PrintPal

PrintPal

Capstone Project
A device that utilizes tactile and sensory information to connect blind individuals with loved ones.
IN COLLABORATION WITH
MAJOR
Industrial Design
FACULTY
Joe Costello
As increasingly stringent measures to keep people apart were put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus, mental health experts warned that losing everyday social connections comes with psychological costs. The visually-impaired are two times more likely to develop a mental health condition in their lifetime than a non-disabled person. There are many digital technologies aimed at helping blind individuals interact with the world around them. However, these technologies lack the personal connections that are found in tactile communication such as letters. Maintaining everyday social connections is critical for mental wellbeing and physical health, and digital technology is not an effective substitute. We wanted to create a system that uses tactile notes, images, and expressions in order to provide the blind and their loved ones with intimate, personal connections when alone or in quarantine.
DESIGNER(S)
MAJOR
Industrial Design
FACULTY
Joe Costello
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION OF DESIGN