Involving the elderly in the design process: a participatory design model for usability, safety and attractiveness

(1)

Z] : i . í ; •.i i·/ rr*·'·; T' ··' í? ;i st s .··'· ■ í- S í* · ? r l i l i s » « K4 »M «' tt » 4»,-s 4«t !"*í«· · · i**» irt”* ·· -л* ··· < í .- ·? ІДП I’- "·· =■·' ■ u .4 i ^ ÏÏ ii ¿i ! .İS? ii !ί 3 lljÄ* ' 'ίι_ ' Cj. *’’’

**-‘ « ^ 4*¿» “«ií luuî l-Jf Vı»/ iâ**

tf îî

_{d ibis' -L. ^}

5

!

::tf te « cm .:Ssş t» .» ¡.i .. ._ ,i « · - ж : .ΐ" rírrrií ί* t tí í: Sí« ‘3 íi=» i; л І ЧШ itjs lïi;. á ¿ -;Í tí^ Sí- t i · ; : „

Ψ

íC à *1 -t - .J···,,

o

( 'i

■■ "

Г ѵ 4 ^ · j’ ”' 5

(2)

INVOLVING THE ELDERLY IN THE DESIGN

PROCESS: A PARTICIPATORY DESIGN MODEL FOR

USABILITY, SAFETY AND ATTRACTIVENESS

A T H E S IS S U B M IT T E D T O T H E IN S T IT U T E O F E C O N O M IC S A N D S O C IA L S C IE N C E S O F B lL K E N T U N IV E R S IT Y IN P A R T IA L F U L F IL L M E N T O F T H E R E Q U IR E M E N T S F O R T H E D E G R E E O F D O C T O R O F P H IL O S O P H Y IN A R T . D E S IG N A N D A R C H IT E C T U R E By O ya D e m irb ile k ...D e c e m b e r 1 99 9

(3)

ІГІЭ 5

■Mf

(4)

I c e rtify th a t I h a ve read th is th e s is and th a t in m y o p in io n it is fu lly a d e q u a te , in s c o p e and q u a lity, a s a th e s is fo r th e d e g re e o f P h.D . in In te rio r A rc h ite c tu re a n d E n v iro n m e n ta l D e sig n .

A s s t. Prof. 6 irka n (P rin c ip a l A d v is o r)

I c e rtify th a t I h a ve re a d th is th e s is a n d th a t in m y o p in io n it is fu lly a d e q u a te , in s c o p e and q u a lity, a s a th e s is fo r th e d e g re e o f P h.D . in In te rio r A rc h ite c tu re a n d E n v iro n m e n ta l D e sign .

P rof. Dr. M u s ta fa P u lta r

I c e rtify th a t I h a ve read th is th e s is and th a t in m y o p in io n it is fu lly a d e q u a te , in s c o p e and q u a lity, a s a th e s is fo r th e d e g re e o f P h.D . in In te rio r A rc h ite c tu re and E n v iro n m e n ta l D e sign .

I c e rtify th a t I h a ve re a d th is th e s is a n d th a t in m y o p in io n it is fu lly a d e q u a te , in s c o p e and q u a lity, a s a th e s is fo r th e d e g re e o f P h.D . in In te rio r A rc h ite c tu re and E n v iro n m e n ta l D e sign .

i. R fqf. Dr. F e y ia n E rkip A ss'

I c e rtify th a t I h a v e re a d th is th e s is a n d th a t in m y o p in io n it is fu lly a d e q u a te , in s c o p e a n d q u a lity, a s a th e s is fo r th e d e g re e o f P h.D . in In te rio r A rc h ite c tu re a n d E n v iro n m e n ta l D e sig n .

^ /P r o f. Dr. Ç iğ d e m E rb u ğ

(5)

ABSTRACT

INVOLVING THE ELDERLY IN THE DESIGN PROCESS:

A PARTICIPATORY DESIGN MODEL FOR USABILITY,

SAFETY AND ATTRACTIVENESS

O ya D e m irb ile k Ph.D . in

In te rio r A rc h ite c tu re a n d E n v iro n m e n ta l D e sig n S u p e rv is o r: A sst. Prof. Dr. H a lim e D e m irk a n

D e c e m b e r 1 99 9

This work presents a conceptual model involving the elderly users into the design process by means of participatory design sessions, where the expertise of designers and the real requirements and opinions of elderly end-users, related to how objects, environments and equipment should be designed to allow ageing in place are collected and filtered through Quality Function Deployment matrixes. Two different design sessions are done for the groups of elderly end-users. The scope has been limited to the design of doors and door handles for domestic use. In the first design session, the end-users are asked to talk about and to ‘design’ the doors and door handles of the house they want to age-in, considering all their possible requirements, needs, particular wishes, and ideas. This is a combination of brain storming, scenario building and unstructured interviews. The output of the first session provides a basis to design the mentioned products. The second session consists of presenting to the same group of end-users the various design concepts created, according to the output of the first session. The concepts are again discussed, remarks, preferences, and new ideas collected to further improve the design.

Keywords; Ageing, User Involvement, Participatory Design, Quality Function Deployment.

(6)

ÖZET

YAŞLI KULLANICILARIN TASARIM SÜRECİNE KATILIMI:

KULLANILABİLİR, GÜVENLİ VE ÇEKİCİ BİR KATILIMCI

TASARIM MODELİ

O ya D e m irb ile k

İç M im a rlık ve Ç e vre T a sa rım ı B ö lü m ü D o k to ra D e re ce si

T e z Y ö n e tic is i: Y. Doç. Dr. H a lim e D e m irk a n A ra lık 1999

Bu çalışma, yaşlı kullanıcıları ürün ve mekan tasarımı sürecine, ortak tasarım toplantıları ile katılımlarını sağlayan; onların gerçek ihtiyaç ve fikirlerini tasarımcıların deneyimi ile birleştiriren kavramsal bir modeli anlatmaktadır. Tasarım sürecinde katılımcı gruplar için iki farklı ortak tasarım toplantısı düzenlenmektedir. Çalışmanın kapsamı, evlerin kapı ve kapı kulplan tasarımı ile sınırlandırılmıştır. Beyin fırtınası, senaryo kurgulama ve görüş alma tekniklerinin birleşiminden oluşan ilk ortak tasarım toplantılarında yaşlı kullanıcılardan, gerçek ihtiyaçlarını, kendi fikir ve çözümlerini ortaya koyarak, yaşlılıklarını geçirmek istedikleri evin kapılarını ve kapı kulplarını tasarlamaları beklenmektedir. Ortaya konan yorumlar ve fikirler, toplantıları aynı zamanda yönetmekte olan tasarımcı tarafından toparlanmakta ve ürün tasarımında kullanılmaktadır. Elde edilen bu veriler Kalite işlev Konuşlandırma matrikslerine aktarılarak daha detaylı İncelenmektedir, ikinci ortak tasarım toplantılarında, ilk toplantının sonucunda ulaşılan kavramsal tasarım uygulamaları yaşlı kullanıcılara gösterilmekte ve bunlar üzerinde tekrar tartışılarak, tasarımı geliştirmek için yeni tercih, yorum ve fikirler oluşturulmaktadır.

Anahtar Sözcükler: Yaşlanma, Kullanıcı Katılımı, Katılımcı Tasarım, Kalite işlev Konuşlandırma.

(7)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

F o re m o st, I w o u ld like to th a n k A sst. Prof. Dr. H a lim e D e m irk a n fo r h e r in e s tim a b le su pp ort, a s s ista n ce , e n c o u ra g e m e n t a n d tu to rs h ip , w ith o u t w h ic h th is th e s is w o u ld n ot h a ve b e e n c o m p le te d . E n d le ss th a n k s to m y fa m ily m e m b e rs, th e D e m irb ile k ’s, w h o h a ve sh o w n m e in fin ite p a tie n ce , to le ra n c e , a n d g iv e n m e fu ll s u p p o rt fo r th e la st fo u r years.

I w o u ld like to th a n k all th e e ld e rly p a rtic ip a n ts , w h o h a v e w o rk e d w ith me, fo r h a v in g g iv e n th e ir tim e to m e a n d h a v in g e n jo y e d p a rtic ip a tin g in su ch a w o rk. T h e n , I w o u ld like to th a n k m y frie n d s Dr. Y a p ra k S a ğdıç, Dr. E lçin T e z e l a n d C a n a n Ü nlü fo r th e ir c o n tin u o u s e n c o u ra g e m e n t a n d su p p o rt.

M a n y th a n k s to all th e frie n d s, w h o m n a m e s I d id n o t cite here, fo r th e ir s in c e re w h is h e s o f lu c k and I p re s e n t m y a p o lo g ie s h e re to them , fo r h a v in g n e g le c te d th e m w h ile I w a s w o rk in g on m y th e sis.

F in a lly, I w h is h stre n g th , luck, m o tiva tio n , a n d c o u ra g e to all m y frie n d s w h o a re still w o rk in g on th e ir th e sis.

(8)

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

3.1. Forms of p a rticip a tio n ... 39

3.2. Consum er involvement in design: six principles for success ... 41

3.3. Four sequences of the houses of q u a lity ... 54

3.4. The six steps of the house of q u a lity ... 55

3.5. The detailed steps of the deploym ent matrix ... 57

4.1. First group of questions: problems faced with main entrance d o o r ... 82

4.2. Problems with keys while opening or closing d o o rs ... 83

4.3. Door safety while opening and closing d o o rs ... 84

4.4. Reasons of closing doors in in te rio rs ... 85

4.5. Problems and recommendations on door handles and k n o b s ... 87

4.6. Problems and recommendations related to the glazed parts on doors, the material choice and different kinds of d o o rs ... 88

4.7. Importance ranking of the design requirements for the main entrance d o o r . 94 4.8. Importance ranking of the design requirements interior doors and door h a n d le s ... 95

Appendix Table A.1. Disabilities among 1121 old people from East Anglia (UK) aged 75 and over 139 A.2. Three areas of concern of the visual loss in old a g e ... 140

(11)

C.2. Classification of disabilities: ch a ra cte ristics... 145

C . 3. Classification of disabilities; design n e e d s ... 146

D. 1. Seven subtasks of door u s e ... 151

D.2. Features affecting the accessibility of d o o rs ... 152

D.3. Door ty p e s ... 153

D.4. Door hardware and product e x a m p le s ... 155

(12)

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1.1. W orld average annual rate of population growth from 1996 to 2 0 2 0 ... 2

1.2. W orld average annual percent population g ro w th ... 3

1.3. Increase in the percentage of world population over 60 years o l d ... 3

1.4. Percentage of population over 60 all over the w o rld ... 4

1.5. Increase in the percentage of the population over 60 in T u rk e y ... 5

1.6. Turkish population distribution graph for four main age g ro u p s ... 6

1.7. The user p y ra m id ... 9

2.1. User-based design and development m o d e l... 21

2.2. Consum er idealised design model involving end-users early on in the product development p ro c e s s ... 23

2.3. Ecological m o d e l... 25

2.4. An ecological housing model illustrating the various levels influencing the choice of housing arrangem ent ... 26

2.5. Person-Environment transactional m o d e l... 28

2.6. The supportive environment c o n c e p t... 30

3.1. Issues discussed in the present s tu d y ... 33

3.2. Knowledge acquisition of the s tu d y ... 34

3.3. The four stages of the product life c y c le ... 35

3.4. Activity of design with the contributions of elderly users and designers in all the stages of the process and their feedback on the p ro c e s s ... 37

3.5. Positive and negative points in user involvement in the design p ro c e s s ... 44

3.6. Techniques applicable in participatory design and the place of USAP design m o d e l... 45

3.7. Simplified process of the involvement of elderly users, and followed steps .. 49

3.8. Simplified involvement process in the USAP design m o d e l... 50

3.9. The four houses o f q u a lity ... 54

(13)

Figure Page

3.11. Design participation involved in the USAP design m o d e l... 59

3.12. Detailed schem atic representation of the design participation involved in the USAP design m o d e l... 60

4.1. Basic functions of a h o u s e ... 69

4.2. Views from the first participatory sessions for each g ro u p ... 72

4.3. A view from a participatory design s e s s io n ... 75

4.4. One participant showing door-handle operation at the d o o r ... 79

4.5. A participant drawing a sketch for the handle design in his m in d ... 79

4.6. Two participants explaining their ideas with hand g e s tu re s ... 80

4.7. Idea to open the door with the help of a remote c o n tro l... 81

4.8. Proposition of an elbow operated door handle ... 86

4.9. Proposition of another door handle that is slightly curved in w a rd ... 86

4.10. Proposition of a door handle that is also slightly curved inward s m o o th ... 89

4.11. Rubber stopper attached at the bottom of doors, to protect the adjacent wall 89 4.12. Idea to open the door with the help of a foot... 90

4.13. Preliminary sketches for lever door handles that could be opened with both the hand and the e lb o w ... 97

4.14. Four preliminary lever handle c o n c e p ts ... 98

4.15. Fifth lever handle concept: the lever handle/’elbower’ ... 99

4.16. Preliminary concept for a door s c re e n ... 100

4.17. Device to hang on the wall, outside, near the entrance d o o r ... 101

4.18. Views from the second participatory design s e s s io n s ... 102

4.19. Views from the second participatory design s e s s io n s ... 103

4.20. Corrections and approvals drawn and written by elderly participants onto the door-handle drawings during the second s e s s io n s ... 104

4.21. Hinge detail drawn by a p a rtic ip a n t... 106

(14)

Appendix Figure Page

A. 1. The life cycle c u rv e ... 134

A.2. The five categories of a g e ... 134

A.3. Impacts o f a g e in g ... 136

A.4. ICIDH-classification for impairments, disabilities and handicaps: Locomotion, and Functioning of upper (and lower) e x tre m itie s ... 138

C . 1. Some general lighting design considerations for the e ld e rly ... 148

D . 1. The fourteen subtasks of domestic door use grouped under the three headings of the USAP design model: Usability, Safety and A ttra c tiv e n e s s ... 151

D.2. Various glass panel arrangements on d o o rs ... 154

D.3. Examples of doorknobs and lever handles available on the m a rk e t... 156

(15)

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Problem

T h e y e a r 199 9 h a s bee n n o m in a te d as th e In te rn a tio n a l Y e a r o f O ld e r P e rso n s, p a rtly d u e to th e fa c t th a t th e a g e in g p o p u la tio n is a u n iv e rs a l fa c t to u c h in g bo th d e v e lo p e d and d e ve lo p in g co u n trie s. In fa c t th e e ld e rly p o p u la tio n h a s in c re a s e d m ore th a n d o u b le sin ce 1 9 0 0 a n d c o n tin u e s to g ro w (D e m in g a n d C u tler. 1983; N ew m an, 1986; P e n n s y lv a n ia D e p a rtm e n t o f A g in g , 1984; S iege l, 1977). In 2030, a s B la n k (1 9 8 8 ) d e c la re d , o n e o u t o f fo u r A m e ric a n s w ill be o v e r th e a g e o f 60.

A g e in g its e lf is a v e ry s lo w affair, n o t c le a rly u n d e rs to o d a n d c e rta in ly va ry in g fro m p e rs o n to p e rso n (A n d e rso n , 1976). T h e e ld e rly a re c h a n g in g in m a n y re s p e c ts a n d th e s e ca n be c a te g o ris e d a s m o rp h o lo g ic a l a n d fu n c tio n a l. T o d a y, th e y a re h e a lth ie r th a n th e p re v io u s g e n e ra tio n s , w ith all th e o p p o rtu n itie s m a d e a v a ila b le to th e m th ro u g h d e v e lo p in g te c h n o lo g y , w ith b e tte r e d u c a tio n a n d b e tte r fin a n c ia l su p p o rt. T h e y a re th e p e o p le w h o d e m a n d m o re a n d w h o still o fte n h a ve an a c tiv e ro le to p la y in society. D e s p ite all th e se , th e e ld e rly a s a g ro u p still h a v e to c o p e w ith ce rta in p ro b le m s, b ig and sm a ll th a t a c c o m p a n y a g e in g (B e rn s e n a n d S c h e n s tro m , 1994). A g e in g a n d th e fa c ts re la te d to it, th e c la s s ific a tio n s a n d d e fin itio n s fo r th e o ld age, h e a lth a n d p h y s ic a l fa cto rs, a g e in g and m o b ility, a n d a g e in g a nd th e se n se s, h a v e b e e n a n a ly s e d a n d a re liste d in A p p e n d ix A.

(16)

R ic h a rd s o n a n d P o u lso n (1 9 9 6 ) s ta te d th a t a m o n g th e 8 0 0 m illio n p e o p le in E u ro p e , 100 m illio n are e lderly, h a lf o f w h ic h h a v e a d isa b ility. T h e s e d a ta s h o w s tro n g so cia l a n d e co n o m ic a l re a s o n s to g iv e m o re a tte n tio n to th e e ld e rly . In th e fo llo w in g tw o g ra p h s (F ig u re 1.1 a n d F ig u re 1.2), it is p o s s ib le to se e th e te n d e n c y o f th e w o rld p o p u la tio n a g e in g a n d th e w o rld -w id e in c re a s e in th e a v e ra g e a n n u a l p e rc e n t g ro w th . T h e re is an in c re a s e in the p ro p o rtio n o f p e o p le o v e r the a g e o f 60. T h e c o u n trie s th a t a re th e m o st a ffe c te d b y th is in c re a s e are; na m e ly, B e lgium , Italy, a n d E n g la n d (E k o n o m ik F orum , 1996). T h e o ve ra ll w o rld p o p u la tio n g ro w th ra te is d e c lin in g a s s e e n in F ig u re 1.2.

Average Annual Rate of Population Growth: 1996 to 2020

For Different Regions of the World

I <15

I 16-65 I > 6 5 I Total Population I Sub-._....r^rEgst

Sohaon North Africa Mainlond

Africa Taiwan

...Latin___Europe and.... .R ^ ^ f

America - Independent World Caribbean States

F ig u re 1.1. W o rld a v e ra g e a n n u a l ra te o f p o p u la tio n g ro w th fro m 1 9 9 6 to 2 0 2 0 (D a ta S o urce : U.S. B u re a u o f th e C e n s u s In te rn a tio n a l D a ta Base, 199 8 b).

F ig u re 1.3 s h o w s th e in c re a s e in th e p e rc e n ta g e o f w o rld p o p u la tio n o v e r 60 y e a rs old b e tw e e n 1 9 5 0 -2 0 2 5 . It ca n be o b s e rv e d th a t th e ra te o f in c re a s e ra te g e ts m o re la rg e r a s y e a rs p ro ce e d .

(17)

P ercent

0

1955

65

75

85

95

5

15

25

60

70

80

90 2000

10

20

30 — Elderly population in less developed ^ Elderly population in more developed ·

_countries

_'

_countries

— Overall world population growth rate (which is declining).

F ig u re 1.2. W o rld a v e ra g e a n n u a l p e rc e n t p o p u la tio n g ro w th (U S C e n s u s , 1998 b).

Years

.% of Increase

F ig u re 1.3. In c re a s e in th e p e rc e n ta g e o f w o rld p o p u la tio n o v e r 6 0 y e a rs old (S o u rce : U S B u re a u o f th e C e n su s, 1998 a).

T h e ra te s o f p o p u la tio n g ro w th a n d p o p u la tio n a g e in g v a ry a c ro s s c o u n trie s . T h e rate o f p o p u la tio n g ro w th is h ig h e r in d e v e lo p in g c o u n trie s like T u rk e y ,

(18)

w h e re a s p o p u la tio n a g e in g is h ig h e r in d e v e lo p e d c o u n trie s. F ig u re 1.4 s h o w s th e p e rc e n ta g e d is trib u tio n in th e o f th e w o rld p o p u la tio n a b o v e 60 y e a rs old. T h e p e rc e n ta g e o f p o p u la tio n o v e r 6 0 in T u rk e y is s itu a te d in b e tw e e n 5 % -1 2 .4 % fo r 1996, and p re d ic te d b e tw e e n 1 2 .5 % -2 0 % fo r 2 0 2 5 W o rld (U S B u re a u o f th e C e n s u s In te rn a tio n a l D a ta b a se , 199 8 a).

Percent of Population Age 60 and Over

% Percent

Under 5.0

5.0 to 12.4

12.5 to 20.0

Above 20.0

V

, I F ig u re 1.4. P e rc e n ta g e o f p o p u la tio n o v e r 6 0 all o v e r th e w o rld (U S B u re a u o f th e C e n s u s In te rn a tio n a l D a ta b a se , 199 8 b). F o r E u ro p e , th is p e rc e n ta g e is b e tw e e n 1 2 .5 % -2 0 % in 1 9 9 6 a n d p re d ic te d o v e r 2 0 % fo r 2 02 5. In W e s te rn E u ro p e it is a lre a d y o v e r 2 0 % in 1996. In th e y e a r 2 02 5, n e a rly all d e v e lo p e d c o u n trie s a re e x p e c te d to h a v e m o re th a n 2 0 % o f th e ir p o p u la tio n o f age 6 0 a n d o v e r (U S B u re a u o f th e C e n s u s In te rn a tio n a l D a ta b a se , 1998 a).

T h e US B u re a u o f th e C e n s u s (1 9 9 8 ) a n n o u n c e d th a t th e e ld e rly p o p u la tio n in le ss d e v e lo p e d c o u n trie s w ill be m ore th a n d o u b le b y 2 0 2 0 a n d that, b y far, th e fa s te s t g ro w in g p a rt o f th e w o rld ’s p o p u la tio n is th e e ld e rly . In c o n tra s t to th e g ro w th o f o th e r a g e g ro u p s, the rate o f g ro w th o f th e e ld e rly p o p u la tio n is e x p e c te d to in c re a s e in th e c o m in g d e c a d e s in all.

(19)

It is p re d ic te d th a t 9 .3 % o f the p o p u la tio n o f T u rk e y w ill be o v e r th e a g e o f 6 5 in th e y e a r o f 2 0 2 5 (B rink, 1996). F ig u re 1.5 s h o w s th e p e rc e n ta g e o f in c re a s e o f th e T u rk is h e ld e rly p o p u la tio n b e tw e e n y e a rs 1 9 8 0 a n d 200 0. F ig u re 1.6 d e p ic ts th e T u rk is h p o p u la tio n fo r fo u r m ain a g e g ro u p s in 1995 a n d a lso fo re c a s ts th e v a lu e s th ro u g h the y e a rs until 2010.

19*0 ,,, ' « 5 1 9 9 0 .»¡M i,; ',1 9 9 5 .,.

.

''ret:«',

F ig u re 1.5. In cre a se in th e p e rc e n ta g e o f th e P o p u la tio n O v e r 6 0 in T u rk e y (S o u rce : U.S. B u re a u o f the C e n s u s In te rn a tio n a l D a ta B ase, 199 8 b)

T h e s e fig u re s a re s h o w in g im p o rta n t re a so n s fo r th e h o u sin g p o lic ie s o f T u rk e y to s u p p ly th e h o u sin g n e e d s o f e ld e rly p e o p le and fo r th e a rc h ite c ts a n d d e s ig n e rs to be m o re co n c e rn e d a b o u t th e q u a lity o f life o f the re s id e n ts a t all ages.

(20)

Age Structure of the Turkish Population for

Four Age Groups, 1995-2010

F ig u re 1.6. T u rk is h P o p u la tio n D is trib u tio n G ra p h fo r F o u r M ain A g e G ro u p s (D a ta S o u rce : D IE, 1998).

1.2. Previous Concepts Regarding the Issues of Design for the Elderly

In th e m e e tin g o f T a s k G ro u p 19: d e s ig n in g fo r th e A g e in g S o c ie ty (In te rn a tio n a l C o u n cil fo r B u ild in g , C IB /T G 1 9 ), held in S to c k h o lm (K o s e e t al, 1996), w h e re h u m a n in te ra c tio n w ith th e b u ild in g w a s e m p h a s is e d , it w a s sta te d th a t th e s p a tia l re q u ire m e n ts w e re m o re im p o rta n t fo r th e a ge d p e rso n s, c o m p a re d to y o u n g e r g e n e ra tio n s , and th is w o u ld th e n be th e d e te rm in in g fa c to r in d e s ig n . K o se and his c o lle a g u e s (1 9 9 6 ) p o in te d o u t th a t th is is s u e w a s b e c o m in g c o m m o n in all c o u n trie s d u e to th e e c o n o m ic g ro w th , d e c re a s in g n u m b e r o f c h ild re n and in c re a s in g n u m b e r o f th e a ge d p o p u la tio n . A c c o rd in g to th e m , e ld e rly p e rs o n s sh o u ld be ta k e n a s a re fe re n c e in h u m a n in te ra c tio n w ith b u ild in g s . T h u s , if a h o u s e is d e s ig n e d (in te rio r, fu rn itu re and e q u ip m e n t) a c c o rd in g to th e re q u ire m e n ts o f e ld e rly p e o p le , m a n y a u th o rs (A lla n e t al., 1996; B e n ktzo n , 1993; B e rn s e n and

(21)

S c h e n s tr

0

m, 1994; C o le m a n , 1997; C oni, e t al., 1992; C o n n e ll e t al., 1995; C o o p e r a n d W a lto n , 1995; D a g o stin o , 1996; H y p p o n e n , 1998; K o se e t al., 1996; R ic h a rd s o n a n d P o ulso n, 1996; S h e e h a n 1992; S te in fe ld and D anfort, 1993; S to ry e t all., 1998; W o o d s , 1993; W o u d h u y s e n , 199 3) a g re e th a t th is s a m e h o u s e c a n a s w e ll be m o re th a n a p p ro p ria te fo r th e o th e r a g e g ro u p s.

F u rth e rm o re , in Ja p a n , th e id ea o f d e s ig n fo r all a g e s o r n o a g e -s p e c ific d e s ig n h a s b e e n p ro p o s e d a s th e m a in g o a l (K o s e e t al., 1996). N e v e rth e le s s , th is kin d o f u n ive rsa l d e s ig n a p p ro a c h w a s n o t s u c c e s s fu l in th e p a s t e x p e rie n c e s d u e to th e g re a t e m p h a s is g iv e n to is s u e s o f w h e e lc h a ir a c c e s s ib ility . B u ild in g s h a vin g th e stig m a o f d is a b ility w e re n o t p re fe rre d by th e a g e d th e m s e lv e s . D w e llin g s d e s ig n e d w ith th e u n iv e rs a l d e s ig n p h ilo s o p h y a re c a lle d d iffe re n tly in va rio u s c o u n trie s; ‘Life S p a n D w e llin g ’ in N o rw ay, ‘U n iv e rs a l D esign, A d a p ta b le H o usin g, F le x ib le H o u s in g ’ in th e UK, ‘L ife T im e H om e, E a sy A d a p ta b le ’ in S w e d e n , a n d ‘E ld e rly D w e llin g ’ in D e n m a rk (K o se e t al., 1996). ‘S m a rt H o m e s ’ a re n e w tria ls fo r e ld e rly h o m e s w h e re te c h n o lo g y is u se d w id e ly fo r m a xim u m c o m fo rt a n d s a fe ty (O ’S u lliv a n e t al., 1999).

T h e p re c e d e n t d w e llin g ty p e s w e re all d e v e lo p e d to be th e a lte rn a tiv e s to n u rs in g hom es; re tire m e n t c e n tre s o r c o m m u n itie s ; s h e lte re d h o u s in g (s y s te m s o f a n u m b e r o f u n its w ith w a rd e n a s s is ta n c e ); m a tc h -u p h o m e s h a rin g ; a c c e s s o ry a p a rtm e n t; e ld e r c o tta g e o r g ra n n y fla t (Lang , 1995) a s s is te d living, a ls o c a lle d v e ry sh e lte re d h o u s in g (O ’S u lliv a n et al., 1999 W o lff, 1997); c o n tin u in g ca re re tire m e n t c o m m u n ity (C C R C ) (J o h n so n , 199 8) a n d c o n g re g a te ho u sin g .

(22)

T h e 9 0 ’s h a v e b e e n th e y e a rs w h e n p o lic y m a ke rs, th e m e d ia and la tte rly a c a d e m ic s h a v e s ta rte d to h a v e a g ro w in g in te re s t in th e fie ld o f a g e in g (A rb e r, 1996). In te re st in the e ld e rly has g ro w n b e c a u s e o f th e d ra m a tic in c re a s e in th e ir n u m b e r a n d th e ir e v e r-g ro w in g p re s s u re on so cie ty, and, b e c a u s e o f th e d e c re a s e in birth ra te s c o n s id e rin g U S A a n d E u ro p e (R o g e rs, 1979). T h e p ro g re s s iv e e lim in a tio n o f in fan tile, c h ild h o o d , a n d p re m a tu re a d u lt m o rta lity h a s p ro g re s s iv e ly c h a n g e d th e h u m a n s u rv iv a l c u rv e in d e v e lo p e d na tio n s.

F u rth e rm o re , w ith all th e re se a rch a n d d e v e lo p m e n t in th e h e a lth sector, m an is livin g lo nger. L ivin g lo n g e r m ay so u n d as a g o o d thing , b u t if o n e h a s to a d d e xtra y e a rs to his life span, b ut b e in g y e a rs o f d e p e n d e n c y a nd in c a p a c ity , it w ill n o t be g o o d a n ym o re . It is a ls o d is c o u ra g in g to le a rn th a t th e tim e s p e n t in h o sp ita l sta y a n d th e p ro p o rtio n o f the life sp a n s p e n t in lo n g -te rm c a re h a v e b e e n in c re a s in g fo r th e eld e rly. T h is w ill th e n s u g g e s t th a t m o st o f th e p e o p le w h o a re in th e ir 9 0 ’s a re in va lid s, a n d th is h a s b e e n c a lle d “th e fa ilu re o f o u r s u c c e s s ” (C o n i, e t al., 1992; 8).

T h e w a y o f life o f th e e ld e rly h a s u n d e rg o n e ra p id c h a n g e s d u rin g th e p ro c e s s o f u rb a n is a tio n and in d u s tria lis a tio n th a t ha s c h a n g e d th e p h y sica l livin g c o n d itio n s o f a d v a n c e d so cie tie s. H o w e ve r, v e ry little is kn o w n a b o u t d iffic u ltie s th e y e x p e rie n c e in a d a p tin g th e m s e lv e s to th e m o d e rn w a y o f life. W h ile th e p h y s ic a l livin g c o n d itio n s o f th e e ld e rly h a v e g re a tly im p ro ve d , p a rtic u la rly d u rin g th e la st 4 5 y e a rs in E u rop e, lo n e lin e s s , d is s a tis fa c tio n , d e p e n d e n c e , lo ss o f m e a n in g fu l roles, d e p re s s io n , a n d o th e r p ro b le m s a re o fte n m e n tio n e d a s th e ir m a jo r p ro b le m s (H e ik k in e n et al., 1983).

(23)

T h e a g e in g p o p u la tio n ha s b e e n th e m ost im p o rta n t so cia l p h e n o m e n o n o f th e la te 2 0 ’s, b rin g in g v e ry im p o rta n t p ro b le m s su ch a s a d e c re a s e in th e w o rk in g p o p u la tio n and in c re a s in g d iffic u ltie s in fin a n c in g th e a u g m e n tin g p o p u la tio n o f re tire d p e o p le (E k o n o m ik F orum , 1996). T h is in c re a s e in the e ld e rly p o p u la tio n is a n e w c h a lle n g e w h ic h m ay re s u lt in an in s u ffic ie n c y in s p e c ia lis e d in s titu tio n s (in num ber, q ua lity, e ffe c tiv e n e s s , and e fficie n cy), and in an in c re a s e in the n u m b e r o f e ld e rly p e o p le w illin g to a g e in th e ir ow n h o u s e w ith o u t m oving .

B e n k tz o n (1 9 9 3 ) d e fin e d the fu ll ra n g e o f p o te n tia l u se rs by a p y ra m id (se e F ig u re 1.7), w h e re th e ir a b ilitie s to pe rfo rm d a ily a c tiv itie s a re given. B e n k tz o n sa id th a t d u rin g th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f n e w p ro d u cts, th e re q u ire m e n ts a n d lim ita tio n s o f d is a b le d u se rs are im p o rta n t a n d th is a u th o r a d d e d th a t th e in clu sio n o f p e o p le fro m th e h ig h e r level o f th e p y ra m id in th e d e s ig n p ro c e s s is n e c e s s a ry to re a ch a g re a te r n u m b e r o f e n d -u se rs. B e n k tz o n g a v e the e xa m p le o f d o o rs o p e n in g w ith p h o to c e lls th a t m a ke it p o s s ib le fo r e v e ry o n e to p a ss th ro u g h (1993 ).

S e vere ly disabled peo ple needing help in daily activities P eople w ith reduced

strength and m obility

A b le-bod ied o r fu lly capa ble users to g e th e r w ith e ld e rly peo ple

(24)

T h e c o n c e p t o f ‘th e a v e ra g e ’ is e x p a n d e d h e re a n d le a d s to w a rd s a n e w c o n c e p t fo r u n iv e rs a l d e s ig n in w h ic h th e n e e d s o f u se rs o f th e to p p a rt a re m e t w ill re s u lt in b e tte r d e s ig n s s u ite d fo r the m a jo rity o f p eo ple . D e sig n fo r o ld p e o p le w ill m o ve “fro m th e m a rg in s to w a rd s th e m a in s tre a m o f p ro d u c t d e v e lo p m e n t in th e fu tu re ” (B e n ktzo n , 1993: 20). R ic h a rd s o n a n d P o u lso n (1 9 9 6 ) a rg u e d th a t th e ‘a v e ra g e u s e r’ d o e s n ot exist. T h e y g a v e th e e x a m p le o f a m an h a v in g h is h e a d in an o ve n a n d his fe e t in a re frig e ra to r, a n d said th a t h is a v e ra g e b o d y te m p e ra tu re w o u ld be c o m fo rta b le . F o r a la rg e a m o u n t o f p e o p le , item s a n d e n v iro n m e n ts d e s ig n e d a c c o rd in g to a m yth ica l a v e ra g e p e rso n , c a u s e p ro b le m s b e c o m in g th e m e a n s to re in fo rc e n e g a tiv e s te re o ty p e s , lim it so cia l in te g ra tio n , a ffe c t th e q u a lity o f life, a n d re d u c e in d e p e n d e n c e (R ic h a rd s o n a n d P o ulso n, 1996).

W ith in th e fra m e w o rk o f th e p re s e n t study, th e fo llo w in g to p ic s h a ve b e e n e x a m in e d : w h e n o n e is old and w h o th e e ld e rly a re (B la n k, 1988; C o lem an, 1997; C oni, e t al., 1992; Pitt, 1982; R ogers, 1979); h ea lth, p s y c h o lo g ic a l a nd p h y s ic a l fa c to rs a ffe c tin g e ld e rly person s; c la s s ific a tio n o f d is a b ilitie s (C oni, e t al., 1992; G ill, 1997; K e llo g, et al., 1986; R a sch ko , 1991; S a lm o n , 1993; S tu rg e s, et al., 1988); n e e d s and fa c to rs in flu e n c in g th e n e e d s o f th e e ld e rly p e o p le re la te d to livin g a rra n g e m e n ts (B la n k, 1988; C a rp a n d C arp, 1984; C o n i, e t al., 1992 M aslow , 1954); th e w a y a n d th e p la c e s w h e re e ld e rly p e o p le u s u a lly live (R o g e rs, 1979; H ow ell, 1980); ty p e s and to p ic s o f re s e a rc h a n d w o rk d o n e in th e fie ld o f e ld e rly and th e ir h o u s e (o r h o m e ) e n v iro n m e n t (C o le m a n , 1997; Jen kis, 1996; L a w to n and N a hem ow , 1973; L a w to n , 1985; P a stalan, 1973; V iro k a n n a s e t al., 1996); a c tiv itie s o f d a ily life o f th e e ld e rly in th e ir h o m e e n v iro n m e n t (F a le ti, 1984; H o w ell, 1980; R o hle s,

(25)

197 6); a n d e x is tin g m o d e ls on e ld e rly and th e e n v iro n m e n t (E c k e rt and M u rra y , 1984; L a w to n a n d N a h e m o w , 1973; M a rk in g et al. 1997; P a rm e le e a n d La\A4on, 1990; R e g n ie r a n d 0 . B yerts, 1983; S h e e h a n , 1992; W illc o k s et al., 1997).

1.3. Previous Studies Related to Elderly and their House Environment

M a n y s tu d ie s w e re co n d u c te d in a tte m p ts to d e s ig n b e tte r hou se s, in te rio rs a n d p ro d u c ts fo r th e e ld e rly (B e rn se n , e t al., 1994; B lank, 1988; B o ess, et al. 1999; C a va n a g h , 1996; C o o p e r a n d W a lto n , 1995; F aleti, 1984; H ow ell, 1980; im a m o g lu a n d im a m o g lu , 1992; Kose, 1993; K ose, 1996; Kose, et al., 1996; 1994; Law ton, 1985; M a cd o n a ld , et al., 1996; O ’Sullivan e t al., 1999; P a sta la n , 1973; R a schko, 1991; R e gnier, a n d 0 . B yerts, 1983; R ohles, 1976; S a n d h u , 1993; V iro k a n n a s e t al., 1996). H o w e v e r th e o p in io n o f th e e ld e rly th e m s e lv e s re la te d to th e d e s ig n its e lf is n e v e r o r ra re ly c o n s id e re d , as C a v a n a g h (1 9 9 6 ) a n d H yp p d n e n (1 9 9 7 ) ha ve p o in te d o ut in th e ir w o rks.

T h e id e a s a n d c o m m e n ts o f old p e o p le c e rta in ly p la y an im p o rta n t ro le in th e b u ild in g d e s ig n p ro c e s s (A lla n e t al., 1996; C a va n a g h , 1996; C o le m a n , 1997; B o ess, e t al. 1999; Hoeij, 1997). A lla n e t al. (1 9 9 6 ) s ta te d th a t th e re is a n e e d fo r m u ch m o re in v o lv e m e n t o f e ld e rly u s e rs a t all le v e ls in the d e s ig n p ro ce ss. W o u d h u y s e n (1 9 9 3 ) cla im e d th a t e ld e rly p e o p le , b e s id e s re s p o n d in g to q u e s tio n n a ire s and a tte n d in g to fo c u s g ro u p s, s h o u ld a ls o w o rk in te a m s w ith d e s ig n e rs , e n te rin g e a rly a n d d ire c tly in to th e d e s ig n p ro ce ss. F u rth e rm o re , Hoeij (1 9 9 7 ) a d d e d th a t a g ro u p o f 10 -2 0 old p e o p le s u ffic e to e v a lu a te a d e s ig n c o n c e p t o r a p ro to typ e , and p ro v id e q u a lita tiv e in fo rm a tio n .

(26)

C a v a n a g h (1 9 9 6 ) re p o rte d a stu d y ca rrie d o u t b y th e W o m e n ’s D e sig n S e rv ic e in w h ic h o ld w o m e n w e re in te rvie w e d . In th e s e in te rvie w s, th e d iffe re n t n e e d s o f peo ple ; th e ir p re fe re n c e s in u sin g in te rio r h o u se spaces; a n d th e ir h o u s in g re q u ire m e n ts, w e re in q u ire d . T h e p rim a ry s u g g e s tio n s o f th e e ld e rly w o m e n in th is s tu d y w e re as fo llo w s:

• S o c ia l h o u s in g sh o u ld be bu ilt w ith s p a c e s ta n d a rd s su ita b le fo r w h e e lc h a ir users;

• H e ig h ts a n d sta n d a rd fix tu re s a n d fittin g s (taps, c u p b o a rd s ...) sh o u ld be u s a b le b y e v e ry b o d y in clu d in g p e o p le h a v in g re s tric tio n in m o b ility an d d e x te rity ;

. P a rtic u la r a tte n tio n sh o u ld be g ive n to d e s ig n in g fe a tu re s in h o u s e s th a t w o u ld h e lp in re d u c in g th e ris k o f a c c id e n ts (fo r e xa m p le : fa lls);

• M o re c le a r in fo rm a tio n a n d cu e s sh o u ld be a v a ila b le to k n o w w h a t to d o in ca s e o f a fire in th e house.

M o rin i a n d P o m p o s in i (1 9 9 6 ) re c o m m e n d e d th e re c o g n itio n o f the v a lu e o f u s e r p a rtic ip a tio n in d e s ig n a n d th e e n s u ra n c e th a t d e s ig n g u id e lin e s an d a d v is e s a re b a s e d on u s e r d a ta (from re p re s e n ta tiv e s a m p le s o f all p o te n tia l u se rs). T h e s e a u th o rs b e lie v e d th a t lo o kin g at a lte rn a tiv e s fo r a d a p ta b ility th a t a llo w re s id e n ts to a g e in p la ce d u rin g th e d e s ig n p ro c e s s w a s th e le ss e x p e n s iv e so lu tio n . F u rth e rm o re , th e y p ro p o s e d th a t th e h o u s in g d e s ig n p ro c e s s sh o u ld b e e n ric h e d w ith real in te rv e n tio n s (o f e n d users), in w h ic h th e e v a lu a tio n o f e v e ry c a s e w ith s p e c ific c o n s tra in ts o f tra d itio n , ha b its, fu n d s , tim e a n d c o u n try law s w o u ld be m ade. E a so n (1 9 9 5 ) a lso h e ld a s im ila r a p p ro a c h o f ‘d e s ig n fo r u s e r w ith u s e r’. H o w e (1 9 9 2 ) sta te d th a t th e b e s t w a y to e n s u re th a t th e c o n c e rn s o f th e e ld e rly a re m et, a n d th a t local p la n s re fle c t th e ir n e e d s a n d p e rsp e ctive s, w a s to h a v e th e m a c tiv e ly

(27)

p a rtic ip a te in th e lo cal p la n n in g process, w ith re g u la r m e e tin g s. O ’S u lliva n e t al. (1 9 9 9 ) a n d C o le m a n (1 9 9 7 ) p o in te d o u t th e im p o rta n c e o f co n s u ltin g e ld e rly p e o p le d u rin g th e d e s ig n process, b e c a u s e th e y c la im e d th a t e ld e rly p e o p le a re s u rro u n d e d b y th in g s w h ic h d o n o t w o rk w e ll fo r them , o r th a t th e y s im p ly c a n n o t fin d th e th in g s th a t th e y w a n t. S a n d h u (1 9 9 3 ) a d v is e d th a t d e s ig n e rs a n d m a n u fa c tu re rs sh o u ld m ake e v a lu a tiv e re s e a rc h w ith re s p e c tiv e g ro u p s o f e ld e rly users, a t all th e sta g e s o f th e d e s ig n pro ce ss, a n d p a rtic u la rly b e fo re th e in tro d u c tio n o f n e w p ro d u c ts b e ca u se , he cla im ed, th e e ld e rly a re p o te n tia lly the fa s te s t g ro w in g c o n s u m e r m a rk e t in th e d e v e lo p e d c o u n trie s (W ylde, 1995). C o le m a n (1 9 9 7 ) said th a t o ld e r p e o p le a re m o re a n d m ore c o m m e n d in g s u b s ta n tia l w e a lth a n d are p re p a re d to s p e n d it on th in g s th a t w ill re a lly im p ro ve th e ir lives. B rin k (1 9 9 6 ) p o in te d o u t th a t m o st d w e llin g s a re n o t “ s e n io r-frie n d ly ” o r b a rrie r-fre e , a n d th a t th o s e d w e llin g s a re d e s ig n e d w ith o u t c o n s id e rin g e ve n the b a s ic re q u ire m e n ts o f e ld e rly re sid e n ts, re s u ltin g in th e ir e x c lu s io n fro m e v e ry d a y life.

M a n y p ro je c ts w e re a ls o co n d u c te d in o rd e r to p ro v id e m o re u s a b le s p a c e s a n d o b je c ts to th e m a jo rity o f peo ple . R ic h a rd s o n a n d P o u ls o n (1 9 9 6 ) g a ve th e e x a m p le o f the In c lu sio n o f E ld e rly and D is a b le d P e o p le in th e T e le m a tic s (IN C L U D E “T E L E M A T IC S p ro je c t” 1109), p ro je ct (1 9 9 6 ), a m o n g m a n y o th e rs, w h ic h w a s p ro v id in g s u p p o rt fo r T e le m a tic s p ro je c ts to e n s u re th a t th e n e e d s o f e ld e rly a n d d is a b le d p e o p le w e re ta k e n in to a cco u n t. E a rly re s u lts o f th is p ro je c t h a v e re v e a le d th a t in m a n y c a s e s d e s ig n e rs w e re s im p ly n o t a w a re o f th e im p o rta n c e o f co n s id e rin g th e s e p e o p le a s u s e r g ro u p s and la c k e d th e n e c e s s a ry e x p e rie n c e and s k ills to g a th e r d e s ig n re q u ire m e n ts fro m them . A se c o n d e x a m p le w a s th e T e c h n o lo g y In itia tiv e fo r

(28)

D isa b le d and E ld e rly ’s U ser, T ID E ’S U S E R proje ct, w h ic h w a s a U S E R fit d e s ig n h a n d b o o k d e v e lo p e d by th e T A P U S E R p ro je ct (P o u lso n e t al., 1996; R ich a rd so n , 1996), a c o m p le te d e s ig n m e th o d o lo g y s p e c ific a lly d e s ig n e d to d e v e lo p p ro d u c ts fo r th e e ld e rly and p e o p le w ith d isa b ility, usin g fe e d -b a c k as a p ro c e s s o f u s e r-in v o lv e m e n t fo r th e e v a lu a tio n by u se rs o f a v a ila b le p ro d u cts, o r p ro to typ e s. T h e T ID E A C C E S S p ro je c t to w a rd s u s e r in te rfa c e s in H u m a n -C o m p u te r In te ra ctio n (P o rre ro and B e lla ca sa , 1995; S te p h a n id is and E m ilia ni, 1999) w a s a n o th e r e xa m p le . O th e r e x a m p le s o f p ro je cts a nd s u p p o rt action s, w h ich a lso h a ve u sa b ility a t th e ir co re and w h ic h can p ro vid e all ty p e s o f in fo rm a tio n on th is s u b je c t are:

. T E L S C A N (T ra n s p o rt T e le m a tic s P ro je ct fo r th e e ld e rly and d is a b le d tra v e lle rs ) (N a n io p o u lo s, 1999);

• R E S P E C T (R e q u ire m e n ts E n g in e e rin g and S p e c ific a tio n in T e le m a tic s ; u se r re q u ire m e n ts s p e c ific a tio n a s a c ritic a l p a rt o f th e s y s te m d e s ig n p ro ce ss.) (B e va n ,1997);

• "A g e le s s E n v iro n m e n t T e c h n o lo g y " (A g e le s s E n v iro n m e n t T e c h n o lo g y, 1998) a re se a rch p ro g ra m in Japa n.

In 1999, being th e ‘O fficia l Y e a r o f th e E ld e rly ’ , in te re s tin g p ro je c ts ha ve b ee n s ta rte d re ce n tly in re la tio n to th is a g e in g p o p u la tio n . T h e P R E S E N C E p ro je c t w h ic h is a 2 y e a r E u ro p e a n U n ion fu n d e d re s e a rc h p ro g ra m m e (E U F R P ,

1997) is o n e o f th e m , w h e re y e a rs o f e x p e rie n c e , kn o w le d g e , and w is d o m o f th e e ld e rly w e re used to c re a te n e w d e s ig n s in th e fie ld o f v irtu a l c o m m u n ic a tio n and w e b use.

B o e ss e t al. (1999 ) ha ve c o n d u c te d a s tu d y on b a th ro o m s w h e re e ld e rly p a rtic ip a n ts w e re p re p a rin g m o o d -b o a rd s in s e ssio n s, usin g a p ro vid e d

(29)

re a d y -m a d e to o lkit, w h ile b e in g e n c o u ra g e d to a d d th e ir ow n d ra w in g s a nd c o m m e n ts to th e ir bo a rd s. T h is w a s d o n e to le t p e o p le a c t a s 'o p e n ly ' as p o s s ib le in th e re se a rch ; i.e. n o t co n s tra in in g th e m w ith q u e s tio n s th a t a re to o tig h t (clo se d ), a n d at th e sa m e tim e n o t le a vin g th e m on th e o th e r e x tre m ity w ith q u e s tio n s th a t a re to o open. T h e s e m o o d -b o a rd s w e re d is c u s s e d d u rin g th e s e s s io n s to le t e a ch p a rtic ip a n t d e s c rib e a n d ju s tify h is /h e r o w n d e s ig n d e c is io n s .

R ic h a rd s o n a n d P o u lso n (1 9 9 6 ) b e lie ve d th a t th e a p p lic a tio n o f m eth ods, to o ls, te c h n iq u e s , and k n o w le d g e w h ile d e a lin g w ith q u e s tio n s o f usa b ility, w o u ld im p ro v e p ro d u c t and se rv ic e q ua lity. T h e y a ls o b e lie v e d th a t it w o u ld a ls o c o n trib u te to in cre a se d so cia l in te g ra tio n , th e q u a lity o f life, an d in d e p e n d e n t livin g fo r a m e lio ra tin g so cia l c o n s e q u e n c e s , a n d im p ro v in g p ro d u c t a n d s e rv ic e m a rke t e x p e c ta tio n s . A c c o rd in g to them , d e s ig n in g fo r th e e ld e rly a n d d is a b le d p e o p le w as, d e s ig n in g fo r e ve ryo n e .

K o se (1 9 9 3 ) a c c u s e d a rc h ite c ts a n d d e s ig n e rs fo r n o t b e in g p re p a re d , as yet, to a c c e p t d e s ig n re q u ire m e n ts fo r e ld e rly p e o ple , w h ic h h e lis te d a s fo llo w s: e lim in a tio n o f level d iffe re n c e s (in c lu d in g th e e lim in a tio n o f d o o r sills); in s ta lla tio n o f h a n d ra ils (sa id by a rc h ite c ts to in te rru p t d e s ig n c o n s is te n c ie s in th e space ); in s ta lla tio n o f d o o r le vel h a n d le s; in s ta lla tio n o f la rg e r sw itch e s; in s ta lla tio n o f e a s ily o p e ra b le fa c ilitie s , etc. (K o se a n d N a kaohji, 1991). T h e re a re c e rta in ly m a n y o th e r re q u ire m e n ts th a t ca n b e a d d e d to th is list, s u c h as th e p ro v is io n o f a d e q u a te lig h tin g a vo id in g la rg e c o n tra s ts (S a lm o n , 1993); illu m in a te d a n d w e ll lo c a te d lig h t sw itch es; visu a l as w e ll a s a u d ito ry a la rm syste m s; d iffe re n tia tio n o f w a ll and flo o r s u rfa c e te x tu re s ; c o lo u r coding.

(30)

in d u c tio n lo o p s to a s s is t h e a rin g aids; sou n d in su la tio n ; ro u n d e d c o rn e rs and e d g e s; s lid in g d o o rs (p a rtic u la rly fo r c a b in e t a n d c u p b o a rd d o o rs); c o n tra s tin g s trip e s o n th e e d g e s o f th e tre a d s o f a n y stairs; h a n d ra ils e x te n d e d b e yo n d th e to p and th e b o tto m o f stairs, etc.

R e s e a rc h e s o rie n te d to w a rd th e c o n s tru c tio n o f h o u s in g fo r th e e ld e rly in clud e: s e n io r h o u sin g , sh e lte re d h o u sing , n u rs in g h o u se s, c o m m u n ity d w e llin g s , a n d s o o n (B irkett, 1996; B rookfie ld, 1997; Jo h n so n , 1998; P ainter, 1997; P ieffer, 1997; P ow ers, 1995; S ch less, 1996; W olff, 1997). F e w s tu d ie s a re in te re s te d in le ttin g p e o p le a g e in p la ce w ith o u t h a v in g to m ove. (C a lla h a n , 1992; C o o p e r a n d W a lto n , 1995; H ow e, 1992; Kose, 1996; M cC a ffe rty, 1994; M eans, 1996; O ’Brien, 1998; P o pescu, 1995; R ossi, 1994; S h e rm a n a n d C o m bs, 1997; S te in fe ld a n d S cott, 1993; S te in fe ld and S cott, 1996).

It h a s be e n p o in te d o u t that, if th e y a re fa m ilia r w ith the s u rro u n d in g , e ld e rly re s id e n ts w ith d im in is h e d a b ilitie s ca n c a rry o u t d a ily life a c tiv itie s n e a rly s u c c e s s fu lly . O n th e co n tra ry, th e s e a c tiv itie s ca n be v e ry h a rd to c a rry out, e v e n b y le ss d is a b le d e ld e rly p eo ple , w h e n th e y a re n ot fa m ilia r w ith th e s u rro u n d in g (L a w to n , 1985; P a rm e le e a n d La w to n , 1990). In m o st o f th e s tu d ie s o n e ld e rly and th e ir h o u s e e n v iro n m e n t, th e ir o p in io n a n d id e a s d u rin g th e s ta g e s o f th e d e s ig n p ro c e s s w e re n e v e r asked . F u rth e rm o re , C o le m a n (A lla n e t al., 199 6) p o in te d o u t that, a s a g e in g a ffe c ts e v e ry b o d y e v e ry day, d e s ig n e rs w e re in fa c t d e s ig n in g fo r th e ir o w n fu tu re . H e a d d e d th a t “to d o th a t s u c c e s s fu lly , a n e w c o lla b o ra tio n b e tw e e n old a n d y o u n g ” w a s n e e d e d (A lla n et al., 1996: 11). T h is s ta te m e n t w a s a ls o s u p p o rte d by

(31)

H y p p o n e n (1 9 9 8 ), w h o sa id th a t w h e n e v e r u s e r-c e n te re d d e s ig n m e th o d s w e re used , th e ‘s a m p le ’ o f p a rtic ip a tin g u s e rs did not n e c e s s a rily in c lu d e d is a b le d o r e ld e rly co n su m e rs. S h e a d d e d that, fo r p ro d u c ts to be u sa b le fo r all, p e o p le w ith d iffe re n t re s o u rc e s had to be in clu d e d in th e d e s ig n p rocess. T h e re fo re , it w o u ld be an im p o rta n t issu e to p ro v id e c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n e ld e rly re s id e n ts a n d d e sig n e rs.

1.4. The Object and Methodology of the Study

T h e o b je c t o f th is th e s is is to d e v e lo p a m odel in vo lvin g o f th e e ld e rly in th e d e s ig n p ro ce ss, b a se d on the p rin c ip le s o f u s e r p a rtic ip a tio n in d e s ig n a n d on th e a p p lic a tio n o f Q u a lity F u n ctio n D e p lo ym e n t (Q F D ) in th e d e s ig n p ro c e s s in o rd e r to re a c h m o re a c c u ra te u s e r n e e d s a n d p re fe re n ce s. In o rd e r to a c h ie v e U n ive rsa l D e sig n s o lu tio n s in in te rio rs a n d e n viro n m e n ts, th e re m ust be a m o d e l to in vo lve e ld e rly in th e d e s ig n p ro ce ss. V a rio u s m o d e ls o f e ld e rly in v o lv e m e n t fo r d iffe re n t s itu a tio n s a re e x a m in e d a n d th e n , a n e w m o d e l o f in v o lv e m e n t is p ro p o se d . T h is m o d e l in v o lv e s p a rtic ip a to ry d e sig n s e s s io n s b e tw e e n e x p e rts a n d e n d -u s e rs at va rio u s sta g e s o f the d e s ig n p ro ce ss. T h e m a in fo c u s in th e p re s e n t s tu d y re m a in s o rie n te d to w a rd s a d e s ig n p ro c e s s th a t w ill m a ke p o s s ib le th e d e s ig n o f u sab le, safe, a n d a ttra c tiv e in te rio r e n v iro n m e n ts (on a u n iv e rs a l d e s ig n b asis) a llo w in g a g e in g in p lace, ta k in g in to a c c o u n t th e real w o rld n e e d s o f th e e n d -u s e r (th e e ld e rly in th is c a s e ) by th e ir a c tiv e p a rtic ip a tio n in th e d e s ig n p ro ce ss, a n d c o m b in in g th e s e w ith th e e m p iric a l k n o w le d g e o f d e sig n e rs.

T h e re s u lts o b ta in e d fro m th e a b o v e m e n tio n e d p a rtic ip a to ry d e s ig n s e s s io n s fo rm a b a s e fo r d e s ig n in g a p p ro p ria te in te rio rs a n d p ro d u c ts a n d also, se rve

(32)

a s th e g u id e lin e s fo r th e de sig n e r. T h e c re a tio n o f a p h ysica l in te rio r e n v iro n m e n t, h a v in g in m ind th e n o tio n o f a g e in g in place, is a c o m p le x task. It re q u ire s th e o rg a n is a tio n o f a p p ro p ria te in fo rm a tio n . T h e k n o w le d g e o f d e s ig n e rs co m b in e d w ith th e k n o w le d g e (o p in io n s, id e a s) o f e ld e rly e n d - u s e rs s h o u ld b e in v o lv e d in the d e s ig n p ro c e s s b e c a u s e it is n o t an a u to n o m o u s b u sin e ss. S h e e h a n (1 9 9 2 ) sta te d th a t th e p h ysica l d e s ig n o f h o u s in g in te rio rs pla ys a m a jo r ro le in in flu e n c in g the q u a lity o f life o f all e ld e rly re sid e n ts. M o re o ve r, p o o r fu n c tio n a l d e s ig n is said to c a u s e a la c k o f c o n fid e n c e in u s e rs a n d cre a te a s e n s e o f fru s tra tio n ; p o o r e rg o n o m ic d e sig n ca n c a u s e pain, d is c o m fo rt a n d injury; p o o r a e s th e tic im a g e ca n c re a te s tig m a a n d d e c re a s e th e p le a s u re in using s p a c e s o r o b je cts (A lla n e t al., 1996). T h is th e s is d e s c rib e s a p re s c rip tiv e m odel, b a se d on th e c o n c e p t o f ‘a g e in g in p la c e ’ in w h ic h th e e n d -u se rs, m a in ly th e e ld e rly re sid e n ts, c a n be in v o lv e d a c tiv e ly in th e d e s ig n process. In th is m o d e l th e e ld e rly re s id e n ts are a c tiv e ly in v o lv e d in th e d e sig n p ro ce ss th ro u g h p a rtic ip a to ry d e s ig n se ssio n s. Q u a lity F u n c tio n D e p lo y m e n t (Q F D ) h a s b e e n a d a p te d to d e v e lo p an e v a lu a tio n m e th o d fo r c o lle c te d da ta (vie w s a n d id e a s) o f th e e ld e rly e n d - users.

1.5. Structure of the Thesis

T h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e th e s is fo llo w s a p ro g re s s io n fro m th e o ry to a p p lic a tio n . T h e in tro d u c tio n in c lu d e s an o v e rv ie w o f th e d e m o g ra p h ic d a ta o f a g e in g p o p u la tio n s , o f p re v io u s c o n c e p ts re g a rd in g th e issu e s o f d e s ig n in g h o u s in g and in te rio rs fo r th e eld e rly, a n d o f th e pro b le m , th e o b je c t a nd m e th o d o lo g y o f th e p re s e n t study.

(33)

In C h a p te r 2, va rio u s d e s ig n m o d e ls and m e th o d s re la te d to users, th e e ld e rly a n d th e ir e n v iro n m e n t a re e xa m in e d . T h e s e m o d e ls in clud e: a m odel fo r u sa b ility; nam e ly, th e c o n s u m e r id e a lis e d d e s ig n m odel; L a w to n an d N a h e m o w ’s e c o lo g ic a l m odel; E cke rt a n d M u rra y ’s e c o lo g ic a l h o u s in g m odel; th e p e rs o n -e n v iro n m e n t tra n s a c tio n m odel; a n d th e s u p p o rtiv e e n v iro n m e n t a n d th e e n v iro n m e n ta l c o m p e te n c e co n ce p t.

C h a p te r 3 p ro p o s e s th e U sa bility, S afety, a n d A ttra c tiv e n e s s P a rtic ip a to ry (U S A P ) D e s ig n M odel. T h e se ve n sta g e s o f th e o f th e p ro p o s e d m o d e l a re e x p la in e d in th a t ch a p te r, a fte r an o v e rv ie w on th e p ro d u c t life c y c le a n d on d iffe re n t w a y s o f u s e r in v o lv e m e n t in th e d e s ig n p ro ce ss, d e a lin g w ith d iffe re n t w a y s o f e n d -u s e rs in v o lv e m e n t in d e s ig n p ro ce sse s. In th is ch a p te r. Q u a lity F u n ctio n D e p lo y m e n t a n d th e v a rio u s ste p s o f th e H o u se o f Q uality, w h ic h is th e m a in p a rt o f Q FD , a re e x p la in e d a s w e ll a s h o w th e y a re a p p lie d to th e m o d e l in th e s tu d y in th e fo rm o f U S A P D e p lo y m e n t m a trixe s.

C h a p te r 4 d e a ls w ith an a p p lic a tio n o f th e U S A P d e s ig n m o d e l w ith a g ro u p o f e ld e rly p e o p le fro m A n ka ra . In th is ch a p te r, c h a ra c te ris tic s o f th e s a m p le o f e ld e rly e n d -u se rs, c o rre s p o n d in g d e p lo y m e n t m a trix e s a n d th e re s e a rc h fin d in g s a re g iven. T h e re s u lts o f th e p a rtic ip a to ry d e s ig n s e s s io n s an d o b ta in e d re s u lts a re e xp la in e d . A d e s c rip tio n a n d p re s e n ta tio n o f th e c o n c e p tu a l d e s ig n s and th e c o m m e n ts to re fin e th e m a re g iv e n a t th e e n d o f th a t ch a p te r.

(34)

2. DESIGN MODELS INVOLVING THE USER AND/OR THE

ELDERLY

2.1. Design Models Involving Users

D iffe re n t w a y s o f in te rp re tin g th e d e s ig n p ro c e s s o f a p ro d u c t o r an e n v iro n m e n t a re c a lle d d e s ig n m odels. “ D e sig n m o d e ls a re re p re s e n ta tio n s o f p h ilo s o p h ie s o r s tra te g ie s p ro p o s e d to s h o w h o w d e s ig n is and m a y be c a rrie d o u t” (S iv a lo g a n a th a n e t al., 1 9 9 5 ; 4 5 6 ). E a ch m o d e l has its ow n p h a se s. D e sig n in its e lf is a p o rtio n o f a p ro d u c t o r e n v iro n m e n t life cycle.

2.1.1 A Model for Usability: the User-Based Design and Development Model M e m b e rs o f th e U s e r G ro u p in E in d h o v e n (M a rk in g et al., 19 9 7 ) h a ve d e v e lo p e d a m o d e l fo r u s a b ility c a lle d th e u s e r-b a s e d d e s ig n an d d e v e lo p m e n t m o d e l (see F ig u re 2.1). T h e g e n e ra l o b je c tiv e s o f th e g ro u p are; • to c o lle c t e x a m p le s o f g o o d p ra ctice ;

• to e s ta b lis h g u id e lin e s fo r u s e r in v o lv e m e n t in d e s ig n and d e v e lo p m e n t o f p ro d u c ts a n d se rvice s;

• to id e n tify a re a s fo r re s e a rc h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t p ro je c ts w h ic h co u ld fu rth e r th e o b je c tiv e s o f u s e r in v o lv e m e n t.

(35)

User-Based Design & D evelopm ent

F ig u re 2.1. U se r-b a s e d d e s ig n a n d d e v e lo p m e n t m o d e l (M a rk in g e t al., 1997; h ttp ://va lle y.inte ract.nl/D A N /N E W S LE T T E R /N E W S 97 /use r.htm l, 7. 1.1998 ).

T h e b a c k g ro u n d re s e a rc h o f th is m odel in v o lv e s e x is tin g h u m a n fa c to rs in fo rm a tio n , s ta n d a rd s, le g isla tio n , m a te ria ls a n d n o rm a l p ra c tic e an d

(36)

re le v a n t o th e r in fo rm a tio n . F o cu s g ro u p s a re se t up to id e n tify problem s, o p p o rtu n itie s a n d te c h n ic a l issu e s in te rm s of;

a ) d e s ig n stim u li and p ro d u c t ideas;

b) a s p e c ts o f u sa b ility, p ro d u c t s p e c ific a tio n a n d te s tin g re q u ire m e n ts.

T h e o b je c tiv e o f the U s e r-B a se d D e sig n a n d D e v e lo p m e n t M o d e l is to e s ta b lis h w h e th e r o r n ot th e w o rk in g m o d e l/p ro to ty p e p e rfo rm s th e re q u ire d fu n c tio n s a t a d e s ira b le le vel o f usa b ility, b y te s tin g ch o s e n h y p o th e s e s e s ta b lis h e d at th e c o n c e p t te s tin g s ta g e a n d b y te s tin g th e o u tc o m e s o f th e te c h n o lo g y d e ve lo p m e n t. V e rific a tio n o f u s a b ility a g a in s t s u c c e s s c rite ria is m a d e b y m e a n s o f q u a n tifie d re p o rt e v a lu a tio n (M a rk in g e t al., 1997).

2.1.2. The Consumer Idealised Design Model

O n e w a y to h e lp u se rs to be a w a re o f w h a t th e y re a lly ne e d o r w a n t is a p ro c e s s c a lle d C o n s u m e r Id e a lise d D e sig n (C o n s u m e r D e s ig n ) (s e e F ig u re 2.2), w h ic h in v o lv e s a c tu a l o r p o te n tia l u s e rs in an u n re s tra in e d d e s ig n o f th e ir id eal a rte fa c t (C ic c a n te lli a n d M a g id so n , 1993).

In th is m odel, p a rtic ip a n ts a re not re s p o n s ib le fo r th e fe a s ib ility o f d e s ig n s th e y c re a te b e c a u s e it is b e lie ve d th a t th e p re o c c u p a tio n w ith fe a s ib ility is o n e o f th e m a in b a rrie rs to cre a tivity. C ic c a n te lli a n d M a g id s o n (1 9 9 3 ) a ls o b e lie v e d th a t u s e rs a re b e s t e q u ip p e d to d e s ig n a rte fa c ts w h e n th e y a re fa m ilia r w ith . C o n s u m e r Id e a lis e d D e sig n s e s s io n s re q u ire a fu ll d a y to ta k e place, w ith a sm all g ro u p o f u s e rs (from th e ta rg e te d m a rk e t) in a la rg e c o n fe re n c e room . O n e o f th e d iffe re n c e s o f th e s e d e s ig n s e s s io n s fro m th e

(37)

o n e s in th e p re s e n t s tu d y is that, fro m tim e to tim e, C ic c a n te lli a n d M a g id so n (1 9 9 3 ) a llo w e d p ro d u c e rs o r s p o n s o rs to p a rtic ip a te in th e d e s ig n s e s sio n s w ith o u t b e in g no tice d , to be a b le to d ire c t a n d in flu e n c e the se ssio n .

Decision to develop new product

Conduct consumer design sessions Brain storming by product developers

Product concept defined I

C o n d u ct focus groups & surveys in targ et m arkets I

D evelo p design and m anufacture prototype I

M odify product idea b ased on focus groups & surveys I

M a rk e t test prototype I

M odify prototype b ased on m arket test

I

Finished product service goes to m arket

:

5

;;·

li

:

Hi-

:

F ig u re 2.2. C o n s u m e r id e a lise d d e sig n m o d e l in v o lv in g e n d -u s e rs e a rly on in the p ro d u c t d e v e lo p m e n t p ro c e s s (C ic c a n te lli a n d M a g id so n , 1 9 9 3 :3 4 3 ).

(38)

2.2. Models on Elderly and the Environment

M a n y s tu d ie s h a v e b e e n trie d to m a tch o r fit p e rs o n s (o ld p e rs o n s ) w ith e n v iro n m e n ts (h o u s in g e n v iro n m e n ts , p h y s ic a l e n v iro n m e n t) ra th e r than s im p ly c a ta lo g u in g e a c h p e rs o n o r e n viro n m e n t. In d iffe re n t e n viro n m e n ts, le v e ls o f sa tis fa c tio n , a ctivity, and c o m fo rt w e re c o n s id e re d in th e fo rm o f m o d e ls th a t a re h e lp fu l in fa c ilita tin g d e s ig n p ro c e s s e s (B la n k, 1988). M a n y d e s c rip tio n s o f s u c h m o d e ls h a ve b e e n m ade. S o m e o f th e m o st c o m m o n o n e s w ill b e c ite d here. B la n k (1 9 8 8 ) sta te d th a t th e g e n e ra l o u tlin e s a nd re le v a n c e to d ea l w ith th e e ld e rly and h e lp th e m to be s a tis fie d w ith th e ir h o u s in g in th e E c o lo g ica l M odel, p ro p o se d b y L a w to n a n d N a h e m o w (1973 ), w e re q u ite s im ila r in all th e e x is tin g m odels.

2.2.1. Lawton and Nahemow’s Ecological Model

T h e E c o lo g ic a l M o d e l (a lso c a lle d th e ‘m a tc h in g ’ o r ‘c o m p e te n c e -p re s s m o d e l’) is b a se d o n th re e c o n c e p ts d e a lin g w ith p e rso n s, e n v iro n m e n ts , a n d th e re la tio n s h ip o f th e tw o. T h is d e s c rip tiv e m o d e l (se e F ig u re 2.3), a c o n c e p tu a lis a tio n o f re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e p e rso n a n d h is e n v iro n m e n t, w a s d e v e lo p e d w ith th e c o n trib u tio n o f L a w to n (1980 ), an e n v iro n m e n ta l a n d c lin ic a l p s y c h o lo g is t, fro m th e e a rly w o rk s o f M u rra y (1 9 3 8 ) a n d L e w in (1 9 5 1 ). L a w to n h a s d e v e lo p e d a n d a p p lie d th is th e o re tic a l m o d e l to th e e v e ry d a y e n v iro n m e n ta l c h o ic e s a n d c o m p ro m is e s w h ic h o ld e r p e rs o n s m a ke in o rd e r to m a in ta in th e ir in d e p e n d e n c e in th e c o m m u n ity (R e g n ie r a n d O .B y e rts , 1983). T h e a b ility o f a p e rso n to fu n c tio n in d e p e n d e n tly is re p re s e n te d b y th e ve rtica l a xis (c o m p e te n c e ). It is a u n iv e rs a l m e a s u re o f

Involving the elderly in the design process: a participatory design model for usability, safety and attractiveness

-‘ « ^ 4*¿» “«ií luuî l-Jf Vı»/ iâ

tf îî

d ibis' -L. ^

!

Ψ

o

■■ "

INVOLVING THE ELDERLY IN THE DESIGN

PROCESS: A PARTICIPATORY DESIGN MODEL FOR

USABILITY, SAFETY AND ATTRACTIVENESS

ІГІЭ 5

■Mf

ABSTRACT

INVOLVING THE ELDERLY IN THE DESIGN PROCESS:

A PARTICIPATORY DESIGN MODEL FOR USABILITY,

SAFETY AND ATTRACTIVENESS

ÖZET

YAŞLI KULLANICILARIN TASARIM SÜRECİNE KATILIMI:

KULLANILABİLİR, GÜVENLİ VE ÇEKİCİ BİR KATILIMCI

TASARIM MODELİ

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

1. INTRODUCTION

I <15

1955

65

75

85

95

5

15

25

60

70

80

90

2000

10

20

30

— Elderly population in less developed ^ Elderly population in more developed ·

countries

'

countries

— Overall world population growth rate (which is declining).

.% of Increase

Percent of Population Age 60 and Over

% Percent

Under 5.0

5.0 to 12.4

12.5 to 20.0

Above 20.0

V

.

''ret:«',

0

2. DESIGN MODELS INVOLVING THE USER AND/OR THE

ELDERLY

I

:

;;·

li

:

:

**-‘ « ^ 4*¿» “«ií luuî l-Jf Vı»/ iâ**

_{d ibis' -L. ^}

_countries

_'

_countries