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IAUD Awards Citations 2015 CHAIRS INTRODUCTION & FULL CITATIONS-2

2015.12.22 Updated

CITATIONS of Grand Award, Gold Awards and Silver Awards

IAUD AWARDS

In the category of Enabling Technology: Human & Life Design Laboratory receives an IAUD Award for its:
Marker-less Three-dimensional Motion Analysis System

Tracking the human body in motion has an important role in ergonomics and design, and in the design of physical interfaces between people and equipment, products and workspaces. Conventional systems have used markers fixed to key points of the body, but this can be problematic and obstructive, in particular in rehabilitation where it has great potential. Recently, marker-less systems like this entry have appeared which greatly simplify and streamline the procedure.

The jury was conscious that the introduction of this technology to Japan will bring significant benefits in the field of health and welfare, and in particular rehabilitation and gait analysis for frail older people.

In the category of Enabling Technology: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
High-accuracy GPS Mobile Measuring Equipment

Mobile measuring equipment is used in the maintenance and upgrading of social infrastructure, such as roads and tunnels. Conventional systems are assembled from existing components and mounted on the roof of vehicles. They suffer from maintenance and usage problems, cost time and can prove hazardous. Mitsubishi has created a dedicated streamlined unit that sits securely on the roof of a car, so improving efficiency and safety whilst reducing the workloads on data-gathering personnel.

The jury commended this entry as a good example of product improvement that will help reduce maintenance down time for essential social infrastructure elements and systems.

In the category of Healthcare & Welfare: Clarion Co., Ltd. receives an IAUD Award for its:
Clarion Taking medicine support Robot

Older people are often on complex medication regimes and can have memory and dexterity problems that further complicate the situation. As a result, ensuring that the right medication is taken at the right time and maintaining accurate records can be problematic, even in hospitals. The problem is amplified in care homes and can become serious where older people are cared for at home.

The jury commended Clarion Co. Ltd’s semi-automated dispenser as a very positive step forward in addressing this issue. By combining well-proven technology from the automobile industry with a simple user interface and associated data capture, the product can assist the accurate monitoring of medication compliance.

In the category of Healthcare & Welfare: Okamura Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
Healthcare Lobbychair “supporto”

In the context of population aging, in hospitals and healthcare facilities there is a pressing need for seating that is age-friendly and universally designed. Okamura Corporation has responded with a range of seating for lobby areas and waiting rooms that better meets the current and future needs of patients, whilst addressing important issues of hygiene, maintenance and configuration.

The jury welcomed the way in which Okamura researched Universal Design requirements and developed the product range. In particular, it praised the attention given to embodying supportive features in a calm and attractive aesthetic, with careful choice of materials and color palette.

In the category of Healthcare & Welfare: Okamura Corporation also receives an IAUD Award for its:
Patient Chair “LT92”

In Japan, patients are normally seated for initial consultations and examinations. Conventional rotating chairs present problems in use, particularly for older patients, and are unlikely to be designed specifically for such purposes. Okamura Corporation addressed this issue through a research and development program featuring interviews with healthcare staff and testing in examination rooms. The outcome is a fit-for-purpose design with a self-locking seat, a carefully positioned backrest and a circular base flush to the floor.

The jury appreciated the careful design requirements capture process and the attention given to creating a reassuring product with a high quality aesthetic respectful of patient dignity.

In the category of Innovation for Everyday use & Emergency Situations: SEKISUI HOUSE, Ltd. / NEW COSMOS ELECTRIC CO., LTD. receive an IAUD Award for their:
Intelligent - Fire Alarm System "i-FAS”

Fires, especially in residential buildings can have devastating effects unless discovered quickly. With this intelligent fire alarm system Sekisui House has made early detection possible by combining smoke and CO alarms functions in one unit. This in itself is not new, but by linking units together, Sekisui has managed to selectively lower the alarm threshold level and so reduce response time without increasing false alarms.

The Jury praised the background research that prompted this development, along with the integration of intelligent sensing technology and attention to universal design features to ensure that warning signals are quickly noticed.

In the category of Business Strategy: NEC Corporation / NEC Management Partner receive an IAUD Award for their:
NEC Group Commitment to Web Accessibility

NEC has been conscious of web accessibilities since the early years of this technology, and launched its own accessibility initiative in 1994. These measures were strengthened in 2000, and again in 2010 and 2012, with the goal of achieving level AA compliance with JIS X 8341-3-2010 early in 2016.

The jury commented that the Internet is already the key communication media for many people. Web accessibility is therefore a major potential source of exclusion that impacts on companies as well as end users. Company-wide commitment and strategic planning for web accessibility are therefore crucial to an open society for all, and NEC is an excellent example of how to achieve that.

In the category of Communication Design: FUJITSU LIMITED receives an IAUD Award for its:
LiveTalk

LiveTalk is a communication tool using voice recognition and other capture methods to facilitate conversations between hearing and hearing impaired users. Its development was prompted by the problems encountered by companies and other organizations in effectively integrating hearing impaired workers in the workplace and engaging with them in other activities. By capturing and representing conversations on-screen and in real time people can discuss and communicate effectively regardless of hearing levels.

The jury commended the simplicity of the concept and its realization through iterative development and the involvement of a hearing impaired developer in the team, so ensuring that real life working discussions were the focus of the development process.

In the category of Communication Design: ITO EN, LTD. receives an IAUD Award for its:
The establishment of a "New Haiku" culture through universal communication design

The ‘Oi Ocha New Haiku Contest’ was created 27 years ago and has been running ever since. By reframing the rules of the haiku form to make it genuinely inclusive, this initiative has proved hugely popular, encouraging people of all ages to participate and attracting interest and entries from 74 countries outside Japan. Entries grew year on year for the first 16 years and have remained at around 1.7million per annum ever since, with the majority coming from schoolchildren.

Whilst not Universal Design in the conventional sense, the judges unanimously recommended an IAUD award in recognition of ITO EN’s promotion of the shared enjoyment of a classic of Japanese traditional culture.

In the category of Communication Design: Kawasaki City / FUJITSU LIMITED receive an IAUD Award for their:
Asao Childcare Portal

The trend towards city living and nuclear families means that parents of young children need ready access to local services and support centers. Unfortunately, there is often little coordinated information available, which exacerbates the problem. In collaboration with Kawasaki City, Fujitsu Ltd. set out to address this with a pilot project in Asao ward. The solution is a web portal that helps parents identify relevant services and centers, encouraging them to make full use of available support, whilst feeding back useful information to the council.

The jury applauded this pilot program as an exemplar collaboration delivering real social benefit and maximizing the uptake of local services. Early success suggests that it can be rolled out on a larger scale.

In the category of Communication Design: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
Mitsubishi Electric TV smartphone app "REAL voice operation"

As part of a program to develop a high-performance universally designed TV, Mitsubishi set about creating an easy-to-use, voice operated remote control. This takes the form of a smart phone app that delivers the same functionality as the supplied remote. This approach allows the use of natural language and the presentation of a context sensitive menu of potential operations for the user to select from and confirm.

The jury endorsed Mitsubishi’s goal of making the TV remote more responsive and intuitive to operate. The use of context-aware menus has the potential of allowing users to make the most of their TV’s functions.

In the category of Communication Design: NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd. receives an IAUD Award for its:
Application software for written communication

A collaboration between NEC, Aomori Public University, Amori Prefecture Association of the Deaf and Mutsu Association of the Deaf, ensured that this application meets user needs and aspirations in a very effective way. User insights have inspired the mix of functions and screen formats and iterative user testing has validated the overall design. Together they have delivered a solution that exceeds early expectations.

The jury was particularly impressed with the way in which the communication needs of deaf and hearing impaired people had been addressed. The development process demonstrates the benefit of collaborations between user organizations, universities, technologists and information designers.

In the category of Communication Design: SoftBank Corp receives an IAUD Award for its:
Visually Impaired User Support App for iPhone

Smart phones are screen centric, and blind and vision-impaired users can feel excluded by them. However, they come equipped with functions to support visually impaired people, such as voice operation, narration and audible feedback. What has been lacking is a simple route through to the use of these functions. In response, SoftBank has developed an application that enables sighted people to quickly help vision-impaired people access and enjoy the benefits of smart phones.

This app has been warmly reviewed by the Japan Federation of the Blind, and the jury attributed this mark of success to the very broadly-based development team and iterative user-testing with volunteers who had never used an iPhone.

In the category of Interaction Design: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
Car Navigation system (NR-MZ100 series)

GPS navigation systems are of great benefit to drivers, but navigation and screen visibility can be less than ideal. Mitsubishi has addressed this factor through a very comprehensive program of product improvement, working systematically through issues related to visibility, cognition and usability. The touch screen has been reengineered, graphics redesigned, and the user interface simplified and streamlined.

The jury was struck by the thoroughness of the Mitsubishi product improvement process and the central place given to Universal Design and safety considerations, to ensure the product is easy to use and well adapted to the realities of driving by day and at night.

In the category of Housing Equipment: Daikin Industries, Ltd. receives an IAUD Award for its:
“Urusara7”, an air conditioner realizing unfelt airflow that does not expose human bodies to air current

High-efficiency low-energy housing has huge energy-saving potential, but is also associated with poor air quality as it is dependent on continuous mechanized ventilation. Air temperature and humidity have a direct impact on comfort and wellbeing, and with this product Daikin Industries has worked hard to control both in an unobtrusive and healthy way to deliver a comfortable environment from a single unit.

The jury endorsed the attention given to the management of airflow to achieve these goals in a way that does not expose users to obtrusive air currents whilst reducing energy consumption.

In the category of Housing Equipment: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
Power Conditioner for Electric Vehicle – SMART V2H

Mitsubishi’s innovative EV power unit combines technical and usability advances that together deliver a highly convenient and user-friendly product. The unit not only provides charging power for electric vehicles, but also accepts power from conventional and solar supplies, and acts as a storage unit that can supply domestic power for up to one week during an emergency.

The jury warmly welcomed the inclusive way in which the needs of a wide range of users, including women and children were accommodated and the attention given to safety and security in an overall package that harmonizes with a residential environment.

In the category of Housing Equipment: Panasonic Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
Down Light

In this well-thought-out design, Panasonic has succeeded in addressing the glare problem associated with otherwise highly efficient and energy-saving LED lights, particularly for public spaces where bright lighting is important, like hospitals and clinics. By recessing the bright, directional light source behind a sealed domed diffuser, Panasonic has solved this problem in a low maintenance high-efficiency unit with great potential.

The jury praised this comprehensive solution to glare in public buildings, to which older people are particularly susceptible, and saw an ideal use in care and treatment environments that under harsh lighting can be intimidating.

In the category of Housing Equipment: Panasonic Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
Wiring devices [Panasonic ADVANCE SERIES]

Simple and intuitive controls for household equipment, including such basic elements as light switches, are an essential element in accessible housing design. This elegant solution was developed through a process of repeated user consultation, ensuring maximum consumer satisfaction and safety.

The jury was impressed by the fact that Universal Design considerations have now become the norm in the field of consumer electronics and that companies such as Panasonic in particular are making UD central to the process of product improvement and development.

In the category of Housing Equipment: Sekisui House Ltd. receives an IAUD Award for its:
Shoe cupboard with bench

Sekisui House was an early adopter of UD thinking and practice, of which this shoe cupboard / bench combination is a continuation. Changing footwear on entering a building is an essential part of Japanese culture, but can cause problems, in particular for older people, many of which are addressed elegantly and conveniently with this carefully considered design.

The jury commended the focus on consumer research, the respectful way in which the design team worked with users, and the careful choice of materials to achieve a modern but classic feel that will integrate the unit well in existing housing.

In the category of Product Design: Daikin Industries, Ltd. receives an IAUD Award for its:
Humidification air purifier

This highly compact humidifier / air purifier is the result of careful user observation with a focus on ease of use, in particular for children and older people. The very small footprint and overall size, coupled with a low noise level make the unit unobtrusive and suited to use in all rooms in the house. It is light to move and simple to replenish.

The jury applauded the attention to detail and the way in which significant reductions in size and visual impact were couple with ease of use and maintenance. The involvement of users throughout its development has ensure a high level of age- and ability-friendliness.

In the category of Product Design: FUJITSU DESIGN LIMITED receives an IAUD Award for its:
HOME CENTRAL PC - LIFEBOOK GH

Fujitsu’s Home Central PC anticipates the needs of the ‘connected’ home of the near future. The intention is to give people ready access to a combination of personal and domestic data, along with entertainment, gaming and other computer-based activities. This is realized by separating screen and computer to deliver the freedom and lightweight of a tablet alongside the power of a central computer and home control system.

The idea of separating a sizeable screen from a powerful CPU appealed to the jury, in particular as Fujitsu designers and technicians have focused on the effective data-transfer and wireless display technologies that enable this future-oriented approach.

In the category of Product Design: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC Air Conditioner FZ/FZV Series

Air quality and temperature are very important to us all and the ability to monitor these can be important to the safety and health of young children and older people as their needs can differ significantly from working age adults. Mitsubishi has addressed the issue of temperature control in this highly flexible and adjustable air conditioning unit with a simple, user-friendly controller.

The jury praised the use of high efficiency sensing technology to both monitor and control air temperature in different rooms and zones within rooms to ensure an optimum temperature matched to individual requirements, whilst optimizing energy consumption. Coupling this with a simple control unit delivers many technical advantages in a very user-friendly package.

In the category of Product Design: Mitsubishi Electric Home Appliance Co. receives an IAUD Award for its:
IH Cooking Heater

Mitsubishi has gone to considerable lengths to make this induction hob as user- and age-friendly as possible. The navigation and controls are presented in a rational, step-by-step order making it easy to use. Instructions and pictograms are large and easy to understand, and heat control is automatically optimized for critical operations such as simmering and frying.

The jury was impressed by the restrained design and simplified interface, which, combined with ease of cleaning and other user-friendly features make this a very appealing and stylish product.

In the category of Product Design: Panasonic Corporation receives an IAUD Award for its:
Automatic Espresso Machine (GUI) / Panasonic NC-ZA1

By reducing the footprint and simplifying the user interface, Panasonic Corporation has created an automatic espresso machine that will appeal to busy young professionals and older users alike. The clean, simple styling reflects a modern lifestyle, while the small size keeps it unobtrusive and suited to smaller households, adding to its universal appeal.

The jury was impressed with the attention given to the user interface, and the careful consideration of color and clarity of information and icons to maximize usability and cognition, especially for older and color-blind people.

In the category of Product Design: Panasonic Corporation also receives an IAUD Award for its:
Bagged Canister vacuum cleaner / Panasonic MC-JP500G Series

In response to consumer consultation Panasonic Corporation has developed a lightweight bagged canister vacuum cleaner, that delivers high-performance cleaning without the weight and bulk previously associated with such products. Other user- and environment-friendly features combine to deliver an age-friendly product that is both attractive and efficient.

The jury praised the considerable trouble taken by Panasonic designers and engineers to respond to consumer feedback in the combination of materials and features brought together in this excellent example of product improvement driven by Universal Design considerations.

In the category of Product Design: Panasonic Corporation also receives an IAUD Award for its:
Desk Lamp

This highly adjustable desk light offers the additional possibility of changing the lighting angle and with it the lighting intensity. The design is the result of considerable user research, in particular with older consumers. As we age we lose acuity and focusing flexibility, and so benefit from a brighter light source, and the ability to switch between a diffused reading light and a focus task light.

The jury praised the simplicity of the understated design and the emphasis on intuitive usability, which together have resulted in a product ideally suited to older people, but also highly functional, and sure to appeal to people of all ages.

In the category of Product Design: Panasonic Corporation also receives an IAUD Award for its:
LED Bulb brightness and color switch type

With dual operating modes this LED bulb cleverly changes color or intensity to allow users to change room ambience or corridor lighting levels. Installation is simple and compatible with existing circuitry. Lighting temperature has a significant affect the way we feel and behave – warm light relaxes, cool light keeps us alert – while low-level lighting can give a sense of security at night.

The jury was impressed with the intention of making domestic environments more suited to a full range of activities by adding further control possibilities to domestic lighting.

In the category of Product Design: Panasonic Corporation also receives an IAUD Award for its:
Steam Microwave Combination Oven "Bistro" / Panasonic NE-JBS652 Series

This compact combination microwave/steam oven is ideally suited to small households and busy lifestyles. User-friendly features, in particular related to the user interface also facilitate use by children and older people, making it a genuinely age-neutral product that will appeal to young and old alike. The clean simple design compliments the ease of use and cleaning to deliver a modern and very attractive product.

The jury again applauded the way in which insights from research and user consultation focused on older (50+) consumers has driven an inclusive product improvement process and delivered a product with universal appeal and intuitive, user-friendly features.

In the category of Product Design: Panasonic Corporation also receives an IAUD Award for its:
Washing Machine / Panasonic NA-JFA801 Series

This top-loading washing machine is one of a series of products resulting from its recent focus on 50+ consumers as a key future market sector. By virtue of the raised drum bottom and increased inner diameter, loading and emptying is made much easier. With a large touch screen, simple, intuitive interface and other user-friendly features this easy-to-operate machine has appeal for a wide range of households.

The jury applauded the way in which a focus on older users has delivered product improvements, in particular in user-friendliness that will appeal across generations. The simple, uncluttered styling of the product adds to its universal appeal.

CITATIONS of Grand Award, Gold Awards and Silver Awards

Announcement of IAUD Awards 2015 Winners

Announcement of IAUD Award 2015 Winners

IAUD Awards Citations 2015 CHAIRS INTRODUCTION & FULL CITATIONS