5. Amelie Visual guidance
2020
Product design lead - Amelie is a smart navigation tool for the visually impaired designed to improve their daily life by guiding them and supporting them when using public transport.
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The visually impaired rely heavily on public transport for their independence but using it can be challenging. It is difficult to know which bus to get on, where to sit and when to get off. What is a simple journey for most of us it is a challenging experience for the visually impaired.
Working closely with Cam Sight – a Cambridge based charity which supports people with sight loss - Amelie was designed using input from intended users. Its design and function reflect my understanding of their daily lives and the challenges they face when using public transportation, resulting in an affordable (unlike most existing assistive products) and easy to use device.
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Amelie is a friendly assistant who ‘sees’ for the users allowing them to relax and enjoy their journey. The users set the destination by directly instructing or asking Amelie. Amelie then provides audio navigation to locate the appropriate bus stop and helps the users identify the correct bus as it approaches the stop. Once in the bus the users are guided to a vacant seat.
During the journey Amelie discreetly provides information about the journey but also enriches the experience by describing the current scene, like informing the user about the people the user is sitting with. Once the bus has arrived at the desired destination, Amelie lets the users know they’ve reached their destination.
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“We have been delighted to work with Cambridge Consultants on the Amelie project. Navigating public transport can be a significant challenge for people living with low vision and blindness, and Amelie could be a real help to our members in Cambridgeshire and beyond.” Flóra Raffai, Chief Executive, Cam Sight
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