A study of cognitive behavior in relation to the elderly visual experiences

Abstract

Makepeace in his 1998 article describes how enjoyment and pleasure also factor into the function of an object [1]. Since visual impression is the first occurrence of visual perception, and all human visual experiences are determined by design, the quality of product design is closely associated with the effect an object has on a viewer and may determine their understanding and experience of it. Since China will have the most aged population in the world by 2050, this study takes into consideration the rapidly growing elderly population globally and how currently design practice ignores the changing perceptual habits caused by physical aging. It explores the necessity of evaluating these changes, and the relationship between the visual experience and emotional reflection. A data collection methodology, comprised of two analytical assessment tools, was utilized to determine results. The first approach, Tasting Board System (TBS), was created by the author to gauge subjective preferences. The second, Eye Tracking (ET) Device, evaluates objective reflection. The results of the study identify the common cognitive features of the elderly so that it may positively affect design practice and enhance pleasurable visual experience. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.