Submitted: April 10th, 2008 ![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mobileuserexperience.com%2Fmexdesign%2Fblindphone.jpg)
Designer / Ben Scott-Robinson
Category / Freelance, Nuance
Inspiration / Nuance
Category / Freelance, Nuance
Inspiration / Nuance
Ben Scott-Robinson | BSR Blind Phone
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(142 votes, average: 3.65 out of 5)
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The user
There are 12 million people of limited sight in Europe. There has been little designed specifically for their specific needs for over 4 years and there is no affordable handset available in the marketplace for blind or partially sighted people.
Currently blind and partially sighted people have to use third party software on normal phones to access them.
This is becoming an increasing problem as phones become more complicated.
The experience
(142 votes, average: 3.65 out of 5) Loading ...The user
There are 12 million people of limited sight in Europe. There has been little designed specifically for their specific needs for over 4 years and there is no affordable handset available in the marketplace for blind or partially sighted people.
Currently blind and partially sighted people have to use third party software on normal phones to access them.
This is becoming an increasing problem as phones become more complicated.
The experience
The Blind Phone is aimed at filling a niche requirement for blind and partially sighted people.
A phone designed from the ground up around the needs of a restricted sight person.
From the form of the physical design to the user interface, everything is done to remove the requirement of a screen or any visual input or feedback.
It aims to gain buy in from the blind community early on, and take advantage of Corporate Social Responsibility opportunities with mobile OS and handset manufacturers to produce a low cost device that perfectly meets the needs of it’s target audience.
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Comments | 30 comments - join the debate below
(142 votes, average: 3.65 out of 5)
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Comments | 30 comments - join the debate below
(142 votes, average: 3.65 out of 5) Loading ...Explore more entries
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April 10th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
BRILIANT! 5 out of 5
Mette Says:April 11th, 2008 at 10:02 am
A truly intuitive idea!
francesco fiore Says:April 11th, 2008 at 10:10 am
superlative idea and design
Deborah O'Connor Says:April 11th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Awesome - 5 out 5.
Jenni Fleetwood Says:April 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
An excellent idea and a much needed product. Five out of five!
Frani Says:April 11th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Very inspirational! Well done!
Trevor Cain Says:April 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I give this 5 out of 5
A valuable mode of communication.
geoffroy Says:Question - what value would you place upon it, as an individual, if you had no vision? This has to be a winner!
April 11th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
5 out of 5
beautiful design meets usefulness
Guy Says:April 12th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Genius!
Ailsa Wakley Says:April 12th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
What a great idea!
Nick Irven Says:April 13th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
5 out of 5, by far the best invention.
Vanessa Says:April 14th, 2008 at 11:46 am
What a brilliant idea! 5 out of 5!
Bex Says:April 14th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Great idea - my gran was going blind and even her generation would have loved something helpful and stylish
Chloe Watts Says:April 14th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Very useful and looks cool - that’s design!
Peter Andic Says:April 16th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Brilliant initiative and great concept, hope you get to develop this into a real product
sophie Says:April 16th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
a brilliant idea, and brilliantly designed.
phyllie Says:April 18th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I think this is a brilliant Idea and very well designed.
Nick Martin Says:April 20th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Excellent idea. Five stars.
Laura Says:April 21st, 2008 at 8:22 am
Wonderful idea
Kate Ellis Says:April 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Most commendable. It deserves to win I say !
MEX design competition - Small Surfaces Says:April 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
[…] Link: BSR Blind Phone […]
Mike the Greek Says:April 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am
EXCELLENT DESINING! and functional
Sarah Says:May 12th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Hey, regarding the idea of contracting with smaller independant manufacturers, have you looked into creating this as a modu “sleeve”? Then you wouldn’t have the expense or complication of the “guts” of the machine, and could focus design and materials expense on what matters here, which is the form and interface. Just a thought…
Sarah
Cloudaware Mobile Service: Design concept Says:May 12th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
[…] Cloudaware has been shortlisted for the Design Competition in the Freelance category along with BSR Blindphone & Flat Music Player. Check out my mobile service/application concept entry for the MEX Design […]
MEX - the strategy forum for mobile user experience - Reuters TV covers MEX Conference and Awards Says:May 30th, 2008 at 12:06 am
[…] Desbarats of Alloy, Ken Blakeslee of WebMobility Ventures and Ben-Scott Robinson, designer of the BSR Blind Phone and winner of the 2008 MEX Mobile User Experience Innovator of the Year […]
Jim Tobias Says:June 6th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Audio menus are a great idea, and the phone has a very attractive look. But I don’t think the pistol grip keypad is quite right. First of all, most blind users do not have trouble using a standard 3×4 keypad matrix, as long as the keys are distinct (”tactilely discernible” is the common phrase). Second, a user gripping the phone may unintentionally press one of the keys. Third, pressing the keys while gripping the phone requires some pretty inconvenient finger bending, which may be difficult for some users with dexterity limitations.
SMS Text News » Archives » iPhone 2.0: A mobile marketing perspective from We Love Mobile Says:June 10th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
[…] on my side I am also still feeling chuffed over being made MEX Mobile Innovator of the Year a couple of weeks ago for the Blind Phone. It was a real privilege to win against some of my […]
A mobile phone for the blind | TechWinter Says:June 23rd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
[…] Source: The MEX Design Competition […]
周二茶闻:…å—体与å¯ç”¨æ€§ : 油茶会 Says:July 27th, 2008 at 4:31 am
[…] BSR blind phone 这是一款专门给有视力障ç¢çš„人事们设计的手机. 它的设计很独特, 就象个joystickä¸€æ ·. […]
Yusuf Says:October 20th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Interesting concept but I think those small number buttons would be really awkward to use. It would be very hard to press them from that hand position, particularly with your little finger which isn’t very dexterous. I also think the shape is an ergonomic nightmare as you have to have the right size hand otherwise it would be very uncomfortable.