As artificial intelligence and IoT continue to advance and refine, the smart home is starting to take flight. More and more objects are now becoming connected to smart devices—washing machines, lighting systems, ventilation, cooking appliances, cameras—all controllable from a single device.
The push of a button or a simple voice command can turn on the lights, adjust the temperature, open blinds and change the TV channel.
Universal Design (UD) is an approach to design that increases the potential for developing a better quality of life for a wide range of individuals. It is a design process that enables and empowers a diverse population by improving human performance, health and wellness, and social participation (Steinfeld and Maisel, 2012). It creates products, systems, and environments to be as usable as possible by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability or situation.