Optimized Cross Walk Push Button
Create a functioning Pedestrian Activated System Push Button with directional haptics for a mock intersection in the “Medford Supercollider”
The Need
An intersection in Fellsway, Medford, is aptly named the “Medford Supercollider” due to the large amount of surrounding crossings and streets. In particular, the intersection has exposed flaws with the current Pedestrian Activated Systems (PAS) present that assist with pedestrian crossings. The intersection features seventeen different pedestrian crossings with inconsistencies in the PAS used and crossings that do not adhere to regulation. The current PAS can be difficult to hear over traffic or even other PAS’s nearby, are sometimes misaligned with the crossing, has poor wayfinding communication, has crowded information, and is lacking in some part with being accessible to all people. In regards to regulation, in some areas the PAS is placed out of reach, and certain pathways pose a tipping hazard. Some pedestrians do not utilize the PAS.
The Solution
We will address this problem by building our own version of a push button with some more accessible features. The key feature of this button will be three haptic feedback vibrators that go off in a sequence to indicate the direction the user needs to go. This will help in wayfinding, as one of the major problems we saw at the interaction was that it was sometimes difficult to intuit which button corresponds to which direction, which this feature seeks to fix. The vibrators will be placed underneath the button which will be a rectangle instead of a circle, and they will be sectioned off with shock absorbent material, such as foam. This is to keep each part’s vibration distinct so they don’t all blend together when they go off. We also plan on adding more visual feedback by adding both more lights and making them more dynamic to the current state of the intersection.
The Team
Isaac Fong
Nathaniel Pyo
Wendy Quizhpi
Michael Ambrozie