Accessible Local Heritage App and Bracelet

Around 15–16% of the global population lives with a disability, creating a wide range of accessibility needs. Access to information should always be inclusive, particularly when it relates to local heritage, as understanding the history of a place can foster identity, belonging, and improved wellbeing. Despite this, many existing digital platforms addressing heritage information lack accessibility, are poorly designed, or fragment content across individual sites. This makes information difficult to find and often excludes users with disabilities.

While assistive technologies aim to address accessibility barriers, many current products are highly conspicuous, which can lead to stigma and eventual abandonment. This not only limits their effectiveness but also contributes to unnecessary environmental waste. In response, this project proposes an accessible mobile app paired with an inconspicuous assistive technology product, designed to provide equal access to local heritage information while promoting dignity, long-term use, and sustainability.

The app was designed with customisation at its core, allowing users to adjust light and dark modes, text size, and button size to suit their individual needs. Principles of cognitive ergonomics informed the interface design, ensuring clear hierarchy, reduced cognitive load, and intuitive navigation. A high-contrast visual system was implemented to meet AAA accessibility standards, supporting users with visual impairments. Colour choices were carefully considered: blue was used to communicate trust and safety, while orange introduces a sense of exploration and positivity, reflecting the experience of engaging with heritage. A light grey background was chosen over pure white to avoid overly harsh contrast.

Design decisions were grounded in accessibility research, including the use of highly legible fonts, vertical scrolling, and limiting the number of on-screen elements to support working memory. Key interactive elements were positioned centrally to allow for ease of access across a wide range of physical abilities.

The accompanying assistive device was designed to discreetly support interaction with the app while remaining comfortable, lightweight, and easy to use. Tactile elements were sized to ensure they could be identified by touch, while physical buttons and interaction points were spaced to accommodate users with motor impairments. The device was dimensioned to fit a wide range of users, from the 5th to the 95th percentile, ensuring inclusivity across hand sizes and grip strength.

Technology & Build

The device is powered by a custom PCB (25 × 17 × 0.8 mm) integrating a Silicon Labs Blue Gecko BGM12 BLE module, enabling low-energy wireless communication with the app. Haptic feedback is delivered through a coin vibration motor, controlled by a dedicated haptic driver IC, providing discreet, tactile notifications. Power management is handled by an integrated voltage regulator, LiPo charging IC, and an 80 mAh LiPo battery, with charging achieved via a pogo-pin charging unit for durability and ease of alignment.

The physical construction uses a multi-part enclosure, consisting of a top casing, injection-moulded spacer, internal electronics housing, battery casing, and bottom band. Capacitive touch sensors are connected to the PCB via flex PCB tails, while the assembly is secured using 4 × 3 mm neodymium magnets and M1 × 6 screws, balancing accessibility, robustness, and repairability. The overall build prioritises discreet wearability, ease of use, and long-term durability.

Together, the app and assistive device demonstrate a human-centred, research-led approach to accessibility, integrating digital and physical design to improve access to information, enhance wellbeing, and challenge the stigma traditionally associated with assistive technologies.