Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge

Create a more efficient and pleasing scenario for persons with disabilities. Here in Toronto, a  lot had already been done regarding a barrier-free and accessible city. In 2004, Toronto City  Council developed a motion to make the city fully accessible by the year 1999. Persons with  disabilities correspond to 13.5 percent of the total population. With an ageing population, this  number is going to rise even more.

Selection

Such a sensitive matter requires empathy to engage society as whole, such as architectures,  engineers, designers, constructors, businesses, city council, etc in other to create an actual  change. Storytelling was selected cause is such a powerful tool to create this bond. Showing  how this challenge is so life changing from the user standpoint.

Application

Since Toronto is so accessible, from a normal user perspective, you think the city is well  equipped. Automated doors, ramps, kneeling buses with ramps, audio cues in buses, subways  and streetcars are a few examples how the city integrates persons with disabilities.

Until a couple of months ago, due to a slip and fall, I broke my wrist. I undergo surgery and  stayed with my wrist immobilised for 2 months. That is when using the accessibility tools  became a real necessity for me. I started to notice misplace buttons that activate the each of  two doors you need to pass in other to enter any public space. For me, I was not able to open  the door, but for a person in a wheelchair, it would be really hard to move away from a  straight path to activate a door and return to entering before the door closes again. Can you  imagine facing the same situation over and over again during a day? How it would bother you  and if think about it is such a simple change in a project.

Insight

When you are actually in someone else shoes, you realise how important to really think  through all the aspects of a project and really be concern how it will affect someone’s life. I  started thinking that standards positions buttons should be addressed in order to facilitate the  user's life. Instead of making them wonder where the next button is located.

But to go even further, we all know that RFID is becoming a cheaper technology. Why not put  sensors that detect the RFID signal and the doors automatically open.  Intelligent canes could  read the signals in different places to show location or to alert a danger area. We can make a  good scenario become excellent.

Approach

Storytelling is a wonderful tool cause it puts you in the user standpoint. Creates an emotional  connection with the project and sets even higher standards. I plan to use always after learning  from experience.


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge Create a more efficient and pleasing scenario for persons with disabilities . Here in Toronto , a lot had already been done regarding a barrier - free and accessible city . In 2004 , Toronto City Council developed a motion to make the city fully accessible by the year 1999 . Persons with disabilities correspond to 13.5 percent of the total population . With an ageing population , this number is going to rise even more . Selection Such a sensitive matter requires empathy to engage society as whole , such as architectures , engineers , designers , constructors , businesses , city council , etc in other to create an actual change . Storytelling was selected cause is such a powerful tool to create this bond . Showing how this challenge is so life changing from the user standpoint . Application Since Toronto is so accessible , from a normal user perspective , you think the city is well equipped . Automated doors , ramps , kneeling buses with ramps , audio cues in buses , subways and streetcars are a few examples how the city integrates persons with disabilities . Until a couple of months ago , due to a slip and fall , I broke my wrist . I undergo surgery and stayed with my wrist immobilised for 2 months . That is when using the accessibility tools became a real necessity for me . I started to notice misplace buttons that activate the each of two doors you need to pass in other to enter any public space . For me , I was not able to open the door , but for a person in a wheelchair , it would be really hard to move away from a straight path to activate a door and return to entering before the door closes again . Can you imagine facing the same situation over and over again during a day ? How it would bother you and if think about it is such a simple change in a project . Insight When you are actually in someone else shoes , you realise how important to really think through all the aspects of a project and really be concern how it will affect someone ’s life . I started thinking that standards positions buttons should be addressed in order to facilitate the user 's life . Instead of making them wonder where the next button is located . But to go even further , we all know that RFID is becoming a cheaper technology . Why not put sensors that detect the RFID signal and the doors automatically open . Intelligent canes could read the signals in different places to show location or to alert a danger area . We can make a good scenario become excellent . Approach Storytelling is a wonderful tool cause it puts you in the user standpoint . Creates an emotional connection with the project and sets even higher standards . I plan to use always after learning from experience .