What not to wearable: using participatory workshops to explore wearable device form factors for blind users

In this paper we document two participatory design workshops conducted with a team of eight visually impaired adults that explored features and form factors for a wearable navigation technology. We compare and contrast our experiences conducting a low-fidelity prototyping activity using office supplies and a medium-fidelity prototyping activity using electronic components and a scenario-based approach. While both sessions produced designs with similar features and form factors, participant engagement was much higher during the medium-fidelity session primarily due to the tangible materials used and the more directed structure of the activity. We present the resulting designs as well as recommendations for participatory design prototyping methods for wearable technology development, particularly for people with vision impairments.