26 May 2011
Can’t understand why your grandparents walk so much slower than you? Get frustrated when you have to repeat yourself three times because older people just can’t hear you the first time?
You’ll understand one day. However Ford couldn’t wait and created the ‘Third Age Suit’ – a specially designed body suit that simulates creaky joints, diminished dexterity, weaker eyesight and hearing associated with ageing when worn.
The suit was developed by Ford to assist in designing cars which provided comfort for young and elderly, leading to the development of rear – view cameras, improved headroom and an improved ‘H-point’ – the point at which the hips swivel. It has helped to design cars around the physical limitations of old age, and is now gaining traction outside of the automotive world.
Studies show that as a result of constant technological innovations and improvements in medical treatments, by 2060 – 30% of Europe’s population will be over 65 years of age.
Today, it’s 17% and in 1990 it was 14%. Europe’s median age has also increased from 35.2 in 1990, to 40.7 in 2009, and is predicted to hit 47.9 is 2060.
Dr Achmin Lidner, physician at the European Ford Research Centre said: “We developed this suit to show our engineers and designers what it feels like to be an older person. When you are young, you think you’re designing for everybody, but you can’t understand the range of people and their limitations. And you should always be aware that ageing is not a disease but a natural process.”
But how on earth could a bodysuit be capable of reducing movement and compromising the senses? Firstly, a type of corset with shoulder straps restricts movement and flexibility of the upper body, particularly around the hips. The orthoses (usually used by orthopaedic surgeons to immobilise injured limbs after accidents and operations) are used to stiffen the knee and elbow joints, and limits the feet movement, impeding standing, walking, grabbing and carrying things.
Secondly, Latex gloves convey the limited sense of touch (often an effect of diseases like diabetes). Fingerless mitts help portray the feeling of loss of power in the hands and consequently immobility of fingers. Just in case this wasn’t daunting enough, earplugs were inserted to decrease aural capacities, and specially designed glasses were work to demonstrate the consequences of various eye diseases, including glaucoma and cataracts. Many people lose the ability to even see in 3 dimensions, or, as monocular vision causes, loss of the ability to view 180 degrees.