What was the challenge?

Considering the lack of an easy interface between the deaf & mute children and their parents/teachers, a learning aid was needed that could make the information transfer easy and effective. This project aims at designing information related to road signs for age group 6 to 8 years, when these challenged children are at an early stage of being road users. Creating a language to educate was another challenge as they cannot express easily and can hardly hear. Meaning of road signs, their location and usage is the first hand information essentially required to enhance their safety. A complete knowledge makes them independent and teaches them road ettiques which helps avoid accidents.

What is the solution?

An informative aid containing 15 main road signs cards has been designed as the solution to the challenge. Each card contains all the information that could be used as a single learning unit, or else, could be combined with other cards to be played like a game. Users can fold and expand a card, hide a part of it, organize and arrange to play on their own or in a group. No assistance is needed. Different folding methods (inspired from origami) create multiple ways of playing cards, which creates enormous amount of interest due to its playful character. Cards can be played by a single user or a group by using multiple ways.

Each player has a card. The first player opens and sees the information on his own card. After thoroughly seeing it, passes the card to second player.

In this scenario, Rohit asks the Priya to identify the road sign on the card, which she had just seen. This is because these children are slow learners and hence it is required to make sure that they remember the road sign information correctly.

Priya recalls the answer and spells the word in standard sign language. For example: Here, ‘SCHOOL’ is being explained using gestures for each alphabet. Back of the card is designed such that only the player asking the question can see and check the spelling.

If incorrect, Rohit can unfold levels of information about the name, spelling and location - where is the road sign found, and what purpose does it serve.

What is the effect?

This method of playful learning solves the project objective and benefits the users in various ways:
- Easy interface: Effective transfer of information
- Complete first hand information on road signs
- Enhances road safety and helps in emergency situations
- While playing, users practice their standard language of alphabets and composing words
- No dependency on teachers/parent to conduct the activity (more playfulness)
- Group interaction improves confidence

Usage and Distribution

This informative aid has been distributed to a couple of NGOs working for the welfare of deaf and mute children. Also, it is being used in Jyoti Badhir Vidhalaya- special school for deaf and mute children in India. 

The unique & innovative aspect of this aid is that it can be modified as per the intellectual capacity & competence of the player. Also, it can prove to be a key medium of mentoring these children for other subjects. The project went through the understanding of basic needs of deaf and mute users through user studies, concept generation and testing mockups.
 

for more details follow www.cargocollective.com/manisha