Design Problem

The EchoStep 2.0 project addresses the challenge of improving mobility and health for visually impaired individuals globally by developing a smart shoe with ultrasonic sensors and a safety app for real-time location sharing. Despite the popularity of smartwatches for their features and fitness bands for their affordability, data privacy concerns pose significant challenges. This market's expansion highlights the importance of IoT in enhancing healthcare through improved monitoring and connectivity. Additionally, the use of mobile apps and wearables as persuasive technologies to promote physical activity emphasizes the need for secure, effective solutions that encourage a healthier lifestyle while ensuring user data privacy.

Design Process

The EchoStep 2.0 project's design journey started with aiming to build off of the previous project. This process involved additional brainstorming and research to understand and learn about our users difficulties. The project should leverage IoT to enhance the shoe's interaction with a mobile app, providing features like audio cues for shoe location and battery alerts through Bluetooth. Additionally, it should allows users to customize settings such as light switches and sensor sensitivity via the app, improving functionality and user experience. However, the team encountered technical challenges, particularly in getting the Arduino Uno code to work, which led to multiple hours of tinkering trying to troubleshoot the issue. Despite these hurdles, the project emphasized enhancing the tactile, visual, and auditory interaction between the user and the shoe to improve navigation.

Ideation

Initial Sketch from EchoStep

The Critical Making Process

• Conceptualization and Identification of Need

• Brainstorming and Research

• Prototype Production

• Addressing Technical Challenges

• Incorporating Soma Design Principles

• Incorporating IoT 

• Iterative Design and Feedback

• Future Development and Refinement

Addressing the Social Issue

• Accessibility

• Inclusivity

• Mobility and Independence

• Health and Wellness

• Quality of Life

• Obstacle Avoidance

• Inclusive Technology Design

Making

Materials Used

Constructing the Prototype

• Shoes

• Electronics Fun Kit

• Vibration Motors

• Ultrasonic Sensors

• IoT Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Microcontroller

• ​Battery Holder with Power Jack

• Sensor and Circuit Integration: Adding sensors and connecting them to the circuit to enhance environmental interaction capabilities.

• Dimension Measurement: Measuring and obtaining exact dimensions of vibration motors and ultrasonic sensors to ensure they fit with the Arduino board and breadboard.

• Wiring and Component Connection: Connecting vibration motors and ultrasonic sensors to the Arduino board with suitable wiring, ensuring secure placement to prevent malfunctions.

• Programming the Arduino: Programming the Arduino to activate vibration motors based on ultrasonic sensor data.

• Component Assembly: Attaching all components onto the shoe, ensuring seamless wiring without obstruction.

• App Mockup: Creating a low-fidelity mockup of the companion app on Figma.

Challenges in Constructing the Prototype

• IoT Integration -

• Challenge: Integrating IoT with the Arduino system via Bluetooth.

• Solution: Continued trial and error and adjustments in programming.

• Combining Hardware to Software -

• Challenge: Prototype failure due to an unidentified error, indicating the complexities of combining hardware and software.

• Solution: Emphasized the need for persistent testing and problem-solving but no specific solution was reached.

• Arduino Uno failing to read the code -

• Challenge: Difficulties in uploading the code to the Arduino system.

• Solution: Continued efforts in debugging and programming adjustments without a specific solution working.

The Final Prototype