Finlay Duncan

About

I am a designer, maker and salt enthusiast from Edinburgh. Prior to joining the RCA I completed a BSc degree in chemistry, and I am fascinated by the process of bridging these two worlds. I am a strong advocate of interdisciplinary design and seek out projects that draw from many different perspectives.  

Since starting IDE, my work has focused on sustainable materials and solutions, interaction design and human centred design. Along with three other IDE students, I co-founded SaltyCo, a startup looking to tackle water consumption in the textiles industry by creating materials from seawater-grown plants (see: saltyco.uk ).  

SaltyCo Awards

'Creative and Consumer' Heat Winner and Finalist 'Mentors Award' Winner, 2020, Venture Catalyst Challenge  

Semi-finalist, 2020, London Mayor’s Entrepreneur Environment Award (Ongoing) 

Runner-Up ‘Design for Social Impact’, 2020, Core77  

4th Place Community Award 2020, Green Concept Award  

SaltyCo Exhibitions 

Mars: Designing for the Red Planet Symposium, the Design
Museum, 2020 

Architect at Work (Material Driven), Bilbao, 2020  

Green Product Award Exhibition, IHM Munich, 2020 (Cancelled)

SaltyCo WIP Showcase, The Royal College of Art, 2020  

SaltyCo WIP Showcase, Imperial College London, 2020  

Degree Details

Statement

StaticType is a new typing system for users with physical disabilities. It allows people with conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy to type faster and with greater comfort.

Carrying out such a user-centred project during the COVID-19 lockdown brought a number of challenges. It is particularly difficult to develop a physical interaction without constant testing and feedback from users. To do so, I found new methods of working remotely to receive as much input as possible. By sharing photos and videos of my progress, it was possible to get users thinking about new ideas and offering feedback. With vulnerable individuals nearing the end of a third month in strict lockdown, the value of digital interaction was clearer than ever. People were eager to communicate with friends and family, whilst staying productive and fulfilled day-to-day. Motivated by this, I found users more than willing to discuss new concepts and for that I am very grateful. 

Prior to StaticType, my work was mainly centred around environmental sustainability. I developed new materials, including a rigid foam from sawdust waste and freshwater-free textiles with SaltyCo (see above). I am also interested in designing for repair and longevity and created a system for easily diagnosing faults in consumer devices. StaticType allowed me to step away from this and practice new design processes, where the user is both the starting point and the focus throughout. 

Typing With Physical Disabilities

Physical demands of typing
Physical demands of typing — Although it can be easy to forget, our digital lives rely entirely on physical devices and for users with impaired motor skills this presents a significant challenge. Access to technology and the internet is hugely valuable and yet there is often a feeling that they have been left behind. Typing is a particular pain point due the physical demands of using a keyboard. Without any impairments, frequent computer users can type 50- 100 words per minute. For users with severe motor impairments, this figure is more like 3-5 WPM and rarely above 10.

Generally, people type very slowly using a conventional keyboard or, most often, use a cursor to click letter by letter on an on-screen keyboard. They have seen very little innovation in terms of novel, accessible solutions and generally make do with the best they can find within existing technologies. There has been a need to develop an option that rethinks both typing and physical form to suit the abilities of these users.

StaticType

Device for single finger use
Device for single finger use — offers adaptability through different orientations of the device.
Device for whole hand control
Device for whole hand control — a range of interchangeable adaptors are available to enable a comfortable fit for all hand types.
Keyboard layout
Keyboard layout — keyboard has been redesigned to offer fewer buttons that are better spaced and easier to reach. Letters are grouped to minimise ambiguity around the intended word.

StaticType is designed to make the most out of the movements available to people. By using ‘swipe’ or ‘dwell-free’ typing, the user controls gestures, instead of rigid movements and this saves time. To direct the interaction, I designed a device that provides a strong feeling of control with even the smallest movements. Two devices were created: one for single finger control and another for use with the whole hand.

I believe that by bringing in this element of adaptability and choice to digital devices, it is possible to fill the gap between the highly customised and the rigid form of our everyday electronics. For people with physical disabilities, this is the sort of flexibility needed for technology to become truly inclusive.

Prototyping: Control

Interaction
Interaction — I refined the feel of the interaction to maximise control and accuracy.
Accuracy
Accuracy — StaticType use force-based interaction to minimise the effects of inaccurate movements or tremors.

Prototyping: Form

Form hand control
Form hand control — The form of the device places a strong emphasis on adaptability and comfort. This is crucial, as all users are unique and will use technology in many positions and environments. Here I created a range of adapters based on the hand shapes associated with different conditions.
Form finger control
Form finger control — This simple pebble form allows for use in multiple orientations to suit flat and curved hand shapes.
Functional prototype
Functional prototype — Form and interaction developed through constant testing for comfort and usability.

Accessible Technology

Direct access
Direct access — Choosing the right accessible technology solution often requires specialist advice and the recommended products can be costly. StaticType is cheap to produce, allowing users to access it directly.
Online resource
Online resource — By providing easy-to-use resources online, it would be simple for users to find something that suits their needs based on their own knowledge of their abilities. Even allowing for a clear visual search by hand shape (or any other symptom) is surprisingly something I haven’t seen in accessible technology products. Searching and understanding these things is currently a bit of a dark art and this is something that needs to change for more people to start accessing the digital world.