Designing Assistive Technology: Empowering Smartbox Users Through Innovation

With our expertise in designing assistive technology, we enabled Smartbox to overcome their customisation challenges, enhancing users’ lives by making their communication more efficient.
Health Tech Assistive Technology
Outcomes
Our role in designing assistive technology solutions led to significant enhancements in Smartbox users’ lives. The improved communication capabilities provided by the second screen proved to be highly valuable in various situations, promoting user independence and better quality of daily life.
What we did:
  • Collaborated with Smartbox in designing and prototyping a retrofit second screen for the existing Grid Pad 12 tablet.
  • Worked alongside Smartbox on successful user testing and feedback collection.
  • Assisted Smartbox in the manufacturing of their new product.
  • Helped find a supplier of an antimicrobial additive for moulded plastics.
Product Design Prototyping User Testing Manufacturing Support
The Challenge

For over 15 years, Smartbox Assistive Technology has been creating innovative solutions to help disabled individuals communicate and lead independent lives. However, they encountered challenges in meeting the growing demand for customised products, particularly for their Grid Pad 12 tablet. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, these challenges were further heightened by manufacturing and component sourcing difficulties and increased concern about virus transmission via devices. Smartbox needed to design a second screen for the Grid Pad 12 tablet, allowing the user’s speech to be visually displayed. This addition would enhance communication clarity and accessibility, but required specific design expertise and resources.

What We Did

Responding to Smartbox’s needs, Ignitec brought together a multidisciplinary team to contribute to designing assistive technology solutions. We co-designed and prototyped a retrofit second screen for the existing Grid Pad 12 tablet. This design took into account Smartbox’s existing hardware and the components reliably available during the pandemic. Once a working prototype was ready, we worked with Smartbox on user testing and feedback. Following this successful phase, we assisted Smartbox in the manufacturing process using our network of approved partners. For added safety, we helped locate a supplier for an antimicrobial additive for moulded plastics, which would reduce the risk of virus transmission via the device’s surface.

Results

Designing assistive technology in partnership with Smartbox resulted in substantial improvements to user communication. The retrofit second screen became a critical tool for Smartbox users, proving valuable in a variety of environments. It offered clear visibility from different angles and enabled users to communicate effectively even in challenging settings. Although we didn’t have concrete numerical results, the impact was evident in the users’ daily lives. Our partnership with Smartbox demonstrated how designing assistive technology can make a significant positive difference to users’ independence and daily communication.

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  • James worked his ass off to get our project done

    Luke Cox Avatar Luke Cox
    26th September 2024

    Great engineers who understand your needs and work with you to make sure you’re happy with the end result, I would highly recommend Ignitec!

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    3rd August 2024

    It's been a great experience working with the product design teams at Ignitec over the last 9 years or so who are totally professional in everything they do. They come... read more

    Ian Fisher Avatar Ian Fisher
    18th July 2024

    Great team to work with. Real can-do attitude and lots of great suggestions. Thanks!

    Tom Marshall-Andrews Avatar Tom Marshall-Andrews
    28th February 2024
  • Ignitec were great to work with - they helped us from concept through to the delivery of the project, with great attention to detail and weekly check-ins that kept us... read more

    Adam Stark Avatar Adam Stark
    16th February 2024

    It's rare to find a company so driven to please its customers. Ignitec have bent over backwards to help us get our fledgling product off the ground. The project hasn't... read more

    Zeke Steer Avatar Zeke Steer
    3rd August 2023

    Ben and his team are just brilliant. In terms of quality, cost and every other important metric, Ignitec really deliver. Every encounter becomes a discussion with loads of good advice... read more

    UltraMarine Safety Avatar UltraMarine Safety
    17th May 2023

    Ben and his team are just brilliant. In terms of quality, cost and every other important metric, Ignitec really deliver. Every encounter becomes a discussion with loads of good advice... read more

    UltraMarine Safety Avatar UltraMarine Safety
    17th May 2023
  • I have worked with the Ignitec team for several years on many different projects and would highly recommend them to anyone in need of truly creative ideas and cutting edge... read more

    Christian Thorne Avatar Christian Thorne
    14th August 2022

    Great guy's very friendly professional organisation

    Kev Parkin Avatar Kev Parkin
    14th June 2020

    A great company to work for with some of the best talent in the design industry.

    Dean Challis Avatar Dean Challis
    14th June 2019

    A friendly and professional team, would gladly work with them again!

    Steve Bills Avatar Steve Bills
    14th June 2018
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Need Help Designing Assistive Technology?

If you’re facing similar challenges as Smartbox and are looking for assistance in designing assistive technology, Ignitec is here to help. Let’s collaborate to create solutions that can positively impact the lives of your users.