File this under “I’m floored.” I love simple design solutions like the next person, and these Tactile Cards for the Blind have won me over. Over at the Samsung Design Membership, designers Rhea Jeong, YoungSoo Hong, Sun Min Lee and Sae Hee Lee (students at Hongik University, Ewha Women’s University, and Hanyan University, respectively) have added a lot of value to individuals who are visually impaired.
The Hello Haptic set of flash cards works with Braille text and other tactile elements from environments the student might not otherwise have access to. The urge to learn is there! But as a blind person who must learn primarily through touch, the need is not fulfilled as often as it is with a person who can see.
Seeing this example made me think about how these can be used in other ways. For instance, getting a better sense of how touch based interactions in future screen displays should feel as well as behave. Immersion, one of the leading developers of haptic technology, continues to advance the field of touch enabled displays. As more of these attributes become a part of the experience, simple tools like these cards can give designers a way to feel things out.
It doesn’t have to stop there. Audio cards and visual cards are all interesting concepts too. Throw in smell and we pretty much have all the human senses on flash cards!
More photos:
Haptic Flash Cards for the Blind [Yanko Design]