Principle Seven: Size and Space for Approach and Use

Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.
Guidelines:
Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.
Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.
Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance
(Story et al., 1998, p.44).

The sufficient and enough space that is designed to enable everybody to use the design is the clear explanation of this principle.


An example of car parking area disabling easy access and use because of inadequate space (Atatürk Bulvarı, Ankara)


An example of pavement that cannot be used becasue of inadequate space (Kocatepe, Ankara)


In the first photograph the problem is that the parking area being not wide enough. And in the second photograph the pavement is not designed in terms of human scale. It is too narrow that even one person cannot pass comfortably.

Principle Six: Low Physical Effort

The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

Guidelines:
-Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
-Use reasonable operating forces.
-Minimize repetitive actions.
-Minimize sustained physical effort (Story et al., 1998, p.44).


An example of stairs requiring high physical effort (Kocatepe, Ankara)

Design should have features that require little or no physical force to use them, when a low level of force is required; it should be used without assuming an awkward or hazardous body position (MOPD, 2001, p.24) But in the picture above, the stairs have no stairheads although there are more that 30 steps and it does not fit in universal design principles.

Principle Five: Tolerance for Error

The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

Guidelines:
-Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
-Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
-Provide fail safe features.
-Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance (Story et al., 1998, p.44).


A ruined and distorted pavement example which has no tollerance for error (Kocatepe, Ankara)


Mayor’s Office (2001, p.23) suggests that ideal design should eliminate, isolate or shield design features that inherits hazardous or inconvenient properties. If the potential dangerous conditions are unavoidable, users should receive warnings when they approach the design feature; like providing "slippery slope" warnings.


An example of sloppery ground (Atatürk Bulvarı, Ankara)

Principle Four: Perceptible Information

The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

Guidelines:
-Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
-Maximize “legibility” of essential information. Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).
-Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations (Story et al., 1998, p.43).

In different modes (written, symbolic, tactile, verbal etc) the building should provide all essential information for achieving the effective communication independent from the users’ sensory abilities. The information should be presented with sufficient contrast to surrounding conditions for making it distinguishable from its context and decipherable in all its different modes of presentation (MOPD, 2001, p.22).


Two different traffic lamps, one is from Atatürk Bulvarı and the other one is from Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvarı (Ankara)

The first example has audial option for the disabled users but the second lamp has no organization like that. It serves only visual option which is not suitable for 'perceptible information principle'.

Principle Three: Simple and Intuitive Use

Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

Guidelines:
Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
Arrange information consistent with its importance.
Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion
(Story et al., 1998, p.43).


An example of stairs having different step heights (Kocatepe, Ankara)




An example of stairs having no rhytmic organization (Meşrutiyet Caddesi, Ankara)

In spite of including complexity, universal design should be a provider of simplicity to make the usages easy for everyone. People having different abilities, having different experiences should be able to use the design area easily. In addition to that the current concentration level of the people should not affect the usage. As an example stairs must be designed rhythmically and the height of the steps should be equal.

Principle Two: Flexibility in Use

The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

Guidelines:
-Provide choice in methods of use.
-Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
-Facilitate the user’s accuracy and precision.
-Provide adaptability to the user’s pace (Story et al., 1998, p.43).


An example of a door design which is not appropriate for 'flexibility in use' principles (Atatürk Bulvarı, Ankara)

Universally designed features give the user to select the adequate position, like usage of the right or left hand. Universal design gives the user the right to choose for his/her accuracy and precision. (Kutlu, 2007, p.122) The doors should be arranged both for people using left or right hand.

Principle One: Equitable Use

The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.

Guidelines:
-Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
-Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
-Make provisions for privacy, security, and safety equally available to all users.
-Make the design appealing to all users (Story et al., 1998, p.43).


An example of wrongly designed railings (Meşrutiyet Caddesi, Ankara)




An example of convenient railings (İzmir Caddesi, Ankara)

According to the equitable use, the movement patterns should be flexible enough to satisfy the needs of diverse users equally. The railings should be designed appropriately for being easily used by children also. In the first example the form of the railings are not suitable for that. But the second one is a convenient example since there are more than one handler with different heights.


An example of wrongly design ramps (Kocatepe, Ankara)

Highly inclined ramps which cannot be even climbed are the examples of segregation in design in the city of Ankara. Let alone providing equitable use, the ramps cause many problems and incidents.



Entrance and exit of a public building (Hatay Sokak, Ankara)

The cartoon shows that using steps at the exits and entrances are against the 'equitable use principle'

Definition and History of Universal Design

(the cartoon is from http://www.universaldesign.co.za/)

1970’s was the years when the concept of universal design has emerged. In time it is reinterpreted by many designers and architects from different point of views.
“Universal Design is a strategy which aims to make the design and composition of different environments, products, communication, information technology and services accessible and understandable to, as well as usable by, everyone, to the greatest extent in the most independent and natural manner possible, preferably without the need for adaptation or specialized solutions.”

“The intent of the universal design concept is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by more people at little or no extra cost.” (EC, 200la, chapter 2).

“Integral accessibility”, “design for all” and “inclusive design” are the synonymous terms with “universal design”.

The term “everyone” means that no difference will be imposed by the environment upon individuals regardless of their age, size or other physical features, abilities or disabilities.

The term “independent” means the ability to act without having to rely on outside
help, thus avoiding dependency.

The term “natural” stresses the integral aspect of the definition. It implies that
provisions for access and usability are perceived as normal.

The term “built environment” means all buildings, traffic provisions and places or spaces open to the public (EC, 2001a, chapter 2).


(the illustration is from: http://www.fujixerox.com/eng/company/sr/2009/stakeholder/customer/product.html )