ABSTRACT
As life expectancies rise, the number of elderly and disabled people living in ordinary homes increases, requiring domestic products that they can use easily and pleasurably in order to live independently. Several studies have been conducted on disabled people's products and systems design, centered on their functional dimensions and performances, without considering users' satisfaction characteristics, such as aspect and likeability. These kinds of products are usually considered as tools able to help users with special needs to overcome their physical limitations, thereby increasing their own capabilities. It is not necessary for them to be pleasant or user friendly. They only have to be effective and efficient, to work as useful devices, without considering the quality perceived in products. This chapter presents predicting needs criteria in the design of products for people with special needs, overcoming the efficacy and efficiency product requirements, and paying particular attention to the identification of product characteristics for users' satisfaction. A case study is presented concerning the study of special needs of people with movement disorders, in order to identify design principles and products requirements. Subsequently, a user-centered design process of a domestic telephone for people affected by Parkinson's disease is shown, in which the component 408acceptability has been previously emphasized. Design criteria for telephone likeability and ease of use have been defined.
