Abstract
Globally, nearly 2.2 billion people are visually impaired, while 39 million are blind at present. Due to various factors, it is difficult for the blind to exercise. Though associations for blind people and disabled schools provide more possibilities for sports training for visually impaired people, these resources cannot reach everyone in need because of location and foundation limits. The project aims to make fitness more accessible for visually impaired people to help them keep healthy. Thus it could support their confidence and independence as they expected. Furthermore, society's awareness of visually impaired people's difficulties while exercising then, more studies could be built on the accessibility of fitness equipment for more feasible solutions in the near future. A smart yoga mat that used Somatosensory technology and the tactile response was designed to reach this aim. Qualitative interviews, Wizard of Oz, prototype testing, and other design methods were used to test the design's usability.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Yoga--Equipment and supplies--Design; Haptic devices--Design; People with visual disabilities--Health and hygiene; Blind--Health and hygiene
Publication Date
5-2-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Student Type
Graduate
Degree Name
Industrial Design (MFA)
Department, Program, or Center
School of Design (CAD)
Advisor
Lorraine Justice
Advisor/Committee Member
Alex Lobos
Recommended Citation
Han, Dan, "A smart yoga mat system designed for visually impaired people" (2022). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/11254
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Plan Codes
IDDE-MFA
