Talking Books Go Digital
James L. Mueller, IDSA, James L. Mueller, Inc. Chantilly, VA, USA
Jim Mueller has worked in the field of design for people with disabilities since 1974. He is the IDSA Universal Design Section Chair and one of the authors of the Principles of Universal Design. Jim served as the chair of the jury for the Library of Congress¹s student design competition.
Winners¹ descriptions by IDSA¹s Communications Manager, Jeff Bruening
The following article is reprinted with permission from Innovation (Winter, 2002), the Quarterly of the Industrial Designers Society of America; p: 703-707-6000; f: 703-787-8501; e-mail: idsa@idsa.org; url: www.idsa.org.
Abstract
Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), in cooperation with the Library of Congress¹ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), sponsored a student design competition in the spring of 2002. The Digital Talking-Book Player Competition was designed to gather new ideas for the next generation of Talking Book playback machines. Nearly _ million Americans use Talking Books and playback machines provided by the Library of Congress.
One hundred and forty entries were submitted from 28 industrial design schools. Entries were judged by a jury consisting of product designers, Library of Congress technical staff, and Talking Book users who are blind.
The winners of the competition demonstrated expertise in designing innovative approaches to this unique project, as well as diligence in research by gathering input directly from people with disabilities. There was educational value for all students, who were given the opportunity to participate in the development of a new product and experience in designing for a customer population with whom they have little exposure. The competition was conducted in the context of industrial design studio semester projects.
The objectives of the competition were: To provide the Library of Congress with innovative ideas for the next generation of Talking Books; to expose students to the practice of designing for customers with disabilities.
Student Design Competition - Talking Books Go Digital
One of the most exciting opportunities for industrial designers is participating in the birth of a new product. It¹s an especially exciting and rare opportunity for students. In the spring of 2002, the Library of Congress invited industrial design students to help envision the next generation of playback devices for persons with disabilities. Students from 28 schools responded with over 140 entries.
The Library of Congress¹ National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Physically Handicapped currently serves 730,000 people with significant reading limitations due to blindness, low vision or physical disabilities. The NLS first began distributing books in audio format on long-playing records in the 1930s. These records were replaced in the 1970s by four-track cassette tapes, played on a special machine that gets high marks for its tactile controls and durability, but low scores for appearance. Planning to replace these outdated machines with a new digital playback device, the NLS asked IDSA to develop a student competition that would gather data, concepts and ideas to help library staff make decisions about the final form of the device.
The NLS estimates that converting its equipment and reading materials from magnetic tape to digital format will cost $25 million over a three-year period. NLS Director Kurt Cylke recognized the need for industrial design help in such a massive effort. As a library science student at Pratt Institute, Cylke attended classes near the industrial design department and remembers being impressed by the energetic and creative problem-solving approach taught there. Now, years later, Cylke appreciates the fit between the library¹s need and IDSA¹s resources.
The Competition
Based on many years of experience with talking book users, the NLS staff developed a detailed set of requirements for the new digital device. The device will have to be easy to operate without vision, be protected against damage resulting from spills, and be durable enough to withstand frequent shipping between the library and its customers.
In several meetings with NLS staff, IDSA designed a student competition to balance these requirements with sufficient freedom to take advantage of students¹ creative energies. IDSA also recognized this as a rare opportunity for students to learn firsthand about design for customers with diverse abilities.
Design instructors were tasked with guiding their students through solving a unique design problem: how to research, design and prototype a product that they may never use. Many instructors urged students to gain insight directly from people with disabilities. Because two of the competition jurors are blind, winning an award would require not only strong research and concepts, but also effective three-dimensional presentation skills and text materials in alternative formats.
On the day judging took place, it was immediately apparent that the competition had deeply engaged the students. We jurors were impressed by the depth of the students¹ research and development and by the models that resulted. We also were delighted by the diverse personalities students gave to their designs, reflected in engaging, descriptive and sometimes whimsical names for their products. As we had hoped, the NLS was rewarded with designs that fit their requirements and yet provided them with ideas they had not considered.
The Jury
The jury combined the perspectives of industrial designers with those who would use the product. In addition to me, the jury consisted of IDSA members Brian Matt, IDSA, and Sam Leotta, IDSA; Michael Moodie, the NLS research and development officer involved in setting the standards for the next-generation digital playback device; Thomas Bickford, a senior reviewer for audio books at the NLS Quality Assurance Section and a long-time Talking Book user; and Philip Vlasak, a partner in PCS Games, which creates computer games for the blind. Vlasak, who earned a master¹s of industrial design from Pratt Institute, lost his sight in 1982.
Bickford and Vlasak raised the bar in judging the quality of the entry materials, since their expertise‹and their limitations‹demanded thorough research and strong presentations in tactile and audio media, as well as visual media. The rest of the team was impressed by how the two visually impaired jurors handled, worked with and judged the entries. "They analyzed, contemplated and reacted to concept entries like pros," said Brian Matt. "The faculty and students would be wowed if they saw these jurors interacting with their designs." These jurors also helped the rest of us understand how a visually impaired person would use the playback device.
Success on Many Levels
The talking book competition was successful on many levels for the NLS, the design schools and the student designers. The library reaped more than 140 innovative concepts as it starts toward the design of the next generation of talking books. Design schools had a unique opportunity to offer students a real-life experience in designing for customers with diverse abilities. Students were immersed in unique design challenges in direct consumer research, idea conception and prototyping. The students had to address design issues far beyond the visual appearance of the product, while keeping in mind that aesthetics are as important to people with disabilities as to those without.
The competition was also a significant success for the industrial design field, giving us a unique opportunity to demonstrate the importance of industrial design and the effectiveness of industrial design education. The Washington Post was among the media organizations to cover the competition; an article appeared on the front page of its Style section on June 15, 2002.
Future Opportunities
I¹m grateful for the opportunity to have taken part in the birth of this new product and proud that the Library of Congress sought us out to help. It makes me wonder what other great opportunities might just be waiting for us to apply what we know‹and to learn more‹about design for people of all ages and abilities.
First Place
Dook
Designed by: Lachezar Tsvetanov (University of Brockport)
Faculty advisor: Robert Brainerd
The Dook is a book-like device that plays digital books when open or closed. When the Dook is open, controls for all activities are readily accessible; when closed, essential controls, such as volume and play, remain accessible on the device¹s inside corners.
The Dook¹s design emulates the traditional book form. "I developed the concept of a book, because many people could relate to the fact that a high percentage of talking-book readers are older," explains the Dook¹s designer, Lachezar Tsvetanov. "They would have something in front of them that resembles a book, something they were familiar with before losing their sight."
The Dook has room to store more than one book, which is especially useful for long trips or for studying multiple texts. A power cord with a transformer and spring-loaded retraction allow the Dook to recharge its batteries while playing a book. The spring-loaded power cord solves a particular peeve users had regarding the present C1 playback devices: namely, their unwieldy power cords.
The design makes use of a low center of gravity to prevent it from toppling or being knocked off a table. Because the Dook folds like a traditional book, it is portable and can be carried or put into a backpack or briefcase. And when it is closed, controls are protected from being hit accidentally.
Dook has three major elements: the right and left halves, held together by a hinge in the center. The right half holds the primary controls, such as play and pause, forward and rewind, and eject. The left holds the secondary controls, including a bookmark and voice feedback. The hinge holds important controls such as volume and tone. At the end of the hinge is the power cord/transformer, which releases when pressed down. "The three sections give tactile as well as visual boundaries for the controls, buttons and functions," says Tsvetanov. "One section holds the play card and the other section holds the extra card. Everything is laid out for easy use, even when closed. The volume, play and other controls are easily accessible when closed. This is especially handy when the user is walking or is transporting the device in closed mode."
Tsvetanov asked for help from two disabled potential users during the research phase: one who is visually impaired and another who is physically impaired. "At the first meeting, we reviewed the current playback devices and made a list of pros and cons," the designer says. "From there I went to work making the first prototype, which was critiqued at our second meeting. The reviewers made suggestions that I used making another prototype. The last meeting and final critique led to the final design and model."
Second Place
Boot Talk
Designed by: Anna Mastriano (University of Bridgeport)
Faculty advisor: Roy Watson
Figure 4: "Book Talk"
Credit: Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
The BookTalk is a book-like device that can be played lying flat, standing on its end or, with headphones, in its closed position. When BookTalk is open, all of its controls are readily accessible; when closed, the device¹s small footprint allows easy storage, transport or shipping. The BookTalk¹s surface is molded with a thermoplastic elastomer for a nonslip surface that helps prevent the device from being knocked off a table and increases durability. The device features traditional controls and a retracting power cord. The book is played by using a rounded digital memory card that fits perfectly in the device¹s pop-open slot.
"Through research, I found that only about 10 percent of the visually impaired population can actually read Braille," designer Anna Mastriano says, "so I used raised graphics for people that see by touch. Also at the research phase, we found that users of the current playback device didn¹t like the shape of the buttons‹ bulky and sharp‹or the fact that the power cord had to be folded and stored. Users also complained that the devices are too large to transport easily and that the cassette boxes are difficult for physically impaired people to open. BookTalk addresses all of these problems in book form where the device literally opens and closes just like a book."
Nero
Designed by: Christopher Garnaas and Laura Hackbarth (Milwaukee
Institute of Art and Design)
Faculty advisors: Pascal Malassigné, FIDSA, and Bill O¹Dell
Credit: Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
The Nero features easy-access controls, a small-footprint swivel speaker and a carrying strap for portability. Designed as an ambidextrous tool, the Nero functions comfortably in both hands. It is built on a small plate that helps to protect against spills. Its overall shape is simple, with no sharp edges.
The center dial, which is the most important control, stands out both physically and visually. All other function buttons are distinguished through elastomer, texture, raised detail and shape, depending on the frequency of use. The raised location indicators allow the user to find and differentiate the functions from each other. "All of the features are located in appropriate positions to minimize hand strain," designers Christopher Garnass and Laura Hackbath say. "The user can reach all device components whether sitting down or standing. The page and chapter skip features provide audible location and feedback with every push and are automatically heard without activating the key identifier. "
Third Place
Digital Talking Book
Designed by: Nicki Kuwahara (California State University, Long Beach)
Credit: Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
The Digital Talking Book has all the controls on the device¹s face. The main "play" button is centrally located at the top, and all other controls radiate from this point. Bright colors are used to distinguish each control. In addition to the built-in speaker at the bottom of the unit, the Digital Talking Book also features a built-in microphone and record function, giving the unit more than just one use. The power cord is not attached to the unit, but can be easily plugged into the unique triangular space to power the unit and recharge the batteries. The jacks are purposely placed at the top of the unit, away from the controls, so that the cords will not interfere with the user. The device also features rounded edges and a portable shape that is equally accessible with either hand.
"Some of research into this project included visiting the Braille Institute," designer Nicki Kuwahara says, "and talking with the people who repair the current talking books. Through research, I found that color contrast is important, because most of the visually impaired are not completely blind and can still discern bright colors."
D1
Designed by: Emilie Williams (North Carolina State University)
Faculty advisor: Percy Hooper, IDSA
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
The D1 features accessible controls on its face, a swivel speaker for directional control and a retractable handle that can be used to carry the device or as a stand. The light gray color scheme with brightly colored controls make the D1 appear to be more than a digital playback device. "The D1 simply looks like some sort of audio playback device," designer Emilie Williams says, "not a device for the visually or physically impaired. Respondents to a survey taken during the modeling phase thought the device was a CD or an MP3 player. The D1 would thus help eliminate any stigma associated with using such a device."
Placement of the controls is based on a hierarchy of use, with the main buttons‹those that operate critical functions‹in a row at the bottom of the unit¹s face and the least used buttons at the top of either the right or left side, separating the functions into three groups. The design of the D1 also takes into account the needs of people who are (the) physically handicapped by having each function either indented or recessed for use by a mouth stick. The key and jack are treated with simple, intuitive tactile markers.
Insight
Designed by Brian Potempa and Michael Matheau Potempa
(Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design)
Faculty advisor: Pascal Malassigné, FIDSA, and
Bill O¹Dell.
The Insight has all of the control functions on its face and a retractable cord on its base. The housing also doubles as a foot. Injection-molded Santoprene on the sides protects the Insight and the user. Portability is enhanced with a built-in handle and a clip-on shoulder strap, which allows users to listen to headphones while walking. The main control buttons are located at the bottom of the unit¹s face, secondary buttons run along both right and left side of the unit, and tertiary buttons, such as volume control, are set in the middle of the face. The digital card release button is carefully designed and placed so that release will be between the four fingers and thumb.
"Insight ensures the least amount of fatigue for wrist, hand and fingers," designers Brian and Michael Matheau Potempa say. "This is important for physically handicapped users. The device is large enough not to be lost at home, yet small enough to fit on a night stand next to the bed. Insight is a flexible device that can be used while sitting down with the speaker or while walking with the shoulder strap and headphones."
For more information contact James L. Mueller at jlminc@earthlink.net.
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Citation: Mueller, James L (2003). Talking Books Go Digital. © Industrial Designers Society of America . Retrieved (Enter Date), from Universal Design Education Online web site : http://www.udeducation.org/teach/shortevents/competitions/mueller.asp
