Keith Kirkland
Co-founder and Head of Haptics + Customers Success at WearWorks
New York, New York, USA / African-American/Black
👨 he/him/his
🎓 M.I.D. in Industrial and Product Design from Pratt Institute, B.F.A. in Accessories Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University
😁 When Keith was six-years-old, he dreamed of becoming a Japanese sword maker. He moved to Japan to study abroad when he was 33 and met one of the greatest sword-makers alive. Keith discovered that it takes eight years to become a licensed sword maker. He then decided that he wanted to do something to help humanity rather than becoming a sword maker.
Keith builds products and experiences that communicate information through touch, including a wearable device that helps the blind and visually impaired safely navigate their surroundings using vibrations.
WATCH & DISCUSS
Video: Access+Ability: Wayband by WearWorks
What problem does the Wayband solve?
Most apps use the senses of sight and/or sound while Wayband uses the sense of touch. What problems could be solved by a technology that would use touch or smell or taste?
OTHER RESOURCES
ARTICLES
Keith’s Bio (Civic Hall)
About the Wayband (Closing the Gap)
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
What can your students create to increase accessibility for someone? (Makey Makey required.)
ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF
