Abstract:

This book aims to provide product design-relevant data for elderly users by reporting on a laboratory study of design-relevant capacities of the elderly. In a study of 750 subjects aged 50 - 80+, and a group aged 20 - 30 for comparison, 80 variables important to product design were measured. The variables cover a variety of human characteristics, such as body and limb measurements, maximum forces exerted, speed of movements, eye-hand co-ordination, etc., as well as seeing, hearing, feeling capacities and aspects of memory. The interactions between all variables are considered using a parallel study design, including design characteristics, age and sex. Included are graphs, tables, statistical parameters, design guidelines, and examples of products with ergonomic and gerontechnological points of interest.