# Water Level-Indicating Cups This Coffee Cup Cautions the Visually Impaired By Jen Chae | Published 2013-07-13 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innovative-coffee-cup References: [yankodesign](http://www.yankodesign.com/2013/07/01/this-cup-has-a-ring-to-it/) For those with visual impairment, small tasks like pouring hot water into a cup can be dangerous -- this is why designer Soon-sik Choi created this innovative [coffee cup concept](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mario-mug) to aid those who can't see. The Xylophone Cup's handle is specially designed. It is levered so that when filled with a certain amount of water, it flicks downward against the glass cup. Because of the materials of the handle and cup, this contact makes an audio cue of [crystal clear sound](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/podio-cup), similar to the sound of a xylophone. Soon-sik Choi's design is not only well-engineered, but it touches upon the small issues that [visually impaired people](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tactil) experience. The cup is easy to use and promotes safety so that people don't burn themselves from pouring hot water. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 89% | Activity: 72% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Accessible Design:** Designing products with features that aid visually impaired individuals, such as water level-indicating cups. - **Assistive Technology:** Developing innovative tools and devices that help individuals with disabilities perform daily tasks, such as the Xylophone Cup for the visually impaired. - **Inclusive Consumer Products:** Creating products that cater to a diverse range of users, including those with visual impairments, like the coffee cup concept by Soon-sik Choi. ### Who This Affects Most - **Product Design:** Opportunity for product designers to incorporate accessibility features into their designs, such as water level-indicating cups for the visually impaired. - **Assistive Technology:** Innovation in the field of assistive technology to develop devices and tools that enhance the daily lives of individuals with disabilities, like the Xylophone Cup. - **Household Goods:** Expansion of inclusive consumer products in the household goods industry, addressing the needs of visually impaired individuals, such as the coffee cup concept. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Shifting Hydration Cup Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tilting-water-cup.md) - [Alerting Boiled Water Discs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/water-boil-alert-disc.md) - [Visual Impairment-Friendly Cooking Utensils](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haptics-of-cooking.md) - [Effortless Tea Brewing Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cuptone-teacup.md) - [Accordion-Style Coffee Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accordion-paper-cup.md) - [Single-Piece Silicone Measuring Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boi-measuring-cup.md) - [Handle-Free Coffee Mugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pinch-hold.md) - [Precision Coffee Dosing Scales](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-coffee-dosing-cup.md) - [Safety-Focused Drinking Mugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antichoke-mug.md)