Door Knocks That Can Be Seen

For some people, the world is completely silent, but the thoughtful use of technology can help them overcome obstacles. This is the story of Tianyu, a hearing-impaired individual who used Huawei's smart locks to solve the challenge of being unable to hear visitors knocking at his door. This seemingly minor inconvenience often results in recurring issues like missed food deliveries and long waits for visiting family members.

At the age of three, Tianyu became deaf after a fever. Now he is a construction engineer. He enjoys travelling, reading, and socializing. His hearing impairment hasn't affected his passion for life at all. Tianyu learned French on his own, and is a certified aerial photographer. "We're not different," says Tianyu, "We just see the world in different ways." This perspective guides Tianyu in his day-to-day life.

However, there are some inconveniences of hearing impairment that are unavoidable. One time, Tianyu's property management was offering residents doorstep service for free replacement of gas pipe fittings, but Tianyu missed out because he couldn't hear the technicians at his door.

Late food delivery

We also talked to a number of other hearing-impaired people. Many of them mentioned food delivery when talking about inconveniences in their daily lives. Food deliverers, who are always pressed for time, often skip making a phone call when the delivery arrives, opting instead to knock and leave the food at the door. This is of course a problem for those with hearing impairments, who often end up with cold food at their doorstep.

One evening, Tianyu's mother arrived at his apartment for a surprise visit, but found her phone had died. She had to knock on the door, but Tianyu remained unaware of her presence. It took a while before he could finally let her in.

Technology with heart: How accessibility transforms lives

In 2019, Huawei launched the TECH4ALL initiative, a digital inclusion program that focuses on four key domains: education, environment, health, and development. Aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the initiative is aimed at using technologies, applications, and skills to enable an inclusive and sustainable digital world. A central part of the health pillar is empowering people with disabilities to help them fully participate in the digital world. Huawei's commitment to accessibility is evident in its services and the design of its devices.

Tianyu learned about Huawei's smart lock products at one of Huawei's accessibility events. What caught his eye in particular was a feature called Visitor Notification. When someone pushes the doorbell, the Huawei smart screen displays a video feed of the visitor, and notifications pop up on connected devices such as the user's phone or tablet. The sound of a knock or ring can now be "seen".

Tianyu and many other hearing-impaired people have installed Huawei's smart locks in their homes. Now, they get a visual notification whenever someone's at the door, ensuring that no visitor is left waiting and nothing important is missed. For Tianyu, it's a reminder of how technology, when thoughtfully designed, can bridge barriers.