Answer a case study
Design for Special Populations
Design for Special Populations
Most design is done for “healthy” 20 - 50 year olds
Design for Special Populations
Men and Women
Generally:
Men are taller than women
Men are stronger than women
Leg strength is equal
Males have better visual acuity
Women detect Sweet, Sour, Salty, and Bitter at a lower threshhold than men
Women superior to men in perceptual and psychomotor skills
Men and Women react the same to biological circadian variations
There is no way to determine better performance due to individual variations
Design note: Adjustability of work environments is the only requirement to
assure equal performance opportunity.
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Pregnant Women:
Generally:
Change in size: German women-
Waist circumference increased 27% by 4th month
Chest circumference increased 6%
Hip circumference increased 4%
Increased spinal compression
Reference: Ergonomics, (2001) Karl Kroemer et al, Prentice Hall
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Pregnant Women:
Size change requires environmental design adjustments:
Work areas higher and tasks moved closer
Work tasks should require little force
Suitable, easily adjustable seating needed
Frequent rest periods
More space than usual for moving around
Reference: Ergonomics, (2001) Karl Kroemer et al, Prentice Hall
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Pregnant Women: Standing Recommendations
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Pregnant Women: Standing Recommendations
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Design for Special Populations
Designing for Pregnant Women: Sitting Recommendations
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Children:
Generally:
Change in size: Child to Adult - Trunk is
70% of a newborn but is 50% of the adult,
Body length increases 3 to 4 fold
Weight increases 20 fold
Growth differs for boy and girls
Reference: Ergonomics, (2001) Karl Kroemer et al,
Prentice Hall
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Children:
Secular Trends:
Growth rate for children has increased in the early years
Puberty is earlier
Adult stature has increased
Reference: Ergonomics, (2001) Karl Kroemer et al,
Prentice Hall
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Aging:
Generally:
Change in size: Adult - Elderly (after 40)
Longer life spans to 80 years
Shrinking stature (physically, but not politically or financially)
Body weight increases
Strength diminishes
Reference: Ergonomics, (2001) Karl Kroemer et al, Prentice Hall
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Aging:
Trends:
Bones more porous, subject to breakage
Osteoporosis (brittle) and curvature of the spine
Joints and muscles less elastic, less synovial fluid
Loss of Taste and Smell
Visual functions diminish
Baggy eye lids
Pupil gets smaller
Lens becomes hardened
Cataracts
Reference: Ergonomics, (2001) Karl
Kroemer et al, Prentice Hall
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Aging:
Design for Special Populations
IT IS HELL TO GET OLD...
Two medical students were walking along the street when they saw an old man walking with his legs spread apart. He was stiff-legged and walking slowly.
One student said to his friend, "I'm sure that poor old man has Peltry Syndrome. Those people walk just like that."
The other student says, "No, I don't think so. The old man surely has Zovitzki Syndrome. He walks slowly and his legs are apart, just as we learned in class."
Since they couldn't agree they decided to ask the old man. They approached him and one of the students said to him, "We're medical students and couldn't help but notice the way you walk, but we couldn't agree on the syndrome you might have. Could you tell us what it is?"
The old man said, "I'll tell you, but first you tell me what you two fine medical students think.”
Design for Special Populations
IT IS HELL TO GET OLD...
The first student said, "I think it's Peltry Syndrome."
The old man said, "You thought - but you are wrong."
The other student said, "I think you have Zovitzki Syndrome."
The old man said, "You thought - but you are wrong."
So they asked him, "Well, old timer, what do you have?"
The old man said, "I thought it was GAS - but I was wrong, too!"
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Aging:
Trends:
Hearing changes
Somesthetic Senitivity Changes - Touch, Temperature decreases
Reaction Times decrease to stimuli
Loss of Taste and Smell
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Aging:
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living - IADL
Managing Money
Shopping
Light Housework
Laundry
Preparing a Meal
Making a Phone Call
Taking Medication
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Aging:
Activities of Daily Living - ADL
Living
Transferring between Bed and Chair
Indoor and Outdoor mobility
Dressing
Bathing
Toileting
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Differing Abilities:
ADA- 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act
Definition of Disability: ” a physical or mental
impairment which substantially limits one or
more of an individual’s major activities of daily
living such as walking, hearing, speaking,
learning, and performing manual tasks”
Reference: Ergonomics, (2001) Karl Kroemer et al, Prentice Hall
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Differing Abilities:
Design Considerations:
Assistive Devices: ease a permanent impairment
Motorized wheelchair, an adjustable office chair
Rehabilitation Devices: Aid in the recovery from
an temporary impairment; Crutches, Splints, etc.
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Differing Abilities:
Design for Special Populations
Designing for Differing Abilities:
Design for Special Populations
THANK YOU!