ECHO

Tactile Audio Control Device

Designed for people with visual impairments in mind, ECHO allows for easy audio control without the need to look at the device.

10 Weeks, 2024

RESEARCH

Over 3.4 million Americans aged 40 years and older are blind or visually impaired, which is expected to double by 2030.

CDC Vision and Eye Health

Only 15% are completely blind.

MedicalNewsToday

Visual impairments develop differently for everybody.

Born Fully Blind

Newly VIB

Fully Sighted

Has a severe lack of dedicated products, but experience and access to experience allows them to be well adapted.

Required to adapt to a new worldview with little knowledge and experience.

People who newly develop visual impairments struggle
to accustom themselves to their new perspectives.

Edward "Ed" Wallace
Age: 75

Ed is a retired mechanic who has developed partial blindness due to age related macular degeneration.

While he can still see basic shapes and colors, modern devices have quickly become too complicated to quickly navigate for him.

Ed loves to stay engaged through podcasts and audio books, and reminisces of the simpler, more tactile devices he experienced when he was young.

As time goes on, audio devices have reduced tactile navigation features, often relying on displays or purely visual indicators.

FUNCTIONAL GOALS

Portable

Comfortable to carry around while maintaining easy use.

Tactile

Satisfying to the touch and provides tactile feedback.

Universal

Integrates itself to a wide range of users and systems.

DESIGN GOALS

Repairable

Design for disassembly fosters a sustainable cycle.

Nostalgic

Provides a sense of comfort and familiarity.

Accessible

Simple UI and functions for a low learning curve.

User Testing

Users were tasked to identify buttons and their functions without looking at the device to determine tactile navigation features and button layout.