Comments on: Designing for Senior Users http://www.vuidesign.net/designing-for-senior-users.htm Interface Design Lessons From The World Around Us Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:30:22 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: eolvera http://www.vuidesign.net/designing-for-senior-users.htm/comment-page-1#comment-24245 eolvera Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:36:58 +0000 http://www.vuidesign.net/designing-for-senior-users.htm#comment-24245 Totally agree, the relationship between age and abilities is not as strong as it used to be and should not be used anymore as a driver for design. But the other trend I'm seeing is that even though "physical" limitations are likely to require certain design adaptations (some of which might be driven from those old stereotypes), most companies stop there without taking into consideration the evolving "user" requirements which would exactly reflect those changes in their abilities, along with changes in other important areas such as their concerns, their goals, their objectives, their preferences, their values, etc. Totally agree, the relationship between age and abilities is not as strong as it used to be and should not be used anymore as a driver for design.

But the other trend I’m seeing is that even though “physical” limitations are likely to require certain design adaptations (some of which might be driven from those old stereotypes), most companies stop there without taking into consideration the evolving “user” requirements which would exactly reflect those changes in their abilities, along with changes in other important areas such as their concerns, their goals, their objectives, their preferences, their values, etc.

]]> By: Todd http://www.vuidesign.net/designing-for-senior-users.htm/comment-page-1#comment-23980 Todd Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:17:49 +0000 http://www.vuidesign.net/designing-for-senior-users.htm#comment-23980 Hi Eduardo, Part of the "problem" as time goes on is that the definition of "senior" is not changing as people are living longer. And there's a growing disparity between the abilities of the aging. You can get a AARP membership at 55! (In fact, I think that they enroll you automatically...) and social security retirement can start at 65. However, as people are living longer, there are some of those whose faculties remain strong throughout their lives. Others will not. The stereotypes are / were appropriate and grew from the general limitations people experienced as they grew older. Todd Hi Eduardo,

Part of the “problem” as time goes on is that the definition of “senior” is not changing as people are living longer. And there’s a growing disparity between the abilities of the aging. You can get a AARP membership at 55! (In fact, I think that they enroll you automatically…) and social security retirement can start at 65.

However, as people are living longer, there are some of those whose faculties remain strong throughout their lives. Others will not.

The stereotypes are / were appropriate and grew from the general limitations people experienced as they grew older.

Todd

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