Designing a positive white cane

Abstract

Context & case
You are reading the report for a master’s graduation project conducted at Delft University of Technology. This project is chaired by prof. dr. ir. Pieter Desmet and coached by dr. Rebecca Price. The project was initiated by Margot Scheltema, an influential Dutch commissioner with multiple companies. She initiated this project because she is suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive eye disease, and will soon have to walk using a white guiding cane. However, she finds this cane too stigmatising and is looking for a more positive white cane.

Research
In order to get insights into possible design directions for a positive white cane, extensive user research was conducted. This research was conducted in collaboration with Visio, an institution that helps the visually impaired that is based in Den Haag. With help from Visio, three auto-ethnographic studies were conducted, as well as one generative session and three observation studies. These observation studies were conducted by means of participant observation and gave insight into how cane walkers are trained, how the visually impaired interact with technology and how visually impaired people can be profoundly misunderstood by their environments. Independently, two observations of Margot Scheltema were conducted that gave insights into how the visually impaired are still able to live a rich life. Also, one generative session was conducted and two events were visited that include a trade fair and the Dutch retina day.
The research shows that the visually impaired face multiple problems on a daily basis. These problems include increased visibility due to (the effects of) visual impairment, loss of agency, difficulty communicating (the effects of) visual impairment and experiencing a negative self-image. Some attitudes towards assistive devices were also observed, and these are connecting the image of the assistive device to self-image, facing the reality of the situation, not letting the opinions of bystanders affect you and being concerned about the social effects of using specific assistive products. From these insights, four personas were created that can be places in certain situations in a journey map. These personas, combined with an extensive literature study and the journey map served as a basis to develop design proposals upon.

Design proposal
After some failed attempts to reaching a meaningful design proposal, a tool was created that allows concepts to be developed while keeping research front and center. The final concept consists of a modular cane that used contemporary technology to give the visually impaired an edge in developing their unique skills and add their insights to the world. It leverages positive aspects about being visually impaired and amplifies them, making them actionable. Three embodiments of this modular, open-ended design were developed and presented in scenarios. The aesthetics of the cane were designed in such a way that it shows the technological advances it makes use of, while still having a very striking and unique appearance. Combining the added benefits with this unique identity brings together multiple strategies that serve the purpose of de-stigmatising assistive products that were found in literature research.

Validation
The concept was validated using a stigmaticity test and a generative session at Visio using visually impaired participants. The session at Visio gave insights into what kind of data the visually impaired imagined to be generating, with whom they would want to share that and which degree of privacy they would prefer to be associated with which kind of data. The stigmaticity tests shed some light into the effect of the aesthetics of the positive white cane. In these tests, the dyadic distance between participants and a research confederate were measured and the amount of looks the research confederate received were recorded. It was found that, in the female research confederate, dyadic distance was significantly closer when wielding the positive white cane. This means that people were more comfortable getting closer to her than when she was wielding the current white cane. This was also the cane with the male research confederate, but less significantly so.

Conclusion
The results of this design project suggest that a positive white cane be made that combines advances in technology and a unique aesthetic that not only de-stigmatised the white cane but also brings meaningful new features to the visually impaired. These new features will allow them to become more connected, learn faster and contribute to society in a more direct manner. The data generated by this positive white cane would also serve researchers in their attempts to shape the world and make it more inclusive for everybody. Next steps that can be taken include the making of functional prototypes, holding joint workshops with both professionals working in the field of visual impairment, visually impaired users and government workers to explore the possibilities the positive white cane has to offer and many others. This project will exhibit at the Design United exhibition at Dutch Design week and I hope to make many connections there that could potentially allow me to develop this project further.