Designing for: Technology & Innovation with Lotus Labs (Season 5, Episode 2)

By: Janet Roche & Carolyn Robbins Hosted By: Janet Roche Edited by: Jessica Hunt Guest: Dhaval Patel, Lotus Labs Photo Credit: Lotus Labs Inclusive Designers Podcast: Accessibility is often an afterthought in product design. Even tech with the potential to be game-changing for folks with disabilities, often isn’t designed with them in mind. Is a hybrid of Inclusive, Universal and Human-centered Design the key to solving this problem? IDP explores how to improve the design process with Dhaval Patel of Lotus Labs. We’ll hear about their innovative ‘Lotus Ring’ that aims to prove this theory and serve as an example that the process really can work! Guest: Dhaval Patel- is the founder and CEO of Lotus, a company whose mission is to build technology that is useful to everyone, by optimizing for disability first. To that end, Lotus has built a wearable Ring that controls objects at home by pointing. Formerly, Dhaval was a division leader at Apple, working in their iPhone, Apple Watch & AirPod divisions. He has 37 patents in sensing & haptics. His work at Apple inspired him to build technology that helps everyone, but could be especially life changing for disabled persons, seniors, and veterans. “Legacy. What is Legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”  – Quote from ‘Hamilton: An American Musical’ – Contact: Dhaval Patel (Linked In) – References:  Lotus Labs Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Activities of daily living are activities related to personal care. They include bathing or showering, dressing, getting in and out of bed or a chair, walking, using the toilet, and eating. Universal vs Inclusive Design: Unlike inclusive design, which highlights individual differences, universal design focuses on the similarities all people share. Universal design is the practice of designing usable products that don’t require adaptations. User Experience (UX) Design: User experience (UX) design is the process design teams use to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. UX design involves the design of the entire process of acquiring and integrating the product, including aspects of branding, design, usability and function. IDP Discusses ‘Design Crimes’ with Ed Warner, Motionspot MotionSpot – Accessible Hotel Design Hotel Brooklyn, Manchester, UK Transcript: Designing for: Technology & Innovation with Lotus Labs,                                        (Season 5, Episode 2) Guest: Dhaval Patel, Lotus Labs (Music / Open) Janet: In this series we will be discussing specific examples of design techniques that make a positive difference for people living with certain human conditions. Carolyn: The more a designer understands the client and or the community the more effective and respectful the design will be. (Music / Intro) Janet: Welcome to Inclusive Designers Podcast...