Elder Barriers: UI and UX Generalized

Red berries in winter. December 2006. Credit: Mzuriana.

Heheheheheh, "elder barriers" ......... "elderberries."  I like that. 

Perhaps I will some day self-identify as an "elderberry." Hopefully, that's not too close to dingleberry. 

But I digress. 

What are UI and UX? 

UI and UX refer to the "look and feel" of a website, application, or device (such as a cell phone, tablet, or laptop) for the person who uses it. 

UI = User Interface. UI refers to the:

1. Buttons,
2. Toggles,
3. Icons, and other visual elements 
4. That you interact with when using a website, app, or other electronic device.

UX = User eXperience. UX refers to the entire interaction you have with a product, including how you feel about the interaction.

UI and UX generalized

We can apply the terms UI and UX to almost everything around us. 

About UI: 

• Is a store or community center or park or health care facility visually appealing? Does it draw me in or does it repel me? Does it create a vibe? Does the design give me information about its target users? 
• Does the appearance or presentation of a product or service seem friendly to use or does it seem daunting to use? 
• Is there good signage that tells me where to go and where I am? 

About UX: 

Is it relatively simple to access the facility, product, or service? Can I afford it? If there are barriers, are they relatively easy to work around? Is there help available when I experience problems? 

UI and UX and elders

As I age, my abilities will change. I'll be somewhere on a spectrum of typical changes in:

1. Abilities, 
2. Disabilities, and perhaps
3. Inabilities

I want products and services and processes with a UI and a UX that respect the most common ability changes that occur as we age. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its associated entities (Department of Justice, Access Board, ADA Network) already have laws, regs, guides, technical support, training, and enforcement remedies in place to ensure access to products and services provided by: 

• Health care providers
• Health care facilities
• Assisted living, rehab, and skilled nursing care facilities
• Website designers
• Software applications
• Durable medical equipment operations, cleaning, and maintenance
• Drug packaging designers
• Pharmaceutical delivery systems (times of day, frequency, before/during/after eating)
• Eye drops
• Cell phone designers

There's also the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) - with accessibility standards since 2000. It's now in its 3rd draft. 

But the execution of all of these wonderful UI and UX measures? 

Not so great, I'm thinking. 

In the meantime, I need to check my own website for accessibility.