Open Thread Update: Attention Product Developers!
Last Sunday we put out a call for readers comments on products that aren’t ‘age friendly” and boy, did you respond.
“This message got to me, but I am not a developer, I wish the packagers and web designers could walk a day in my shoes!”
-Andrea
It seems that I’m not alone in wrestling with the small print on every label in the store, even with readers. One reader made a very compelling point.
“Small print on prescription bottles is a health hazard! Along the same lines are the tiny white generic pills that all look the same.”
–Lynn
And attention, designers of smartphones: we’d like a word with you.
“I’m tired of the constant changes in the iPhone!’
-Peggy
The largest group of respondents said phones have too many changes, taking place too frequently (and often for minimal improvements, to our minds), and requiring a whole new learning curve…until the next one. One reader seems to have put her finger on the problem:
“…my most constant cry is, “Stop changing just for the sake of change!” Many devices are constantly updated with small, secret changes that surprise me and leave me confused. If they are actually an improvement for a significant number of people, that’s fine, but many changes look like designers are just trying to justify their paycheck.”
-Anne
Older people make up almost half the US population, but we seem to be mostly left out of advertising (see here for more) and almost totally left out in product design, and especially package design, according to a few readers.
“I can’t open a bottles of drinks without a pair of pliers. My kitchen is becoming the hardware department!”
-Sharon
One reader summed up the issue and the solution nicely:
“How about companies making products have an older person on their testing panels?”
-Lauren
Hear hear! (And don’t get us started about the low volume of podcasts and devices!)
We’ll keep the comments open for more of your thoughts, ideas and issues. What would you like product designers, package designers and tech developers to know? Let us know in the comments!
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send your suggestions for Open Threads to her at editor@seniorplanet.org.
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Comments
I have trouble with pop top lids on cans and with tight jar lids. I’m 64 and consider myself in good shape, but I feel helpless and frustrated–and old!–when I confront these items. I suppose I should invest in some gadgets to assist me. I’ve resisted because of limited storage in my kitchen; at the moment, I call my husband to help; though, he increasingly has trouble, too. Seems to me a pop top on a can should make opening it more convenient not less!
One of my pet peeves is listening to a commentator who has music in the background! Our local NPR station does that with announcements. My impaired ears can’t separate the sounds!
I’m surprised at the things I struggle to open (and close): toilet bowl cleaner “bottles” that require me to squeeze and turn, even opening ziplock bags of cat food without tearing them from the side. I’m like the person with the tools in her kitchen: rubber mallet to smack the knife cutting the squash, pliers to open jars, screw drivers to punch a hole in the bottom of the refritos can to let it slide out, etc. I’m not too bad with small print – yet, but I do have large magnifying glasses downstairs and upstairs. As for the computer, I just pull it from the sides to enlarge the page.
I find it annoying that the AARP magazine has some of the smallest font size around. I mean, really? This is a magazine for the older generation and they can’t even think of us.
Excellent observation. They (AARP) do not figure that ones membership and dues supposedly include the AARP’s ability to see its contents from the reader (older generation) point….of…view. Well, Duh!.
I’m frustrated that so much packaging is not recyclable or biodegradable. I think we should pass laws about this!
Not only is minuscule print on Websites a problem, so is gray print. Let’s have some contrast folks! And speaking of print/writing, how about teaching cursive again in schools. It’s beautiful, quicker than printing to write, and useful for reading important historical documents.
You’re right, Barbara. Unfortunately, here in the US cursive left the curriculum over 50 years ago. It made a return in Ireland and Australia a number of years ago.