Research: eSight Go Eyewear for Low Vision
A case study on how design research helped create an inclusive ergonomic product.
Automotive
Lead Researcher
Industry
Role
Project Overview
eSight Go digital low-vision device helps people with significant central vision loss see more clearly and maintain their mobility and independence. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, eSight Go assists people with a variety of low vision conditions, like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, see with clearer, sharper vision and overcome challenges often faced due to visual impairments.
In this case study I'll be covering an ergonomics user study I worked on. The goal of this study was to identify which nose piece concepts were most preferable to users, out of six, so that the team could narrow down to three or four to ship with the device.
Approach
We tested with 37 total participants, aiming for a diverse participant group in age, gender, and ethnicity. We used a mixture of quant and qual to evaluate nose piece fit through the lens of field of view, stability, and comfort to narrow down each participants ideal fit.
Field Of View : How many lines can be seen through the frames with each nose piece and how clear is the image.
Round 1 was focused on field of view. We had each participant try on the 0 degree temple arm angle eSight frames with each of the 6 nose pieces provided by the engineering team. We measured this by using a line chart. If the wearer was able to see all 3 black lines above and below the red line with very minimal to no blurring or dark spots, we would take that nose piece to round 2.
Stability : How secure do the eSight frames feel when paired with the users chosen nose piece.
Round 2 was focused on stability. Wearing the nose pieces that passed the field of view test, we asked our users to perform a variety of range of motion tasks. The nose pieces that were most secure made their way to the final round.
Comfort : How comfortable are the eSight frames when paired with the users chosen nose piece.
Round 3 was focused on comfort. Wearing the nose pieces that passed both the Field of View and Stability tests, we asked our users to explain how the frames and nose piece combination felt and whether they felt they could wear these for an extended period of time.
Results
We delivered a report outlining our findings of the top nose pieces and slices them by gender where we noticed patterns. We also discovered commonalities amongst the top 3 nose pieces.
Impact and Conclusion
This research directly impacted the development of eSight Go and the final nose piece designs that would ship with the kits to allow users to find a personalized fit with their device.