World Wide Web

Engineering

Computer security

Outrigger

Computer science

Universal design

Sight

Low vision

Physics

Psychology

Astronomy

Assistive technology

Structural engineering

Medicine

Optometry

Human–computer interaction

Key (lock)

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

From the white cane to the smartphone, technology has been an effective tool for broadening blind and low vision participation in a sighted world. In the face of this increased participation, individuals with visual impairments remain on the periphery of most sight-first activities. In this paper, we describe a multi-month public-facing co-design engagement with an organization that supports blind and low vision outrigger paddling. Using a mixed-ability design team, we developed an inexpensive cooperative outrigger paddling system, called CoOP, that shares control between sighted and visually impaired paddlers. The results suggest that public design, a DIY (do-it-yourself) stance, and attentiveness to shared physical experiences, represent key strategies for creating assistive technologies that support shared experiences.

Design in the Public Square