Usability Evaluation and Age-Appropriate Design of Wearable Fall Protection Devices

Falls among the elderly have become a significant contributor to the growing burden of late-life medical care, resulting in a decline in quality of life and premature death. Various measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of falls and minimize related injuries. Wearable fall protection device (WFPD) is one of these solutions. The paper, based on usability assessments and AHP, summarized the principles of designing fall protection devices for the elderly and, in the practical stage, designs wearable fall protection products that better align with the physiological and psychological characteristics and needs of the elderly. The outcomes of this paper can assist businesses in designing and developing elderly fall protection products by considering the user characteristics of the elderly through various approaches to improve product design and user experience, further increasing the acceptance and prevalence of WFPDs among the elderly.