Memorandum by Professor Roger Coleman
and Dr John Clarkson
1. RESEARCH IN
TECHNOLOGY AND
DESIGN TO
IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF
LIFE OF
OLDER PEOPLE
1.1 While research into ageing itself is
a well understood field, research needs with regard to design
are less well undrestood, and in particular those aspects of design
with the potential to extend active independence. The outcome
of much research into ageing is in the form of medical, and to
a lesser extent social interventions. These have much value, and
have significantly contributed to longevity and demographic ageing.
However, it is no coincidence that population ageing in the UK
began with the industrial revolution and has advanced ever since.
Design and engineering interventions have had significant impact
on this picture, and an important future role.
1.2 The model below (fig 1) outlines the
ways in which design can contribute to improving the life quality
and extending the independence of older people. In the context
of population ageing, significant benefits will flow from the
effective implementation of design solutions in each of the domains
indicated. Good, well-informed design, supported by appropriate
research can push the boundaries of each of these domains and
so effectively counteract design exclusion, moderate the impact
of frailty and deter the onset of dependency.
1.2.1 Ensuring that products and services,
packaging and information meet the needs and support the lifestyles
of the broadest majority of the population will counter design
exclusion and thereby help to maintain active independence for
longer among the ageing population.
1.2.2 Modular and customisable designs,
in particular of interfaces to products, services and information,
will further extend active independence significantly by making
them accessible to those who currently are excluded by the design
of core features.
1.2.3 Specialist products and interfaces,
especially where they preserve dignity and do not stigmatise,
isolate or otherwise alienate users will assist independence and
social inclusion, in particular for disabled older people who
may otherwise require institutional or home care.
1.2.4 Designs that facilitate care, in the
home, and in institutions, that understand and support the needs
of carers, and preserve the dignity of those cared for, will significantly
enhance the life quality of the frailest and most severly disabled
older people.
2. RESEARCH NEEDS
FOR AGE-FRIENDLY
DESIGN
2.1 Much work has gone into developing the
concept of "inclusive design", and resources and methods
to support it in practice, both in order to address population
ageing, and to prepare industry for the Disability Discrimination
Act, which becomes fully enforceable this month. In particular
through the EPSRC EQUAL initiative and within the two i-design
projects funded by the EPSRC. As a result a new British Standard
BS7000-6 will be published later this year giving guidance for
business and industry, on managing inclusive design. In addition,
information resources for design, education and industry have
been developed, along with policy document published by the Design
Council.1
2.2 In the course of this work, important
gaps in the knowledge base and other research needs have been
identified, all of which amount to barriers to inclusive design,
and its uptake by industry.
2.2.1 There is a lack of suitable and complete
date on physical and mental capabilities and their distribution
across the whole population. This makes it difficult to accurately
assess the accessibility and suitability of designs, and impedes
designers and engineers in ensuring that the products and services
they design address the needs of the widest range of users.
2.2.2 There is a lack of research into the
technical and practical aspects of mass customisation, and other
design strategies that can adapt mainstream products, services
and interfaces to individual users, be they in the home, the workplace,
in public spaces, or part of transport systems. This makes it
difficult for designers and engineers to ensure that people can
live, work and travel independently for as long as possible.
2.2.3 There is a lack of date (in particular
in formats accessible to designers) on the preferences and daily
lives of older people, especially with reagard to their interaction
with products and services. In addition, there is good evidence
that products and services targeted at older people, and in particular
assistive products, are rejected because they are insufficiently
useable, or because the users perceive them as stigmatising.2
This makes it difficult for designers and manufacturers to ensure
the acceptibility and therefore the uptake of assistive products
and technologies.
2.2.4 There is a lack of design relevant
data on the needs of carers, both professionals and family members,
in particular with regard to the devices and products they use
in their work and the impact of these on their health, safety
and wellbeing. This makes it difficult for designers to address
such issues, and increases the likelihood of carers, and importantly
older family members, suffering as a consequence.
2.2.5 There is a need for research funding
directed at older user involvement in design, testing, evaluation
and assessment of proposals and solutions at all stages of the
development process, and in particular at the development of suitable
research techniques and methodologies that can be integrated with
commercial design processes. This would ensure that solutions
are appropriate, accepted and cost effective in development and
the market place, and assist designers and engineers in understanding
the needs and lives of the people they are serving.
2.2.6 There is a need to involve designers
(as well as older users) in research projects and programmes where
the emphasis is on the development and application of technology,
in particular in ICT, "Smart" housing and embedded intelligence,
and the realm of assistive technology. This would help to ensure
that the outcomes can be translated into appropriate and acceptable,
user-friendly products and services, that can be manufactured,
marketed and distributed effectively.
2.2.7 There is also a need for funding targeted
specifically at "proof of concept" with suitable users,
especially in the development of assistive and care products,
and also in the other, broader domains, to ensure that only appropriate
and acceptable products and services are delivered to the public.
This would significantly improve the quality, usability and acceptability
of supportive devices and devices that are currently rejected
by end users. It would also facilitate the transfer of research
from the academic to the commercial sphere.
3. SUPPORTING
INCLUSIVE DESIGN
RESEARCH AND
PRACTICE
3.1 Item 2.2.1 above
3.1.1 The authors of this submission are
co-editors of two textbooks on inclusive design, 3, 4 and have
contributed significantly to the international literature in the
field. The major date set drawn on in these publications and currently
available is the Disability Follow-up Survey (DFS5) commissioned
by the Department of Social Security as a follow-up to the 1996-97
Family Resources Survey. Data from over 7,000 participants was
collected, and the main focus was disability within the UK population.
The date gathered related to activities of daily living (ADLs),
such as climbing stairs, reading a newspaper, following a television
programme, washing hands, but not product/service interactions.
3.1.2 Even with considerable interpretation,
this data is not adequate to allow designers to make informed
decisions about the numbers of people who will be able to interact
with specific design feature, nor is it presented in formates
that are readily accessible to designers and business decision
makers. Other date sets are available, but not sufficient to fill
this gap, if we are to support an ageing population with the minimum
demand on care and welfare services there is a pressing need to
gather new data on capabilities across the whole population, and
in particular in regard to the physical, sensory, motion and cognitive
skills required for interaction with products and services, in
the home, at work and for mobility.
3.1.3 Gathering such data is probably beyond
the scope of current research programmes, as a sample of 10,000+
would be required, and the structuring, analysing and presentation
of the results of the survey will require careful design. Also
the needs of key information-user groups will require investigation
to ensure the maximum use of the results in engineering, design,
business and education. The cost of such a survey is likely to
be in the region of £2 million+.
3.1.4 This information is critical, not
just for designers, but for business leaders to be able to understand
the scale of the issue and recognise the business opportunities
that represents. It will also have future value with regard to
legislation and standards as it will provide the basis data for
measuring design exclusion, and allow for rational decisions to
be made with regard to the inclusivity of products and services.
The availability of this data to UK businesses will help to put
the UK in the forefront of design and industry responses to population
ageing, and open up new market opportunities. It will also inform
education from secondary level through to Continuing Professional
Development in design, business studies and other related fields.
3.2 Items 2.2.2-2.2.7 above
3.2.1 Although these research priorities
could be met through existing funding channels, they are unlikely
to be addressed in a joined-up way outside a co-ordinated programme
led by key agencies. The EPSRC EQUAL initiative has provided considerable
impetus in this regard, but current national structure and proposals
for supporting ageing research are insufficient and not focussed
towards testing, evaluation, development and "proof of concept"
inclusive design research. There is a need for more imaginative
priorities and support mechanisms that recognise progress made
in recent years and the distinctive perspectives and methodologies
required by design research. Probably these would be best achieved
by extending the remit of EPSRC's EQUAL initiative and creating
new LINK or similar programmes devoted to inclusive design and
supported by DoH, DTI, DfT and ODPM.
3.3 Dissemination
3.3.1 There is also a role for the Design
Council, supported by the DTI, to focus and facilitate the transfer
of knowledge and expertise to industry. To achieve this effectively,
a better understanding is required of the industry barriers to
appropriate design strategies. This in itself is a further research
area with significant potential to impact on the life quality
of older people, that could inform future government initiatives
and help structure incentives to industry.
4. REFERENCES
1 Coleman R (2002) Growing older; the new
context for design, Design Council, London.
2 Yeates M., Bird D, et al (2000, updated
2002) Fully equipped, Audit Commission, Abingdon.
3 Clarkson J, Coleman R, et al (2003)
Inclusive Design: design for the whole population, Springer-Verlag,
London.
4 Keates S, Clarkson J (2003) Countering
Design Exclusion; and introduction to inclusive design, Springer-Verlag,
London.
5 Grundy E, Ahlburg D, et al (1999) Disability
in Great Britain, Department of Social Security, Corporate
Document Services, London, UK.
October 2004
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