VIPstick

Part 1: Drawing key lessons

Technically simple yet elegant solution that flips the logic of typical approaches to helping visually impaired individuals (VII). Most approaches try to make VII as ‘normal’ as possible, whereas non-VII usually actually want to help VII—these approaches tend to use some sort of technological augmentation which can often add more points of failure. This approach skirts all these problems and gets others to acknowledge VIIs need assistance.

Areas for improvement:

The current numbers are black on white, and the font selection has not been tested for readability. The students should consider higher contrast, and retro-reflective paint for night time use, and weather resistant materials.

Part 2: Exploring Possibilities

• Consider street signs standards, and what minimum dimensions are required.

• Hazard signs that workers at street side construction sites have to wear?