David Quinn's Posts - bespoken2024-03-29T12:43:39ZDavid Quinnhttp://www.bespoken.me/profile/DavidQuinnhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/979629824?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.bespoken.me/profiles/blog/feed?user=1xgeo7qxk9abw&xn_auth=noBlackwood Design Awards 2018/19 Judging Day Videotag:www.bespoken.me,2019-05-24:6411014:BlogPost:743412019-05-24T15:22:14.000ZDavid Quinnhttp://www.bespoken.me/profile/DavidQuinn
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">With the success of last weeks Blackwood Design Awards it seems only fitting that we made a video from the day! </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Watch the full thing below: </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NMmi0MFQtEk?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">With the success of last weeks Blackwood Design Awards it seems only fitting that we made a video from the day! </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Watch the full thing below: </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NMmi0MFQtEk?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</span></p>The Blackwood Design Awards 2018/19 Judging Daytag:www.bespoken.me,2019-05-22:6411014:BlogPost:740952019-05-22T16:00:00.000ZDavid Quinnhttp://www.bespoken.me/profile/DavidQuinn
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650903990?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650903990?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a></p>
<p>Another year and it was another successful Blackwood Design Awards.</p>
<p>Held in Datalabs conference room in the magnificent Bayes Centre in the heart of Edinburgh’s University campus it was a setting fit for the occasion.</p>
<p>Judges arrived from across the country at mid-day:</p>
<p><strong>Toby Mildon</strong> – A diversity and Inclusion…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650903990?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650903990?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Another year and it was another successful Blackwood Design Awards.</p>
<p>Held in Datalabs conference room in the magnificent Bayes Centre in the heart of Edinburgh’s University campus it was a setting fit for the occasion.</p>
<p>Judges arrived from across the country at mid-day:</p>
<p><strong>Toby Mildon</strong> – A diversity and Inclusion specialist and former BBC Ouch blogger whom braved the British rail network to visit us from London (only 10 minutes late!).</p>
<p><strong>George Baxter</strong> – the chief executive of Edinburgh Innovations.</p>
<p><strong>Maggie Killin</strong> – Blackwood tenant, scrutiny panel member and former Paralympian.</p>
<p><strong>Tina Gordon</strong> – the disability talent and pathways manager for Basketball Scotland – a wheelchair basketball coach recently named coach of the year at the Scottish Women in Sport Awards.</p>
<p><strong>Ryan MacDonald</strong> – housing adviser and previously the Ambassador Network Manager at Euan's Guide, a fantastic resource for those with disabilities.</p>
<p><strong>John Logan</strong> – Blackwood tenant and Scrutiny panel member – he is passionate about independent living and design.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650939369?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650939369?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>After the judges arrived we the day we had a tour of the building – introducing us to the open plan offices, a merging of innovative and academic thinking, creating a beautiful environment that reflects the values of the University of Edinburgh.</p>
<p>Another part of the Bayes building was their robotics facility – on display on the bottom floor was the robots of the future and although there was fears of the robot uprising, luckily it didn’t happen just then to interrupt the Blackwood Design Awards.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650986831?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650986831?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>First judging of the day was for Best New Product a run of voting for each product and then a group discussion. On the shortlist we had the guidance aid <strong><a href="https://rambletag.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RambleTag</a></strong> on their meteoric rise from their successful Kickstarter last year, the <a href="https://www.activehands.com/product/small-item-aid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Small Items Gripping Aid from Active Hands</strong></a> building upon their already successful premise, and <a href="https://www.bemyeyes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Be My Eyes</strong></a> a video app that connects the visually impaired with a sighted volunteer over video – allowing for help with anything from expiry dates, distinguishing colours or navigating surroundings.</p>
<p>RambleTag was praised for the simplicity and elegance, Active Hands for it’s ease of use in swapping items and practical evolution of a product. It was very close but it was Be My Eyes that won the day. The judges spoke very positively on this interactive, digital and global solution for the visually impaired.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2651910355?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2651910355?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>Next we had the Best New Concept category – where our entrants Skyped in and pitched dragon den’s style, with a quick pitch and then a Q & A session.</p>
<p>We had <strong><a href="https://www.enayball.com/whatisenayball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enayball</a>,</strong> an adaptation that allows a wheelchair user to paint – effectively turning the wheelchair into a mark-making device and the <strong><a href="https://aircradle.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AIR CRADLE ® Patient Transfer System</a></strong> a revolutionary alternative to slings and hoists.</p>
<p>Enayball was born from giving creativity back to people that no longer physically could and AIR CRADLE was continuing the legacy of the famous inventor David Garman. Both products were great entries and it was nice to see two concepts against each other that both wanted to enhance the lives of those with disabilities yet different in their execution.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2651921133?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2651921133?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>Both fared well but Enayball caught the imagination of the judges and was declared the winner of best concept.</p>
<p>After a short coffee break the judges got straight into the last category of the day.</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2651959385?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2651959385?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p>The final round of judging was the <strong>Best Collaborative Project by a University or Institute of Higher Learning</strong> – with two local competitors with PHD student <strong>Scott MacLeod</strong> from <strong>Heriot Watt University</strong>, Edinburgh and his Assisted Daily Living assessment project and a group of product design students from <strong>Napier University</strong>, Edinburgh with their design for a functional tablet holder.</p>
<p>The tablet holder was magnetic, multi jointed and designed to attach to a wheel chair and throughout the home of someone with a disability.</p>
<p>Scott MacLeod’s project was utilising Pepper the humanoid robot designed to detect emotions.</p>
<p>Scott’s project utilised Pepper as a live-in assessor for those perhaps in the early stages of dementia or neurological conditions, allowing for a less intrusive and stressful format for diagnosis. Essentially Pepper would ask the user to do things such as make a cup of tea or locate an object commonly used – this allowed for a prognosis in helping caregivers, family and doctors to accurately assess if an individual’s level of living independently.</p>
<p>Scott won the group discussion and the category with his project, it being the most effective for independent living with real world benefits that will be tangible in the near future.</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650904974?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2650904974?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>It was a great day! A big thank you to the staff and judges that made it along, and of course to all the entrants that put their products, concepts and projects on the line for our judges.</p>
<p>Congratulations to our winners:</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Enayball</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Scott MacLeod and Heriot Watt University </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Be My Eyes</strong></span></p>
<p>The Blackwood Design Awards 2019/20 will be open for entries late 2019!</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2651964500?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2651964500?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>The Blackwood Design Awards 2018/19 Shortlist Finalists!tag:www.bespoken.me,2019-05-10:6411014:BlogPost:730782019-05-10T15:00:00.000ZDavid Quinnhttp://www.bespoken.me/profile/DavidQuinn
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408539535?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408539535?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a></span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BDA 18/19 Finalist Shortlist</span> </span> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s the shortlist time…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408539535?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408539535?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BDA 18/19 Finalist Shortlist</span> </span> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s the shortlist time for Blackwood Design awards 2018/19 and we’ve got a fair few fantastic concepts and products that our judges will debate and discuss at the University of Edinburgh next week!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">First of all for those in the <strong>Best New Product</strong> category we have:</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://rambletag.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RambleTag</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The simple, practical and effective RambleTag – a guide aid for those with visual impairment. With it’s humble beginnings as an elastic knee brace and luggage handle prototype to a fully fledged product that can be found in football clubs and airports across the land. It adds a safer element for a visually impaired person and their guide than linking arms.</span></p>
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<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GsU9Lhq_Da8?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.activehands.com/new-active-hands-small-item-gripping-aid-launches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Small Item Gripping Aid from Active Hands</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The small active gripping takes Active Hands’ already proven premise but smaller! Consisting of two parts – a glove and a Velcro palm pad with a plastic clamp capable of holding small items.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You can hold a paintbrush, mascara wand, pens and pencils, a razor, toothbrush – with the Velcro attachment these can all be easily interchangeable - all ideal for enabling personal care and aiding independence in daily living.</span></p>
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<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6No27HqsuaU?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.bemyeyes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Be My Eyes</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Be My Eyes is bringing sight to blind person and low vision people. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A person that signs up as a helper gets a notification whenever a visually impaired person needs help – it could be to describe a photo, give directions or solve a problem - using a videocall can assist to the best of their ability.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is a wonderful example of pooling digital goodwill. </span></p>
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<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6GRfFuWsjNU?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For <strong>Best New Concept:</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.enayball.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enayball</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Creators of Enaybal Pete and Eli believe in the power of creativity, and believe that it is a human right. With this clever device a wheelchair user is able to turn their wheelchair into a mark making object, this allows a person to work on a floor placed canvas creating amazing pieces of art that previously would never be able to. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408005903?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408005903?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left"/></a> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://aircradle.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Air Cradle</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">An interesting and innovative solution to helping someone into a sitting position. Using a series of simple manoeuvres and an air fillable chair a user can lift someone safely, securely and comfortably from a bed into a chair all without a hoist.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">David E. T. Garman Concepts Ltd believe this product will revolutionise the way we move people. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408228690?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408228690?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and finally for <strong>Best Collaborative Project by a University or Institute of Higher Learning </strong>we have: </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Cognitive Assessment from Activities of Daily Living</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Scott Alexander MacLeod </strong> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Heriot Watt University </strong> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott Alexander Macdonald is a PhD student working in the area of Ambient Assisted Living – detecting and analysing the daily activities of older people with Alzheimer’s Disease and cognitive impairments.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott is developing a system for cognitive assessment utilising robotics and sensors – allowing for a thorough yet nonintrusive assessment of older persons faculties, their abilities and finally further independent living.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408408263?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408408263?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Flexible Tablet Holder</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Edinburgh Napier University </strong> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span>Aoife Keeling, John Aisthorpe, Jonathon Duguid, Michael Andrew </span></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A flexible tablet holder from a group of student product design students as part of their design module.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Easy to manoeuvre and designed with Blackwood’s bespoken tablet based care system in mind, it allows absolute freedom and comfort to the user. With the capacity for wireless charging, a magnetic handle and the option to attach to a wheelchair it proves a simple solution to current market alternatives.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408422343?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2408422343?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>Disabled Access Day 2019tag:www.bespoken.me,2019-03-22:6411014:BlogPost:689182019-03-22T13:14:27.000ZDavid Quinnhttp://www.bespoken.me/profile/DavidQuinn
<p>It was Disabled Access Day on Saturday the 16th of March so we braved the snow and delayed trains to visit<span> …</span></p>
<p>It was Disabled Access Day on Saturday the 16th of March so we braved the snow and delayed trains to visit<span> </span><a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghAirport/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARAoFQ_b2zqbI1C-t33IsfZo_5Qt49vxaTUXoecp1uGEjwe6KSfnHS5ELMki4bDkejAQq574EMODM6RH&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAOVUfxq5IAfD4sCwpUOnYBxjp-DQw0aqEelgqIr6wOcsvttRIVkw7wDpBbciodaMndOU5xl9j5VM_mQelo1V94EQyiQQpXttw3aqz0HgFfK3TDSN6T1jnUqd7IAsmR6y5NCSFN2raj5oIHCHy17my5lX779zPwWX9fxsFxCR8aPS_lirCbmHT_9gmrdrtb72IHHaPtaqYE32MqhLBbstDwolxWizfrPPy87wXQm1ObMroRXQu2kARJynVpiR6Xe3KyO0YcKqyjkHfDJJHCf5ybAWlBkRfLyHJwJvnpgWLkBKUWo-wMnjGt85uGMhpZ3t3UvGUBryMw3fhI_NXYZf6ZLOyjdyJHbAxM_A">Edinburgh Airport</a><span> </span>where we found<span> </span><a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/NeateboxLtd/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARB6xpO-6cfHvM34AdHAJMiaXuP8-hHDKam6MrjkczRBzToScJsndyP9PSmrueaPSCMevP_Bql7kTgMg&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAOVUfxq5IAfD4sCwpUOnYBxjp-DQw0aqEelgqIr6wOcsvttRIVkw7wDpBbciodaMndOU5xl9j5VM_mQelo1V94EQyiQQpXttw3aqz0HgFfK3TDSN6T1jnUqd7IAsmR6y5NCSFN2raj5oIHCHy17my5lX779zPwWX9fxsFxCR8aPS_lirCbmHT_9gmrdrtb72IHHaPtaqYE32MqhLBbstDwolxWizfrPPy87wXQm1ObMroRXQu2kARJynVpiR6Xe3KyO0YcKqyjkHfDJJHCf5ybAWlBkRfLyHJwJvnpgWLkBKUWo-wMnjGt85uGMhpZ3t3UvGUBryMw3fhI_NXYZf6ZLOyjdyJHbAxM_A">Neatebox Ltd</a><span> </span>and Blackwood Design Awards entrant<span> </span><a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/Ramble-Tag-723824144645615/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARDBJiqWV0udADhnY0cYeDcnSf_zgaa02Y_bi1CrDwKTjoq85rwpGf4KSV17Bf-efLxxfrLy9OYn79Gz&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAOVUfxq5IAfD4sCwpUOnYBxjp-DQw0aqEelgqIr6wOcsvttRIVkw7wDpBbciodaMndOU5xl9j5VM_mQelo1V94EQyiQQpXttw3aqz0HgFfK3TDSN6T1jnUqd7IAsmR6y5NCSFN2raj5oIHCHy17my5lX779zPwWX9fxsFxCR8aPS_lirCbmHT_9gmrdrtb72IHHaPtaqYE32MqhLBbstDwolxWizfrPPy87wXQm1ObMroRXQu2kARJynVpiR6Xe3KyO0YcKqyjkHfDJJHCf5ybAWlBkRfLyHJwJvnpgWLkBKUWo-wMnjGt85uGMhpZ3t3UvGUBryMw3fhI_NXYZf6ZLOyjdyJHbAxM_A">Ramble Tag</a> showing off their fantastic accessibility products and solutions!</p>
<p>We had visits from the public,<span> </span><a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/SCOVINews/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARA17uvipxPhqwLiLTa9xUUnG8Vh0jniEgg8mAxNfikVEly6A6CE1NQWD7_ohLV9hG-GE09BSgC6uNlU&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAOVUfxq5IAfD4sCwpUOnYBxjp-DQw0aqEelgqIr6wOcsvttRIVkw7wDpBbciodaMndOU5xl9j5VM_mQelo1V94EQyiQQpXttw3aqz0HgFfK3TDSN6T1jnUqd7IAsmR6y5NCSFN2raj5oIHCHy17my5lX779zPwWX9fxsFxCR8aPS_lirCbmHT_9gmrdrtb72IHHaPtaqYE32MqhLBbstDwolxWizfrPPy87wXQm1ObMroRXQu2kARJynVpiR6Xe3KyO0YcKqyjkHfDJJHCf5ybAWlBkRfLyHJwJvnpgWLkBKUWo-wMnjGt85uGMhpZ3t3UvGUBryMw3fhI_NXYZf6ZLOyjdyJHbAxM_A">SCOVI - The Umbrella Body for Vision Impairment in Scotland</a><span> </span>and<span> </span><a class="profileLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/EuansGuide/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARBgwe-U_kDwoCK9Gc3eNoYQJivqqtP2ReXminfaBkzpeQNd7yARVDMPll60Ul6yXggAyWIlKRCZ48dW&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAOVUfxq5IAfD4sCwpUOnYBxjp-DQw0aqEelgqIr6wOcsvttRIVkw7wDpBbciodaMndOU5xl9j5VM_mQelo1V94EQyiQQpXttw3aqz0HgFfK3TDSN6T1jnUqd7IAsmR6y5NCSFN2raj5oIHCHy17my5lX779zPwWX9fxsFxCR8aPS_lirCbmHT_9gmrdrtb72IHHaPtaqYE32MqhLBbstDwolxWizfrPPy87wXQm1ObMroRXQu2kARJynVpiR6Xe3KyO0YcKqyjkHfDJJHCf5ybAWlBkRfLyHJwJvnpgWLkBKUWo-wMnjGt85uGMhpZ3t3UvGUBryMw3fhI_NXYZf6ZLOyjdyJHbAxM_A">Euan's Guide</a><span> </span>as well - it was a super day so enjoy this wee video!</p>
<p>There was plenty of laughs and some great discussi<span class="text_exposed_show">on about the future of accessibility and how crucial it is. Here's to continuing the great work these organisations do!</span></p>
<p><span class="text_exposed_show"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JIZSA_RjRe4?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</span></p>Ramble Tag - a Blackwood Design Awards Entrytag:www.bespoken.me,2019-02-06:6411014:BlogPost:687042019-02-06T16:30:00.000ZDavid Quinnhttp://www.bespoken.me/profile/DavidQuinn
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/978970872?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/978970872?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>Ramble Tag is one of the entries to our Blackwood Design Awards and yet is already something of a success story. From it's fairly humble beginnings as two neighbours dog walking and an old luggage handle to a successful Kickstarter to a fully fledged product already being used in major airports in the UK. </p>
<p>It's innovation is in it's simplicity…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/978970872?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/978970872?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Ramble Tag is one of the entries to our Blackwood Design Awards and yet is already something of a success story. From it's fairly humble beginnings as two neighbours dog walking and an old luggage handle to a successful Kickstarter to a fully fledged product already being used in major airports in the UK. </p>
<p>It's innovation is in it's simplicity and it's practical application. Many products these days are technical - we've been impressed before with products almost out of science fiction; apps that can monitor your health, 3D printed p<span>rostheses</span> and wheelchairs that can be steered with your eye movement. All of these are of course fantastic but it's worth taking the time to step back and approach an problem with ingenuity without the bells and whistles of modern day technology. </p>
<p>Essentially Ramble Tag is an arm harness with a handle that a person can wear to guide someone visually impaired instead of linking arms, which can be clumsy affair for all that have tried it. The harness creates a sense of confidence in the user allowing for a wee bit more freedom and takes away the danger of miss-footed stumbles leading to a two person pileup. </p>
<p>It's one of those things where you go "Why hasn't this been done before?" </p>
<p>Well it has now. </p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/979519731?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/979519731?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>The Blackwood Design Awards are happy to have this entry from Ramble Tag but we are very keen to for more entries!</p>
<p>If you have an idea for a product you can enter <strong>Best New Concept</strong>, do you use a product that helps you everyday reach out to the company and make them aware of our <strong>Best New Product</strong> awards, or are you a university student interested developing something that improves lives you can enter the <strong>Best Collaborative Project</strong>! </p>
<p>You can find out more about the competition <strong><a href="http://www.bespoken.me/forum/topics/blackwood-design-awards-2018-19-now-live-and-accepting-entries?xg_source=activity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></strong></p>
<p>You can find out more about the Ramble Tag <strong><a href="https://rambletag.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></strong></p>
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<p>This post was made on behalf of Tom from Ramble Tag as his visual impairment makes it difficult for him to operate the blog function on this site. If you would like your own entry to the BDA's a little bit of promotion either here or on our social media - please get in touch! </p>
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