Deafblindness is a condition that limits communication capabilities primarily to the haptic channel. In the EU-funded project SUITCEYES we design a system which allows haptic and thermal communication via soft interfaces and textiles. Based on user needs and informed by disability studies, we combine elements from smart textiles, sensors, semantic technologies, image processing, face and object recognition, machine learning, affective computing, and gamification. In this work, we present the underlying concepts and the overall design vision of the resulting assistive smart wearable. CCS Concepts • Human-centered computing~Empirical studies in HCI • Human-centered computing~Collaborative and social computing devices • Human-centered computing~User studies • Human-centered computing~Empirical studies in interaction design • Human-centered computing~Accessibility theory, concepts and paradigms • Human-centered computing~ Accessibility systems and tools • Social and professional topics~History of hardware • Social and professional topics~ Codes of ethics • Social and professional topics~Assistive technologies • Computing methodologies~Cognitive robotics • Computing methodologies~Robotic planning • Applied computing~Consumer health

Introduction. This paper explores the information world of people with deafblindness, i.e., a diverse group of people whose vision and hearing loss are of such severity that it is hard for their impaired senses to compensate for each other. Method. An extensive interview study conducted in five European countries. It has examined the level, form and accessibility of information available to people with deafblindness. This paper draws on these interviews, and other material and observations, in providing general characteristics and the results presented here. However, the data and quotations presented in this paper are from the interviews conducted by the authors in Sweden. Analysis. The analysis of the interviews was done using the coding scheme based on the concepts of small worlds and the theory of information world looking for emerging themes. The scheme was flexible and additional themes were included into it during analysis when they emerged from the data. Results. The study found that while the lives of most people are facilitated by an abundance of information in various forms and often in taken for granted format, this is not the case for those members of the society with deafblindness who need such information the most. The means of signification and information sources are limited for people with deafblindness not only because of dual sensory impairments, but mainly because of the limited opportunities afforded outside their small worlds. Conclusions. The improvement of information infrastructures aimed at people with deafblindness will benefit the society and its democratic foundations as a whole and will strengthen the participation of people with deafblindness.