Hi Ronan
A tactile communication system empowering a nonverbal blind autistic child to express himself independently
CATEGORIES
Assistive Interaction
Hardware Prototyping
Inclusive Design
TOOLS
Cursor Vercel SolidWorks 3D Printing
CLIENT
Ronan Morrison
TEAM
Individual Work
CLIENT
Ronan Morrison
TIME
Aug 2025 – Jan 2026
Individual Work
TEAM
Individual Work
MENTOR
Cecily Morrison, Microsoft
Who is Ronan?
Ronan Morrison is 12 years old boy. He has congenital blindness, autism, and coordination and speech challenges — to most people, he appears unable to communicate.
But when his hands are placed on a keyboard, he types independently, cracks jokes, and holds deep, thoughtful conversations.
Problem
Existing assistive technologies leave him in a painful gap: AAC devices (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) for non-speakers rely heavily on visual interfaces, while tools for blind users don't support non-verbal communication needs. No existing solution was built for someone like Ronan.
Solution
Hi Ronan is an inclusive communication system combining custom tactile hardware and emotionally responsive software, designed around one specific user's needs.
"Not a concept. Not a prototype. Ronan uses it every day."
Yinyin Zhou
Hi Ronan
A tactile communication system empowering a nonverbal blind autistic child to express himself independently
CATEGORIES
Assistive Interaction
Hardware Prototyping
Inclusive Design
TOOLS
Cursor Vercel SolidWorks 3D Printing
CLIENT
Ronan Morrison
TEAM
Individual Work
CLIENT
Ronan Morrison
TIME
Aug 2025 – Jan 2026
Individual Work
TEAM
Individual Work
MENTOR
Cecily Morrison, Microsoft
Who is Ronan?
Ronan Morrison is 12 years old boy. He has congenital blindness, autism, and coordination and speech challenges — to most people, he appears unable to communicate.
But when his hands are placed on a keyboard, he types independently, cracks jokes, and holds deep, thoughtful conversations.
Problem
Existing assistive technologies leave him in a painful gap: AAC devices (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) for non-speakers rely heavily on visual interfaces, while tools for blind users don't support non-verbal communication needs. No existing solution was built for someone like Ronan.
Solution
Hi Ronan is an inclusive communication system combining custom tactile hardware and emotionally responsive software, designed around one specific user's needs.
"Not a concept. Not a prototype. Ronan uses it every day."
Yinyin Zhou
Hi Ronan
A tactile communication system empowering a nonverbal blind autistic child to express himself independently
CATEGORIES
Assistive Interaction
Hardware Prototyping
Inclusive Design
TOOLS
Cursor Vercel SolidWorks 3D Printing
CLIENT
Ronan Morrison
TEAM
Individual Work
CLIENT
Ronan Morrison
TIME
Aug 2025 – Jan 2026
Individual Work
TEAM
Individual Work
MENTOR
Cecily Morrison, Microsoft
Who is Ronan?
Ronan Morrison is 12 years old boy. He has congenital blindness, autism, and coordination and speech challenges — to most people, he appears unable to communicate.
But when his hands are placed on a keyboard, he types independently, cracks jokes, and holds deep, thoughtful conversations.
Problem
Existing assistive technologies leave him in a painful gap: AAC devices (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) for non-speakers rely heavily on visual interfaces, while tools for blind users don't support non-verbal communication needs. No existing solution was built for someone like Ronan.
Solution
Hi Ronan is an inclusive communication system combining custom tactile hardware and emotionally responsive software, designed around one specific user's needs.
"Not a concept. Not a prototype. Ronan uses it every day."
Yinyin Zhou
User Research
Interviewed four key people in Ronan's life. Mapped Ronan's support system and analyzed existing communication methods, alongside four categories of assistive technology tools.
User Research
Ronan's circle
User Research
Understanding the System
Communication Methods
Keyboard Analysis
Interactive Tools
User Research
Stakeholder Map
How familiar different people are with Ronan and
how much impact they have on his experience.
Stakeholder Map
Stakeholder Map Analysis
User Research
Tools Comparison Matrix
Expressiveness × Learning
Speed × Learning
User Research
Insights
Ronan communicates best when his environment is calm and tools are familiar, intuitive, and built specifically for him.
User Research
Design Strategy
Design an integrated communication system that combines tactile guidance with emotionally expressive digital interaction, enabling stable, joyful, and portable communication.
Hardware
Portable & Tactile-Friendly Design
Hardware
Portable & Tactile-Friendly Design
• Hand Stability Aid: Soft strap or pressure band to guide hand movement without restriction
• Tactile Cues: Stickers or raised bumps for faster key recognition
• Integrated Device: 3D-printed housing combining keyboard and rotatable phone mount
• Soft Base: Cushioned underlay for use on lap, table, or floor
• Carrying Options: Wearable design—shoulder bag or front harness for mobility
Hardware
Portable & Tactile-Friendly Design
• Hand Stability Aid: Soft strap or pressure band to guide hand movement without restriction
• Tactile Cues: Stickers or raised bumps for faster key recognition
• Integrated Device: 3D-printed housing combining keyboard and rotatable phone mount
• Soft Base: Cushioned underlay for use on lap, table, or floor
• Carrying Options: Wearable design—shoulder bag or front harness for mobility
Software
Emotionally Expressive & Easy to Use
Software
Emotionally Expressive & Easy to Use
• Auto Start: Instantly accessible interface
• Customizable AAC Shortcuts: Personalize phrase buttons for one-tap speak
• Typing Support: Auto-correction + word suggestions
• Custom Voice: Personalized tone settings
• Offline Ready: Works without internet
• Message History: Browse and replay past messages with arrow keys; delete with one click
Software
Emotionally Expressive & Easy to Use
• Auto Start: Instantly accessible interface
• Customizable AAC Shortcuts: Personalize phrase buttons for one-tap speak
• Typing Support: Auto-correction + word suggestions
• Custom Voice: Personalized tone settings
• Offline Ready: Works without internet
• Message History: Browse and replay past messages with arrow keys; delete with one click
Prototyping
The prototype integrates Ronan's preferred keyboard with his smartphone into a single portable unit, powered by a locally hosted communication system designed specifically for him.
Prototyping
Hardware
Prototyping
Software
User Testing
User testing was conducted on August 17 2025 afternoon at the Microsoft Boston office
User Testing
Feedbacks
After taking the device home and testing it for three days, Ronan gave me the following feedback
Positive
• Ronan really likes the device
The screen part works very well and helps people communicate with Ronan more effectively
The current frame design is almost perfect
• The device's orientation design is
good, preventing flipping and
ensuring ease of use
• Ronan really likes the device
The screen part works very well and helps people communicate with Ronan more effectively
The current frame design is almost perfect
The device's orientation design is good, preventing flipping and ensuring ease of use
Negative
• The device is too bulky for
outdoor/mobile use.
Backspace is mute and hard to use.
Repeated key presses sometimes register multiple times.
Hand fixation and wearing method should be simpler.
Hard to reach the delete key.
“Where’s my device?”
Ronan Morrison
After three days of testing, I took the prototype back
—and Ronan kept asking
Iteration
Based on Ronan's feedback, the hardware was made lighter and more portable, while the software was updated to better support independent and error-free typing.
Hardware
• Removed the strap; redesigned
padding to be detachable.
Strap now connects directly to the keyboard, while padding is for indoor use. For outdoor use, setup is simplified and more portable.
Optimized phone holder design for greater durability and stability.
Use Nylon 3D printer material For long-term use where durability, drop resistance, and light weight.
Software
• Option key can now be set as a
delete key in Settings.
Fixed the issue where pressing the Space bar twice produced a “.”
Added function for Option and Delete key to read the previous character aloud.
• Enhanced space bar to read the last
full word before inserting a space,
allowing timely error correction.
Hardware
• Removed the strap; redesigned
padding to be detachable.
Strap now connects directly to the keyboard, while padding is for indoor use. For outdoor use, setup is simplified and more portable.
Optimized phone holder design for greater durability and stability.
Use Nylon 3D printer material For long-term use where durability, drop resistance, and light weight.
Software
• Option key can now be set as a
delete key in Settings.
Fixed the issue where pressing the Space bar twice produced a “.”
Added function for Option and Delete key to read the previous character aloud.
• Enhanced space bar to read the last
full word before inserting a space,
allowing timely error correction.
Final Design
Through 3 keyboard base redesigns, 8 phone holder prototypes, and more software iterations than I can count, Hi Ronan finally came to life. The complete hardware experience requires a phone and custom keyboard, but the software can be explored directly on desktop.
Try It →
Takeaways
Lessons
Accessibility design cannot be solved in isolation. Every decision, from font size to audio feedback timing, required input from people who understood Ronan's world far better than I did. The best design choices came from listening, not assuming.
Lessons
Accessibility design cannot be solved in isolation. Every decision, from font size to audio feedback timing, required input from people who understood Ronan's world far better than I did. The best design choices came from listening, not assuming.
Tradeoffs
Portability vs. Comfort The cushioned base worked indoors, but was too bulky outside — so it was removed. A phone's weight also made it more practical than an iPad for Ronan to carry independently.
Durability vs. Flexibility A clip-based holder fit different phones, but broke easily with repeated use. I switched to a magnetic ring mount — more durable, and easier to detach for charging.
Feature Richness vs. Learning Curve Voice feedback, quick phrases, and custom settings increase independence — but complexity raises cognitive load. The core path stays minimal: one Tab key to switch modes. Advanced settings are for caregivers, not Ronan.
Tradeoffs
Portability vs. Comfort The cushioned base worked indoors, but was too bulky outside — so it was removed. A phone's weight also made it more practical than an iPad for Ronan to carry independently.
Durability vs. Flexibility A clip-based holder fit different phones, but broke easily with repeated use. I switched to a magnetic ring mount — more durable, and easier to detach for charging.
Feature Richness vs. Learning Curve Voice feedback, quick phrases, and custom settings increase independence — but complexity raises cognitive load. The core path stays minimal: one Tab key to switch modes. Advanced settings are for caregivers, not Ronan.
Future Directions
Hi Ronan is built around one belief: communication should require as little friction as possible. Today, that means a keyboard, a phone. But brain-computer interface research points to a future where users like Ronan could generate speech directly from neural signals — no hands, no screen, nothing to carry. The goal was never the device. It was always Ronan's voice.
Future Directions
Hi Ronan is built around one belief: communication should require as little friction as possible. Today, that means a keyboard, a phone. But brain-computer interface research points to a future where users like Ronan could generate speech directly from neural signals — no hands, no screen, nothing to carry. The goal was never the device. It was always Ronan's voice.
More works
Thank you for viewing my work
Let’s build something meaningful
©Yinyin Zhou 2026. All rights reserved.
Created by Yinyin Zhou
Thank you for viewing my work
Let’s build something meaningful
©Yinyin Zhou 2026. All rights reserved.
Created by Yinyin Zhou
Thank you for viewing my work
Let’s build something meaningful
©Yinyin Zhou 2026. All rights reserved.
Created by Yinyin Zhou