PathMate
Wearable obstacle-detection for the visually impaired.Class: Objects and Spaces
Year: 2024
Professor: Brooke M. Davis
Tools used: Rhino 3D, Adobe Illustrator, Miro.
PathMate is a conceptual wearable assistive device designed to explore how sensor-based technology could improve mobility, spatial awareness, and personal safety for people with visual impairments. Developed during a one-month Objects and Spaces studio project, the assignment challenged students to design a wearable object that addressed personal safety while incorporating LED indicators or sensory switches to communicate the device's actions to others.
The project proposes a modular wearable system consisting of a wrist-mounted device and a companion hat. Together, these components use distance sensors to detect nearby obstacles and communicate environmental information through layered sensory feedback, including audio alerts, vibration, and visual LED indicators. Rather than relying on a single form of communication, PathMate explores how multiple feedback systems can work together to provide users with more intuitive information about their surroundings while also signaling the device's activity to people nearby.
The concept originated from an initial idea for a multifunctional safety watch. During the research phase, I observed a low-hanging tree branch that could easily become a hazard for someone with limited vision, despite being undetectable by traditional mobility aids focused primarily on ground-level obstacles. This observation shifted the direction of the project toward accessibility and inspired the development of a wearable system capable of detecting obstacles at different heights.
Throughout the design process, I researched existing assistive technologies, analyzed user needs, and iterated through numerous concept sketches before refining the final proposal. Using Rhino 3D, I developed digital models to study proportions, ergonomics, and the relationship between the wrist-mounted interface and the head-mounted sensor system. Particular attention was given to creating an interface that could be operated through touch, incorporating physical sliders, tactile controls, and braille-labeled switches to improve accessibility without requiring visual interaction.
To evaluate the physical design, I produced a full-scale 3D-printed prototype that allowed me to test the form factor, comfort, interaction points, and overall ergonomics of the device. Although the prototype does not contain functioning electronics, sensors, or embedded systems, it serves as a proof of concept for the physical interface and demonstrates how the proposed interactions could be integrated into a wearable product.
PathMate represents an exploration of inclusive and human-centered design, demonstrating how industrial design, digital modeling, and rapid prototyping can be used to investigate accessibility challenges. The project emphasizes designing beyond functionality by considering usability, communication, and the everyday experiences of users, while proposing how emerging sensing technologies could support safer and more independent navigation.
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