The application of an anthropometric database of elderly and disabled people

We report on the development of an anthropometric database of elderly and disabled people for use by designers. The problems encountered by the designer in developing products for the elderly and disabled are highlighted. Reference is made to previous work carried out using computer modelling to simulate the human product interface, and the problems in specifying the anthropometric data are discussed. From a review of existing anthropometric databases we have noted the lack of data on the elderly and disabled. Not only is there insufficient dynamic anthropometric data available, but there are no standards for the measurement techniques to produce this data. We report briefly on parallel work by the group which is looking at anthropometric measurement techniques, and the computer modelling of the human product interface for elderly and disabled people. The lack of dynamic anthropometric data that is appropriate for use by designers and rehabilitation engineers is the major area to be addressed by the database. We investigate the use of existing medical data available as a possible solution to the problem. The database will also seek to address the problem through its methodology of interpretation and presentation.