An Approach to Develop Adaptable and Accepted Products for Seniors

This paper describes an approach for the development of adaptable products for people who are suffering from age-related disabilities. In order to fulfill the users’ needs they have to be included in the product development process. Both, the functionality of the product and its acceptance can be improved by the inclusion of users. A modular product structure permits to adapt the product to the users’ needs, even if these are changing due to changing disabilities or changes in the environment. The combination of these two approaches enables design engineers to create products that are both helpful and accepted.