I jumped straight to strobe lights and kind of stalled there for a bit.
Start by clarifying the goal and constraints, then segment users by degree of hearing loss and context (home, workplace, public spaces). Propose a multi-modal alert system that combines visual, tactile, and smart-home integration, and prioritize features using impact vs. effort. Conclude with success metrics and potential risks.
Pro tip: Emphasize that accessibility features designed for deaf users often benefit everyone (e.g., visual alerts in noisy environments), and mention the importance of co-designing with the deaf community to avoid assumptions.
Ask questions to understand the scope: is this for a single building, a campus, or a smart home? What budget, regulatory, and technical constraints exist? Who are the exact users (deaf, hard of hearing, with or without cochlear implants)?
Break down users by degree of hearing loss, age, tech-savviness, and environment (home, office, public space). Identify key scenarios: sleeping, working, in a noisy area, or alone.
Generate ideas across visual (flashing lights, strobe, screens), tactile (vibration on wearables, bed shakers), and digital (smartphone push, smart home integration) channels. Consider redundancy and personalization.
Use a framework like RICE or impact/effort to prioritize. Define a minimum viable product that covers core safety needs, then plan iterations for advanced features like AI sound recognition.
Propose metrics: alert latency, reliability, user satisfaction, adoption rate. Identify risks: false alarms, power outages, privacy concerns, and accessibility of the solution itself.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.