okay hello everyone my name is Yong soo and I’m very excited to share story of
and I’m very excited to share story of
and I’m very excited to share story of my team’s journey of promoting inclusive
my team’s journey of promoting inclusive
my team’s journey of promoting inclusive design to help people with disabilities
design to help people with disabilities
design to help people with disabilities gain their independence and confidence
gain their independence and confidence
gain their independence and confidence just like many other entrepreneurs our
just like many other entrepreneurs our
just like many other entrepreneurs our journey started with a question and the
journey started with a question and the
journey started with a question and the question that triggered our journey was
question that triggered our journey was
question that triggered our journey was this what time is now a question
this what time is now a question
this what time is now a question probably a question that you asked the
probably a question that you asked the
probably a question that you asked the most throughout the day so when it
most throughout the day so when it
most throughout the day so when it started when I was a graduate student
started when I was a graduate student
started when I was a graduate student and one of my classmate was blind and
and one of my classmate was blind and
and one of my classmate was blind and when advised that next to him he had to
when advised that next to him he had to
when advised that next to him he had to poke me and whispered to me to ask the
poke me and whispered to me to ask the
poke me and whispered to me to ask the time and as it happened over and over
time and as it happened over and over
time and as it happened over and over again a question I questioned why does
again a question I questioned why does
again a question I questioned why does they have to ask me this 21st century
they have to ask me this 21st century
they have to ask me this 21st century and then I quickly realized that all the
and then I quickly realized that all the
and then I quickly realized that all the watches and clocks that I use or we see
watches and clocks that I use or we see
watches and clocks that I use or we see require vision maybe that’s why we call
require vision maybe that’s why we call
require vision maybe that’s why we call it a watch so I looked at him and he was
it a watch so I looked at him and he was
it a watch so I looked at him and he was wearing a watch
wearing a watch
wearing a watch and it was digital watch so I wondered
and it was digital watch so I wondered
and it was digital watch so I wondered how he uses it so after the class I
how he uses it so after the class I
how he uses it so after the class I asked him about the watch and it is this
asked him about the watch and it is this
asked him about the watch and it is this one it turned out is a talking watch you
one it turned out is a talking watch you
one it turned out is a talking watch you press a button and it speaks out the
press a button and it speaks out the
press a button and it speaks out the time out loud obviously you couldn’t use
time out loud obviously you couldn’t use
time out loud obviously you couldn’t use this during during the class because it
this during during the class because it
this during during the class because it is audibly a disruptive and everyone
is audibly a disruptive and everyone
is audibly a disruptive and everyone knows that you’re checking time which
knows that you’re checking time which
knows that you’re checking time which can be quite embarrassing so I asked him
can be quite embarrassing so I asked him
can be quite embarrassing so I asked him is there any other options and the next
is there any other options and the next
is there any other options and the next day he brought me a different watch so
day he brought me a different watch so
day he brought me a different watch so it looks like a regular analog watch but
it looks like a regular analog watch but
it looks like a regular analog watch but you can open the cover glass to touch
you can open the cover glass to touch
you can open the cover glass to touch the hands but he said well I can really
the hands but he said well I can really
the hands but he said well I can really use this because whenever I touch the
use this because whenever I touch the
use this because whenever I touch the hands like the day either move or they
hands like the day either move or they
hands like the day either move or they break good so fragile I was quite
break good so fragile I was quite
break good so fragile I was quite surprised to learn that these are the
surprised to learn that these are the
surprised to learn that these are the two main options they have and people
two main options they have and people
two main options they have and people say well you can new they can use smart
say well you can new they can use smart
say well you can new they can use smart phones with the earphone but because
phones with the earphone but because
phones with the earphone but because they’re but for them being able to hear
they’re but for them being able to hear
they’re but for them being able to hear what’s happening around them is so
what’s happening around them is so
what’s happening around them is so important they having the ear
important they having the ear
important they having the ear the earphone plugged into ear all the
the earphone plugged into ear all the
the earphone plugged into ear all the time it’s not very good solution so I
time it’s not very good solution so I
time it’s not very good solution so I said well it’s time to solve the problem
said well it’s time to solve the problem
said well it’s time to solve the problem so I put together Tim with MIT engineers
so I put together Tim with MIT engineers
so I put together Tim with MIT engineers and the goal was to make a Braille watch
and the goal was to make a Braille watch
and the goal was to make a Braille watch for the blind you’ll have the Braille
for the blind you’ll have the Braille
for the blind you’ll have the Braille display and we worked really hard over a
display and we worked really hard over a
display and we worked really hard over a couple of months and when we had the
couple of months and when we had the
couple of months and when we had the concept prototype ready we have a
concept prototype ready we have a
concept prototype ready we have a meeting with 50 blind individuals we are
meeting with 50 blind individuals we are
meeting with 50 blind individuals we are very excited pumped up and we entered
very excited pumped up and we entered
very excited pumped up and we entered the room and we introduced ourselves and
the room and we introduced ourselves and
the room and we introduced ourselves and one person raised his hand and asked
one person raised his hand and asked
one person raised his hand and asked yong-soo all this good idea but do you
yong-soo all this good idea but do you
yong-soo all this good idea but do you know how many of us can read Braille I
said well I never looked up number but
said well I never looked up number but if not all of you maybe eight nine out
if not all of you maybe eight nine out
if not all of you maybe eight nine out of ten of you can read Braille
of ten of you can read Braille
of ten of you can read Braille he said well eight nine out of ten of us
he said well eight nine out of ten of us
he said well eight nine out of ten of us cannot read Braille I surprised I was
cannot read Braille I surprised I was
cannot read Braille I surprised I was surprised I doubted what I heard it was
surprised I doubted what I heard it was
surprised I doubted what I heard it was true only 10 to 20 percent of the blind
true only 10 to 20 percent of the blind
true only 10 to 20 percent of the blind people can read Braille is because many
people can read Braille is because many
people can read Braille is because many of them become blind at the later stage
of them become blind at the later stage
of them become blind at the later stage of their lives because of the due to
of their lives because of the due to
of their lives because of the due to disease or wound caused by the war but I
disease or wound caused by the war but I
disease or wound caused by the war but I didn’t know that so they will strike one
didn’t know that so they will strike one
didn’t know that so they will strike one another person then raised his hand and
another person then raised his hand and
another person then raised his hand and said whoa
said whoa
said whoa I can read Braille so let me ask you a
I can read Braille so let me ask you a
I can read Braille so let me ask you a different set of questions these are the
different set of questions these are the
different set of questions these are the questions they asked after how big is it
questions they asked after how big is it
questions they asked after how big is it we don’t like in a big chunky stuff
we don’t like in a big chunky stuff
we don’t like in a big chunky stuff what materia is it made out of well we
what materia is it made out of well we
what materia is it made out of well we don’t like things that are made out of
don’t like things that are made out of
don’t like things that are made out of but materials that feels cheap like
but materials that feels cheap like
but materials that feels cheap like plastic a next question what color is a
plastic a next question what color is a
plastic a next question what color is a strap let me just think standing there
strap let me just think standing there
strap let me just think standing there thinking who are these people
thinking who are these people
thinking who are these people I thought they are lying I thought they
I thought they are lying I thought they
I thought they are lying I thought they cannot see but then I quickly became
cannot see but then I quickly became
cannot see but then I quickly became really embarrassed too
really embarrassed too
really embarrassed too lies that I’ve wrongly assumed that they
lies that I’ve wrongly assumed that they
lies that I’ve wrongly assumed that they would care mostly about the
would care mostly about the
would care mostly about the functionalities but much less about the
functionalities but much less about the
functionalities but much less about the looks why did I assume positive
looks why did I assume positive
looks why did I assume positive correlations between not being able to
correlations between not being able to
correlations between not being able to see and not wanting to look good they
see and not wanting to look good they
see and not wanting to look good they wanted to look good just like everyone
wanted to look good just like everyone
wanted to look good just like everyone else so they will strike two
else so they will strike two
else so they will strike two and the next question was well is it
and the next question was well is it
and the next question was well is it only is it a design for the blind only
only is it a design for the blind only
only is it a design for the blind only and I say yes and expected a positive
and I say yes and expected a positive
and I say yes and expected a positive response this time because we all like
response this time because we all like
response this time because we all like special limited editions that we only we
special limited editions that we only we
special limited editions that we only we have but they said I’m sure we got it
have but they said I’m sure we got it
have but they said I’m sure we got it wrong again what we want is we want to
wrong again what we want is we want to
wrong again what we want is we want to wear watch that everyone wants to wear
wear watch that everyone wants to wear
wear watch that everyone wants to wear the label designed for the blind it
the label designed for the blind it
the label designed for the blind it focuses on the disabilities it builds a
focuses on the disabilities it builds a
focuses on the disabilities it builds a wall around them it separates them I
wall around them it separates them I
wall around them it separates them I never thought about that so they will
never thought about that so they will
never thought about that so they will strike three and we are out and after
strike three and we are out and after
strike three and we are out and after that the the meeting literally our
that the the meeting literally our
that the the meeting literally our concept prototype went into a trash bin
concept prototype went into a trash bin
concept prototype went into a trash bin we are trying to build something that we
we are trying to build something that we
we are trying to build something that we thought they needed but it was
thought they needed but it was
thought they needed but it was completely different from what they
completely different from what they
completely different from what they actually wanted we were building
actually wanted we were building
actually wanted we were building something out of the misconceptions and
something out of the misconceptions and
something out of the misconceptions and stereotypes that we had on them very
stereotypes that we had on them very
stereotypes that we had on them very extremely discouraged but did they
extremely discouraged but did they
extremely discouraged but did they didn’t stop after only criticizing our
didn’t stop after only criticizing our
didn’t stop after only criticizing our work they reached out back to me shows
work they reached out back to me shows
work they reached out back to me shows amazing they said young sue if you want
amazing they said young sue if you want
amazing they said young sue if you want to create something for us why don’t you
to create something for us why don’t you
to create something for us why don’t you invite us to work with you with your
invite us to work with you with your
invite us to work with you with your designers it made sense so I put
designers it made sense so I put
designers it made sense so I put together team again but this time not
together team again but this time not
together team again but this time not just with the engineers and designers
just with the engineers and designers
just with the engineers and designers but people with all different
but people with all different
but people with all different backgrounds abilities and disabilities
backgrounds abilities and disabilities
backgrounds abilities and disabilities and the goal was to make a wash that
and the goal was to make a wash that
and the goal was to make a wash that looks cool so everyone would regardless
looks cool so everyone would regardless
looks cool so everyone would regardless of your ability but you know
of your ability but you know
of your ability but you know disabilities they like it and you
disabilities they like it and you
disabilities they like it and you it is accessible to the blind so and
it is accessible to the blind so and
it is accessible to the blind so and while we’re doing it we realized that
while we’re doing it we realized that
while we’re doing it we realized that sighted people were excited about a
sighted people were excited about a
sighted people were excited about a watch that allow them to check time
watch that allow them to check time
watch that allow them to check time without having to look at the watch you
without having to look at the watch you
without having to look at the watch you know situations like meetings interviews
know situations like meetings interviews
know situations like meetings interviews dinner with the inlaws
dinner with the inlaws
dinner with the inlaws which I found really extremely useful
which I found really extremely useful
which I found really extremely useful why people are excited because they were
why people are excited because they were
why people are excited because they were part of the design process they were
part of the design process they were
part of the design process they were included and they felt connected so this
included and they felt connected so this
included and they felt connected so this is how it turned out time is indicated
is how it turned out time is indicated
is how it turned out time is indicated by two ball bearings once rotating the
by two ball bearings once rotating the
by two ball bearings once rotating the surface indicates minute a second ball
surface indicates minute a second ball
surface indicates minute a second ball bearing rotating on the side of the
bearing rotating on the side of the
bearing rotating on the side of the watch indicates the hour so you can
watch indicates the hour so you can
watch indicates the hour so you can either see them or touch them to check
either see them or touch them to check
either see them or touch them to check time and the hour markers are raised as
time and the hour markers are raised as
time and the hour markers are raised as well to help you tell in time thank you
every name did the Bradley timepiece we
every name did the Bradley timepiece we call it timepiece not watch because you
call it timepiece not watch because you
call it timepiece not watch because you don’t have to watch this to tell time
don’t have to watch this to tell time
don’t have to watch this to tell time and we named it after former former Navy
and we named it after former former Navy
and we named it after former former Navy lieutenant Bradey Schneider he lost his
lieutenant Bradey Schneider he lost his
lieutenant Bradey Schneider he lost his vision completely in Afghanistan 2011 he
vision completely in Afghanistan 2011 he
vision completely in Afghanistan 2011 he was serving as a bomb defuser there was
was serving as a bomb defuser there was
was serving as a bomb defuser there was an explosion but after his injury he
an explosion but after his injury he
an explosion but after his injury he persevered learning how to thrive in a
persevered learning how to thrive in a
persevered learning how to thrive in a world that was not built for the blind
world that was not built for the blind
world that was not built for the blind but not letting his blindness build a
but not letting his blindness build a
but not letting his blindness build a war around him he competed in the
war around him he competed in the
war around him he competed in the Paralympics the following year in
Paralympics the following year in
Paralympics the following year in swimming and the same day he lost his
swimming and the same day he lost his
swimming and the same day he lost his vision he won his first gold medal and
vision he won his first gold medal and
vision he won his first gold medal and now in Rio in 2016 is that a world
now in Rio in 2016 is that a world
now in Rio in 2016 is that a world record
and since then we have won many
and since then we have won many internationally renowned designer words
internationally renowned designer words
internationally renowned designer words such as if’ design awards German
such as if’ design awards German
such as if’ design awards German designer words red dot and we are proud
designer words red dot and we are proud
designer words red dot and we are proud to say that is one of the the permanent
to say that is one of the the permanent
to say that is one of the the permanent most recent permanent collections at the
most recent permanent collections at the
most recent permanent collections at the British Museum in London I’m not here to
British Museum in London I’m not here to
British Museum in London I’m not here to brag about my team’s work and I’m trying
brag about my team’s work and I’m trying
brag about my team’s work and I’m trying to brag about all the people who were
to brag about all the people who were
to brag about all the people who were who were collected before in design
who were collected before in design
who were collected before in design process and this is what you can
process and this is what you can
process and this is what you can accomplish when you include people who
accomplish when you include people who
accomplish when you include people who are often ignored in the design process
are often ignored in the design process
are often ignored in the design process they push you to think out of box design
they push you to think out of box design
they push you to think out of box design unique products and you can also win the
unique products and you can also win the
unique products and you can also win the mainstream market now the portion of our
mainstream market now the portion of our
mainstream market now the portion of our sales proceeds go to supporting these
sales proceeds go to supporting these
sales proceeds go to supporting these two amazing organizations that work
two amazing organizations that work
two amazing organizations that work really hard to improve the independence
really hard to improve the independence
really hard to improve the independence and confidence of the blind community
and confidence of the blind community
and confidence of the blind community the seeing-eye is the oldest a guide of
the seeing-eye is the oldest a guide of
the seeing-eye is the oldest a guide of schools in the world and kilometer blind
schools in the world and kilometer blind
schools in the world and kilometer blind trust they help blind children in East
trust they help blind children in East
trust they help blind children in East Africa improve their Braille literacy by
Africa improve their Braille literacy by
Africa improve their Braille literacy by providing brailers Braille papers and
providing brailers Braille papers and
providing brailers Braille papers and teaching them how to read and write in
teaching them how to read and write in
teaching them how to read and write in Braille and so this is and we launched
Braille and so this is and we launched
Braille and so this is and we launched through a crowdfunding campaign and our
through a crowdfunding campaign and our
through a crowdfunding campaign and our goal was $40,000 and we were
goal was $40,000 and we were
goal was $40,000 and we were successfully raised close to $600,000 we
successfully raised close to $600,000 we
successfully raised close to $600,000 we had over 4,000 supporters from 45
had over 4,000 supporters from 45
had over 4,000 supporters from 45 different countries and the reason that
different countries and the reason that
different countries and the reason that we are really happy about it was it’s
we are really happy about it was it’s
we are really happy about it was it’s not just a funding amount but it the
not just a funding amount but it the
not just a funding amount but it the fact that more than 95% of the
fact that more than 95% of the
fact that more than 95% of the supporters will purchase our or our a
supporters will purchase our or our a
supporters will purchase our or our a timepiece or they were sighted and they
timepiece or they were sighted and they
timepiece or they were sighted and they purchased it because they found our
purchased it because they found our
purchased it because they found our design unique beautiful and inclusive
so this is this is why I’m trying to
so this is this is why I’m trying to encourage all of you not just designers
encourage all of you not just designers
encourage all of you not just designers and engineers to think about the
and engineers to think about the
and engineers to think about the inclusive design people think that it is
inclusive design people think that it is
inclusive design people think that it is just something nice to have or it’s a
just something nice to have or it’s a
just something nice to have or it’s a luxury to have but to me it is a must
luxury to have but to me it is a must
luxury to have but to me it is a must think about what’s happening now in the
think about what’s happening now in the
think about what’s happening now in the world look at all the cool awesome
world look at all the cool awesome
world look at all the cool awesome electronic gadgets do you have there no
electronic gadgets do you have there no
electronic gadgets do you have there no doubt they’re awesome cool very helpful
doubt they’re awesome cool very helpful
doubt they’re awesome cool very helpful but they all started using touchscreen
but they all started using touchscreen
but they all started using touchscreen panels so if you can then use them if
panels so if you can then use them if
panels so if you can then use them if you cannot see them you cannot use them
you cannot see them you cannot use them
you cannot see them you cannot use them if you like bending machines microwave
if you like bending machines microwave
if you like bending machines microwave ovens remote control everything so
ovens remote control everything so
ovens remote control everything so people who are blind who have were
people who are blind who have were
people who are blind who have were interviewed when they need something
interviewed when they need something
interviewed when they need something instead of going through regular stores
instead of going through regular stores
instead of going through regular stores they have to go to the junk you store to
they have to go to the junk you store to
they have to go to the junk you store to find the outdated products because you
find the outdated products because you
find the outdated products because you know it comes with the big knobs and
know it comes with the big knobs and
know it comes with the big knobs and buttons they can fill but even those are
buttons they can fill but even those are
buttons they can fill but even those are disappearing quite quickly so they are
disappearing quite quickly so they are
disappearing quite quickly so they are left out now with an option which is to
left out now with an option which is to
left out now with an option which is to wait for the big electronics companies
wait for the big electronics companies
wait for the big electronics companies to come up with the limited editions and
to come up with the limited editions and
to come up with the limited editions and give them out for free or it’s so
give them out for free or it’s so
give them out for free or it’s so expensive is it practically impossible
expensive is it practically impossible
expensive is it practically impossible to purchase then without government
to purchase then without government
to purchase then without government subsidies or charity donations
subsidies or charity donations
subsidies or charity donations what’s more devastating is kids who are
what’s more devastating is kids who are
what’s more devastating is kids who are blind grow up with it getting so used to
blind grow up with it getting so used to
blind grow up with it getting so used to receiving things for free receiving help
receiving things for free receiving help
receiving things for free receiving help all the time necessarily they lose their
all the time necessarily they lose their
all the time necessarily they lose their confidence and independence and it
confidence and independence and it
confidence and independence and it further reinforces the SIRT types and
further reinforces the SIRT types and
further reinforces the SIRT types and misconceptions that people with
misconceptions that people with
misconceptions that people with disabilities helpless they are not
disabilities helpless they are not
disabilities helpless they are not they’re less capable which is by the way
they’re less capable which is by the way
they’re less capable which is by the way absolutely not true they just have
absolutely not true they just have
absolutely not true they just have different way of doing things so I hope
different way of doing things so I hope
different way of doing things so I hope that we can encourage more people again
that we can encourage more people again
that we can encourage more people again not just the designers and engineers to
not just the designers and engineers to
not just the designers and engineers to think about more about the
think about more about the
think about more about the design because it can significantly help
design because it can significantly help
design because it can significantly help people who are different people with
people who are different people with
people who are different people with disabilities their gain their
disabilities their gain their
disabilities their gain their independence and confidence back
independence and confidence back
independence and confidence back thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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