A suit for the ages

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/06/2015 (3740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you’ve ever wondered how you’re going to feel in about 30 years, I can tell you: not that great.

You feel heavy, your joints don’t move very well and your vision is blotchy and discoloured.

Ford brought its Third Age Suit to Winnipeg Wednesday and I got a chance to try it on.

The suit covers almost all the bases of aging, from a set of goggles that emulate both a detached retina and glaucoma to braces and neck wraps that greatly restrict joint movement. There’s even a glove with a built-in motor to simulate a neurological disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.

The suit was created by Ford’s global ergonomics department, and any new engineers joining the department have to wear it when they start their new job. It’s designed to help engineers design the details of vehicles to accommodate aging or otherwise challenged customers.

For example, it allows engineers to be certain that displays are bright and clear enough to be read, that fonts and type sizes of text in displays can be read by all driving customers and that the vehicle’s overall design takes into account such issues as shoulder-checking, ease of entry and ability to easily use controls.

wfpvideo:4302912212001:wfpvideo