Background

Older people often say that technology is not for them; the common stereotype of the technology user is of a young, fit, usually male person. Yet why should these two statements be true?

Much of what we think of as technology was not designed with older users in mind - the programme timer for a video recorder and the ever smaller mobile phone are good examples of designs which exclude older people - so we shouldn't be too surprised to come across some resistance to technology. Most devices are designed with the stereotypical fit, young user in mind.

But this bias towards younger users cannot continue: the population of the developed world is getting older. In Scotland in 1960, the over 60s made up 15% of the population; by 2025 they will be 30% of the population. As well as this, fewer older people live with their children than did in the past, more people live alone or with similarly-aged spouses than used to: in 1971 this group was 28% of the over 65s, by 1991 it had increased to 37%. These trends have two consequences:

• The cost of social care will spiral unless technology can be harnessed to assist older people to remain independent for longer.
• Older people will form a much bigger (and growing) proportion of the market for technology products, with an increasing proportion of disposable income as well.

Given these changing demographics, it's an economic as well as a social imperative to design more appropriate technology for older users. As products become more standard in function, the marketing advantage will increasingly come from how usable the product is. Acceptance by older people means thinking about their needs and involving them in the design process.

But how should companies change their products to make them more easily used? What are the characteristics of an ageing population that need to be considered in designing and developing technology? How could technology be used to support people’s lives, to enhance care or to make it possible for people to live in their own homes for longer? How does university research need to change to address the challenge of design for older people?

The UTOPIA project will raise awareness of the opportunities for Scotland in the global market of design for older people by

1. encouraging researchers to consider older people
2. developing partnerships to promote awareness with industry
3. becoming a knowledge resource for academics and industry in Scotland.