The RNIB created a prototype of a pregnancy test for people who are blind or partially sighted
To acknowledge the fact that people have a shared humanity, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)’s recent ‘Design for Everyone’ campaign used the example of pregnancy test results to demonstrate how poor, inaccessible design can deprive people of their privacy.
As part of the campaign, the RNIB’s team carried out some research with women who are blind or partially sighted, and of childbearing age. They found the following:
- Being the first to know is the most fundamental priority for women and their partners;
- The broad sight loss spectrum means existing solutions that work for one person may not suit everyone;
- Touch is an essential part of how people who are blind or partially sighted interact with objects, so it’s vital to incorporate this into the design of a potential product;
- Mothers and future mothers with sight loss often feel that their sight loss means they have to sacrifice their privacy and they have a strong desire to be independent;
- For those trying to have children, it was now or never if their sight was continuing to deteriorate.
At present, there are no pregnancy tests that allow persons who are blind or partially sighted to be the first to hear their news. The RNIB worked with Product Designer Josh Wasserman to create a prototype of an accessible pregnancy test to prove that accessible pregnancy tests are possible.
The pregnancy test prototype uses the same electronics as a standard pregnancy test, but instead of activating an LCD display, a linear actuator is activated which raises a series of bumps on the top if the user is pregnant. The actuator also raises a series of control bumps on the bottom of the text to notify the user that the test is working in the event of a negative test result. There is a big contrast between the purple top and the white bottom of the prototype which makes it easier for women who are partially sighted to hold the test the right way up.
The RNIB’s main goal with their campaign is to get the public talking about this issue, and to compel businesses to do more to help. They are calling out to businesses and product designers to make the accessible pregnancy test a reality.
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