Nineteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

ESSI – Accessible and Intelligent Living Solutions project has been studying accessibility focusing on three different target groups: persons with reduced mobility, persons with visual impairments and persons with hypersensitivity. The project aims to create new concept ideas for the local manufacturing industry to help create new business opportunities. There have been huge breakthroughs in the development of accessibility solutions, but a significant stigma is attached to using disability aids. With co-design we can create affordable and desirable disability aids. The main problem for disabled persons is non-inclusive design which marginalizes a vast amount of people, creating disabling environments. The project has conducted interviews, inclusive workshops for companies and end-users as well as concept tests in collaboration with students and experts. Data received from the actions has been analyzed, for example, using affinity diagrams to understand the needs of the end-users. The main results of accessibility challenges have been transformed into concepts and prototypes. The ESSI project has developed four concepts including a smart creature that works as a door phone, “a lightsaber” that leads a person to a door with light and sound, a smart door that has a reminder function and can adjust the home environment, and grab rails with new exciting features. The project has had an opportunity to conduct a few testing situations. More testing is needed to ensure the best possible results to make sure that numerous end-users’ voices are heard.