Principles of Universal Design

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Principles of Universal Design

• Stan Cronk, PhDAssistant Director for Education,
  CyBERSAssistant Professor, Biomedical
  EngineeringLouisiana Tech University

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Overview

• Introduction
• Seven Principles of Universal Design
• Sample Design Problem
• Universal Design for Products
• Resource Links

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Fundamental Goal

• Universal design is the design of products and
  environments to be usable by all people, to the
  greatest extent possible, without the need for
  adaptation or specialized design. Ron Mace

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Who is the focus of applying Universal Design
principles?

• Older adults
• Persons with some type of disability
• Physical
• Visual
• Cognitive
• Sometimes, children

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Why apply Universal Design principles?

• Increase market size!

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How many Americans have disabilities?

• According to ADA (1991) 43 million!

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How many Americans are 85 years and older?

• 3.3 million
• expected to grow to 18.9 million by 2050

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What percentage of the population has lower than
average IQ?

• By definition, half of us!

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Maces Hierarchy of Interaction

• Designs requiring the least amount of interaction
  are the most universally usable

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Hierarchy of Interaction Example Doors

• For a door, the hierarchy of interaction is
• No door just an opening in a wall
• An air door an opening in a wall where heat or
  air conditioning stops
• A powered door with a motion detector
• A powered door with a pressure sensor mat
• A powered door with a remote button that must be
  pressed to open the door
• A non-powered door with no latch, which swings
  open when pushed
• A door with a lever door handle
• A door with a doorknob
• A door with an automatic closing mechanism and no
  latch
• A door with an automatic closing mechanism and a
  lever door handle
• A door with an automatic closing mechanism and a
  doorknob
• A revolving door

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Seven Principles of Universal Design

• 1. Equitable Use
• 2. Flexibility in Use
• 3. Simple and Intuitive Use
• 4. Perceptible Information
• 5. Tolerance for Error
• 6. Low Physical Effort
• 7. Size and Space for Approach and Use

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Principle 1 Equitable Use

• The design is useful and marketable to people
  with diverse abilities.

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Equitable Use Guidelines

• 1a. Provide the same means of use for all users
  identical whenever possible equivalent when not.

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• 1b. Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.

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• 1c. Provisions for privacy, security, and safety
  should be equally available to all users.

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• 1d. Make the design appealing to all users.

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Principle 2 Flexibility in Use

• The design accommodates a wide range of
  individual preferences and abilities.

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Flexibility in Use Guidelines

• 2a. Provide choice in methods of use.

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• 2b. Accommodate right- or left-handed access and
  use.

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• 2c. Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.

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• 2d. Provide adaptability to the user's pace.

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Principle 3 Simple and Intuitive Use

• Use of the design is easy to understand,
  regardless of the user's experience, knowledge,
  language skills, or current concentration level.

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Simple and Intuitive Use Guidelines

• 3a. Eliminate unnecessary complexity.

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• 3b. Be consistent with user expectations and
  intuition.

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• 3c. Accommodate a wide range of literacy and
  language skills.

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• 3d. Arrange information consistent with its
  importance.

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• 3e. Provide effective prompting and feedback
  during and after task completion.

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Principle 4. Perceptible Information

• The design communicates necessary information
  effectively to the user, regardless of ambient
  conditions or the user's sensory abilities.

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Perceptible Information Guidelines

• 4a. Use different modes (pictorial, verbal,
  tactile) for redundant presentation of essential
  information.

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• 4b. Provide adequate contrast between essential
  information and its surroundings.

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• 4c. Maximize "legibility" of essential
  information.

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• 4d. Differentiate elements in ways that can be
  described (i.e., make it easy to give
  instructions or directions).

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• 4e. Provide compatibility with a variety of
  techniques or devices used by people with sensory
  limitations.

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Principle 5. Tolerance for Error

• The design minimizes hazards and the adverse
  consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

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Tolerance for Error Guidelines

• 5a. Arrange elements to minimize hazards and
  errors most used elements, most accessible
  hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or
  shielded.

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• 5b. Provide warnings of hazards and errors.

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• 5c. Provide fail safe features.

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• 5d. Discourage unconscious action in tasks that
  require vigilance.

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Principle 6. Low Physical Effort

• The design can be used efficiently and
  comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

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Low Physical Effort Guidelines

• 6a. Allow user to maintain a neutral body
  position.

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• 6b. Use reasonable operating forces.

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• 6c. Minimize repetitive actions.

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• 6d. Minimize sustained physical effort

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Principle 7. Size and Space for Approach and Use

• Appropriate size and space is provided for
  approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless
  of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

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Size and Space for Approach and Use Guidelines

• 7a. Provide a clear line of sight to important
  elements for any seated or standing user.

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• 7b. Make reach to all components comfortable for
  any seated or standing user.

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• 7c. Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.

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• 7d. Provide adequate space for the use of
  assistive devices or personal assistance.

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Sample Design Problem
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Does the approach to the house follow UD
principles?
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Universal Design for Products
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Why Practice Universal Design for Product
Development?

• Opens new markets
• May reduce costs because of larger markets
• May be required by legislation

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Evaluating the Universal Design Performance of
Products

• Guideline 2a. Provide choice in methods of use.
• Designers Product Performance Measure 2a. Every
  potential user can find at least one way to use
  this product effectively.
• Consumers Product Evaluation Survey 2a. I can
  use this product in whatever way(s) are safe and
  effective for me.
• Each item rated as Not applicable, Strongly
  Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly
  Agree
• Performance Measures are especially useful for
  comparing multiple products.

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Sources

• Connnell, B.R., Jones, M., Mace, R., Mueller, J.,
  Mullick, A., Ostroff, E., Sanford, J., Steinfeld,
  E., Story, M., Vanderheiden, G.C. (1997). The
  principles of universal design Version 2.0.
  Raleigh, NC The Center for Universal Design.
• J.L. Mueller Universal Design of
  Productshttp//home.earthlink.net/jlminc/produ
  cts.html
• NC State Principles of Universal Design
  http//www.design.ncsu.edu8120/cud/univ_design/pr
  inc_overview.htm
• Universal Design Handbook, Wolfgang Preiser and
  Elaine Ostroff, eds.

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Useful Links

• NC State Principles of Universal Design
  http//www.design.ncsu.edu8120/cud/univ_design/pr
  inc_overview.htm
• J.L. Mueller Universal Design of
  Productshttp//home.earthlink.net/jlminc/produ
  cts.html
• Sun Microsystems Accessible Human-Computer
  Interactionhttp//www.sun.com/access/developers
  /updt.HCI.advance.html
• Bad Human-Factors Designhttp//www.baddesigns.co
  m/

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Questions?