I heard a very interesting interview on the CBC the Current this morning.
A woman had been working on industrial design. She began to see that many of the things that were designed were far from senior friendly. She tried to influence fellow designers to put seniors on the agenda. Other designers were not interested.
She decided to learn more about design and seniors so that she could influence her fellow designers.
She had herself made into and 85 year old woman. The face took 3 hours to prepare. She had plugs in her ears for poor hearing. She had contacts that were partly opaque so that he vision was limited. I forget what they did to her legs to make her walking difficult. Style of clothing was considered.
Then she tried to live her life. It was difficult and challenging. Mobility is a great problem for seniors. On the streets people were impatient to get around her. People complained about her holding up traffic in the airport. People pushed and shoved to get her out of the way. Stairs, sidewalks and railings were a problem. Signs were a challenge.
So donning this costume over a series of years she learned more about what experiences seniors had. She also had more ammunition to try and persuade other designers to keep seniors in mind.
The world still isn't senior friendly but it has improved.
This project reminds me of a book I read many years ago. BLACK LIKE ME I enjoyed the book and got an idea of what some challenges might be for black people.
The book was severely criticized but I think it did open up some eyes.
She needs to write a book on the senior perspective similar to the Black Like Me author. Not sure the people that need to read it (architects, designers, and younger folks,) would read it though. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThings are much better for the elderly compared to many years ago. there's still much more to do.
DeleteAnd making life easier for seniors, makes it easier for everyone...
ReplyDeleteGood point on this one.
DeleteThis approach has been tried in other guises. There was one in which men wore something to imitate pregnancy and that was quite an eye-opener.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was a group thing. These men had pregnant wives.
DeleteI read that book and also heard a taped talk — just words, no YouTube then.
ReplyDeleteIt opened my eyes on racism.
DeleteThat was an interesting and informative way to find out what it's like to be old and decrepit. I still have two years before I get there, I hope. :-)
ReplyDeleteOkay .I figured it out, Two years before you're 85. You are in excellent physical condition because you work at it.
DeleteEven my husband walks faster than I do...I usually just step aside to let people pass me:) I would like Closed Captioning to be on every program..but not covering up the bottom of the TV where weather reports scroll across.
ReplyDeleteThis boy does not watch any TV.
DeleteI read that book when I was much, much younger and thought it helped me realize how things are so prejudiced against the blacks. I thought that things were improving but it seems as if the hate was just hiding and now Trump has allowed it back out again. So terrible.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. The hate just went under ground.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteSeniors should have life made easy! It is sad that seniors are treated badly. Happy May to you, have a great new month!
May is when the weather really changes here.
DeleteYou become invisible as you age. I think this is especially true of women. It will take a lot for those issues to be resolved.
ReplyDeleteSenior women are left out of many things.
DeleteRed, what a powerful example of walking in someone else’s shoes—literally. Her approach to understanding senior challenges reminds me just how much empathy can drive meaningful change. John
ReplyDeleteSome people learn much like this and others think it's funny.
DeleteInteresting story. I bet some designers will try to make more senior friendly items, after all there are millions of us. Black Like Me, I read that many decades ago and read it again a few years ago. Great book!
ReplyDeleteBlack like me opened my eyes to what racism is.
DeleteAn eye-opening experimment! As gz said above, making life easier for seniors makes life easier for everyone. It's the same with innovations for disabled folks. Many people don't understand how isolating it is to be less capable out in the world and do not exhibit the patience or kindness they should.
ReplyDeleteThere are many examples where if health was attended to , it would be less costly and the people would have better health.
DeleteSounds like the "woman who had been working on industrial design" conducted a very worthwhile experiment that provided her with powerful insights into life for senior citizens.
ReplyDeleteThe woman made a worthy attempt. I'd like to know what results she may have brought about.
ReplyDeleteI think she experienced things she had never thought about.
ReplyDeleteI have seen various experiments along these lines and what eye-openers they were! They have prepared me for what to expect!
ReplyDeleteI was listening to the same program. I remember David Suzuki doing something similar, to understand the effects of aging on his mother, and now he's the old man. Gave me some of an idea, but nothing prepares you for the reality.
ReplyDeleteHaving a daughter in a wheelchair means I get to see how limiting this world is for people with disabilities, up close and personal.
It's always a good think to gain a new perspective. Good for her, to be inconvenienced for the insight.
ReplyDeleteAlthough young people weren't quite as good about giving up their seat on the trains in Japan these days. Otherwise, everywhere we went people were extremely helpful and kind. I think one of our favorite things about visiting Japan was the kindness and friendliness of the people.
ReplyDeleteYour post deserves an award dear Red!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing me to such passionate and compassionate lady who disguised herself as elderly woman and discovered about kind of suffering they go through in daily life.Impressive and inspirational for sure
I will try to locate the book Black Like Me sounds powerful and inspiring