1. Fang-Lin Chao and Ja-Der Lin
Interdisciplinary Communication and Green Design Decisions Making - Case Study of Smart Cane Design
G8-09
Fang-Lin Chao and Ja-Der Lin
Department of Industrial Design, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taiwan R.O.C
Smart Cane is an RFID based guidance for elderly with visual disabilities. The detection range and correction rate had been improved. But the reader and antenna in front of cane might get damaged during usage. Zigbee with a multi-sensory environment can know and navigate through the surroundings. The special proximity sensor nodes are embedded in the tactile paving. The smart cane informs the location or navigation information with the user through his/her PDA via a Bluetooth headset. The environmental life cycle evaluation of these approaches was conducted qualitatively.
RFID prototype.
Different tactile paving
Smart cane guidance
Life cycle of tactile paving
Location-encoded RFID tags are embedded in the tactile pavings (Fig. 3). By equipping the standard white cane with an RFID reader, the iCane informs the user about location or navigation information through his/her PDA with Bluetooth headset.
smart guidance techniques give active warnings through voice or body-touch by information technology to knowing the surrounding environment. This can provide more required information and reduce the number of tiles required.
individual tiles build in factory
treatment process
assembly and transportation
distribution to sale endpoints
in site placement and surface preparation
maintenance and replacement
Recycle and reuse
Green design decision making
For smart cane, the supporting network and system which provided information need extra energy [7], consequently, the major parts that can contribute within the life cycle is the use phase. The manufacturing phase impact can also be minimized by proper selection of technology and part. The major green design considering span is shown in Table 1.
Concept 2: Zigbee wireless paving node
Manufacture
Use
Recycle
System o
Circuit
Battery
Frame
Concept 1: RFID antenna
The HF RFID utilizes magnetic field induction to read. Improved detection distance, magnetic material and layout. Miniature electronic configuration, RF antenna efficiency, reliability, weight
Extend antenna reading distance to 50cm. The antenna be damaged by the surrounding.
The specific proximity communication nodes are embedded in the tactile paving path. By equipping the standard white cane with a Zigbee wireless node, the smart cane communicates location or navigation information with the user through voice signal. Proximity communication nodes which transfer signal through metal parts
Summary
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan, ROC, under grant NSC E MY2.
Comparing with traditional tactile pavings on the street, the use of RFID and Zigbee requires less material, and there is less interference to other people. Requires more maintenance and the system extends domain to networking. This increases the complexity in LCA evaluation. Sustainable innovation must balance between demand, technology and resources. In order to meet the dynamic balance of environmental sustainability, green innovation is needed in the initial stages of product concept design.