Royal Dutch Visio is an expertise centre for partially sighted and blind people. Visio provides information and advice as well as various forms of examination, guidance, rehabilitation, education and living.
For a new project, Visio wants to investigate the possibilities and needs for a voice-driven application among its students in primary and secondary education and people with multiple disabilities who are co-living in a residential group.
In order to collect information and obtain insights from Visio’s three different target groups, UXkids has set up and carried out a research project. The applied research activities are part of the empathize phase, the first step in the Design Thinking process.
The role of UXkids
For this research project, UXkids followed students at two Visio schools and residents of the residential group part of Bartiméus. This research gathered information about the learning and living environment and the wishes and needs of students and clients with regard to learning.
UXkids then assessed the possibilities for a voice-driven application in the learning and living environment and formulated the conditions for the development of a voice-driven application. Conducting research among such a varied target group requires tailor-made research activities for each target group. UXkids developed suitable research activities for each target group.
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A course programme enhanced by storytelling for students at Primary Special Education.
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Focus groups with students in secondary special education.
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Shadowing at a residential group with multiply disabled people.
The project led to an extensive report with advice to Royal Dutch Visio about the opportunities and conditions for developing a voice-driven application. In addition, UXkids provided more insight into the most important topics that have an impact on the lives of Visio’s target groups. Based on the report, Viso selected a topic for the development of a voice application.
Client
Royal Dutch Visio
Keywords
Co-creation, Research, Children 10-12 years old, Visually impaired children, Students, Teachers, Smart Speaker, Google Home, Voice-application
Case study
Read the comprehensive case study on our blog.
Tailored research activities
A course programme enhanced by storytelling for students at Primary Special Education.
UXkids followed and talked to a class of students at Visio’s primary school. Due to corona measures, the research took place remotely via Microsoft Teams. UXkids developed a curriculum based on a story about an alien (who goes to school on our earth and cannot see). Adding a storytelling element allows students to look at the issue as passers-by. It stimulates the imagination and turns the students into experts. Zaliën, as a mediator, gives students the space to talk about their disability (a sensitive topic for the students) from a different perspective.
Focus groups with students in secondary special education.
UXkids facilitated focus groups and interviews at Visio’s secondary school. Through assignments, the students thought and (openly) discussed their experience about learning and living with a visual impairment. Focus groups fit 15-16 year old students very well. This age group can express their opinions well and benefits from a more ‘mature’ approach.
Shadowing at a residential group with multiply disabled people.
UXkids chose the research method ‘Shadowing’ for the study with the multiply impaired people. UXkids spent a morning and afternoon at the residential group to observe and get to know the residents and their needs for a voice-driven application. The context was mapped by following the residents during their daily tasks and activities, and (if possible) by having conversations with them.
Empathise phase
This is the first step in the Design Thinking process. This phase is characterised by exploring an issue, gathering information from the target group and mapping the context. Researchers immerse themselves in the world of a target group and their experiences to draw a detailed picture of the possibilities and obstacles associated with the situation.
”UXkids conducted some innovative research into the possibilities of Voice applications for Visio's visually impaired students & patients. They taught us a lot about user research with children and how to get the most out of it. The students also really enjoyed the collaboration.
Ruben BrandsmaProjectlead & Teacher at Royal Dutch Visio
