universaldesign

toc =Universal Desgin=



Purpose
“Though coming from quite different histories and directions, the purpose of universal design and assistive technology is the same: to reduce the physical and attitudinal barriers between people with and without disabilities.” - [|Universal Design Education Online]

**Concept**
Universal design is a new concept and includes products or designs developed with built-in flexibility enabling use by all people, regardless of age and ability at no additional cost (Mace, Hardie, & Place, 1996). Under the AT Act of 1998, "Universal design" means a concept or philosophy for designing and delivering products and services that are usable by people with the widest possible range of functional capabilities (Old Kansans Information Forum). It is a design approach, which addresses an increasingly felt human need. Universal Design is also referred often as "Design for All" or "Inclusive Design" and it is clearly different from "Design for the Disabled" or "Exclusive design or design for Special needs".

Mostly everyone feels that the concept of universal design was meant to be targeted only at “disabled” people, but the whole irony of it is, we are all “disabled” at one some point in our life. Whether its when you fracture your hand and you cannot drive your car to having an eye injury and not being able to see from one eye for a month to fracturing your leg and having to walk on crutches to even not being able to reach the box above your cupboard where it gets to a point where you feel “physically challenged” perhaps? I am aware that the terminology has changed from __disabled__ to __physically challenged__ and that’s the reason I put it in quotes, because even nowadays a lot of people still use the term “disabled” or “handicapped” when they see people in wheelchairs, crutches, scooters etc. and its about time this notion of physically challenged people that people have changes.

This concept emerged from “barrier-free” design which true, was initially targeted at people in wheelchairs etc. where they would build a ramp to get to the entrance for e.g. The idea of barrier free modification has largely been superseded by the concept of universal design which seeks to design things from the outset to support easy access (Wikipedia).

//Professor Singapalli Balaram from the National Institute of Design in// //Ahmedabad////,// //India// //argues that// there is no hiding that fact that "Design" is conventionally non-inclusive. Conventional design usually caters to the so-called “normal” people and thus by inadvertent default segregates others. A left-handed person faces difficulty in using a two-wheeler because the controls are designed for the right-handed majority who are considered "normal". He has no choice but to buy a specially made product, which would be considered exclusive and thereby expensive. Thus the disability of the people with disabilities in poorer countries is doubled.

**Principles**
When people who construct a building, tool or have any other service with Universal design in mind they follow a set of guidelines or principles. These are the seven principles of universal design that were developed by a working group of architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers at The Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University. These seven principles may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process and educate both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments (NC State University, 2006)

The seven principles are: 1. **__Equitable use:__** The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities
 * __GUIDELINES__**
 * Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible;
 * equivalent when not.
 * Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
 * Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users.
 * Make the design appealing to all users

2. **__Flexibility in use:__** The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
 * __GUIDELINES__**
 * Provide choice in methods of use.
 * Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
 * Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.
 * Provide adaptability to the user's pace.

3. **__Simple and Intuitive__:** Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level
 * __GUIDELINES__**
 * Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
 * Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
 * Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
 * Arrange information consistent with its importance.
 * Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion

4. **__Perceptible Information__:** The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
 * __GUIDELINES__**
 * Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
 * Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.
 * Maximize "legibility" of essential information.
 * Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).
 * Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.

5. **__Tolerance for Error__:** The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions
 * __GUIDELINES__**
 * Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
 * Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
 * Provide fail safe features.
 * Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance

6. **__Low Physical effort:__** The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue
 * __GUIDELINES__**
 * Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
 * Use reasonable operating forces.
 * Minimize repetitive actions.
 * Minimize sustained physical effort.

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
 * __GUIDELINES__**
 * Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.
 * Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.
 * Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
 * Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.

Note that these principles only serve as a guideline to designing universally and the practice of design involves more than consideration for usability and designers must also incorporate other considerations such as economic, engineering, cultural, gender and environmental concerns in their design process.

**Bibliography**

 * __Old Kansans Information Forum__. 29 Dec. 2003. 28 Nov. 2006 .
 * Singapalli, Balaram. "Universal Design: a New Paradigm." __Access - Issues and Trends__. National Institute of Design. 29 Nov. 2006 .
 * "Barrier Free." __Wikipedia__. 29 Nov. 2006 .
 * "Seven Principles of Universal Design." __The Center for Universal Design__. 29 Nov. 2006 .
 * __The 2nd International Conference for Universal Design in Kyoto 2006__. 8 Dec. 2006 <[|www.ud2006.net/img/logo-l.gif]>.