Heather's Bench

Skills and Tools

Sketching -Solidworks – FDM Printing – Silicone Moulding- design for plastics manufacture- user interface design – C++

Audiobook docking station and speaker

In 2012, Vision Australia were looking to convert their physical media library to a digital/steaming concept. However, the bulk of their users were using the Daisy brand audiobook reader, which used physical media.

The project covers a new way for the vision impaired to access audiobooks online without a computer. The design features a horizontal dock for mounting a portable DAISY player, as well as USB and SD for non-supported devices. The devices uses the DAISY online protocol to transfer files to and from the online library and the DAISY player.

A key requirement for this project was that buttons and card slots be easily identified by touch, leading to a design with large tactile buttons and a wide cradle to suit the portable ereader

The outcome was a representative prototype with a 3D printed housing (designed for plastic injection) with working audio, powered by an arduino. 

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