Week 3: Related Products

In order to get me thinking about more unusual ideas for my project I have started to look at existing products which are in some way related to the field I am researching. One of the most directly related is an AAC concept which attempts to give those with speech impairments a range of tones of voice with which to speak. Created by designer Graeme Pullin “17 ways to say yes” is a collection of six chairs, each of which offers the user a limited number of thing to say (yes, no, I don’t know etc.) but offers a multitude of tones of voice in which to say them. One of the most interesting aspects of this project is that one of the chairs allows the user to label the various tones for themselves, acknowledging that tone of voice is often subjective and allowing the user more room to express themselves (this is also true of the tone of instruments).

In addition although it may not seem directly related phoropters also aim to provide the user with a very personalised service. Phoropters are devices used by Opticians to find the exact prescription of glasses for their patients. The user looks through the phoropter at an eye chart placed a certain distance from them and the Optician switches the lenses they are looking through, all the while asking them to compare the different lenses to fid which one suits them best. Compared to the speaking chairs this is a much more scientific and precise approach to finding a user’s specific requirements but one which has still proven to be very effective and finding exact prescriptions. Whether or not this kind of approach will be conducive to my project remains to be said but only through prototyping can I know for certain.