Knock Knock Watch

What it does

Knock Knock Watch can receive sound signals within 3 metres. When the decibel level is too high, the watch will alert the hearing-impaired user by flashing a red light, displaying the location where the sound originated, and vibrating.

Your inspiration

The decision to solve the problem stemmed from observing the significant daily frustrations and safety risks faced by the hearing-impaired indoors, like missing crying babies. The Knock Knock watch originated key insights: leveraging a watch for constant, mobile access; utilising proven haptic vibration for tactile alerts; incorporating visual cues and address text for clarity and information; employing distributed sensors for comprehensive home coverage; enabling sound source localisation by correlating sensor triggers. This integrated approach directly addresses the core need for independence, safety, and timely information.

How it works

This invention is a tactile-visual reminder system designed for the hearing-impaired. It consists of a watch and a sound sensor. The watch is composed of a dial cover and a display screen integrated together. The interior of the dial cover is equipped with a vibration motor and a smart cloud platform. The vibration motor is used to make the watch vibrate. The sound sensor can be installed at various positions indoors and can transmit the sound signals within 3 metres through Wi-Fi to the smart cloud platform embedded in the watch. When the decibel level exceeds 60 dB, the smart cloud platform in the watch will light up a red light, display the name of the location where the sound was generated, and trigger the vibration. This helps the hearing-impaired people to promptly understand any abnormal changes in their home and take appropriate actions.

Design process

First, I conducted in-depth interviews with people with hearing impairments to understand the problems they face. Then, I analysed the limitations of the existing alarm systems, such as the flashing lights. Finally, I identified the core requirements of this design: mobile alarm, sound recognition, and source location. Initial concepts explored wearable forms, settling on a watch for its constant contact and vibration potential. Prototype 1: A basic wristband with a single vibration motor and one remote microphone sensor. Testing revealed insufficient information – users could not distinguish “what” triggered the alert or “where” it originated. Prototype 2: Added multiple sensors placed in key home areas (door, kitchen, nursery). The watch screen now displayed simple address text. Testing improved source identification but showed users struggled with ambiguous codes and missed alerts during activity. Prototype 3: Implemented a high-contrast UI with color-coded alerts (red for critical sounds like alarms) alongside clear text labels ("FRONT DOOR"). Iterative user testing refined the tactile feedback clarity and interface intuitiveness, leading to the final integrated system prioritising reliable, multi-sensory, location-specific alerts without complexity.

How it is different

Knock Knock uniquely addresses the critical unmet needs of the hearing-impaired by delivering precise, actionable alerts where others fall short. Unlike single-location flashing lights or generic pagers, our solution provides whole-home, room-level localisation ("Kitchen Alarm"), resolving the fundamental challenge of knowing where sounds originate. We combine context-specific multi-sensory feedback: synchronised vibration patterns, high-contrast colour-coding, and clear address text instantly identifying what is happening (doorbell vs. baby cry). Crucially, it operates as a dedicated, out-of-the-box system, offering reliable coverage anywhere at home. This integrated focus on safety-critical awareness (alarms, cries), spatial clarity, and effortless understanding directly tackles users' daily anxieties and need for independence, preserving autonomy without complex setups.

Future plans

Next Steps: Refine sound classification algorithms using machine learning to better distinguish complex sounds (e.g., specific alarm types, crying patterns). Optimise sensor battery life and network reliability. Conduct extended real-world user trials focusing on diverse home environments. Future Goals: Achieve seamless smart home integration (e.g., triggering lights or HVAC shutdown during fire alarms). Develop predictive alert capabilities by learning user routines. Enable customisable multi-user profiles and remote caregiver notifications.

Awards

Red Dot: Best of the BestRed (Dot Award: Design Concept 2024)