Company
Wilfrid Laurier University
Date
Jan 2023 — Apr 2023
Tools used
Overview
A wearable alert bracelet designed to give deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals the freedom to move around their home without worrying about missing an important alarm.
Background Information
The project addresses accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by creating a wearable alert device. The bracelet provides visual, auditory, and haptic (vibration) feedback when an alarm sounds — giving users the freedom to move around their home without worrying about missing something important.
The prototype successfully produced a sound with a light vibration when something was within a certain distance, though it didn't fully integrate all intended features due to challenges with component integration and finding the appropriate code.
Prototypes
App Design
Bracelet Design
Arduino Testing
Design & Build
Components used: Arduino Uno, breadboard, LED, wires, resistors, sensors, and a sound machine. The team encountered challenges in finding appropriate code for all components and struggled with integration between hardware elements.
Alert Feedback Modes:
- Visual — LED light response
- Auditory — sound output
- Haptic — vibration feedback
Future Vision
An interactive app that allows users to connect their devices — such as their fire alarm and doorbell — to the customized bracelet. Despite the unmet initial goals, the project was a valued learning experience in hardware prototyping, accessibility design, and collaborative iteration.
