BRE IP8/03 PDF

The average age of the UK population is increasing and there is, quite naturally, a desire among older people to remain in their own homes for as long as is practical. Age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of visual impairment. It is therefore likely that the number of people with some kind of visual impairment will increase. It is very important to allow people whose sight deteriorates to carry on living in a familiar environment if it is safe for them to do so, and if that is what they want. There are many aspects of daily independent living that blind and partially sighted people find more difficult to cope with, particularly if appliances and tools that they are using have not been well designed. By giving them the tools to carry on living at home they can have more independence and control over their lives. A BRE project, commissioned by the Thomas Pocklington Trust with support from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, set out to determine the needs of visually impaired people, compare those needs with currently available assistive technology and so identify areas where there is scope for further devices to be developed. The project was carried out in a number of stages: - a survey of existing assistive technology - a survey of user needs - a 'gap analysis', to determine the potential for new technology by comparing the results of the user needs and existing technology surveys - a workshop at which the results were discussed by a range of people from manufacturers to users.