Designed for Applied Minds, LLC. | 2015
How do you sell long-term care insurance to a young generation? Build an age simulation suit.
The R70i is an augmented reality experience. Participants put on a suit with an AR helmet that simulates hearing and vision impairment, and an exoskeleton that simulates joint and mobility limitations.
I designed the audio simulation, which required months of research, mock-ups, and prototypes developed in consultation with otolaryngologists and other hearing specialists. The system modeled presbycusis, tinnitus, and reduced speech discrimination in noise, along with disrupted speech fluency — reproduced by delaying the wearer's own voice in the headphones so participants experienced the effect firsthand rather than merely hearing it described. Simulations were validated against the standard speech intelligibility tests clinicians use to score hearing loss.
The suit debuted at the Aspen Ideas Festival and was featured on national news programs.
Early mock-up and testing
Demonstration Exhibit
The applicant also provided AV design, show control programming, and operation of the traveling exhibition set. This set was used to provide demonstrations of the suit and its effects. Telemetry data is sent from the suit and displayed on large monitors. EASERA was used to visualize hearing defects in real-time as they are applied to the participant wearing the suit.
Smaller demonstration tables allowed guests to try on the headphones and VR headset to experience the vision and hearing defects first hand.
