New Rule is a measuring tool for people with poor eyesight
New Rule is an improvised version of our old school ruler that assists in lending a helping hand to people who have problems in seeing markings as small as a cm/mm. Firstly to make the graduations easily visible, the New Rule has been made to have high contrasting measurement marks [white nos. on black background].
Secondly, it has also been equipped with a white slider that houses a number wheel. While measuring, as one moves the white slider, not only the mm measurement shows up on the window of the slider but the sound of the slider along the toothed track gives the user an audible assistance.
Thirdly, the New Rule can also be folded to make it work like a vernier caliper, helping the user to also measure dimensions of objects. The designer states “This was intended to make it easier for someone with poor sight to measure marks on paper as well as objects, but I have found whilst using it that it is much more efficient than a ruler as I have the option of converting it into a calliper, taking a measurement, then flicking it back into a ruler and drawing a line on paper with the pointer in the same position, allowing for a smoother, quicker work flow.”
The picture shows a prototype of the idea which still needs further improvements. New Rule has been made possible by Product Tank.
