Via
Challenge: Through digital tools, how can we aim to make experiences and services more accessible to others?
Solution: A mobile app that informs locals about up-to-date information about current road conditions, building conditions, accessible transit, and a platform to consider several different routes.
Winner of Forge’s 2024 Catalyst Designathon: Accessibility Track
Solution: A mobile app that informs locals about up-to-date information about current road conditions, building conditions, accessible transit, and a platform to consider several different routes.
Winner of Forge’s 2024 Catalyst Designathon: Accessibility Track
Ideation
We first started picking out what track we wanted to pursue out of accessibility, well-Being, and education. We decided to do the accessibility because there are a lot of different ways to be accessible. Some include:
1. Hearing related impairments (there are no subtitles for a show)
2. Visual related impairments (not having enough contrast in text so it is not having legible)
3. Having access to resources that help your current situation
4. Physical related impairments (needing sidewalks to commute but there is no sidewalk, maneuvering with wheelchairs)
- Why did we select this idea? When we were ideating, traveling and commutting was something that was continuous brought up in several different manners. The lack of accessibility in the city was something often mentioned in our interviews, due to several factors such as construction or the neglect of infrastructure.
For the design, we took inspiration from apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, Airbnb, and Uber.
1. Hearing related impairments (there are no subtitles for a show)
2. Visual related impairments (not having enough contrast in text so it is not having legible)
3. Having access to resources that help your current situation
4. Physical related impairments (needing sidewalks to commute but there is no sidewalk, maneuvering with wheelchairs)
- Why did we select this idea? When we were ideating, traveling and commutting was something that was continuous brought up in several different manners. The lack of accessibility in the city was something often mentioned in our interviews, due to several factors such as construction or the neglect of infrastructure.
For the design, we took inspiration from apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, Airbnb, and Uber.
User Research
User Surveys: 40 responses
- All 40 responses reported some use of navigation services (google maps, apple maps, etc.)
- 23.3% Sometimes, 37.2% Often, and 39.9% Always
- 53.5% of users said that they have had to use routes other than sidewalks (hills, roads, alleys) when walking to your destination
- 60.5% of people think that sidewalks are not well-maintained/equipped with ramps
“I realized how inaccessible (some buildings are) when I got my foot injured. There are some buildings at BU that don't even have an elevator.”
In response to these findings we discovered that despite majoritt of people using a navigation service, they do not report suspected common occurances like construction that may affect someone with physical impairments’ travel route.
Click to view full results
- All 40 responses reported some use of navigation services (google maps, apple maps, etc.)
- 23.3% Sometimes, 37.2% Often, and 39.9% Always
- 53.5% of users said that they have had to use routes other than sidewalks (hills, roads, alleys) when walking to your destination
- 60.5% of people think that sidewalks are not well-maintained/equipped with ramps
“I realized how inaccessible (some buildings are) when I got my foot injured. There are some buildings at BU that don't even have an elevator.”
In response to these findings we discovered that despite majoritt of people using a navigation service, they do not report suspected common occurances like construction that may affect someone with physical impairments’ travel route.
Click to view full results
User Flow
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Branding
Mid-Fidelity Wireframes
High-Fidelity Wireframes
Demo Via Yourself