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Tech Briefs
Body control
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Demographic studies reveal that the number of people in the United States between ages 55 and 74 will almost double by 2030 from 40 to 74 million. In Europe, projected figures for the period 1985 to 2005 show the number of male drivers older than 65 increasing by 90 percent and the number of female drivers in that age group rising by some 200 percent. Vehicle designers and ergonomic specialists have become increasingly aware of these developments and the need to consider accessibility for people who are aging. It is estimated that most human functions degrade at a rate of 5-10 percent for every 10 years an adult ages.
With this in mind, Ford, working with the University of Loughborough in the UK, developed the "Third-Age Suit." Wearing it artificially restricts limb and body movements to simulate the ability of an older person to enter and leave a car, and to operate its controls. Ford ergonomic engineers on both sides of the Atlantic are using the suits, and its first application to a production model has been the new Focus. The suit (previously described in AEI) can be used in conjunction with gloves that reduce tactile sensitivity, and goggles that simulate the effect of cataracts.
The Ford Focus is notable for its height, with extra headroom compared to direct competitors. Application of the Third-Age Suit led to a high H-point (the point at which the hips swivel) for Focus seats, making entry and egress easier. "When you are young and fit enough to leap from a car without effort, it's hard to appreciate why older people may need to lever themselves out of the driver's seat by pushing on the seat back and door frame," said Mike Bradley, Ergonomics Supervisor at Ford's Dunton Engineering Center in the UK. He is the company's first full-time ergonomics specialist dedicated to a one-vehicle development program in Europe.
Stuart Birch
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