tōku

INCLUSIVE PRODUCT

HALF SEMESTER PROJECT — SPRING 2021

PROBLEM

How do deaf/hard of hearing individuals communicate to individuals with clear hearing?

EXISTING PRODUCTS

Hearing Aids

Cochlear Implant (via: Cleveland Clinic)

Smartphones

EXPLORATION SKETCHES

User Interview

Yuliette had speech therapy and knows sign language since she was a kid but is still afraid that people will judge her about how she sounds, as she’s an outgoing person.

-Yuliette Parks (Hard of hearing)

Ergonomics, Functionality, Comfortability

Rough User Interface

Final Sketches

In the final sketching phase, I realized this product (Tōku) needed to be distinguishable from smartphones. So, I steered away from a rectangular form factor as is with smartphones and decided to go with a much more playful, yet functional aesthetic. Furthermore, I did not want users to think, “Is this a phone?”.

Final Product Renders

Final User Interface

Exploded View

Main Features

  • Audio Calibration (personalized enhanced sound, based on the user’s listening frequency)

  • Speaker/ 4 array Microphones (allows for a natural computer sound, while communicating in short or long range)

  • Portable/ Lightweight/ sturdy (can be thrown on any rough surface, purse, and pocket) (the screen is also protected by an extruded surface on the main body)

  • Whisper Mode (allows the user to turn the computer voice into whisper mode for quiet public spaces, like a library or classroom)

Memorable Quote

“Being an outgoing person, I have wanted to say something to some people in public places but I couldn’t in fear of being judged.”
— Yuliette Parks

Brief Project Description

Tōku is not competing with the products that already exist for the deaf/ hard of hearing community. They are already technologically advanced as science and technology move forward. It is merely giving another option for this community for more comfortable/ intuitive communication without feeling left out. Not to mention it is much more affordable than the existing products, which was another issue in the product market for the deaf/ hard of hearing.
One of the product’s main features is that the user can take out the secondary body (where microphones and speakers are located) easily, as it is attached magnetically. This allows the user to take a smaller pebble without worrying about carrying the main body (if they know they will not be communicating with anyone). So for example, if the user is working out, the smaller pebble which is connected to the user’s phone allows for haptic feedback, custom calibrated sound, or light on the back of the pebble to tell the user that they are receiving a phone call.

This is because Yuliette said, she always misses her phone calls as she is not able to hear very well.

Yuliette also said she is always frustrated with phone calls and there are even some services that allow facetime ASL to English communication.

So this was another aspect I wanted to solve and focus on, talking on the phone. When a phone call is received the device will automatically go into transcript mode, allowing the user to type as the device speaks straight through the phone (not out in the environment) as the user receives a live transcript on the screen.

This same idea/technology was later used by Google in their software as well.