This chapter provides a rationale for why design for older adults is an increasingly important topic, some basic demographic information on older adults, and a conceptual framework. Design is the creation of a plan for the construction of a product, task, environment, or system such as a computer, living space, exercise program, or transportation system. The process of design is also multi-dimensional and involves thinking and problem solving, research, testing and evaluation, and typically redesign. The increases in racial and ethnic diversity within the older adult population has broad implications for design. One clear implication is language. Many older people are not native English speakers. Proficiency in English needs to be considered when designing signage, labels, instructions, and training materials. Differences among racial and ethnic groups also need to be considered in the design of research protocols. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
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