[Senior Trend] Design for Seniors Is Design for Everyone

Last week, news from CES 2023, the world's largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition held in Las Vegas, USA, was reported daily. It was held normally for the first time in three years since COVID-19, with 3,100 companies and 100,000 participants, making it a great success. In Korea, not only large companies such as Samsung, SK, and LG but also startups and government agencies participated in large numbers.

This year's event was held under a total of 24 themes, including 5G, digital health, sustainability, metaverse, and crypto. Among them, the author focused on the Family & Lifestyle session. Under the detailed theme of smart home expansion, the session discussed what technologies can be implemented and what developments are needed in the future to ensure safe independent living for seniors (Virtual Care and Independent Living: Keeping Seniors Safe). Four speakers with diverse backgrounds gave presentations in this session. Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, announced that "the senior care assistant robot X1 (tentative name) will be released within this year" in relation to new growth businesses, while Cho Joo-wan, President of LG Electronics, said, "It is important to consider ‘what kind of experience to provide’ through smart connectivity."

It seemed that the era of considering seniors' daily lives in the field of future technology had arrived. This is closely related to the increase in seniors with purchasing power. During the height of COVID-19 in Korea, seniors were among those who experienced the greatest difficulties. As daily life changed drastically in an instant, the digital divide issue led to exclusion and restrictions in life. For a while, stories of elderly people feeling frustrated using on-demand kiosks or delivery apps were a hot topic. Aging was said to be sad. However, in reality, many people in their 30s and 40s also complained about discomfort with non-face-to-face services, and this was not just a problem for seniors.

As technological innovation advances, product functions are becoming more sophisticated, but learning new ways to use them is becoming more difficult. Some find it convenient, but others struggle. This was the result of focusing on the technology itself or optimizing machines and processes rather than considering user behavior.

As an alternative, universal design, which proposes intuitive design and simplified usage, is gaining sympathy. It started as 'barrier-free' for people with disabilities, but the concept and its applications are gradually expanding according to the needs and demands of an aging and diverse society.

Universal Design (UD) is designed so that differences in gender, age, nationality, physical condition, or disability do not cause discrimination or inconvenience. It embodies the value of enabling everyone to live a safer and more convenient daily life without exclusion. It means a design that considers diversity and is easy to use from the start without requiring others' consideration or help.

It is a design for everyone, but especially interesting cases are being created in the senior industry sector. This is because all major advanced countries are heading toward aging or super-aging, and the consumer and labor markets cannot avoid responding.

In Japan, there are hospital websites with functions that read content aloud for elderly people with weakened eyesight, and premium bookstores filled with large-print books. The product called Good Grip is a (jam) jar opener convenient for people with weak grip strength. OXO, the maker, has released related products consecutively and has grown into a global company receiving great responses not only from seniors but also from housewives. In France, the ‘Tilting Sink’ was released. It is a modified washbasin that can be used by children, seniors with bent backs, or people in wheelchairs. Smart farms, which are most commonly built in rural areas with a high proportion of elderly population, have eliminated stairs and installed slopes. The low-floor buses actively introduced by Seoul City are convenient for everyone when boarding and alighting. Global companies like Bosch improve factory lighting and workbenches to assist physical function decline due to aging, aiming to delay retirement of senior process experts or improve productivity, while Microsoft promotes inclusive design principles company-wide.

At the national level, China cannot be overlooked as an example. In 2020, the Chinese government designated 42 companies providing app services (media, shopping, government agency apps, etc.) and ordered improvements for seniors. In line with strong regulatory enforcement, senior versions or highly convenient services were launched, and the speed of improvement is astonishing.

I would like to introduce a relatable part from Joseph F. Coughlin’s book titled No Market for Old Men, subtitled ‘The Hopeful Economics to Overcome the Fear of Aging.’ “Universal design that can be used by all generations is becoming more important. Going one step further, we must pursue ‘transcendent design.’ In other words, companies that arouse consumer desire and provide meaning will be the winners.” Although gradual improvements are occurring in the senior consumer market, innovation seems to be at its beginning. Who will lead the wave of innovation that will excite the market?

Lee Boram, CEO of Third Age

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.