Considering older adults' perceptual capabilities in the design process

Introduction: Aging Adult Population A worldwide demographic trend is an aging population. The proportion of adults aged 65 years and older is increasing, as shown in Figure 51.1. In 2011, adults aged 65 and older constituted 7 percent of the world population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). This number is expected to grow dramatically in the future. More than 15 percent of the world population will be 65 or older in 2050 (United Nations, 2004). Causes include the relative affluence of the immediately prior generation and the increase in life expectancy at birth. For example, in the United States life expectancy at birth had risen from 49.2 years at the turn of the twentieth century to 77.5 years in 2003 (Library of Congress, 2006). As such, more people are living longer. Technology Is Ubiquitous In industrialized societies, the environment is one filled with rapidly changing and advancing computer and electronic technologies. Given the ubiquity of these technologies and the proportional increase of the aging population, a greater number of older adults are interacting more frequently with different types of technologies in a variety of contexts. In fact, contact is almost unavoidable within daily life whether making coffee, purchasing fuel for a vehicle, paying parking fees, checking out a book from the library, or requesting medication refills.