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Designing an Accessible Home for Mobility-Impaired Individuals

Role: UXR, Data Analyst, Interviewer, Prinicpal Designer

The objective of this project was to design a smart home that integrates affordable, easy-to-implement technologies to enhance accessibility, autonomy, and safety for individuals with mobility impairments—while avoiding costly renovations.

The Problem

  • Many homes lack accessible features, creating risks such as falls, reduced independence, and increased reliance on caregivers.

  • High costs of assistive technologies and renovations limit adoption, leaving accessibility gaps.

  • Users often abandon devices if they don’t deliver clear utility and satisfaction over time.

Goals

  • Design a solution under a $300 budget that improves daily routines and safety without requiring structural changes.

  • Leverage smart technologies (voice assistants, sensors, lighting automation) to enhance independence and comfort.

  • Support a wide range of mobility impairments (wheelchair, walker, cane users).

  • Build a design that emphasizes practicality, affordability, and ease of use for both homeowners and guests.

Research Questions

  • What low-cost smart home technologies best improve accessibility for individuals with mobility impairments?

  • How can daily routines be automated to reduce reliance on physically demanding tasks?

  • What features enhance both safety (e.g., fall prevention, emergency response) and comfort (e.g., lighting, navigation)?

  • How can solutions be designed to balance affordability, usability, and long-term adoption?

Methods

  • Literature Review: Researched predictors of successful adoption of smart devices, including perceived usefulness, ease of use, and continued satisfaction.

  • Design Constraints: Budget capped at ~$300; prioritized automation and safety over structural renovation.

  • Solution Development:

    • Selected and configured smart devices (voice assistants, motion sensors, leak detectors, smart bulbs, light strips, switches).

    • Designed routines (lighting changes by time of day, automated on/off triggers, emergency notifications) to support health outcomes and prevent accidents.

    • Created recommendations for future improvements (e.g., additional motion sensors, security cameras, simplified manual overrides).

  • Prototype: Produced a system map of devices, placement, and routines to demonstrate the integrated home environment.

Results

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  • Delivered a complete accessible home design plan using affordable smart technologies.

  • Automated lighting routines aligned with circadian rhythms to promote health and reduce fall risks (e.g., motion-triggered hallway lighting at night).

  • Increased safety with leak detectors and Alexa Emergency Assist for real-time alerts.

  • Improved daily autonomy with voice-activated assistants in high-traffic areas and motion-triggered lights across key rooms.

  • Stayed within budget while achieving meaningful quality-of-life improvements.

  • Recommended future enhancements (security cameras, additional motion sensors, manual switches) for expanded coverage and flexibility.

Impact

The project demonstrated how affordable smart technologies can transform accessibility in everyday homes without costly renovations. By automating key routines and reducing risks, the design:

  • Increases independence for mobility-impaired individuals.

  • Enhances safety, comfort, and peace of mind for both residents and caregivers.

  • Provides a scalable model for accessible housing that balances practicality, affordability, and long-term usability.

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