login | register

NCBI CFIT Making Virtual Users a Reality

in
Date published: 
Thursday, July 15, 2010
News source: 
NCBI's Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT)
Region: 
Republic of Ireland
Featured item on home page: 
no

NCBI's Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) is working on novel ways to make sure everyday products such as mobile phones and washing machines are easier to use for older people and people with disabilities. The VICON project aims to change the way products are designed, developing 'virtual humans' that will make it easier for designers to take account of the needs of older users with physical and sensory impairments. 

We’re living in an increasingly digital world. Everyday products such as telephones and washing machines now come equipped with complex digital controls and displays. Designers of mainstream products rarely consider the needs of older users or users with disabilities when designing. As a result many users are excluded from enjoying new products.
 
NCBI's Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) is tackling this issue through the VICON project. We aim to help product designers take account of the needs of older users in mainstream design.
                              
The first project phase identified problems with current product designs: NCBI CFIT researcher Antoinette Fennell, along with German and UK researchers, interviewed nearly 60 members of the public ranging from 65 to 97 years of age about their experiences of two every-day products: the washing machine and the mobile phone.
 
The next phase will involve developing computer-based characters that simulate older humans. In theory, this would provide product designers with a tool to test their designs at very early stages. Accessibility problems could be eliminated early on making mainstream products more usable for a larger proportion of the population. 
 
NCBI is excited to be joining with our European colleagues in changing the future of product design. By promoting inclusive design as a default design approach, and by making inclusive design easier for designers to achieve, it is hoped that the needs of older people will be more readily catered for in mainstream product design.
 
VICON is an EU-funded project involving the University of Bremen (BIBA and TZI), Fraunhofer Institute of Technology (FIT), Industry partners DORO and ARCELIK, The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) and NCBI CFIT. Further information can be found on the project website at: www.vicon-project.eu and on the NCBI CFIT website at: www.cfit.ie

 

Back to top