EDGE CASE
DESIGN STUDIO II - SPRING 2025
PROJECT BRIEF
CREATE A SOLUTION FOR WAYFINDING FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED
Binnaural hearing is the ability to use both ears to perceive sound. If you have unilateral hearing loss, only one of your ears can perceive sound, disrupting the ability to separate speech from background noise, and limiting your spatial awareness. This makes navigating different environments in our every day life extra challenging.
With the assistance of CROS hearing aids, individuals who have unilateral hearing loss are able to receive the sound from their impaired ear to their better ear. While this amplifies sound, it does not assist in localization of sound, which is necessary for safe navigation of potentially dangerous enviornments, like biking on a busy street. Our goal is to enable the localization of sound for cyclists that have unilateral hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE / GOAL
New research and technology suggests that multisensory approaches to interpreting our surroundings can improve spatial perception. By providing a tactile feedback solution, our goal is to increase cyclists' comfort and trust as they navigate the road. Our radar devices receive input from users' surroundings, before translating it to haptic feedback, alerting them of upcoming vehicles through patterned vibrations at their fingertips. Adjust the pulses depending on how bumpy your path is, for more control. Through bluetooth connection compatible with hearing aids, users are also able to receive audio alerts for extra protection.
COMPETITORS
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Garmin Varia looks back while you ride ahead, with a rearview radar camera and a tail light radar that provides visual and audible alerts of cars approaching from behind.
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Similarly, the Magene L508 does the same, but instead of a camera feature, their selling point is the radar’s ability to view upcoming objects at an angle, increasing your ability to ride with confidence
Although not marketed to hearing impaired individuals, there are 2 items on the market that help people bike with more awareness. Both of these devices are marketed to the extreme cyclist- those who compete, travel long distances, and view cycling as their sport. Their audiences have all the high tech gear needed to keep track of distance, speed, calories, etc.
AUDIENCE
Our audience is the casual biker - the one who wants to bike to work to save gas, and the earth. Their main pain point is a lack of confidence and fear that they have the spatial awareness to safely navigate overwhelming environments. They want to ride around the neighborhood with their partner on a saturday night, and relax, because they know they have the power of awareness.
Primary audience
This audience is between the ages of 26 - 40, live active lifestyles, and have unilateral hearing loss. Most of them use CROS hearing aids, which makes them somewhat informed on technology, due to the bluetooth and app compatibility now offered. They are interested in sustainability, as biking is a eco friendly alternative to vehicular transportation. Because of their active lifestyle, they are more inclined to participate in exercise as a form of relaxation or down time.
MOODBOARD
DELIVERABLES
SOURCES
Snir, Adi, Katarzyna CieÅ›la, Rotem Vekslar, and Amir Amedi. “Highly Compromised Auditory Spatial Perception in Aided Congenitally Hearing-Impaired and Rapid Improvement with Tactile Technology.” iScience 27, no. 9 (September 20, 2024): 110808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110808.
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Lundin, Andy. “New Tactile Solution to Improve Auditory Spatial Perception in Hearing Aid, Cochlear Implant Users.” The Hearing Review, October 28, 2024. https://hearingreview.com/inside-hearing/research/new-tactile-solution-to-improve-auditory-spatial-perception-in-hearing-aid-cochlear-implant-users.
Pajula, Amy. “Binaural Hearing: What It Is and Why It’s Important.” Envoy Medical. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.envoymedical.com/the-sounding-board/binaural-hearing-what-it-is-and-why-its-important.