How would you build Facebook for the blind?

Introduction

Building Facebook for the blind is an intriguing challenge that requires us to reimagine social connectivity for visually impaired users. We'll need to consider accessibility, user experience, and innovative technologies to create an inclusive platform. I'll approach this by analyzing user needs, exploring potential solutions, and defining success metrics.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on the problem description, I'm thinking this might be for Facebook's existing product. Is that correct?

Why it matters: Helps frame the solution within Facebook's ecosystem Expected answer: Yes, we're working within Facebook's platform Impact on approach: We'd leverage existing Facebook resources and align with current features

• I'm assuming we're focusing on totally blind users rather than those with partial vision. Is this the case?

Why it matters: Determines the range of accessibility features needed Expected answer: Yes, focus on totally blind users Impact on approach: We'd prioritize audio and haptic feedback over visual aids

• Are we considering both mobile and desktop platforms for this solution?

Why it matters: Affects the design and technical implementation Expected answer: Yes, both platforms should be considered Impact on approach: We'd need to ensure consistency across devices while optimizing for each platform

Propose the Goal

Given Facebook's focus on connecting people, I believe the goal is to create an equally engaging and functional Facebook experience for blind users, enabling them to connect, share, and interact with content as seamlessly as sighted users. Does this align with your vision?

Define the Scope

Should we focus on core Facebook features like the News Feed, messaging, and profile management for this product design challenge?

Based on the answers, I'll assume we're redesigning Facebook's core features for totally blind users on both mobile and desktop platforms, with a focus on creating an engaging and accessible social experience.