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Jim Toggweiler’s blind friendly Bass Guitar Amplifier looks like ET’s first cousin

Bass Guitar Amplifier

This ET-like amplifier may be a little whimsical to look at but the gizmo is designed as an alternative to touring-centric bass amps. Created to suit non-professional home users, the amp is equally accessible by both sighted and blind bass guitar players. Blind people cannot interact with visual indicators like LED output monitors and values around knobs.

Therefore, it is hard for them to differentiate between knobs as they are identical in shape and size thus rendering the craft of amp tuning virtually impossible to master without assistance. The Bass Guitar Amplifier from Jim Toggweiler looks to condense and simplify these functions and controls, replacing them with a more ergonomic system that allows the interface to be accessible to people without sight. Though it is not something you usually bring in a live setting like the huge rigs – refer to Music Critic – for concerts we usually see, the upside is you can bring it anywhere you like as is it very portable.

The amp was constantly tested with a research group that provided feedback on the ease of interaction and accessibility of features. The problem of the blind not being able to use knobs effectively was countered by giving each knob a clicking sound which increases and decreases in volume when users turn it. This lets the blind hear the value they are setting instantly.

The layout of the control panel was maintained in the left-to-right orientation with the typically cubic built-in speakers being housed in a rounded frame. The amp’s structure allows users to tilt it up to 30 degrees from the ground so they can easily use it while sitting. This frees blind users from having to bend down for long periods while they use their hands to navigate around the interface getting the setting right.

A 3mm hex key lets users raise and lower the two threaded legs of the amplifier adjusting them in range of angles. The amp’s body is finished in wood with a matching cover that can be fitted over the control panel to protect the interface during storage and travel.

Source: Jim Toggweiler

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