Transensing: Helping The Visually Impaired Socialize

Christina Biliouri, a London-based product designer, has designed a glassware collection that uses embedded electronic gadgetry to help the visually impaired interact on social occasions. Transensing, as the project is called, consists of a series of objects that explore touch and sound to enable blind people to socialize.

Christina speaks about her novel project:

Transensing intends to raise awareness by introducing objects which provoke and invite people to immerse themselves in a new experience where touch and sound are celebrated. The series of glassware, designed with Dick G. as a lead user, work as communication tools on various levels within social occasions. Above all, it is a demonstration of how design can become a tool to tackle social exclusion.

The series of objects are all to be used in social occasions and they work on different levels.

“Where am I?” is a set of objects designed to be used by others in order to help the visually impaired understand where you are standing in a conversation. Simply by fiddling with your drink, the glass works as sound signifier.

“In between bubbles” can provide visually impaired people with the ability to keep in touch with their partner in a social occasion. By placing the glass on your ear you can listen to the other person’s drink.

“The Sound of Memories”
What if you could capture the sounds of a whole night simply by drinking? This glass works as a time capsule; by turning it upside down you can listen and share the memories with friends.

Transensing

[via Design Boom]