ERGONOMIC PRINCIPLES IN INCLUSIVE DESIGN: ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND SIGHTED USERS

Ioana TANASE, Cristina Maria POVIAN, Anamaria Andreea ANGHEL, Octavian Camil MILINCU

Abstract


This study analyzes the importance of ergonomics within inclusive design, viewed from the perspective of sighted and visually impaired individuals, based both on their experience in indoor and outdoor public spaces, as well as on slightly abstract factors such as intuition. To begin with, a comparative analysis is made between inclusive design, universal design, and ergonomic design, concluding that inclusive design represents a sum of the other two. All these characteristics are analyzed, developed, and translated into questions in the questionnaires and interviews addressed to the respondents. Two sessions of interviews and questionnaires were conducted. Following the first session, focused especially on the general opinion of the two groups on this subject, a discrepancy in perception and needs regarding ergonomics was concluded. However, sighted individuals show empathy when they are asked to consider the needs of the other group. The second session of questions focuses on how certain shapes and textures are interpreted through intuition. The similar results of the two groups highlight the fact that visually impaired individuals have an intuition like that of sighted individuals. These studies underline the need to integrate ergonomic solutions in public indoor and outdoor spaces. Future studies will analyze how these solutions can be integrated and will extend to more types of disabilities.


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