The Visionary Project - Distributed Design Platform

Useful information

Team members: Greg Palmieri Gabriela Fonseca
Country: Portugal
Keywords: accessibility design visual impairment

Short Description

We want to make the online world more accessible for everyone.

Detailed Description

People perceive the web differently. The user interface has to be customizable to meet the specific needs of users with different types and degrees of visual impairment. How? We will use a combination of technologies like HTML, CSS, and WebGL to process images, videos, and text allowing users to customize it in real-time by adjusting several effects like brightness and contrast creating a unique experience.

Visionary is the world's first browser and also an API created to provide web access and offer a unique digital experience for people with low vision.

In the next 2 years, we expect to launch the prototype of the product and start the design project specifically focused on User Experience for Low Vision. In 5 years, we wish to have created a real impact on the digital world by making usability and accessibility a requirement in every digital project.

Project Details

Does your design take social and cultural challenges and human wellbeing into consideration?: According to WHO, approximately 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment (data from Oct 2018), including 19 million children (data from 2014). This number could triple due to population growth and ageing. We aim to provide a complete digital experience for those that live with low vision, allowing them to use their vision to its fullest potential.

Does your design support sustainable production, embodying circular or regenerative design practices?: No solution works for everyone. So we have to make sure that people with different pathologies test the product. We are creating a network of institutions and low vision people to do user research and user testing. (we partnered with a Nossa Senhora dos Anjos Rehabilitation Center).

Does your design use principles of distribution and open source?: More than a browser and API will be free to use. Visionary is meant to be a bridge between digital content and people with low vision. A customizable interface will allow users with different types of visual impairment to have an experience made just for them.

Does your design promote awareness of responsible design and consumption?

Impact for visually impaired people: Increasing access to information, education, products, and services increased autonomy and a sense of belonging to the community.

Impact for companies: Greater market reach, increased brand awareness, improved brand perception.