CORO development team: Audrey Ji, Vishaka Nirmal, Natalia Escobar
COULD YOU TAKE A CLASS WITHOUT AUDIO INSTRUCTION?
Group fitness classes are more than just workouts—they’re spaces for connection, shared energy, and synchronized learning.
Instructors typically guide participants through a blend of visual and auditory cues.
Without access to these cues, participants can feel lost or excluded, creating barriers to confidence and participation.
FITNESS CLASS EXPERIENCE
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HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE?
OUR RESEARCH
We observed dance classes, yoga classes and instructional activity classes and interviewed accessibility and instructional experts including dance professors, yoga instructors, athletic directors, Cognitive Science researchers, touch interaction expert and group fitness attendees.
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“As an educator, I see an opening about the pedagogy of skin sense”
“Dancers are so used to wearing things while moving around”
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“Everyone knows to move in sync based on the vibrations of a ‘big-ass drum’”
“I’ll give signals to my buddy behind me, based on the verbal cues I hear”
OUR SOLUTION
HOW IT WORKS—
CORO is a communication system that uses sensory haptic feedback to deliver clear, nonverbal cues. During the class, the instructor cues movement by pressing buttons in real time, allowing Deaf/Hard of Hearing users to receive movement prompts, even when not looking directly at the instructor.
The CORO system helps all fitness class participants feel confident and included, fully immersed in the shared rhythm of the class.
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Fitness Instructors who curate class structure, progression, and instructional prompts
Participants with hearing loss or in need of extra support who want to attend group fitness classes
DESIGNED FOR THE USERS—
The devices translate three distinct cues patterns which correspond to their prompts:
1) A short countdown vibration: to look up for next move
2) A steady metronome: to follow beat-timed movements
3) A single nudge: to switch sides
The companion mobile application allows for cue customization, feedback adjustments, and device pairing.
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Customizable haptic options made for the best in class experience.
CORO APP
The mobile app lets you pair CORO devices, preview instructor cues before class, and personalize haptic feedback to fit individual needs. It also offers pre-set configurations for class types like yoga and dance.
Our research shows that yoga benefits from steady, breath-regulating pulses, while dance is guided by rhythmic 8-count beats—making these two formats our primary focus.
HOW WE DESIGNED CORO
RESEARCH SYNTHESIS
Observing user needs, habits, and technical insights within accessibility communities and group fitness settings guided our exploration and helped define our focus on creating a comfortable user experience.
MATERIAL EXPERIENCE
We considered factors such as user comfort, hygiene during physical activity, the effectiveness of vibration transmission, and the material’s adaptability to accessibility needs.
WEARABLE EXPLORATION
The use of three vibration motors allowed for the expression of movement and tempo. Vertical application on the lower wrist and arm area gave results of best comprehension through our iteration and tests and research guidance.
USER EXPERIENCE TEST PROTOTYPES
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PRODUCT RENDERS
PRODUCT SHOW DISPLAY
FUTURE PLANS
Looking ahead, we see CORO extending beyond fitness: to concerts, flash mobs, or physical therapy. Haptics-based instruction can create a shared rhythm anywhere people move together. CORO lays the groundwork for inclusive, synchronized movement.