Ford_News
04-18-2011, 07:13 AM
Filed under: Etc. (http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/), Europe (http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/), Technology (http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/), Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/), Design/Style (http://www.autoblog.com/category/design-style/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-combihr-le.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)
Ford Third Age Suit - Click above for high-res image gallery
Architects from Hahn & Helten GmbH recently visited the Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/) research center in Aachen, Germany research center to try out the company's Third Age Suit. Ford built the suit a few years ago to help engineers design cars around the physical limitations of old age, and it's gaining traction outside the automotive world.
Restrictive apparel simulates the physical limitations associated with arthritic joints, failing eyesight and poor hearing. Since its inception, the suit has been instrumental in the design of cars with backup cameras and a more elderly-friendly "H-point," known to us non-engineers as the point where your hips swivel when getting into a car.
The suit works by restricting the flexibility of the upper body with a corset-like harness that hinders range of motion. Similar harnesses make moving the elbows, knees and feet a chore, and the suit also simulates decreased dexterity and sense of touch with latex-lined fingerless gloves.
Now, the suit is being used by European architects to design more elderly-friendly houses. According to Ford, 30 percent of Europe's population is expected to be 65 or older by 2060, making accessibility an even more important part of design.
Ford says architects came away with a new appreciation for the limitations of old age, and how to design around them. Hahn & Helten got particularly sharp insight into designing senior-friendly stairs, and seating that doesn't require you to bend your knees past 90 degrees, making standing up easier. Check out the full story from Ford after the jump (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/15/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/#continued).
Gallery: Ford Third Age Suit (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-combihr_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-01hr_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-02hr_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-03hr_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)
[Source: Ford]Continue reading Special Ford suit used to mimic the elderly finds use among architects (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/)
Special Ford suit used to mimic the elderly finds use among architects (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19915542/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-combihr-le.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)
Ford Third Age Suit - Click above for high-res image gallery
Architects from Hahn & Helten GmbH recently visited the Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/) research center in Aachen, Germany research center to try out the company's Third Age Suit. Ford built the suit a few years ago to help engineers design cars around the physical limitations of old age, and it's gaining traction outside the automotive world.
Restrictive apparel simulates the physical limitations associated with arthritic joints, failing eyesight and poor hearing. Since its inception, the suit has been instrumental in the design of cars with backup cameras and a more elderly-friendly "H-point," known to us non-engineers as the point where your hips swivel when getting into a car.
The suit works by restricting the flexibility of the upper body with a corset-like harness that hinders range of motion. Similar harnesses make moving the elbows, knees and feet a chore, and the suit also simulates decreased dexterity and sense of touch with latex-lined fingerless gloves.
Now, the suit is being used by European architects to design more elderly-friendly houses. According to Ford, 30 percent of Europe's population is expected to be 65 or older by 2060, making accessibility an even more important part of design.
Ford says architects came away with a new appreciation for the limitations of old age, and how to design around them. Hahn & Helten got particularly sharp insight into designing senior-friendly stairs, and seating that doesn't require you to bend your knees past 90 degrees, making standing up easier. Check out the full story from Ford after the jump (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/15/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/#continued).
Gallery: Ford Third Age Suit (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-combihr_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-01hr_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-02hr_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/thirdagesuitffa-03hr_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-third-age-suit/)
[Source: Ford]Continue reading Special Ford suit used to mimic the elderly finds use among architects (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/)
Special Ford suit used to mimic the elderly finds use among architects (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19915542/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/special-ford-suit-used-to-mimic-the-elderly-finds-use-among-arch/)