Research And Exploration In Universal Design Of Visually Impaired Facility

There are lots of troubles and barriers to the people who had lost their visions for the reason that 87 percent of information comes from the visual pattern. At the same time, the development of visually impaired facilities lags in China. It often happens that necessary message cannot be delivered to the users by devices, accessibility and safety need cannot be satisfied either. Design focusing on visual problems has become an urgent need with the trend of more and more visually impaired and old people presenting. Visually impaired facilities that can satisfy both visually impaired and health should be popular in the future.As the developed form of Barrier-free Design, the essence of Universal Design is to suit more users in product and environment. The purpose of Universal Design is to make one design more acceptable to people with different abilities and ages without any extra revision or special technique. Although this design mode emphasizes on the needs of disadvantaged groups, mass people can also accept it and use it. In Europe and USA, Universal Design has been very popular, and it made Industrial Design more powerful.Notion, practice significance and relationship with Barrier-free design of Universal Design is analyzed firstly, and then the design principles are summarized. Users targets are mainly separated into visually impaired and old people. The characteristics of visually impaired and old people is concluded basing on data research and proof. Design principles on visually impaired facilities are summarized: 1,entirety of message; 2,validity and timeliness of message; 3,safety of action; 4,accessibility of facility; 5,comprehensive applicability. Instances on visually impaired facilities that are operated on the above principles are introduced. Current situation and problems in blind's tracks and elevators are researched and proof; the solutions are putted forward as well. Design view on the facilities is proposed as well. Excellent design examples are wished to be inspired to benefit future research and design.