Toco
Hot pot series for visual impired people
Wenzhou Kean University
Student Project - Team Work
March - May, 2025
Toco includes an entire product line aimed at making cooking safer and more enjoyable for people with visual impairments. Included in the set are a hotpot, a cutting board, and four baskets, which are all connected through common touch points and magnets.
Desk Research
China has one of the largest visually impaired populations in the world.
For many visually impaired users, cooking is a daily activity that requires high levels of independence, precision, and safety.
This makes the kitchen a critical space for design intervention.
User Research
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Cut
Users often need long-term adaptation to master basic kitchen tasks.
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Time Control
Heat control relies heavily on experience rather than clear feedback.
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Explore
Complex cooking procedures discourage users from exploring new recipes, such as hot pot.
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Pain Point - Safety
1. Easily scalded
2. Knives may cut me
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Pain Point - Lack of Feedback
1. Hard to control time
2. No clear cooking status
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Pain Point - Process Complexity
1. Too many steps
2. Hard to get the food
Different shapes of the handle and baskets were 3D printed and tested by users to obtain the final size and shape. The handle of baskets is designed in four shapes: hexagonal, square, circular and triangular for easy distinction.
1
Call friends to eat.
2
Open the lock.
3
Cut the food.
4
Collect the food.
5
Open the hot pot.
6
Heat the basket.
7
Start the timer.
8
Take food after the ring.
9
Wash pot after sound.
10
Store the Toco.