Universal AccessibilityDesign and Support Considerations for an Aging Population

Bill Gribbons, PhD, Director, Human Factors ProgramBentley CollegeWaltham, Massachusetts, USA

wgribbons@bentley.eduwww.bentley.edu/gr/mshfidwww.bentley.edu/usability

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Overview

Define universal accessibility Describe the aging population Discuss the characteristics and requirements

of the aging population Discuss what is best practice in this area - both

research and information design Make a business case for accommodating the

needs of this rapidly expanding market

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

A Couple of Stories..

1. “Harold, bring me my screwdriver”

2. Lost in IVR

3. “Two and a Half Popcorn”

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Accessibility

Our mission is to provide full and complete access to technology and information design through a deeper understanding of a disability. Through this understanding, the information designer provides appropriate performance support and design accommodations. We assume that the majority of these accommodations will improve usability for all users.

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Aging Population

The United States Census Bureau projects the number of people age fifty-five and older will grow by 73% by the year 2020.

The over sixty-five population is anticipated to rise from 15.5% of the EU population in 1995 to 22.4% by 2025.

Every day 6,000 Americans turn 65

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

More Facts There are half a billion people age 50+ in the world today The world’s age 65+ population is increasing by 800,000

per month The number of the world’s 80+ is growing more rapidly

than the elderly population as a whole. The United States has more than 9.2 million citizens who

are age 80+ Half of the world’s oldest elderly (80+ years) live in six

countries: China, the U.S., India, Japan, Germany, and Russia

In developed regions, 74 percent of age 65+ individuals are urban dwellers

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Opportunities

Healthcare Retail Financial Services Transportation Telecommunications Government

Consumers over 45 account for more than half the total consumer

spending in the United States

The Sad Truth:

Vision Hearing Motor Cognitive

Aging is a dynamic disability with each individual experiencing the effects of aging to varying degrees

As we age, our bodies start to change, physically and mentally

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Designing for our future selves

Vision

Cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration

Presbyopia: beginning at the age of 45 Lens becomes less flexible Lens yellows Less light passes through the lens Lowered visual acuity Increased sensitivity to glare More susceptible to fatigue and eyestrain

Disease and Age-related Decline

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Accommodations Larger text sizes (12-14 point) in static displays Moderate to heavier weights: avoid kerning and condensed

faces Easy access to changing size in dynamic displays Avoid violet, blue, light grays and green tones Increase contrast through higher brightness and

saturation Avoid yellow in foreground (e.g., text) Avoid similar tones or variations of a single hue Maintain maximum contrast between foreground and

background – no background textures Avoid fine details in typeface or illustration

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Type Size

Type style and weight

Contrast

Background

Color

Brightness

Saturation Differential

Color Combination

Type on a textured background lowersLegibility for the elderly

Allow easy re-sizing of type on the screen. In fixed displays, use 13 points or larger.

Use heavier weights to increase contrast and avoid type faces with fine lines

Auditory Slow decline in sensitivity to high frequencies Lowered ability to discriminate between tones More susceptible to masking Decreased auditory selection: separating speech

from ambient noise

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Motor Increased occurrence of arthritis Decline in fine motor control, eye-hand

coordination Increased time to complete motor tasks Increase the size of buttons, targets, and

sensitivity zone Provide tactile feedback to confirm action

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Cognitive Decline in working memory capacity

Problematic in heavy workload situations such as decision-making, problem-solving, navigation, and learning

Long-term memory is largely intact, barring disease

Decrease in ability to differentiate between categories and complex termsB

entl

ey

Bentl

ey

Accommodations Limit information to the essential Integrate the users’ mental models

Headings should trigger existing models In learning applications, make links to existing knowledge

Provide all information necessary to support decision-making in a single eye-scan

Avoid recall tasks Self complete operations whenever possible Provide confirmation and feedback Support navigation through simple and known

information architectures Employ persistent concept maps

Maintain consistency

Bentl

ey

Bentl

ey

Conclusion Accessibility improves usability for all users Aging populations will represent a large,

profitable market for technology products The design community should assume a

leadership role in embracing and accommodating this populationB

entl

ey

Bentl

ey