Design Critiques

Computers are at the center of so many parts of modern life. However, they are a fundamentally visual medium. This can present a significant barrier for blind/low vision people. Screen readers are an assistive technology that speaks aloud the text on a computer screen. Microsoft Narrator is the built-in screen reader application for Windows.

Goodnotes is a powerful digital notetaking and PDF markup app available on Android and iOS, known for its versatility. Popular with students, it allows users to create notebooks, upload and annotate existing documents, and organize files within folders. On the iPad, Goodnotes also supports Apple Pencil integration, enabling a more robust notetaking experience. In this

Navilens is an assistive technology in transit systems like the MTA to make navigation more accessible. Using colorful, high-contrast markers that can be scanned with a smartphone camera, Navilens provides audio instructions about where you are and where to go supporting independent movement through a public environment that has traditionally relied on vision.

Passport Parking is a mobile application that enables users to pay for their parking spots directly from their mobile devices. The application functions as a convenient digital alternative to physical pay stations. In this article, I will offer a critique of the Passport Parking application through the lens of Don Norman’s design principles and ideas

Strava is a fitness application that allows users to record, analyze, and share physical activities. While Strava can function as a standalone recorder, my experience with the app is shaped by the fact that I use it with a Garmin watch. Because activity recording happens on my watch, Strava primarily serves as a space for

Google Maps is one of the most widely used navigation apps in the market. With over an 80% share of the mobile mapping market, almost every smartphone user is familiar with it. While the app provides diverse features addressing varying user needs, this article focuses on an evaluation of the Street View feature in particular.

Figure 1. Blind soccer players using a sound-emitting ball in a match, wearing eyeshades for fairness. A sound-emitting soccer balls is an assistive technology designed to support soccer players who are blind or have low vision. Every time the product comes into contact with a player or a wall, it features audible cues that allow