高齡使用者產品設計之探討

Approaches to Product Design for the Elderly

隨著我國高齡人口的快速成長，提供符合高齡者使用的產品，為設計師責無旁貸的責任。但是，目前較少高齡者相關的資料可供設計師參考；所以探討高齡者之相關研究，提出高齡化產品設計的要點，作為產品設計實務與研究之參考為本研究的目的。本文主要從（1）高齡人口的成長，說明高齡化產品設計的需求；（2）通用設計與高齡工學等設計理念及國際標準規範的發展與應用；（3）符合高齡者身心機能特性的產品設計；（4）高齡化產品設計的方法與趨勢等四個面向，探討高齡化社會對產品設計的需求。由研究結果得知，發展高齡化產品設計可從高齡者的需求探討、設計理念的應用、身心機能的探討與操作訓練等要項著手，以提供符合高齡者身心機能的產品給高齡者使用。

With the growing senior population, designers are faced with the increase in demand for products designed specially to cater the needs of the aged. However, related studies on product design for the elderly for reference by product designers have been scarce. The main objectives of this study are: 1） to review the research related to product design for elderly people, and 2） to explore the feasible approaches to product design for the aged. This study focuses on discussing the following aspects: 1） the increase in demand for products catered for the elderly as a result of the growing senior population, 2） the development and application of design concepts, such as universal design and gerontechnology, and international design standards, 3） product designs that cater for the physical and psychological needs of the aged, and 4） the methodology and current trend in product design for the elderly. Results of this study reveal that feasible approaches to product design for the elderly include researching on the needs of the senior population, applying the gerontechnology design concepts, understanding aged-related decline in physical function, and providing education and training to the elderly on how to use new products.