A Mug for the Blind that Chimes When It's Full
By John Farrier in Gadget on Aug 9, 2009 at 2:53 pm
tronix
I have a blind friend I would love to buy this for, but I can't because it's not real. I think it's worth noting in your blog when something is a concept and not an actual product.
angstrom
I was also going to buy this for someone.
but as it's just a concept, I won't.
shame
saehn
Hm, I'm just about legally blind without my contacts and so have encountered this situation before. You just hold your finger near the top of the mug/glass to know when the liquid is near the top. Coffee might be a little hot, but other than that this technique has served me pretty well!
Phos
I have three blind friends.
I've asked about this.
They all report that they can tell by the sound when a poured beverage has nearly filled a cup or glass.
Lily
Also they can tell very easily by simply putting a finger over the edge of the cup. When the liquid hit's their finger, it's full.
vonskippy
Another example of Designers designing something "they" think would be useful without asking the actual users.
Blind people have been pouring liquid into cups/glasses/mugs for centuries without problems (using various touch/sound clues) so why would they need/want something that turns a standalone device (i.e. a mug) into something that takes batteries, probably doesn't stand up to the dishwasher, and has more things that can break???
Instead of putting the sensor into a cup, put it into a "stirring stick". That way the stick can be placed into any existing cup and can be removed for hand washing or changing batteries, etc. Plus you only need one "sensor stick" (just design it so that one size fits most cups/glasses). Plus you could add temp sensors to the stick to warn the user if the liquid is too hot.
Kalel
There's sight-impaired, and then there's foresight-impaired.
Lasse
I am not blind and i don't know any blind people, but i would think that a blind person could compensate for the lack of vision with his other sensory abilities: Weight, sound (as mentioned above), etc.
Foreigner1
Yep- This is a typical case of deliberate looking for over-engeneering without any real reason other than that some seeing designer thinks there is a problem that in fact never has existed.
Even seeing people can easily learn to leave the light out when they go to the kitchen in the middel of the night to poor in a glass of water or milk. Just by sound and weightdistribution.
But hey nowadays if you can't stick a battery in something- it really is soooooo 2000-and-Late.....
gdw3
I worked with blind people, and some of these comments are a little short-sighted. (no pun)
1. Yes, the technique most use is to put their finger in the glass or cup, and feel the liquid. OK, one person says it's a little hot. Well, what about boiling water for tea? That's real hot! And what if you have a guest, or a date? You think they want your finger in their drink?
2. Many people who are blind have other problems as well. Blindness that is caused by a brain issue, such as a premature birth where the cortex may not fully be developed, often leads to other issues, from motor problems to cerebral palsy to perception issues. A person with blindness and motor trouble may not be able to do the finger techniqe at all!
3. A common misperception, as stated by Lasse, is that blind people compensate with their other senses. This is a myth. They may concentrate on their other senses, but blindness does not magically make your hearing stronger. You may be more sensitive, but your ears work the same as any other person! And again, many blind folks have other issues.
Ultimately, I applaud anything that makes something easier for a person to do everyday things the rest of us take for granted. It's not over-engineering, is compassionate engineering!
Skipweasel
Yup - my blind friend just lets her finger hang over the edge of the cup. She must have asbestos fingers, and we've learned not to worry about a) her scalding herself or b) germy fingers. None of us have died yet.
She will keep putting milk in mine, though - but that's not a blind thing, loads of people do that.
gdw3
But my point is, what's wrong with something that makes it easier for some people? I can't believe people criticize this. Who cares? If you don't like it, don't buy it!
Skipweasel
By that standard, all we'll ever say is "That's neat" and the whole bloggosphere will disappear up its own arse.
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