A Earpiece-Phone Combo for the Blind

Who would've thought a phone for the blind could work for everyone else?

Made for an LG Electronics design contest, the Loop cell phone is a two-piece number designed with features for the visually-impaired. The main unit is a clip that attaches to the user's clothes or a lanyard, while the wireless earpiece is actually the smaller piece that detaches.

On the earpiece is an OLED display that also conducts heat. The dots become slightly warm to the blind operator's touch, allowing for a dynamic Braille feedback system. The user can dial numbers using a jog wheel integrated into the main unit, where the on-off switch is also built-in.

Looks good, and probably sounds even better. Designer Andres Parada apparently set out to reduce the cell phone to its most basic functionality, while integrating controls based on contemporary technology to make things easier for the blind. In the fact the controls seem so straightforward that even the visually-able can benefit from them.

The only question is if Mr. Parada can use the momentum of winning a design award to turn his creation into an actual working product for the retail market. Will the Loop become a consumer product, or languish online like so many other design concepts? Only time will tell, dear readers, so stay tuned for updates—if any are become available.

The Loop, mobile phone for the visually impaired