Design for All

The discourse on the relationship between form and function in the world of design
has its roots in the industrial and Tayloristic model that contrasts and differs from the artistic
and artisanal process since the disciplinary foundation. At the origin of the debate there are
visions about the role of design in society, but also about the specificity of its own language.
The digital revolution and the introduction of Human-computer interaction and the wider
concept of Human-centered design have profoundly transformed this relationship, strongly
shifting it in favor of people, their expectations and their needs. In particular, when design
then focuses on inclusive and universal approaches – i.e. addressing needs that go beyond
standards – form is often sacrificed on the altar of accessibility transforming the experience
of both audiences – “normal” as well as impaired subjects – into a poor and a “low-resolution”
one. On the other hand, for people with disabilities, form itself is the essence of experience.
Whether it is the sound channel or VUI in the case of visual deficiencies, the figurative
language, for acoustic disabilities, or the tactile-sensory component, considering the cognitive
and perceptual aspects, the form becomes both the medium and the message as well. The
paper aims to identify the stages of a possible cultural and social journey, within the broader
scenario of Universal design/Design for all and the culture of accessibility, which includes the
aesthetic-emotional dimension as a shared design value and driver of innovation in the sector.
Besides, it illustrates through the discussion of case studies, in the field of personal and public
communication, possible approaches to ethics and aesthetics of inclusive design.

Much research has recently been devoted to developing approaches, techniques, and technologies which assist people with navigation within buildings. Routing is an essential technique often requested by users prior to real-time navigation, providing them with appropriate routes within buildings. A survey of the literature reveals indoor routing approaches primarily based on shortest distance or fastest travel time as the main criteria. However, such routing criteria that are common in outdoor navigation may not be as applicable to indoor navigation. Presenting users with appropriate indoor routes could be beneficial to many users in various situations. For example, people with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments may need routes that take into account their special needs as well as preferences rather than ones that are shortest or fastest. In this paper, we present a new ontology and an algorithm (ONALIN) that provides routing for individuals with various needs and preferences. To this end, ONALIN takes the ADA (American Disability Act) standards, among other requirements, into consideration. An indoor routing algorithm based on this ontology is presented and analyzed in detail where it first finds feasible routes with respect to the special needs of the users and then from those will select the comfortable routes.

The paper outlines, from the communication design perspective, the user-centred approach taken to address packaging design area and explores the potentialities of the project of information accessibility to deliver innovation from the user's perspective. Packaging is analysed as a 'device for access', supporting the relations between product and user and ensuring the correct transfer of information conveyed. Communication design enhances, in this sense, its function of 'facilitator', enabling the access to contents (a set of data or an object) to different user-groups. In this view, a research study on the communication access to the product and its use (information for interaction) is presented. This study analysed, in particular, the modalities through which packages allow the information transfer and explored the factors determining the communication access in relation to packaging informative and prescriptive functions, in order to highlight the criticalities, determine some reference parameters and develop, lastly, some guidelines for designers and enterprises. Besides the graphical dimension, the research work also considered the qualities provided by the sensory modalities of sight and touch to facilitate the access to information and to the product.

This paper aims at contributing to the evaluation of web accessibility and thus promoting design for all, considering the design process as an iterative process containing evaluation as a fundamental component. More specifically, the paper: 1) rethinks Web Accessibility Evaluation notion and its abstract requirements, 2) investigates the usability of W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 1.0 and WCAG 2.0), and 3) proposes an approach for an evaluation of the usability of accessibility guidelines.

The integration of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) within the cultural domain creates what is commonly known as e-culture. The need to create an e-culture environment arose from the undeniable fact that the cultural heritage of a nation defines it and therefore, should be disseminated to all, regardless of their location and their disability. This article discusses an e-culture

This paper aims to present the integrated football, a new frontier of sport for all in which people with and without disabilities play together. In the initial part of the paper, we clarify both the epistemological fundamentals of special education on which integrated football is based and the technical aspects of the game. In the second part, we show how in Italy the integrated football became a widely spread phenomenon so much that this country hosted the first regional tournament. In this regard, we discuss data collected about teams, coaches and players to demonstrate how integrated football meets the 'design for all' principles and offers a sport inclusion opportunity, regardless of age, sex and ability.

Proactive Ergonomics means to pre-test the human factors features of a product in an early step of development (design or prototyping), modifying it, re-performing the test and so on. The goal is to apply an iterative process to reach a final definitive solution. This work presents a case study on refrigerator concepts development based on a Design for All approach. The first design concept was created through a participatory workshop supported by reference literature data about arthropometrical and functional parameters and by results from ethnographic observation. This also led to the design of a dedicated experimental protocol for evaluating the physical ergonomics characteristics of products and mock up through a comparative analysis. Using a bestseller's refrigerator as reference, we evaluated comparatively, our new concepts. The results were very significant and demonstrated a consistent improvement of the ergonomic quality of the concepts with respect to the standard product. The quantitative ergonomic evaluation has been validated by subjective methods.

Video games represent one of the most popular forms of digital entertainment , but people who are blind or visually impaired end up having restricted access to these games. Discussions about digital accessibility and inclusion often end up leaving this question aside, in favor of some discourse considered more "utilitarian" or "productivist". However, video games have a relevant role in contemporary culture and can bring cognitive, motivational, emotional , and social benefits, as well as contribute to the well-being of their players. Audiogames are a specific type of digital game that have sound and sometimes tactile stimuli as their central element, rather than visual graphics. Thus, audiogames can create atmosphere, mechanics, and unique gameplay, while making digital entertainment more accessible to people with all levels of vision. It is also necessary to consider (and charge) the need for other types of digital games to comply with accessibility guidelines and to guarantee the right to play for everyone. Digital games that promote universal design and that are capable of captivating their players can ensure that people with different levels of vision can interact, collaborate, and even compete on equal terms with the same game-a situation that can not always be observed in other everyday situations.

Using the city of Lincoln as a case study, this paper aims to discuss the importance of inclusive design and accessibility in the city, within the context of current global challenges. The relationship between theory and practice has become overwrought, meaning that a dearth of social relevance in design is rife. Practising architects often view theory as esoteric, whilst theorists seldom manifest their ideas into reality and build. With the division widening, this paper is written with aims to convince and encourage that there is real worth and importance in instigating concepts and solutions proposed in this paper, which are not only applicable to the city of Lincoln, but are adaptable and applicable to all cities. The global paradigm shift in population size, the explosion of urbanisation and widespread increased longevity urgently calls for change in urban design. This is not a subject to be ignored, but to be acted upon at once. Motivated by the vision of a barrier free world, this paper hopes to inspire the spirit needed to eradicate social inequities in urban design. The paper will conclude discussing the complex relationship between societal and spatial dynamics, asserting that segregation is produced through misinformed design.

Since the speed of ageing is so rapid in Japan, the country is facing the serious problem of having to provide buildings and dwellings that will be suitable for use by elderly persons in a very short time. This article examines the effectiveness of various public policy initiatives that have been taken in the attempt to house elderly persons during the post-war period, and discusses newly introduced incentives directed toward universal design. It specifically highlights the efforts being taken to persuade the general public to accept the ideas of dwellings designed for everybody, throughout life.

Education should be an equal distance with everyone, the educational environment as a second lecturer is responsible for supporting equality and should present inclusive characteristics. This study is carried out  87  interventions. While showcasing the potency of the universal design applications in an educational setting, this study underlines the importance of conjoint actions of every actor in the educational system.

1 GİRİŞ Kentler, içinde yaşayan tüm kentlilere eşit oranda yaşama şansı vermesi gereken bir düzen oluşturmayı hedefler. Nitekim Avrupa Konseyi tarafından 1992 yılında kabul ve ilan edilen Avrupa Kentsel Şartında da (European Urban Charter) tüm bireylere insan onuruna yakışan bir kentsel düzen sağlanması amaçlamaktadır. Türkiye'nin henüz imzalamamış olmasına rağmen, yaşam kalitesi yüksek, doğaya saygılı, sürdürülebilir, planlı ve güvenli, hakça ve adil biçimde kent kaynaklarının kullanıldığı, erişilebilir, planlama ve yönetimde halkın katılımının sağlandığı bir genel çerçeve sunması açısından Avrupa Kentsel Şartı önemli bir belgedir. Aslında planlama disiplini de Avrupa Kentsel Şartında açık ve netçe belirlenen yaşanılabilir kentler oluşturma çabası içindedir. Ancak özellikle kamusal alan ve hizmetlerin sunumunda ve kullanımında yaşanan adaletsizlikler, planlama disiplininde görev yapanları düşündürmekte ve yeni çözüm arayışlarına sevk etmektedir. Bu çalışma, herkes için adil ve yaşanılabilir kentlerin oluşturulmasında evrensel tasarım anlayışına ve bu anlayışın eğitimdeki yerine dikkat çekmektedir. 1990'lı yıllarda ABD'de temelleri atılan bu anlayış, farklı yaş ve yetkinliklerdeki kullanıcıların, her türlü mekan veya üründen azami olarak faydalanmasına olanak veren bir tasarım anlayışıdır. Mümkün olduğu kadar çok kullanıcıya yönelik olması ve tüm kullanıcılar için hayatı kolaylaştırması bu yaklaşımın tasarımcının tercihinden çok, bir gereklilik olduğunun göstergesidir. Bir başka ifadeyle Evrensel Tasarım anlayışı kentsel çevrelerin herkes için tasarlanmasının sürdürülebilir, güvenli, hakça ve kullanılabilir olmasının bir teminatı niteliğindedir. Bu çalışmada planlamanın da bir tasarım disiplini olmasından hareketle, tasarımda hakça ve adil olmayı amaçlayan, kullanıcı odaklı evrensel tasarım anlayışı tanımlanmış ve tüm dünyada gelişmekte olan bu yeni yaklaşımın mimarlık eğitimindeki yeri ve gerekliliğine işaret edilmiştir. Çalışmada Belçika Sint-Lucas Üniversitesi Mimarlık Yüksek Lisans Programı örneklenmiş, bu programın amaçları ve çıktıları ayrı ayrı incelenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma tasarımda yeni bir anlayış olan Evrensel Tasarım anlayışının toplumsal kazanımlarına dikkat çekmektedir. EVRENSEL TASARIMIN TANIMI, AMACI VE PRENSİPLERİ Evrensel Tasarım anlayışı, engelsiz tasarım (barrier free design) anlayışının toplumda yarattığı ayrımcılığa bir tepki olarak doğmuş, temelde kullanıcının toplumu oluşturan tüm bireyler olduğunu kabul eden bir tasarım yaklaşımıdır. 2. Dünya Savaşını takip eden yıllarda tüm dünyada özellikle savaştan zarar gören ve uzuvlarını kaybeden askerler ve halk için, onların yaşam çevrelerini yeniden düzenlemeyi hedefleyen engelsiz tasarım anlayışı benimsenmiştir. Bu kişilerin toplumla kaynaşmasını sağlamak, onların yaşam kalitelerini yükseltmek ve özellikle kentsel çevrede herhangi bir fiziki engelle karşılaşmalarını önlemek için tasarımlar yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla başta ABD olmak üzere, bazı Avrupa ülkelerinde yasalar çıkarılmış, tasarımda erişebilirlik bireyin hakkı olmuştur. Ancak zamanla bu anlayışın toplumda engelliler ve normal insanlar biçiminde bir ayrımcılığa yol açtığı gözlenmiş ve yaratılan bu eşitsizliğin

This paper presents a methodological approach for measuring building accessibility. Buildings are seen as service providers, and their accessibility is evaluated by defining a set of representative service paths, and measuring their quality. We will depart from existing methodologies, developed to measure location accessibility, and transpose them for use in the building domain, in an effort to propose a concrete way to audit building accessibility and lay down some analytical metrics for its measurement. Such methods may be instrumental in better and deeper understanding accessibility. They may enable tools to be developed, to help support decisions on embedding accessibility in new building design or in the course of a refurbishment process. We argue that it is not adequate to pursue a black or white approach to accessibility. In this sense, compliance to standards that, if observed, secure accessible paths in buildings is a very useful approach but does not fully unveil the essence of accessibility. Put simply, there can be large differences in accessibility even if standards are equally well or not well observed. We wish to elaborate on the subtle nature of these differences and to propose a framework to start measuring them.

Health care workers (HCWs) are frequently exposed to the danger of infectious agents through needlestick and sharps injury (NSSI). In Saudi Arabia, the hepatitis B and C viruses pose a great threat to the HCW because of their high prevalence rate (8%-10% and 2%-6%, respectively). A prospective study on the management of NSSI at King Fahad National Guard Hospital from 1996 to 2000. Data relating to the epidemiology of NSSI were collected with the Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPIN(et)) data collection tool, 1997. The results were compared with data as reported by EPIN(et) 1998. Consistency was demonstrated between King Fahad National Guard Hospital and EPIN(et) 1998 for the occupational categories, locations, and the devices involved. Three anomalies were noted: (1) housekeeping staff injuries ranked third at our facility and eighth as reported by EPIN(et) 1998; (2) injuries caused by devices discarded inappropriately commonly occurred at this facility but were not reporte...

Today, computer games are one of the major sources of entertainment. Computer games are usually far more demanding than typical interactive applications in terms of motor and sensory skills needed for interaction control, due to special-purpose input devices, complicated interaction techniques, and the primary emphasis on visual control and attention. This renders computer games inaccessible to a large percentage of people with disabilities. This article introduces the concept of universally accessible games, that is, games proactively designed to optimally fit and adapt to individual gamer characteristics and to be concurrently played among people with diverse abilities, without requiring particular adjustments or modifications. The concept is elaborated and tested through four case studies: a web-based chess game (UA-Chess), an action game (Access Invaders), a universally inaccessible game (Game Over!) used as an interactive educational tool, and an improved version of Access Invaders (Terrestrial Invaders). For all cases, key design and evaluation findings are discussed, reporting consolidated know-how and experience. Finally, the research challenge of creating multiplayer universally accessible games is further elaborated, proposing the novel concept of Parallel Game Universes as a potential solution.

ÖZ Herkes için tasarımın amacı; binalar, peyzaj tasarımına konu olan her türlü alan ve mekan, iletişim araçları veya ev eşyalarında, her bireyin aynı fiziksel çevre için geliştirilen çözümleri mümkün olan en geniş ölçüde kullanmasını sağlamak amacı ile gerekli teorilerin, ilkelerin ve çözüm önerilerinin geliştirilmesidir. Herkes için tasarımda; her bireye eşit koşullarda eşit hak, kullanım olanakları, konu ve davranış biçimlerinin sağlanması, kilit kavramlardır. Herkes için tasarım; her türlü kullanıcıya duyarlı kapsayıcı ve sürdürülebilir bir tasarımdır. Açık alan veya doğal alanların tasarımı ve düzenlenmesi; plancılar, mimarlar, peyzaj mimarları ve endüstri ürünleri tasarımcıları için özel fırsatların yanı sıra benzersiz zorluklar da sunmaktadır. Birçok kırsal ya da kentsel alan, toplumun belli bir kesimi tarafından erişilebilir konumda değil ya da kullanılamaz durumdadır. Herkes için peyzaj tasarımı; çağdaş vurgu, sürdürülebilirlik, ergonomi, eşitlik ve özgürlük ilkeleri kapsamında değerlendirilmeleri gereken bir olgudur. Peyzaj alanları herkes için tasarım kapsamında düzenlendiğinde; yaşlılar, engelli bireyler ve çocuklu aileler de dahil olmak üzere toplumun her kesimini kapsayan bir nitelik kazanabilmektedir. Bu araştırma kapsamında; herkes için tasarım kavramsal anlamda değerlendirilecek evrensel tasarım ilkelerine yer verilmiş ve tasarım bileşenleri peyzaj mimarlığı açısından irdelenmiştir. ABSTRACT The objective of design for all is to develop theories, principles and solution suggestions for ensuring that each and every individual uses the solutions developed for physical environment in the widest sense, within the scope of buildings, any area and space that is subjected to landscape design, communication tools or households goods. In design-for-all, the key point is to ensure every individual with the rights of use, manners and forms under equal terms. Along with special opportunities, design and landscaping of open areas and natural fields present unexampled challenges for planners, architectures, landscape architectures and industrial product designers. Many rural or urban areas are not accessible by a certain part of the society, nor is it usable. Landscape design for all is a phenomenon, which needs to be addressed within the scope of the principles of modern focus, sustainability, ergonomics, equality and freedom. Where the landscape areas are subjected to landscaping within the scope of designing, it may be of a characteristic to be used by each and every part of the society, including the elders, people with disabilities and families with children. Within the scope of this research, the universal design principles are included in terms of design-for-all, while examining the design components in terms of landscape architecture.

A existência de uma dada deficiência ou incapacidade não é necessariamente impeditiva do desejo e do gosto pelas viagens.
No entanto, muitos cidadãos com deficiências ou incapacidades encontram dificuldades no acesso à indústria do Turismo.
Tendo em conta que o paradigma internacional estabelecido pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) recomenda que seja o meio ambiente a adaptar-se às necessidades das pessoas e não o contrário, e tendo em conta que Lisboa é um destino primordial em Portugal, foi desenvolvido um estudo, para conhecer a forma como a hotelaria da capital encara esta questão – se tende a encarar a inclusão de clientes com necessidades especiais como um custo, no sentido de obrigação, a ser suportado, ou um investimento com potencial retorno.
O estudo teve como base um inquérito aos responsáveis hoteleiros, e uma análise aos respetivos websites, e permitiu aferir aspetos qualitativos e quantitativos. Os resultados revelam que o interesse dos responsáveis hoteleiros na inclusão de clientes com necessidades especiais não vai muito além dos requisitos mínimos impostos pela lei, que não existe uma aposta na acessibilidade aos websites e que a informação relevante para estes potenciais clientes é prestada por uma minoria dos hoteleiros de Lisboa, e foca sobretudo questões de acessibilidade física.
Aprofundar o conhecimento sobre as causas deste posicionamento face aos clientes com necessidades especiais, bem como do potencial económico destes turistas no panorama nacional poderá potenciar o interesse e o melhor acolhimento prestado a estes cidadãos.

The present Report contains the results of an action-research developed in the context of the OD&M
Project (A Knowledge Alliance between Higher Education Institutions, Makers and Manufacturers to
boost Open Design & Manufacturing in Europe), funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+
Programme, Knowledge Alliances strand. The main objective of the research was to analyse how and to what
extent the emerging open design and manufacturing paradigm (OD&M) is currently becoming the ground of
progressive convergence and synergy between Universities, enterprises and maker communities, and how this
‘knowledge triangle’ is collaborating towards the creation of effective and meaningful value chains of innovation.
The research started by investigating the key competences and skills that presently
characterise the ‘maker profile’, in order to draw a general picture of how these are
developed, in which contexts, and through which particular teaching and learning processes.
Further, the research explored existing experiences of making-related initiatives promoted or partnered by
Universities, and discussed with Higher Education’s representatives the drivers, barriers and possible scenarios
stemming from the introduction of making education within formal learning. Then, the research involved
professional makers and OD&M enterprises (i.e. enterprises that show strong and direct connections with the
open design and manufacturing paradigm) in order to get an in depht understanding of how making-related
values, skills and competences are contributing to shape and inform their businesses. Lastly, the research
explored the perceptions and opinions of ‘traditional’ companies regarding these topics, and discussed with them
the potential risks and benefits that may emerge for them from the OD&M paradigm.

The past decade has witnessed a major shift in how human limitations are viewed (Froyen, 2006). Whereas disability used to be considered as a consequence of physical and/or mental limitations, it is increasingly recognised that the (built) environment holds responsibility for the exclusion of people as well, in other words that the environment can create handicap situations. This shift is complemented by a shift in professional attitudes: design for special needs, which focuses on a specific target group, gradually makes way for universal design, design for all or inclusive design. Inclusive design aims at objects and environments that are accessible, useable and comfortable for full range of people, independently of their capacities and limitations, and this throughout their entire lifespan.

Inability to acquire new memories, difficulty to remember recent events and to recognize objects, places and people, visual-spatial disorientation, these are some of the disorders with which who is affected by neurological diseases must learn to live with. In a continuously evolving society, where the decreasing birth rate and the drops in mortality are consistent, the job of Architecture is precisely to interpret the requirements and needs of people who have lost the canonical relationship with the world and give them the possibility to recover it or maintain it through communication channels that use their remaining ability to understand. The indoors and outdoors acquire a “prosthesis function”, containing and expressing the knowledge necessary to its right enjoyment, reducing the frustration sense through the safety and well-being feeling that the patient must perceive by living in it. This essay is a contribution to the dissemination of knowledge and useful information to those who work in the field of organization and design of health services, reporting “non-pharmacological”, low-cost and sustainable therapeutic solutions promoted by international and national technological research in the field of Design technology and ICT and which have proven to be able to significantly help both patients and caregivers.

Summary The Pedestrians' Quality Needs (PQN) project has been established to identify what people need for their safe and agreeable mobility and sojourn in public space and to show the added value of a systems approach compared with sectoral approaches. The idea to start the project received much support in both the scientific and policy development communities. Important opportunities are developments with regard to systems approach, new spatial concepts, health awareness and ICT developments. The project context further comprises that there are several pedestrian problems on strategic, tactical and operational levels as well as some trends that will probably endanger the position and well being of the pedestrian. Pedestrians have many different needs. Basic needs like health and mobility can be seen as preconditions. Reliability and convenience are dissatisfyers and comfort and attractiveness are the satisfies, the icing on the cake. The pedestrians' needs will be analys...

Here it is attempted to present a platform environment that allows development of various educational applications fully accessible by deaf users. Subject to Design for All primes, the environment is built on methodological principles which adopt sign language as the basic means for communication of linguistically uttered educational content. It also makes extensive use of visual objects to support comprehension and navigation at all levels of humancomputer interaction. Currently available instantiations of the environment have incorporated both video for content presentation and an avatar based dynamic sign synthesis mechanism. The educational applications to be referred to when discussing the design principles and user requirements taken into account, include one web-based and one offline GSL teaching tool for the same school level (early primary school) as well as a vocational training tool for adult users.

Although the rights of disabled persons have been recognized as inviolable through legislation in many countries, it is still arguable whether the nature of the context is correctly understood. The philosophical basis is seldom discussed, but clearly the expectations of people differ. They will be satisfied if possibilities of choice exist for products, and to a lesser extent for housing. For public buildings provided by the private sector, not all buildings are accessible and usable, and people often have to be content with the presence of alternatives. However, the situation must be different for public transportation. It is rarely the case that people are given alternative modes of public transportation to choose from, because the government license is normally given to a single business entity. The government argues that giving license to multiple will result in their bankruptcy due to overinvestment. This then will mean that users should have the right to universal service, i.e., non-discriminatory service for everybody. The provision of special transport services has in essence denied this fundamental concept to be realized, and the whole system has to be reexamined toward the ultimate goal of public transportation for all.

Hardware support for decimal computer arithmetic is regaining popularity. One reason is the recent growth of decimal computations in commercial, scientific, financial, and Internet-based computer applications. Newly commercialized decimal arithmetic hardware units use radix-10 sequential multipliers that are rather slow for multiplication-intensive applications. Therefore, the future relevant processors are likely to host fast parallel decimal multiplication circuits. The corresponding hardware algorithms are normally composed of three steps: partial product generation (PPG), partial product reduction (PPR), and final carry-propagating addition. The state of the art is represented by two recent full solutions with alternative designs for all the three aforementioned steps. In addition, PPR by itself has been the focus of other recent studies. In this paper, we examine both of the full solutions and the impact of a PPRonly design on the appropriate one. In order to improve the speed of parallel decimal multiplication, we present a new PPG method, fine-tune the PPR method of one of the full solutions and the final addition scheme of the other; thus, assembling a new full solution. Logical Effort analysis and 0:13 m synthesis show at least 13 percent speed advantage, but at a cost of at most 36 percent additional area consumption.

Most people acknowledge that personal computers have enormously enhanced the autonomy and communication capacity of people with special needs. The key factor for accessibility to these opportunities is the adequate design of the user interface which, consequently, has a high impact on the social lives of users with disabilities. The design of universally accessible interfaces has a positive effect over the socialisation of people with disabilities. People with sensory disabilities can profit from computers as a way of ...

Japanese government policies for seniors have long assumed that informal care by their families exists for them. The rapid aging of Japan is eroding the basis for this assumption. It is now necessary to include barrier-free design concepts in the basic requirements for dwellings to be used by everyone, not just seniors, to support independent living. Essential requirements in proposed guidelines are already in effect in the design and construction of publicly operated rental housing. But at this time, only the schemes of the Housing Loan Corporation of Japan for additional loans are being used, in cases where some design requirements for senior users are being met. The Housing Loan Corporation's loan system has long been seen as a policy on the part of government to boost the economy, particularly during recessions, but assistance for construction of higher quality dwellings has been lacking. This article discusses the basic philosophy of design guidelines and practical ideas to be considered in dwelling design and the merit of model dwellings constructed by housing manufacturers in Japan. It also discusses potential strategies to implement the basic ideas of design guidelines. It then proposes some possible methods to realize life-span dwellings, or dwellings designed for everybody.

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USERfit is a well-established methodology focused to the generation of usability specifications, specifically created for the Assistive Technology field that proved to be very suitable for the Design for All paradigm. This methodology uses paper-based forms to store and propagate the design related information. For this reason some issues -such us the inclusion and elimination of new users or contexts of use or the need to prop agate the results between forms-make the specification process tedious. This paper presents an application called USERfit Tool developed in order to facilitate the use of the USERfit design environment. In addition, USERfit Tool allows to reuse previously developed material and to share the design information between remote groups of designers, maintaining the coherence and the compatibility.

This paper details a two-part evaluation of the Apple TV user interface. A Heuristic Evaluation and an evaluation using the seven universal design principles were carried out. The overall results showed that the Apple TV user interface has various failings in the design for users of diverse kinds. Suggestions for ways forward include designers using more rigorously the ISO standards and well established user interface design guidelines.

Gasification of biomass, municipal solid waste, waste-derived fuels and residues has been lately gaining in attractiveness as an alternative thermal treatment method to produce power and heat. Presented in this paper is a new, recently patented, 3-stage gasification scheme, designed for all aforementioned types of fuels and for producing a synthesis gas free of tar and dioxins. The proposed 3-stage gasification scheme comprises of three stages: i) pyrolysis, ii) combustion and iii) gasification. The proposed 3-stage gasification scheme is valid for municipal solid waste and any type of biomass despite differences in chemical composition. The innovation of this 3-stage gasification scheme is based on the fact that the transition between normal and reverse operation and vice versa is achieved only by the proper rotation settings of four air blowers, thus creating a new model of gaseous flow management between the three aforementioned stages. The presented model can achieve a safe industrial-scale operation while producing a gas free of harmful components. The proposed gasification model is validated as suitable for smallto-medium scale capacities, achieving an overall electrical efficiency of 30% and minimum environmental impacts well below all existing thresholds, including those set by the Directive 2000/76/EC on solid waste incineration.

This contribution is the extract of a research work, related to the relationship between design and public space, which specifically concerns the design experimentation of an innovative multimedia device aimed at enhancing the socio-cultural value of the external spaces of Campus Universities. The research investigates the dichotomies object-space, design-context and man-environment through the definition of an innovative orientation system which, starting from a qualitative analysis of the places of the Campus Universities and the main users (students), redefines the social relationships between people and recover the semantic dimension of the spaces in which they live and work. Starting from various samples of the places, from field interviews addressed to real and potential users and from the categorization of spaces according to their specific characteristics and peculiarities, the research has developed some hypotheses / strategies for re-qualification through the object of design: a new way of finding your way through an installation positioned in particular areas of the Campus and aimed at improving inclusion and accessibility. Particularly significant is also the reflection on the relationship between the morphological-formal component of the project and the technological one, which interprets, in a 'laic' way and with a critical-doubtful attitude, the relationship between the real dimension and the virtual dimension of the design project. Modifiability, informativeness and accessibility are concepts necessary to improve the quality of the services of the contemporary public space, but are filtered by a culture of the project in which man and, in general, the dialogic-social and relational component are always central and prior. The places of the Campus University are therefore intended as places of research and experimentation in which the design project takes shape by stimulating social changes, behaviour setting processes and innovation systems, connected to the field of Design for All.

In order to support the practice of 'design for all' within the design community two key areas have been identified that are critical to success. The first is the provision of accurate and relevant data on the target users, in this case people of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities. The second is the efficient and effective support in the use of these data during concept generation and product development. A database of individual people was created including their 3D anthropometry and functional abilities. Data sets for individuals are kept intact, a radical departure from the traditional approach which involves effectively 'dismembering' people to create tables of percentiles for every dimension of interest. This database is accessed by HADRIAN, our CAD-based design tool, which is integrated with the SAMMIE CAD human modelling system. Using this system, proposed designs of products or services can be automatically evaluated for each individual in the database, based upon criteria set by the designer (e.g. access, reach, vision, mobility and strength). The tool can identify which individuals will be 'designed in' or 'designed out' and can support the designer in modifying the proposed design to achieve a greater percentage of people accommodated.

The current set of tools and specifications for ensuring web accessibility require expert knowledge and often have a highly technical orientation, with the consequence that it is not very clear how, or even when, to make use of them. In an attempt to tackle this problem, this paper reviews the types of tools and specifications available and proposes a simple and practical methodology for web accessibility evaluation that demonstrates how these tools and specifications could be used. The proposed methodology proposes methods and processes for reaching and maintaining web accessibility, and consists of the following phases: (a) identification of user requirements and setting up of accessibility goals, (b) web accessibility evaluation and redesign process, and (c) establishment and follow-up of accessibility policy. Further, in order to illustrate step (b), an example of web accessibility evaluation is described, where the domain is contemporary scientific publishing web sites. The work presented in this paper reports on issues that need to be considered by human-computer interaction (HCI) researchers, interaction design practitioners, and usability professionals for inclusive web design and are complementary to web usability engineering.

ICTs and e-learning technologies have been exploited thoroughly, in an effort to improve the education procedures and techniques and ensure that nontraditional students (disabled students, distance students and sensitive social groups), gain equal access to information, knowledge, education and employment. This paper presents a multi-purpose e-environment for educative and informative services in the domain of engineering education for students with visual impairments. This eenvironment can be used for actions that support online eclasses as well as e-activities that belong within the domains of lifelong training and distance learning. It was built aiming at smoothing the handicaps of the visually impaired students, enhancing their skills and covering both their special personal and communicative needs, mainly by redirecting the information through other sensory routes. Special "Assistive Technology" was used and the principles of "Design for All" and "Universal Accessibility" were followed, in order to produce a userfriendly and easily navigable environment for this nontraditional group of students in engineering education.

In spite of regulations aimed at ensuring that all people can enter and move through spaces, the need to create physical solutions that do not separate or segregate disabled populations has been overlooked. Further, the response of architects and designers is often to meet these regulations without considering the emotional impact of their designs, or the need for all users to be able to retain a sense of dignity as they enter and move through buildings and open spaces.
This gap calls for a (re)generation of the urban form with a totally new agenda. My research argues that designing spaces for disability should focus on designing places for dignity. Aimed at upcycling everyday environments as enabling environments, this research identifies and comparatively analyses typologies of apartment buildings and neighbourhoods in Athens, Greece, where the experience of dignity is ubiquitously threatened due to a planning pathogenesis. Here, typologies are evaluated using dignity-based criteria, and new design guidelines and actions are proposed.
This research and its findings will enrich access-knowledge through their innovative urban design paradigms with the potential to transform spatial environments into dignified spaces for all.

The elevator is a machine, a transport system, a space. It is the solution par excellence addressed to everyone. Its installation and use should be simple, and open to all users. The accessibility (for all), safety, and hygiene aspects of the elevator are constantly evolving: on these topics, this research takes its first steps and deepens each subject connected to 'the vertical travel'. The paper introduces the European Standards on elevator's accessibility, defines the declination of DfA/HCD methodology applied to product design processes, and shows some innovative product solutions inspired by the health emergencies, which are suitable for inclusion and safety above the current circumstances. Finally, the interaction of the studies represents the base for future research collaboration about the safe and fair use of elevators and vertical journeys.

We present a novel integrated methodology for the development and production of accessible physics and science books from the elementary up to tertiary educational levels. This language independent approach adopts the Design-for-All principles, the available international standards for alternative formats and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines. Moreover it supports both static (embossed and refreshable tactile) and dynamic (based on synthetic speech and other sounds) accessibility. It can produce Tactile Books (Embossed Braille and Tactile Graphics),

The amphiphilic grafted copolymer N-phthaloylchitosan-grafted poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PLC-g-mPEG) was synthesized using chitosan with four different degrees of deacetylations (DD) (80, 85, 90 and 95%). All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was incorporated into PLC-g-mPEG by dialysis method in an attempt to optimize carriers for ATRA delivery. Morphological investigation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the particles had round and uniform shapes. The particle sizes of ATRA incorporated into micelles were about 80-160 nm depending on the initial drug-loaded and %DD of chitosan.

A gridding Hough transform (GHT) is proposed to detect the straight lines in sports video, which is much faster and requires much less memory than the previous Hough transforms. The GHT uses the active gridding to replace the random point selection in the random Hough transforms because forming the linelets from the actively selected points is easier than from the