ULTRAWEAR & UTRAWALK

Ultrawear & Ultrawalk, wearable technological devices created by Augem Technologies, were engineered to provide independence, safety, and autonomy to people with visual impairments by detecting obstacles above the waist (such as tree branches, open windows, and hanging cables) that traditional white canes cannot reach.
Through physical ergonomics, housing structural redesign, and user-centered testing, the original fragile prototype evolved into a robust, discrete, functional, and market-ready device.

This progression supported the success on winning 1st Place at Talent Land 2022 Startup Battle and secured a deal on Shark Tank México (2023).

My Role

Lead Industrial Designer

Timeline

September 2021 – August 2022

Tools

3D CAD Modeling (SolidWorks / Visualize), FDM 3D Printing, Physical Usability Testing, Google Workspace.

Team

Developed in direct collaboration with Cyndi del Río (CXO), Ángel González Román (CEO) and José Castellanos (CPO) at Augem Technologies.

OVERVIEW

Problem

General: In Mexico, millions of people live with visual impairment or low vision. While the white cane is essential for daily navigation, it fails to detect obstacles above the waist. 

Design: Early Ultrawear housing prototypes were structurally weak, aesthetically unpolished, and prone to breaking upon impact. Internal components and sensors lacked proper alignment, structural mounting, and secure attachment mechanisms for everyday wear.

  • ​Product & Mechanical Goals:

    To redesign the outer casing to optimize internal spatial volume without altering the pre-existing stock PCB layout.

  • ​To engineer a durable, snap-fit, screw-reinforced enclosure capable of surviving real-world impact and drops.

  • ​To integrate secure attachment points (e.g., neck-strap/lanyard clip) as requested by users.

  • ​Industrial Design & Physical UX Goals:

    To center and protect protruding sensors against high-impact drops.

  • To enhance ergonomic balance by reducing device thickness, bringing the center of gravity closer to the user's torso.

  • To preserve the brand’s identity by retaining the signature hexagonal silhouette while maintaining a discrete profile.

DEVELOPMENT

Redesign

To overcome the limitations of fixed internal component placements, the housing architecture was completely overhauled:

  • ​Volumetric Efficiency: Reduced total thickness to eliminate unnecessary internal air gaps while slightly expanding width to accommodate the PCB, resulting in a slimmer, less obstructive form factor.
  • Sensor Guarding & Symmetry: Re-aligned sensor apertures along the vertical center axis for visual symmetry and integrated protective raised bezels to guard exposed sensors during drops.
  • ​Structural Fastening: Replaced fragile plastic joints with a two-part shell locked securely by internal screw bosses passing through both halves.

3D CAD Model

First Prototype

DEVELOPMENT

​Research

User Insights

User testing with blind and low-vision participants revealed crucial ergonomic and social preferences:

  • ​Impact Resistance: Users prioritized structural durability above all. In drop testing, users deliberately dropped or threw the device to evaluate whether internal components would scatter—a primary hazard for someone with visual impairment trying to locate loose parts.
  • ​Discretion over Branding: Users explicitly rejected large visible logos or prominent assistive branding, preferring a discrete design that did not openly signal assistive technology.
  • ​Tactile Differentiation: Complex surface textures intended to differentiate sensors were redundant; users easily identified sensors by their physical hardware geometry. Distinct physical button shapes were far more effective for operation than raised icon graphics.

development

​Iterative Evolution

​Iterative Evolution:

From Ultrawear to Ultrawalk


Following user feedback and the 1st Place victory at Talent Land 2022 feedback, the product transitioned from Ultrawear (which included an unreliable, high-cost color sensor) to Ultrawalk. Removing the color sensor drastically reduced production costs and eliminated hardware failure points while focusing 100% on the core obstacle-detection feature.
​The finalized housing design established the foundation for the product line presented on Shark Tank México (2023).

rESULTLS

​IMPACT & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Nowdays:

The design foundation built during this period helped scale Augem Technologies into a nationally recognized assistive tech startup, expanding independence for users across Mexico.

Today, Cyndi del Río and Ángel González Román continue to drive this mission forward with unwavering passion, expanding accessible solutions and proving that inclusive technology can build a world without obstacles.

 

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