BRINGING FOCUS TO INDEPENDENCE: A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON EVERYDAY LIFE Imagine trying to navigate your daily life with a permanent fog in your vision—everything is just slightly out of reach, not quite clear enough to fully grasp. This is the reality for millions of people living with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) or other forms of low vision. Tasks that once seemed mundane, like reading a recipe card, checking the expiration date on a carton of milk, or setting the right temperature on the oven, become monumental challenges. It’s as if the world has become an intri- cate puzzle, and the pieces are forever shifting. But what if there was a way to bring that puzzle into focus, piece by piece, until the whole picture became clear again? “The right tool for the job” is the old saying that can be applied to assistive devices for those in need. Use the proper tool for the task at hand was the design challenge for people with AMD and low vision. The task at hand was to design an assistive device that could empower visually challenged people to keep their independence. Within Sight’s approach is design where innova- tion meets empathy, and where tools are designed not just to function, but to transform lives. At WithinSight LLC, we believe that the right tool can illuminate the path to independence, and we’ve made it our mission to create that tool for those whose vi- sion has become obscured by AMD and low vision. Our journey led us to develop the WS1, a device that doesn’t just aid sight—it empowers independence. A CLOSER LOOK AT AMD: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT To understand the importance of assistive technology like the WS1, it’s essential to grasp the scope of the challenges posed by AMD and low vision. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 20 million Americans aged 40 and over are affected by AMD. This condition primarily impacts the elder- ly, with the prevalence skyrocketing among those aged 80 and above, where 35% of individuals experience some degree of vi- sion loss due to AMD. But statistics can only tell part of the story. The real impact of AMD is felt in the day-to-day struggles of those living with it. Imagine a grandmother who can no longer read her favor- ite books or a grandfather who struggles to see the faces of his grandchildren. The emotional toll of losing the ability to engage with the world in the way one is accustomed to can be profound. That’s why assistive devices are more than just tools—they’re lifelines, offering a way to reconnect with the world and regain a sense of self-sufficiency. SHINING A LIGHT ON THE PROBLEM: THE BIRTH OF WITHINSIGHT The inspiration behind WithinSight’s WS1 came from a deeply personal place—a desire to help my mother maintain her inde- pendence as she battled AMD. My mother has always been the
heart of our family, especially in the kitchen, where she spent countless hours crafting meals and baking treats. But as her macular degeneration progressed, the tools she had relied on for years, like her old tech desktop magnifier, were no longer up to the task. Watching her struggle to read recipes or adjust the oven’s temperature was heartbreaking. It was clear that she needed something more—a device that could help her see clearly and continue doing what she loved without relying on others. After my father passed away, my mother’s vision struggles became even more pronounced. Without her partner by her side who were her eyes, the loss of her sight became more than a physical challenge—it was an emotional burden as well. She was frustrated, feeling as though her independence was slip- ping away. It was then that I knew I had to do something. I set out to create a device that would restore her ability to see clearly and, with it, her confidence and autonomy. THROUGH MY MOTHER’S EYES: DESIGNING FOR REAL NEEDS Designing the WS1 was a journey that began by stepping into my mother’s shoes—or rather, by seeing through her eyes. Peo- ple with AMD often experience difficulty when trying to focus di- rectly on an object, as central vision is typically the first be affect- ed. However, peripheral vision can sometimes provide a way to navigate the world. For my mother, this meant she needed large, high-contrast text displayed at a distance that she could comfort- ably see without straining her remaining vision. People with AMD have a difficult time seeing when looking directly at something. Many see their central vison as being out of focus or blurry while others see a gray or dark area. They may also see from their peripheral vision depending on the severity of AMD. To read things from ones peripheral vision, the items need to be magnified and have good contrast and brightness. My mother’s particular need for reading text was for her to be within a few feet of a monitor and the text needed to be at least 3 to 4 inches in height on the screen. But her needs didn’t stop at just the visual aspects. My mother, like many seniors, isn’t comfortable with computers, complicat- ed software, or the internet. She wanted something simple—no bells and whistles, no steep learning curve, just a straightforward device that she could use intuitively. The WS1 needed to be dura- ble enough to withstand the rigors of a kitchen environment but also user-friendly enough to operate without a manual. FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY: BUILDING THE FIRST WS1 PROTOTYPE The first step in bringing the WS1 to life was creating a pro- totype that prioritized simplicity and usability. The goal was to make the technology work for the user, not the user trying to figure out how to use a device. We started by combining a cam- era with a wireless receiver, both powered by a powerful sin-
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