Trend Hunters have discovered a handful of wristwatch concepts for the visually impaired, but few I have seen are as simple and beautiful as the Tactile Watch by Jake Rynkiewicz.
Instead of incorporating complex technologies for raising braille numbers and programming audio notifications, this clever design quite elegantly turns the template of the conventional analogue timepiece into a three-dimensional surface.
The dial comprises two rings, an inner and an outer which correspond to the minute and the hour. Instead of including hands, the bands gently ascend on circular slopes so that each features an abrupt ridge between the most elevated and lowest part of the material. The user can effortlessly feel the location of the brink, and easily decipher the time of day with the Tactile Watch by Jake Rynkiewicz.
Spiral Dial Timepieces
Tactile Watch by Jake Rynkiewicz Allows the Blind to Feel the Hour
Trend Themes
1. Tactile Timepieces - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop tactile watches that provide a non-visual way to tell time for the visually impaired.
2. Simplified Accessibility Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create simplified and elegant solutions to assist visually impaired individuals in their daily lives.
3. Design-driven Inclusivity - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate thoughtful design elements into products to create inclusive experiences for all users.
Industry Implications
1. Watchmaking - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Reimagine traditional watch designs to cater to the needs of visually impaired individuals.
2. Assistive Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative assistive technology solutions that improve the quality of life for visually impaired individuals.
3. Product Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate design principles that prioritize inclusivity and accessibility into product development processes.