LIVING WITH LIMITS

By Donald Brackett


“Universal Design is an approach to the design of all products and environments
to be as usable as possible by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability
or situation. Terminology and meanings differ from one country to another and often
reflect each nation's societal values, but the common goal of social inclusion transcends
national laws, policies, and practices.”

Universal Design Education




We all live with some sort of limits, usually ones so manageable that we barely consider them. But some people encounter profound limits which are specific to their life situation, and which most of us can barely imagine. While I was working as the project coordinator for a cultural group called the Arts Access Coalition, I was able to learn first hand about how flexible the word limit really is by curating an exhibition that addressed the issue of universal design through merging disabled and able bodied artists whose work explored that very theme.
Though I learned a great deal from that group about some of our built-in design assumptions, it was not until a close friend of mine recently developed ALS that I discovered how radically her environment needed to be altered in order to make it possible for her to maintain a relatively independent mode of living while facing her personal challenges. Seeing her requirements shift with her condition illustrated dramatically how vital is the need for a more inclusive and ongoing sensitivity to this area of design research.
The mandate of this design education approach is to situate universal design not as a social trend but as an enduring design philosophy that originates from the belief that the broad range of human ability, from able to disabled, is ordinary and not unique. Promoters of this strategy rightly believe that universal design accommodates people with disabilities, older people, children, and myriads of others who are non-average, in a way that is not stigmatizing and easily benefits all end users.
According to the Universal Design Education Site, designing for a broad range of users from the beginning of the process can increase usability of an environment or product without significantly increasing its cost. It results in easier use for everyone and it reduces the need for design modifications later when abilities or circumstances change.
They point out that worldwide, a confluence of factors is driving the demand for more universally usable products, environments, and services, including the competitive and global nature of modern business, the flourishing communications technology industry, the international disability movement, and the rapidly growing aging and disabled populations all over the world.

Their site states that: “The Principles of Universal Design and their guidelines were developed by a working group of architects, product designers, engineers, and environmental design researchers as part of a project coordinated by the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University. The seven Principles that describe characteristics that make designs universally usable are: equitable and flexible use, perceptible information and low physical effort, size and space for approach to end use.”
The School of Design at George Brown College is involved in a new research project devoted to exploring the most effective ways of helping people overcome their limits while still living at home. The Health eHome project also assists the rest of us in overcoming our own inherent limitations when it comes to being more inclusive and embracing difference.
Co-coordinator Monica Contreras offers a very personal perspective: "When I was 18 I wanted to become an Architect to improve the world, and the Healthy e Home project is a direct extension of the conviction that we are entrusted as creative thinkers, problem solvers and builders of the environments that we inhabit: to bring down the barriers to ensure full enjoyment, true experience and dignity for all rather than just the able"
From July 2009 until July 2014, this project will be actively engaged in finding the most optimum ways to ensure equity in this major social issue. The Health eHome project is a continuation of the Canühome project created by the Institute without Boundaries (IwB) at George Brown College in 2008, which received a Gold Booth Award at IIDEX/Neocon 2008 while on display at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto. This 850 square foot model home showcased the latest in sustainable and universal design to thousands of visitors. The five year project will be conducted in collaboration with Origin Retirement Communities, Saint Elizabeth Health Care, The Town of Markham and CMHC.
Building on existing research and design development, Health eHome will explore the possibility of an ecologically sound residence that will allow Canadians with sensory, mobility and cognitive impairments to continue living independently in their own homes. The Health eHome will investigate the processes for monitoring inhabitants’ health, expanding their mobility and longevity by connecting residents to remote services and resources through smart design and technologies.
Research and new insights will lead to advances in home care approaches, housing design and technologies that will promote and support healthy living, safety and quality-of-life for residents. The research will be led by Luigi Ferrara, MRAIC, OAA, Director, GBC School of Design and Monica Contreras, OAA, Professor, GBC, IwB. Students from design, health sciences, as well as construction, architectural and engineering technology will be engaged as research associates in this project.
Anna Milan, an IWB student and Research Associate on the project, has identified flexibility as one of the key elements: “The Health eHome will be a home that assists you through different stages of your life, from infancy to old age, by being embedded with special programs to restore and prevent physical deterioration and provide supportive systems, including palliative care. Within the different life stages, permanent, temporary or reoccurring problems may arise, and the The Health eHome will discover new design opportunities and place solutions into technologies, objects and spaces to maintain safety, dignity and access.”

“It is a house that includes the following integrated technology solutions: Intelligent Environment - a layer of the Health eHome will provide reminders and guidance through daily activities; Adaptive Assets - a layer of the Health eHome will learn from your needs and behaviour, which are in constant change, thus allowing your home to adjust to special needs; Ubiquitous Sensing - a layer of the Health eHome will translate your activities and needs through sensory adaptations, and these will be incorporated into the physical environment; Communication Improvements - a layer of the Health eHome will help you connect with people and the environment
outside of your home; Remote Monitoring - a layer of the Health eHome will identify unusual habits, unhealthy situations and call for help when needed.”
The overall objectives of this research are aimed at developing ongoing methods for effective management of home living by following user-centered design principles to integrate smart technologies and design strategies into the home environment seamlessly, so that those with sensory, mobility and cognitive impairments can experience a safer and healthier environment that supports independent living. A secondary objective is to establish best practices for commercial use and to develop educational materials (via an e-learning course) for Health eHome users and assistive workers.
The Health eHome project also has the potential for major commercial outputs, including: methods for retrofitting existing homes to accommodate aging in place and inter-generational care-giving; networked appliances and devices to assist eating, bathing, and sleeping; digital interaction and display technology for the home that augment health;
collected ethnographic and human factors data that may be commercialized; and
home designs that can assist in the development of integrated design solutions for new domestic and continuing care projects.
In other words, home is where the health is.