A tactile identification device designed to assist visually impaired individuals in easily distinguishing Mexican coins.
This conceptual tool uses physical ergonomics to make everyday financial transactions more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Industrial Designer.
November 2020
Solidworks, P'hotoshop.
Ilse Rangel, and Bárbara Gutiérrez
For visually impaired individuals in Mexico, managing physical currency independently remains a daily challenge. Traditional coins and notes lack distinct physical markers, leading to difficulties in commercial activities and limiting social independence.
Create an accessible, low-cost identification tool for current Mexican coins.
Research at local specialized schools confirmed that touch is essential for spatial recognition and learning. Key insights revealed that raised text is harder to identify than clear tactile indicators like Braille or simple geometric shapes. Additionally, observational data showed that edge textures, size variations, and physical templates significantly improve currency identification speed.
The resulting product is a compact plastic template (115.8 mm x 27 mm) tailored for standard Mexican coin values (0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos). Users slide a coin into the slot until gravity pushes it to its size limit.
Reaching the limit triggers a small internal lever that raises a physical dot on the outside, guiding the user’s finger directly to the corresponding Braille value printed on the surface.
CONTAMONEDA offers a straightforward, mechanical solution to everyday financial independence. By bridging functional ergonomics with tactile design, it reduces communication barriers and supports equal participation in basic social and economic life.
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