In-Hospital Navigation
In-Hospital Navigation
Part 1 of 3 Projects
Created by: Elyssa Chung
3 STEPS
Exercise
This solution doesn't rely on wifi nor smart devices in order to navigate through a hospital.
This is the second prong to my proposed solution where users can rely on the help of an app and phone vibrations in order to navigate their way through a hospital
This solution doesn't rely on wifi nor smart devices in order to navigate through a hospital.
Before reading on :
This project is the first half of what will later be a synthesis project that I will be working on later in the year. That said, the theme for this semester's set of projects focuses on the topics of inclusion and diversity. Additionally, the following projects were completed during quarantine and lockdown. Thus, while classes were held online, the entire design process was also held online. So to a certain extent, due to these circumstances, I guess you could say that, unlike my other projects, this was the first time in a while that I’ve tackled a design problem with a speculative solution by myself.
With this first project, the overall aim was to design a solution for an issue that inhibits inclusion in our present-day society. The issue that I've identified was the fact that based on previous experiences with hospitals in downtown Toronto, oftentimes, I found them difficult to navigate if needing to get anywhere in the building. Signs were often placed at awkward segments between departments and it also doesn't help that maps rarely helped either. Due to this issue, I then realized that in-hospital navigation predominantly relies on sight. Thus, it then got me wondering how much more difficult this whole process would be if I had a visual impairment.
SUMMARY
Duration: Feb 2- Feb 23
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Team: Just me
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Role(s) played:
- Ux researcher, - Interaction designer, - Product designer, - Project manager
During this time, the quarantine is still going on. That said, the thing that I’m most surprised about is that I was able to do most of my research off of Youtube videos rather than looking in forums. Because when people record videos, often, because they’re explaining a certain facet of their experience with life, technology etc., I’ve found that Youtube can stand as a pretty effective stand-in for interviews. That said, this isn’t to say that using videos as research can ever replace actual interviews and testing. If anything, this experience has further underlined the necessity and importance that testing has. Reason for me saying this is because I find this necessity especially applies since I would still like to test the actual experience/ effectiveness users would have with my app. Additionally, I would also like to know the differences in signage between the iconography meant to be felt by the hands versus that by feet/ canes.
CONCLUSION
RESEARCH
Of course, no good project comes without facing some roadblocks. So one of my major challenges was that I actually don’t have any visual impairments and I don’t know what it’s like to be blind or have low vision. Due to this, the only answer then was to do a lot of research. Here are some of the topics I touched on and the various sources used for research:
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Watched a lot of youtube videos about what navigation would be like with a cane and seeing eye dog (thank you Molly Burke)
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Watched more videos about the experience of being blind
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Did more research on forums to techniques that people would use when navigating regarding hand placement, uses of other senses etc.
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Took a look at how people use tenji tiles and various design variations and how they’re used
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Took a look at design standards for braille signage and tenji tiles
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Took a look at various technologies that people with visual impairments use and how they’re used.
To remedy the issue, I decided to take a two-pronged solution. For those without access to wifi, I decided to use strips with raised textures (much like what you would find with Tenji tiles). When talking about the textures on the strips I’m referring to the braille iconography that will be felt by the hands or cane. For the iconography, they will be used to let people be aware of turns, various amenities (elevator, new hall, various room numbers etc.).
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Also, because we do have tech and there are people with visual impairments who use smartphones, a navigation app was also designed. For the app specifically, it was designed so that being able to access its various options would be easy. Why this access is so easy is because, with each various option, they were designed to be linked to a single gesture so users wouldn’t have to constantly rely on-screen reading apps.
DESCRIPTION
To remedy the issue, I decided to take a two-pronged solution. For those without access to wifi, I decided to use strips with raised textures (much like what you would find with Tenji tiles). When talking about the textures on the strips I’m referring to the braille iconography that will be felt by the hands or cane. For the iconography, they will be used to let people be aware of turns, various amenities (elevator, new hall, various room numbers etc.).
​
Also, because we do have tech and there are people with visual impairments who use smartphones, a navigation app was also designed. For the app specifically, it was designed so that being able to access its various options would be easy. Why this access is so easy is because, with each various option, they were designed to be linked to a single gesture so users wouldn’t have to constantly rely on-screen reading apps.
REVIEW
WHAT WORKED WHAT DIDN'T WORK
Hospitals have more than one wing. Due to this, I was having fun considering where and how multiple paths would look like if placed in the hospital.
With a cane, I want to test how effective it would be to tell what each of the iconographic signs are with the strips on the floor.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TEST
I considered maybe placing some strips in the middle of the hall, though I then realized that there would be a possibility that the textured bumps would interrupt with wheelchairs and gurneys, especially in high traffic areas or if it’s in the path from any wing to the emergency room.
That said, there was a realization that, because people would be feeling out the icons on the floor, they should be large enough to be differentiable. Thus braille iconography for strips along the handrail won’t work if on the floor and being felt through a cane or foot with a shoe.
