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CLEAR PATH
Creating Neurodiverse Navig tion
Context
Over the semester, my team collaborated with the Neurodiversity Coalition at Indiana University in Bloomington to create an improved and more accessible navigation system for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and learning disabilities. Individuals with autism need a reliable and accessible way to navigate since traditional navigation apps fail to meet their unique needs. Our team utilized Augmented Reality technology to design a more user-friendly navigation experience that encourages self-sufficiency.
Duration
Mar 2023 - Apr 2023
6 weeks
My Role
Research
Identifying Pain Points
Conceptualizing
Visual Design
Video Filming
Team
Falak Khurmi
Shreya Kohli
Prangan Kashyap
Manvita Boyini
TL;DR
Individuals with Autism often struggle to comprehend conventional mapping applications, such as Google Maps, because they find 2D maps difficult to grasp. We collaborated with the Neurodiversity Coalition at Indiana University to design an AR-driven navigation app that promotes self-reliance, confidence and safety.
Turn on the audio !
Before I show you how we got here,
it is important to understand why we created ClearPath
how do you generally navigate in a city?
using google maps, waze?
while google maps have become such a normal thing for us,
what if I told you, there are several individuals who find it extremely difficult to use?
several individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
need assistance in navigation because ...
Difficulty understanding spatial concepts
2D maps are abstract
and confusing
Unpredictable situations can cause anxiety
we spoke to several ASD individuals and experts to understand their experience of commuting and this is what they said...
I struggle to understand traffic signals as they are mostly abstract symbols and are frequently overlapped by advertisements, in the background.
I have terrible difficulty making sense of direction, speed and time and how close or far away something is.
Before I had a service dog, I didn’t even cross the street independently and I was 24 years old.
OPPORTUNITY
Autistic people need a reliable and accessible way to navigate as traditional navigation applications fail to accommodate their special needs hampering their mobility and independence.
GOALS
Some values we want our concepts to have
Self-Sufficiency
Independence is a crucial value for autistic people as it allows them to live a self-determined life, make their own choices, and pursue their interests without being overly reliant on others.
It empowers them to develop their skills, gain confidence, and find their place in the world.
Consistency
Consistency and routines are important values for autistic people as they provide a sense of structure, predictability, and stability in their lives.
They can help reduce anxiety, increase comfort levels, and improve overall functioning and well-being.
MARKET ANALYSIS
We looked at several assistive technologies that support individuals with autism by creating immersive experiences
Brain Power is a company that has developed an AR platform called Empowered Brain that is designed to help individuals with autism improve their social skills and independence.
Empowered Brain is delivered through a pair of smart glasses that use augmented reality technology to provide real-time feedback and support.
Floreo is a VR platform that provides therapy for individuals with autism through immersive experiences. The platform has various modules that aim to improve social communication, daily living, and vocational skills.
iBRAINSTORM
Storyboarding several concepts
Concept 1: Gamifying real-life scenarios
Jack is scared to travel alone for the first time.
Jack plays a video game to get familiar with his surroundings.
Jack understands the area better and feels comfortable navigating himself.
Why?
Simulates daily life scenario that they might encounter. They get to play out scenarios of cooking, doing laundry or shopping for groceries.
In a video game situation, the user is allowed to make errors and learn tasks through repetition.
Feedback
The game should be used as a supplement to traditional learning methods, rather than a replacement, so that users can apply the skills they learn to real-life situations.
Concept 2: AR Assistance
Jack walks through the city using the standard map application on his mobile. He can’t relate the abstract map to his surroundings.
Jack opens the AR feature which shows him the directions with arrows.
Jack is able to cross roads safely using the application.
Why?
Providing small chunks of information rather than dealing with the entire task all at once can prevent overstimulation.
Audio and visual cues can help users better understand the navigation instructions.
Feedback
Sensory overload in busy or crowded environments should be considered.
Users should have the ability to adjust settings or turn off certain features as needed.
Concept 3: Journalling the journey
Jack walks through the city and sees a cute dog cafe.
Jack records that detail into the mobile application.
When Jack goes to the same place in the future, he refers to his record which helps him remember and navigate through the area.
Why?
The user gets to journal memorable moments from their daily commute routes. These moments can be either good and bad and would help the user better familiarize themselves with the route.
If they encounter a bad situation they can avoid this route and instead find a better alternative.
Feedback
This acts as a tool to track user experiences and emotions in a meaningful way. Users might find the app helpful in recalling paths or routes they have taken, especially in unfamiliar environments, which can help to reduce anxiety or stress.
FINAL CONCEPTS
Ultimately, we decided to go ahead with AR technology as it can provide individuals with autism with a visual and interactive way to explore and navigate the world around them, which can help to improve their spatial awareness and orientation skills.
AR Assistance
Providing autistic users with an AR navigation tool boosts their confidence and independence by offering visual and audio cues, ensuring their safety, and enabling them to reach their destination with ease.
Moment Capturing
Capturing moments not only helps autistic users become more familiar with their route, but also enables them to recall and learn the route more easily by providing an identifying element.
Routine Formation
Scheduling allows autistic users to plan their day effectively and establish routines that create a sense of structure and stability, reducing their stress and anxiety.
RESEARCH
Visual Design Study
Individuals with autism often experience sensory sensitivities, including color sensitivity that can trigger anxiety or discomfort. To accommodate this, we have ensured that our app's text has a color contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1.
Research conducted by GA Architects suggests that using soft, calm, and dark colors in interior design can help individuals with autism to focus and concentrate for longer periods.
Clarity
Using clear and easily understandable visuals to communicate information.
Personalized
Allowing users to customize the app to fit their individual needs and preferences.
Consistency
Using consistent visual design elements throughout the app.
Feedback
Providing visual feedback to confirm user actions and help users stay on track.
Simplicity
Creating a simple and intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate.
Contrast
Using contrasting colors to differentiate between different elements on the screen.
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPES
Personalization
During onboarding, the users can toggle sensory filters as per their needs and fill out their peers’ information for location sharing. The design is intentionally minimal so as to not overstimulate the user.
Forming Routines
Users can schedule their days that allow users to plan their journeys in advance, helping with predictability. Furthermore, the app provides users with key information relevant to their specific trip, based on their preferred date and time. By leveraging this information, users can make more informed decisions about their travels.
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AR Assisted Navigation
The app enables users to search for their desired location and gives them an option to choose their route based on the footfall of the area. They can also see the saved trip notes which gives them comfort taking that route. During navigation, the app analyzes the surroundings and provides augmented reality feedback to guide users throughout their journey.
AR Assisted Navigation
The app enables users to search for their desired location and gives them an option to choose their route based on the footfall of the area. They can also see the saved trip notes which gives them comfort taking that route. During navigation, the app analyzes the surroundings and provides augmented reality feedback to guide users throughout their journey.
Journaling for Familiarisation
The app enables users to create detailed trip notes during their journeys. These notes can take the form of text, images, or audio recordings, and serve as visual reminders of places the user has visited. By reviewing their trip notes, users can easily recall important details and landmarks from their previous journeys when traveling along the same route in the future.
USER TESTING
We made two major additions to our design to accommodate the user testing results
Alternate Routes
We recognized the importance of providing users with multiple options for reaching their destination and thus incorporated a feature that enables them to access alternative routes.
Toggle Between Navigation Views
We added an alternate view option that aims to eliminate distractions by minimizing the details of the surrounding buildings by defocusing them using monotone overlays, which can help the user focus on the task at hand.
IMPACT
What our users have to say...
“You’re telling me, this app right here can like tell when there’s no cars and tell you to go? This is like something out of Harry Potter! Wow this is cool! ”
Next Steps
Further User Testing Required
As each individual on the spectrum has their own unique needs, further user testings will have to be conducted to validate the functionality of the app.
Guided Audio
For scenarios where using the camera viewfinder for AR navigation is unsafe, guided audio navigation with built-in environmental analysis technology can be used as a safer alternative.
Additional Personalization Features
Filters can be expanded to be more inclusive of the disabilities that individuals on the autism spectrum are likely to be diagnosed with.
What I learned
One size does not fit all
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly diverse and complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects individuals in different ways. As such, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting people with ASD, and personalized interventions and accommodations are necessary to address their specific needs and challenges.
Accessibility is an evolving process
A technological solution can make a huge impact on making them independent, as people are more likely to have access to a mobile phone than have the resources to get a service dog or other aids.
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