'35 questions'

I was browsing through books in the library and came across a lovely looking folder full of information to do with things to look out for when designing for visually impaired and elderly people. I'm only really interested in the elderly part, although the diseases some older people get could be something I take into account as my product would have to be fit for these people also.

The folder is titled; '35 questions to ask yourself when designing for visually impaired and elderly people.'

'Good design is paramount to the success of any new product. Considering the needs of all potential users is not only an attribute of good design, it also has the potential to increase product sales. Design is particularly important for visually impaired people. Imagine buying a microwave if you were a visually impaired person. If all the controls were the same size and shape and were flush with the surface of the microwave, it would be impossible to distinguish one function from another. Would you but it? The checklist below will help you develop products that can be used by blind or partially sighted people, but will also help to make them easier for everyone to use.

Handling

Is the product easy to orientate?

Could a V.I. and/or an elderly person easily locate the front, back, top, and bottom of the product?

Does the product require much physical strength to use? - Consider for example, an elderly person with arthritis - would they be able to lift, open, turn, grip or rotate the product to use it effectively?

Does the product have any sharp edges, rough surfaces or finger traps?

Consider that older people may take longer to learn new things, make information choices, and to understand complex control panels, since their information processing skills may be that of younger people.

Consider using clear, uncomplicated fonts in a mixture of upper and lower case lettering and a minimum of 16 point in size.

Consider materials used. Is the ink going to rub off and become illegible with time? Are the materials very shiny, making printed information difficult to read due to reflections, and causing discomfort glare?

Are controls visible and easily distinguishable? - Consider large buttons, varied shapes and sizes, and colour contrast.

Do the colours contrast enough? - Consider the contrast of buttons, controls and printed labels against their backgrounds.