In this chapter from Graham Pullin’s book Design Meets Disability, the author delves into the history, complications, applications, and interplay between designs and life-enhancing devices. I believe the main ideas that Pullin is trying to address are highly evident through the examples of eyewear. As mentioned, the concept of physical lenses was never initially intended to be a part of fashion nor to embrace the physical complications. Nevertheless, with time, glasses became a significant part of fashion, even though their main purpose was to enhance the vision and life of those who have physical limitations in regard to their eyesight. The chapter discusses numerous such instances where engineers and scientists develop systems without an idea of the physical design in mind, but society can gradually adapt and change these systems, integrating them seamlessly into our lives.
However, it is critical to comprehend that a balance must exist between design and functionality. Certainly, with devices such as hearing aids, one cannot focus fully on the best visual design and neglect the functionality of the product. Similarly, this ideology influences the progressive and innovative technologies that we see today. When creating such systems, individuals must also consider what are the societal, cultural, and other external influences that will either enhance or diminish the need or usefulness of the product. Ultimately, I believe that this reading has given me a new perspective on how design meets disability and how societies are able to remarkably influence the adaptation and usefulness of products that might have been designed with no intention of including a good visual design.