Applying Modeling to Design for Older Populations

The number of “older” people is increasing all over the world and the percentage of the population with age-related disabling conditions will continue to grow significantly as baby boomers age. To support this burgeoning population in maintaining their independence, we must identify how age-related changes degrade the ability to interact with systems and devices that meet basic needs, such as transportation systems, medical devices, and communication tools. We also need to be able to predict whether new products and environments will be usable by most older people. We suggest that modeling and simulation could be used to efficiently study these issues. Panel members who have experience with using modeling to study the interactions of products and users present their perspectives on the use of modeling to study age and system usability.

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