Design Critiques

What makes some designs good and others bad? Why do some designs work while others don’t? Posts in this category offer thoughtful design critiques of modern digital interfaces, with commentary inspired by Don Norman’s “The Design of Everyday Things.”

Assistive Technology: XRAI Glass (App & Glasses)

XRAI Glass is a new product that provides an app and eyewear that can be connected to get subtitles in real time. This assistive technology has transformed how people with disabilities like deafness and hard of hearing navigate the world around them. The founders, Dan Scarfe and Mitchell Feldman created this product to help their …

Assistive Technology: XRAI Glass (App & Glasses) Read More »

Assistive Technology: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

The Amazon Kindle is the best selling e-reader on the market since its launch in 2007, with more than 30 million active Kindle users in the U.S. alone. Though not specifically designed for people with disabilities, it offers a variety of assistive features for users of all skill levels and abilities.

Amazon Alexa

Assistive Technology: Amazon Alexa Voice AI

Amazon’s AI product, Alexa, offers multiple ways to help complete daily tasks. However, as a virtual assistant, Alexa is more than just a convenient tool that helps check things off your to-do list. It opens up many new opportunities and capabilities for wider audiences—making it a great example of an accessible and inclusive product.

Assistive Technology : TD i-Series (Tobii Dynavox)

INTRODUCTIONThe TD Pilot by Tobii Dynavox is one of the multiple ACC (Augmentative Alternative Communication) devices featured in their range of products. TD Pilot specifically is an eye-controlled device for iPad, designed to empower people with conditions such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, or select ALS instances to communicate through their apps of choice …

Assistive Technology : TD i-Series (Tobii Dynavox) Read More »

Image depicting the use of assistive touch on Apple watch

Assistive Technology: Apple Watch

The Apple watch is a wearable technology marvel that not only is a timepiece but a companion, a personal trainer, a communication hub, all wrapped around the wrist. It offers a wealth of features like a built-in screen reader, the ability to enable grayscale, adjust text size, increase contrast of elements on the screen, and many more that empower individuals of all abilities.

A hand holds and iPhone 15 which displays the Precision Finding feature. The screen is green with a white arrow pointing straight ahead.

Assistive Technology: Precision Finding on Apple’s iPhone 15

Precision Finding is a new feature on the iPhone 15 that uses ultra-wideband technology to allow users to guide themselves to other users who share their location. Although the application is new in terms of Apple’s assistive technology features, and it could be especially useful for people with varying visual, hearing, and cognitive related disabilities. …

Assistive Technology: Precision Finding on Apple’s iPhone 15 Read More »

Assistive Technology: Be My Eyes (Mobile App)

Be My Eye is a mobile app designed to assist people with visual impairments in their daily lives. The concept of this app is to connect people who have visual disabilities with sighted volunteers via video calls, allowing the volunteers to provide visual assistance in real time.

Assistive Technology: Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts

Dyslexia-friendly fonts are typographies that can increase the legibility of written materials for people with dyslexia to read and comprehend better. Dyslexia-friendly fonts can be specially designed with thicker bottoms and different shapes. Some common sans serif fonts from our daily usage, such as Arial, Calibri, and Open Sans, can also be considered as dyslexia-friendly …

Assistive Technology: Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts Read More »

Design Critique: SkyScanner (Android Mobile App)

INTRODUCTION: Skyscanner is a leading online platform renowned for simplifying travel planning and making it hassle-free for globetrotters around the world. The Skyscanner mobile application complements their online platform, providing users with a convenient way to plan and manage their journeys using their smartphones and tablets. In this analysis, we’ll delve into the Skyscanner app, …

Design Critique: SkyScanner (Android Mobile App) Read More »