Generating and translating context capability data to support the implementation of inclusive design within industry

The research detailed within this thesis was undertaken in response to: 1) the ageing population; 2) a lack of older adult context (real world) capability data; and 3) the need for inclusive design within commercial design practice in order to minimise exclusion with everyday products. The principal aim of this programme of research was to generate older adult context capability data and translate it into a suitable form that will support the implementation of inclusive design within industry. This aim was achieved through reviewing environmental context of use (Chapter 2), conducting two empirical studies: Study 1 (Chapter 4) investigated the impact of an everyday cold temperature (5°C) on older adults dexterity (fine finger dexterity, power and pinch grip); and Study 2 (Chapter 5) investigated the impact of everyday ambient illumination levels (overcast, in-house and street lighting) and contrast on older adults visual acuity. The capability data gathered from these studies were then translated into a suitable form for designers in order to support the implementation of inclusive design within industry; this was achieved through following a Human Centred Design process which involved multiple iterative and evaluative stages. The findings from this thesis make several contributions to the area of inclusive design: A framework that brings together a number of environmental contextual factors which can impact on product interaction; Knowledge and understanding of how to collect and analyse original context capability data from older adults; Capability data which quantifies the impact of everyday environmental conditions on older adults product interaction capabilities; Knowledge and understanding of how to translate capability data into a suitable form to facilitate inclusive design; An interactive data tool (Context Calculator) that will aid designers in the design and development of inclusive everyday products

Designing for people that are WELL old

In the UK, inclusion is an important topic on different social levels and the need for change in government, education and industry to reduce social exclusion is recognised. Despite a range of datasets and methods having been created to help minimise exclusion, the topic of inclusion and, in particular, inclusive design is not yet covered in education i.e. the Design and Technology curriculum. Engaging school pupils with the topic has the greatest potential to bring about long-term change towards a more inclusive society. This paper reports on the outcomes of several design workshops on inclusivity. The workshops were aimed at, and conducted with, key stage 3 and key stage 4 pupils. The overall aim of the workshop was to establish the impact that current inclusive design methods have on the mindset of the pupils. The methods used in the workshop included impairment simulators and case studies. An assessment at the beginning and end of the workshop evaluated changes in attitude. A total of 10 workshops were conducted with over 150 pupils. It was found that such methods do provide insights that result in solutions that address inclusive issues. This paper concludes with the view that inclusive design methods can impact and change the mindsets of pupils as young as 11 years old. However, if a truly inclusive society is to be achieved, there is a need to instigate change in the overall national design ethos i.e. focusing more on principles than practice and preventing the immediate leap to solutions rather than identifying the true nature of the problems

The importance of context in inclusive design

Capability data used in current inclusive design tools fail to take into account context of use. Two experiments were conducted with older users to determine what effect the physical environment has on two essential product interaction capabilities (vision and dexterity). For vision (n1 = 38) everyday lighting levels were investigated, and for dexterity (n2 = 14) warm (19°C-24°C) and cold temperatures (5°C) were investigated. Results from the vision study showed that when the lighting level decreased from daylight to street lighting, there was a decrease of up to 44% in the number of participants able to correctly read particular rows of letters. Findings from the dexterity study indicated that fine finger dexterity is significantly reduced (p<0.05) when exposed to average winter temperatures (5°C). Failure to consider the capabilities of users in these everyday contexts of use could result in products excluding or causing difficulties to those intended to be included

Comprehension test on lighter symbols uk report

The Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute (ESRI) were commissioned by the LNE to carryout a UK comprehension test on symbols for lighters. The work, commissioned by LNE, is at the request of the European Federation of Lighters. The comprehension tests were carried out in accordance with the methodology in ISO 9186: 2001 Graphical symbols – Test methods for judged comprehensibility and for comprehension

Translating inclusive capability data for designers

In 2009, the UK government launched a new strategy called ‘Building a society for all ages: a choice for older people’. One of the major challenges outlined in this strategy document is for old age to no longer be a time of dependency and exclusion. In relation to product design, accurate and relevant capability data is essential in helping designers overcome this challenge. However, there is a large and growing body of literature that suggests current capability datasets provide little if any assistance to designers in helping them reduce dependency and exclusion. This paper reports on the process of translating visual capability data into a usable form for designers. It details the need to consider inclusion data as opposed to exclusion data and how capability data can be converted into inclusion percentages using zscores. The paper also reports on the findings of a design research workshop where 3 data concepts were trialed. Findings suggest that the aesthetics/semantics of a dataset may be one of the key factors that contribute to its use by designers in industry. Also, one of the factors to emerge from this research is the importance of explaining the context of the data and the issues surrounding it

Now you see it, now you don’t

This paper details a study that was conducted to determine the effect physical context of use, e.g. daily lighting levels and contrast, has on perception. The study was undertaken to further develop inclusive design analytical tools that assess the characteristics of a product against the capabilities of users. A total of four lighting levels were tested (equivalent to street lighting, in-house lighting, optimum and daylight), and four contrast levels (90%, 50%, 25% and 10% contrast). A random proportionate sample of adults aged 65 years and older was drawn from the population (N = 38, age range 65-87 years, mean age 74). The experiment revealed daily lighting levels to have a noticeable affect on visual acuity. Results showed that by increasing the lighting level from street lighting to optimum, there was an increase of up to 44% in the number of participants able to correctly read particular rows of letters. In 73% of cases the number of people able to correctly read each letter size decreased when its contrast was reduced. With certain letter sizes up to 50% more people were able to read letters at 90% compared to 10% contrast. Future work is being planned to see how these results relate to the general population and everyday products

Designing inclusive products for everyday environments: the effects of everyday cold temperatures on older adults' dexterity

This paper focuses on the effect an everyday cold temperature (5°C) can have on older adults (+65 years) dexterous capabilities and the implications for design. Fine finger capability, power and pinch grip were measured using objective performance measures. Ability to perform tasks using a mobile phone, stylus, touch screen and garden secateurs were also measured. All measures were performed in a climatic cold chamber regulated at 5°C and in a thermo-neutral environment regulated between 19°C-24°C. Participants were exposed to the cold for a maximum of 40 minutes. Results from the study showed that older adult’s fine finger dexterity, ability to pick-up and place objects and ability to use a mobile phone was significantly (p<0.05) affected by an everyday cold temperature of 5°C when compared to performance in the thermo-neutral environment. However, power and pinch grip strength and ability to use the gardening secateurs was not significantly affected by the cold. Based these findings, the following guidance is offered to designers developing products that are likely to be used outside in an everyday cold environment: 1) Minimise the number of product interactions that require precise fine finger movements; 2) Try to avoid small controls that have to be pressed in a sequence; 3) Maximise the number of product interactions that can be operated through either exerting a gripping action (power or pinch grip) or by gross hand and arm movements

Building Bulletin 77 – Ergonomic content review

Building Bulletin 77 – Ergonomic content revie

Packaging : a box of delights or a can of worms? The contribution of ergonomics to the usability, safety and semantics of packaging

Product packaging offers manufacturers tremendous opportunities to satisfy the needs of the various stakeholders in the products’ lifecycle. It can obviously protect during distribution, advertise the contents of the pack, ensure sterility and prevent tampering and inform the end user how to make use of the contents and dispose of or recycle the packaging itself. Package characteristics can also help shape buyers’ impressions at the time of purchase and during use. In recent years buyers have shown a willingness to pay more for improved packaging, but there are limits. (Dibb & Simpkin et al, 1997) Unfortunately research shows that there is also a darker side to packaging and that there are a large number of injuries either caused by, or directly associated with, packaging. It is a socially unacceptable fact that some 49,000 UK consumers need hospital treatment from injuries through opening grocery packaging each year

An efficiency test of a laboratory fan

The principal object of these tests is to determine the efficiency of the fan when working against the different sized orifices at various speeds and pressures. Before this could be accomplished, the coefficients of discharge of the 18 in., 24 in., and 30 in. orifices had to be determined --Object of Tests, page 4