Inclusive design is child’s play: we can learn a lot from the young

A recent visit to the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin assured me that the future of science and technology is in safe hands.

There were many innovative projects on display, but one idea really stood out for me – thirteen year old Danielle Mc Gouran has designed a simple but effective device which could really help older people tap in to technology.

Many older people don’t believe they have the dexterity, hand eye coordination or the technical skills to use modern technology – the equipment can seem too complex and confusing.  And as a result they are scared to have a go and thus remain cut off from modern communication.

But Danielle has created a user-friendly application which could alleviate this problem – thus bringing technology into the homes of elderly people and making it purposeful and relevant to their lives.

Recognising the important role that televisions can play in many elderly people’s lives she devised a means of pausing programmes when a telephone or doorbell rings. A home page screen then comes up with 4 coloured options which correspond to a specific command. And by tapping on the relevant coloured button, perhaps on a TV remote control, an operation begins.

This could be anything from answering a phone, to hosting Skype on the TV. A web cam can also be programmed to switch on when the doorbell rings – then from the comfort of an armchair a person can see who it is on their TV screen and decide whether to answer it or not.

It is such a simple but effective security idea, which she was inspired to come up with after her grandfather was robbed at his front door.

By simplifying technology in this way it becomes accessible to everyone. And when people have mastered one thing they build the confidence to try something else –more buttons and functions can easily be introduced.

Technology certainly doesn’t have to be a barrier for older people as the very tools they avoid could actually enable them in so many different ways. Danielle’s idea may help to unlock the potential of technology for many.