21 Jul 2022

Winning vision

A phone accessory that can help open up public transport to people who are visually impaired has been awarded one of the RSA’s Student Design Awards.

The PATH system uses a thermal imaging camera, haptic phone pad and an app to help passengers travel by bus. The camera helps to quickly identify empty seats on the vehicle and vibrations from the device tell the user when they’ve reached their stop. The accessory also includes a Braille compass on the haptic pad and uses Bluetooth to help users make sure they get on the right bus.

The system was designed by Loughborough University students Che Antoine, Safa Ikheria and Zahra Mandviwala, who won the Active Journeys prize, awarded in partnership with HS2.

Disability activist and award judge Doug Paulley said: “The quality of the winning and commended entries was truly outstanding. It is great to know that there are such allies of disabled people in the up and coming design community.”

The awards celebrate how design can be used to solve problems and develop new possibilities. They cover nine categories, including creative learning, healthcare and hybrid working.

Find out more about all the winners

Related topics