it’s imperative to provide clear instructions to ensure they can easily comprehend how to use the product correctly.
Gita, a robot, acts as a loyal companion and practical aid, especially for seniors. It eases the burden of carrying heavy items, making grocery trips and errands more manageable. Its ability to provide a seating option offers rest during walks, promoting outdoor mobility and encouraging seniors to stay active. With its user-friendly design and approachable appearance, Gita fosters a sense of independence and companionship for the elderly, supporting their well-being and enhancing their quality of life.
2. Health Monitoring
Advancements in technology offer the essential security and assistance required for senior citizens living independently. As many seniors deal with chronic health conditions that necessitate regular monitoring, product design has advanced. Through wearable devices and smartphone technology, vital parameters can now be tracked, facilitating health management and providing respite to caregivers, thereby ensuring peace of mind.
These three smart devices cater to seniors’ needs, offering medication reminders, comfortable reading, and easy communication. Familia aims to restore dignity and confidence to the elderly with its minimalist design and user-friendly interface. The smart clock dispenses medication with a playful cuckoo bird reminder, the lamp doubles as an illuminated magnifying glass, and the digital mirror serves as a communication tool and family photo frame. While designed for seniors, these objects promote inclusivity and reduce stigma around aging challenges by appealing to users of all ages.
Nobi, an AI-powered ceiling light, enhances elderly lives by monitoring safety, detecting, predicting, and preventing incidents like falls or respiratory issues. Its user-friendly design seamlessly blends into interiors, encouraging the adoption of high-tech care technology. Nobi serves as a vigilant companion, continuously monitoring the environment to identify potential hazards and alert designated caregivers when needed. It can detect respiratory issues, and coughs, and even predict falls before they happen, ensuring timely assistance and intervention. With Nobi, seniors feel safe and supported, leading dignified lives with continuous assistance.
3. Ergonomic Design
Designing products with ergonomic features is crucial to reduce strain, particularly for seniors. For instance, opt for ergonomic seating, like high-backed chairs with lumbar support, ensuring firm and comfortable cushioning to maintain healthy posture. Prioritize ease of use and comfort, as seniors may have reduced strength while avoiding low seating and armrest-less chairs.
This luxurious chaise lounge cleverly conceals a motorized wheelchair, offering comfort and elegance to those with mobility issues. Resilience, with its sleek design and smart materials like Resilient gray and Classy chrome, symbolizes independence and confidence for the elderly. It’s part of a larger mobility system, including the self-driving “Brio” vehicle, seamlessly integrating style and functionality for indoor and outdoor use.
When designing devices that require charging, it’s crucial to prioritize either long battery life or easy recharging to minimize the frequency of charging or battery replacement for seniors. This proves beneficial for seniors experiencing mobility challenges and memory impairment.
5. Added Safety Features
Inclusive product design often incorporates added safety measures, such as non-slip surfaces, automatic shut-off mechanisms, and appropriate emergency buttons, to enhance overall product value. These small yet critical features serve multifunctional roles, particularly benefiting seniors.
6. Durable Materials
When catering to the needs of senior citizens, selecting durable materials that withstand breakage from falls or accidents is crucial. Given that seniors may use products more frequently or with greater force due to age-related changes, opting for durable materials ensures the product will withstand prolonged use and maintain its integrity over time.
The T’ROI chair, developed in collaboration with a retirement home in Basel, Switzerland, addresses the challenge of sitting and standing for the elderly. Featuring extended arms, it provides support for individuals to sit and rise without assistance, promoting independence and dignity. Sturdy materials ensure safety, while its comfort enhances the overall experience for users.
When designing products, prioritize comfort by considering aspects like cushioning, grip, and weight distribution. Ensure ease of use with a manageable weight, ergonomic grip, and slip-resistant design, promoting inclusivity. Proper cushioning enhances the comfort level and overall user experience.
8. Integration of Assistive Technology
When designing specifically for seniors, integrating assistive technologies such as voice control or magnification features enhances usability, making products more accessible to this demographic. Additionally, using large or oversized buttons with high contrast aids in easy visibility and operation, especially because seniors may experience declining vision.
This cutting-edge self-driving wheelchair, equipped with a detachable walker, empowers users to navigate comfortably as they age, addressing the challenges of mobility that come with aging. Cobi seamlessly combines the features of walkers, canes, and electric wheelchairs into one sleek solution, promising greater independence and mobility for seniors while challenging societal perceptions of aging. Its autonomous operation, with instant braking capability, ensures convenient transportation without external assistance. Using laser projection technology, Cobi effortlessly navigates obstacles, while its cushioned seat, low backrest, and retractable footrest provide comfort during transit. Upon reaching their destination, users can detach the mobility device from the walker, enabling exploration of inaccessible areas. The height-adjustable walker, featuring a rubber grip and built-in flashlight, aids navigation in dark environments, while Cobi autonomously returns to its charging station when not in use, ready for the next journey.
This cork planter with assistive functions serves as both a lantern and a health tracker for the elderly. Known as Fanoos, it embodies an intuitive design with a detachable lantern and emergency button for medical needs. Fanoos tracks health status, adjusts lighting preferences, and offers portability for nighttime use, enhancing safety and comfort for users.
9. Inclusive Design
Products should address a wide range of abilities, including those of individuals with disabilities. Inclusive design guarantees accessibility for seniors with varying capabilities, accommodating those with disabilities or impairments.
A walker designed for seniors incorporates a built-in box for their furry companions, addressing social isolation. This concept combines mobility and companionship, featuring a spacious pet carrier atop the walker. With versatile handle movement, a secure brake button, and rechargeable LED lights for safety, this design enhances outdoor walks for seniors and individuals with limited mobility.
Collecting feedback from senior citizens or the specific end users of the product throughout the design process is highly recommended. This ensures that areas for improvement are identified and that the final product adequately meets their specific needs and is comfortable to use.
These factors can guide designers in creating products that are functional, practical, and customized to meet the specific needs and preferences of senior citizens.
Most people assume that it is easy for visually impaired people to learn Braille. But according to those who are learning this system, the learning tools available are not always that intuitive and easy to use. In fact, the more cluttered a device or tool is, the harder it is as it can be overwhelming for those who are trying to learn and navigate it. Fortunately, there are product designers that want to create concepts for better designed tools that will hopefully be turned into actual products.
SMARTIO EDU is a concept for a Braille Education Device that uses minimal tactile noise for both teachers and students that are trying to learn Braille. It is designed to optimize the organization of the information that is at the user’s fingertips. They used soft contours for the surfaces of the device and at the same time used tactile hints to help the user read the information through their fingertips.
The device looks like an instrument and in fact, it is, just not one that produces music. There are buttons on top for the various functions and that can serve as navigational aids. The “subtle cues” is able to tell the user the front and back of the device and also where the key interfaces are located. The device is also designed to work with a companion app that the teacher and student can easily follow and engage with.
The designers would of course have consulted with actual Braille learners to determine if this is something that could work even as it is still a concept. But we don’t see a lot of Braille learning devices in the market so if this does become an actual product, it would be a big help to the community.
Plenty of new automotive technologies and concepts are naturally being made for the benefit of drivers and passengers, but they are supposed to also indirectly help pedestrians as well, at least in theory. With AI at the driver’s wheel, the promise of safer roads is being made, though we seem to still be far from achieving that ideal future. In the meantime, pedestrians crossing urban roads and highways are still at risk, especially the elderly, people with disabilities, and basically anyone who might not be able to cross fast enough before the light turns green again. Current solutions like footbridges are obviously not designed for these people as well, so this concept mobility device tries to take the fight to cars’ own turf by giving pedestrians their very own self-driving vehicle.
Designer: Jiseon Ju, Gawon Min
Roads are, of course, made for vehicles, and sidewalks and footbridges are for pedestrians. That said, there will always be places where these paths meet, appropriately called crosswalks, and people outside of vehicles are always at a disadvantage and at risk. Traffic lights seem to never give pedestrians enough time to cross safely, or make the presumption that everyone can walk at top speed, presuming they can walk at all. These systems are obviously not very accessible and alienate a large portion of the population, and it’s in dire need of a better and smarter solution.
Crosswalk Mobility is a concept for a cubicle on wheels that ferry people from one side of the street to another. It’s basically designed for people with mobility impairments, from the elderly to the injured. Given its enclosed design, it can also be used by parents with toddlers who are prone to suddenly running off while crossing streets. Of course, you can’t have a permanent driver for such a pod, so it naturally uses self-driving technologies to move.
What makes the concept even more interesting is that it works in conjunction with what should be a smart traffic system. In a nutshell, it communicates with traffic lights so that it can extend the red light duration until it safely reaches the other side. Ideally, traffic lights should allocate enough time for people to safely cross, but this system leaves nothing to chance.
The mobility device itself is designed to be powered using solar energy, ensuring its continued operations 24/7. Instead of regular wheels, it proposes using ball-type wheels that can turn more smoothly as needed. The boxy shape has spacious room even for people in wheelchairs and their companions, and the floor-to-ceiling glass panels increase visibility not only for drivers but also for the people inside. It’s definitely an interesting idea that will significantly increase pedestrian safety, but it unfortunately won’t work unless the traffic system on those roads is also upgraded to work with these self-driving boxes.
