Cochlear implants (CIs) are electronic devices that replace the function of a damaged inner ear in people with profound hearing loss. The latest iteration of the CI, offered by Cochlear Americas, is the Nucleus 6, which has an option for a \u201cRemote Assistant\u201d that lets users adjust settings wirelessly. The Remote Assistant is meant to give users greater control over their sound settings. Instead, users report that its user interface is difficult to navigate and time consuming to operate.<\/p>\n
In describing what makes clear interaction design, Gillan Crampton Smith lists the following:<\/span><\/p>\n Judging the usability of the Remote Assistant based on the qualities Smith outlines, it is clear that the design does not offer users a clear mental model, nor is it easy to navigate. Instead, the onus is on the user to learn and memorize the functions of the Remote Assistant. The Remote Assistant uses linear navigation that requires users to click through many screens to make adjustments to volume or sensitivity. The linear navigation is problematic because it is difficult for users to know \u201cwhere they are\u201d unless they have the order memorized. The icons and language used in the interface do not clearly inform users of their functions. Obfuscation of functions goes against Don Norman\u2019s characteristics of good design: discoverability and understanding (Norman, 2013).<\/span><\/p>\n In the case of a bilateral CI user (a CI recipient who has CIs in both ears), it takes seven steps to reach the screen that allows the user to change the volume of their left ear. If the same CI user wants to adjust the sensitivity of the left ear, it takes ten steps. If a user has a microphone accessory, the user can control the volume of the microphone input, but it takes 14 steps.<\/span><\/p>\n In my explorations addressing the usability of the current UI, I explore the concept of a UI that exists on many connected devices. These mini-design explorations look at the most commonly changed variables: volume and sensitivity.<\/span><\/p>\n In looking at ways to expand the idea of what a hearing device is supposed to do, I went a step further to explore elements of \u201csuper hearing.\u201d What if the user could block out the sound of a blender and make a friend\u2019s voice louder? I explored the concept of a noise blocking feature that allows users to visualize their soundscape and select sounds they would like to either block or enhance.<\/span><\/p>\n In my research, I conducted interviews with many hearing device users, and identified shared struggles for inspiration. My interviews revealed that even with this incredible technology, it is difficult for users to follow along what is being said in a crowd or in a noisy environment. <\/span>Scriber <\/b>is a feature that uses voice recognition software to offer users a real time and saved transcription of the world around them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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