APPENDIX
Background to the submission and an example
of current research activity:
Applied Computing at Dundee University is unique
in the UK in having a large group (over 30 interdisciplinary researchers)
who are researching into how C & IT can support older and
disabled people. The University has also recently announced the
Queen Mother Research Centre for Information Technology to support
Older People. Most of the projects within the Centre are addressing
specific requirements of older people, such as support for memory
loss and dementia, detection of falling and other "dangerous"
behaviour, lifestyle modelling, systems for non-speaking people,
design of interfaces for older people, and most recently were
the only non north American group to be funded as part of a joint
Altzheimers Soc (USA) and Intel corporation research initiative.
This project will investigate the use of digital television to
assist carers of people with dementia by providing prompts for
daily living.
UTOPIA (USABLE TECHNOLOGY
FOR OLDER
PEOPLE: INCLUSIVE
AND APPROPRIATE)
This project includes a consortium of computing
departments in the Universities of Dundee, which is the lead institution,
Napier, Glasgow and Abertay Dundee. It is funded by the Scottish
Higher Education Funding Council with the intention of assisting
industry and commerce in exploiting the commercial opportunities
opened up by these major demographic changes throughout the world.
The aim of the project was to raise the awareness
of industry that the stereotype of an older person, who is both
poor and technophobic, is not true for the majority of older people.
In the developed world many older people have relatively large
disposable incomes, and it is not they who are techophobic, but
technololgy which has not been designed to take into account their
needs. In the West, the "Baby Boomer" generation have
a greater tendency than previous generations to be determined
to get what they want and to spend money to obtain it. Thus there
is a large market potential. There are also legislative requirements
in many countries concerning access for people with disabilities.
Approximately 50 per cent of those over 65 have a significant
disability and the Disability Discrimination Legislation in the
UK requires that "reasonable adjustments" are made so
that people with disabilities can use equipment and access services.
The US and other countries have similar legislation. Thus ignoring
the needs of those older people with disabilities can leave a
company open to legal challenge.
Although many older people have a significant
disability, older people present a different challenge to designers
than young disabled people. Information Technology for disabled
people has tended to be focussed on young disabled people with
a single disability. In contrast, older people all have multiple
minor impairments of varying degrees—these will include,
for example, poor eyesight hearing and memory, and increased stiffness
in joints. Thus an older person's functionality may be reduced
on a number of dimensions and this functionality will gradually
decline as the person gets older. There is also a greater possibility
of a sudden or rapid decline in functionality as people age. It
is important to realise that, when using technology, these impairments
can interact, thus the simple replacement of one modality (eg
vision) for another (sound) may not be effective if the user has
poor hearing as well as impaired sight. Finally, older people
may have a different range of needs and wants than younger people.
For example, they may be less inclined to set aside a long period
of time to learn to use something of limited value to themselves
than younger people.
C & IT products can be used to enhance the
later stages of life in a number of ways. For the "fit"
elderly, such systems can be used not only for providing a wide
range leisure pursuits, but also technology which has been designed
for the older user can be used significantly to extend economically
active life. Whereas the frail elderly could use purpose designed
C & IT equipment to reduce social isolation, to support memory
and daily living. Such systems could also provide valuable support
for the carers of frail older people, many of whom are elderly
themselves. The UTOPIA project has developed a knowledge base,
and substantial experience of working with older people and technology.
Its aim is to disseminate this to developers, as well as to provide
specialised services for those who wish to design C & IT systems
for older people. To ensure that this advice is pragmatic, the
project is grounded in a number of case studies examining particular
aspects of design for older people. These case studies are:
— Context aware Navigation Aids;
— Messenger systems for help with technology.
— Older peoples' characteristics and
their relationship with technology;
— Internet portals for the excluded.
Other projects within Applied Computing at Dundee
University include:
— Computer Based Reminiscence, conversational
support, and entertainment for people with dementia;
— Fall detection using video analysis;
— Gesture recognition for those who
cannot use standard interfaces;
— Memory Aids using PDAs and mobile
phones
— Accessibility of web sites
— Accessibility of "Accessibility
options" for people with disabilities.
— Lifestyle modelling in a "smart
house".
All this research has shown that, when designing
for older people, it is essential that there is a primary focus
on potential users of the technology. This, however, is often
not straightforward, as, for example, one may be trying to obtain
information about a technology of which the older person has no
experience. We are thus examining innovative ways of interacting
with users, and ways to ensure that designers have a real empathy
with older users. We want to achieve a situation in which both
older person and developer are both acting in a creative mode—which
we call "mutual inspiration". We have thus gathered
together a cohort of over 200 older people, both individuals and
groups from day centres and residential homes who have a diversity
of experience with technology, and a range of specific impairments
(eg mobility, hearing, vision, speech problems, poor dexterity
and memory). We have examined a range of ways in which older people
can be encouraged to discuss requirements for novel C & IT
systems, and evaluate prototype systems. These include questionnaires
and focus groups, but also more innovative hands-on facilitated
discussions and workshops and one-to-one in-home visits. We have
also developed some very effective drama methods which use theatrical
techniques, in collaboration with professional script writers
and actors to facilitate discussion of further technology.
The aim of the UTOPIA project is to make an
impact on the designers and developers of C & IT systems in
Scotland.
— To raise awareness of the opportunities
and challenges of an ageing population.
— To change attitudes of mind to what
older people need and want from Information Technology.
— To provide a frameworks for checking
accessibility, effectively and efficiently.
— To introduce a revised pragmatism
which is sensitive to the needs and wants of older people without
producing systems which are totally unsuitable for the rest of
the population.
An important message from the project is:
— If you design for older and disabled
people, you could be designing for everyone, but if you design
for young fit people you will certainly exclude many.
This research will also form part of the recently
announced Inclusive Design 2, EPSRC funded project with the Universities
of Dundee, Cambridge, York and the Royal College of Art in collaboration
with the Design Council.
September 2004
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