Havas Creative announced today the launch of Staybl, the first web browser technology designed to compensate for hand tremors and improve access to digital experiences for those living with Parkinson's Disease and other essential tremor conditions.
Philosophie
Millions of people worldwide suffer from tremors, a disorder that causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking in one or more parts of the body, most often affecting the hands. In today's hands-on, digital-first world, people with tremors are presented with access challenges when interacting with smart devices, like tablets and phones. The Staybl app, which is free to download, uses the smart device's internal accelerometer data to create visual countermovements in real time when the tablet is shaken, instantly moving in the opposite direction of a tremor, and keeping the display steady on the screen. For over two years, teams from Havas New York, a certified B Corp ™, and Havas Germany worked together to develop Staybl, with the goal of bringing attention to the fact that accessibility options in smart devices still leave the needs of many populations unmet. Parkinson's Disease alone impacts 10 million adults globally, with a staggering 70 percent of those diagnosed experiencing tremors. In addition, there are millions of other people around the world who experience essential tremors – ranging from children to ex-professional athletes – who will benefit from this innovation. Dedicated to championing an inclusive and accessible world for all, the teams worked with experts at the German Parkinson's Association and patients in Germany and the U.S. to test, augment, and improve every aspect of the design experience. Nuanced yet critical examples of design features include the removal of swipe and slide gestures, vertically arranged buttons, larger typography, and the use of other visual elements to increase readability. The passion and focus of the project teams to use creativity and technology to solve a global issue also points to Havas New York's deep commitment to deliver meaningful work that can positively transform people and planet—a core attribute of its B Corp ™ certification. Staybl is the result of pro bono collaboration between teams at Havas New York and Havas Germany. The app is currently available on iPads due to the wider availability of significantly faster display refresh rates, with the goal of further developing the technology to make it accessible to other devices in the future.