The Midterm Project that Turned into Life Changing Innovation

A Midterm Assignment That Became So Much More

It is safe to say that most students dread midterms. The stress, the hours of studying…it’s a lot. For graphic design graduate Dallin Mattson, however, one class assignment turned into something that has the potential to change lives. 

The assignment sounded simple enough: solve an everyday problem you personally face.

For Dallin, this assignment would be a breeze. 

Living with partial blindness, Dallin spent years navigating a world filled with unexpected obstacles, bumped shoulders, and awkward collisions with walls. Instead of accepting those challenges as “just part of life,” he decided to design a solution.

That solution became C4UTM, a wearable technology designed to help blind and visually impaired individuals move confidently through the world! 

A Big Brothers Love

Dallin was born with glaucoma in his left eye. Surgery at a young age helped relieve the pressure but resulted in the removal of most of the eye, leaving him with a prosthetic.

Growing up with limited vision on one side meant constantly adjusting to his surroundings. Depth perception was difficult, and everyday navigation was often frustrating.

But despite his own struggles, C4U™ wasn’t just about him. 

It was also about his younger brother.

“My younger brother is legally blind,” Mattson said. “He never liked being ‘the blind kid’ with the cane. I wanted to create something that would help him move confidently without feeling different.”

And just like that, a classroom project became deeply personal.

What Is C4U™?

C4U™ is a wearable hat equipped with sensors that detect nearby obstacles such as walls, doorways, or objects in the user’s path. Instead of relying on sight, the cap communicates through vibrations, helping users understand their environment in real time.

The first prototype used small lights and vibrations above the right eye. But with guidance and mentorship, the design quickly evolved into something even more impressive.

Now the cap includes:

360-degree sensors
Multiple vibration motors
In short, it acts like a personal navigation assistant you can wear on your head.

Pretty cool right?

The People Who Saw the Potential

Every great innovation needs someone who believes in it early on.

Cue Wayne Provost, Director of Innovation, Guidance and Support at Atwood Innovation Plaza.

When Provost saw the prototype, he immediately recognized its potential.

“Dallin is a remarkable kid,” Provost said. “I saw it as a game changer for individuals with optical problems.”

With Provost’s support, Dallin's invention is in the process of securing a non-provisional patent! The two were introduced by Mattson’s professor, Rachel Ramsey, who recognized the project’s potential and helped connect him with additional resources.

Provost then added Douglas Osborn to the mix, to help with the electronic development of the product and mentor Mattson in the technical process.

“Doc (Provost) almost jumped out of his chair when we showed him the first prototype,” Dallin said. “He immediately wanted to start the patent process.”

A Win for Student Innovation

Stories like this show us what can happen when creativity meets compassion.

Since opening in 2019, Atwood Innovation Plaza has helped Utah Tech students connect with professionals, develop ideas, and create solutions that genuinely improve lives.

Dallin’s journey proves that innovation doesn’t always start in a giant tech lab. Sometimes, it starts with one student asking: “What if I could make life easier for someone I love?”

And a lot of times, that question has the power to change everything.