You will hear a design and technology lecturer giving a talk about inclusive design.
First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.
Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.
Designers have only begun to give serious attention to inclusive products in fairly recent years.
So, what exactly is meant by inclusive design?
In simple terms, it involves creating products that cross financial, social and cultural boundaries.
The aim is to make the original product usable by the widest possible variety of people without any adaptation being necessary.
Inclusive design is frequently associated with universal design, though the two concepts are not identical.
Universal design seeks to develop products that work for everybody.
This means taking account of people with cognitive difficulties as well, which can be particularly demanding for designers.
We can now see effective inclusive design in many ordinary settings.
In offices, for instance, adjustable desks are increasingly common.
They can be raised or lowered for users of different heights and for people in wheelchairs.
Where suitable desks are not provided, workers may develop pain in the back or neck.
Another familiar example appears in the public toilets of hotels, airports and office buildings.
Sensor-operated taps do not have to be pushed or turned.
As well as improving hygiene, they are much easier for anyone whose dexterity or mobility is limited.
Technology companies were once criticized for concentrating too heavily on younger customers, but their approach is changing.
A growing number of products are being created with older users in mind.
Eye sight generally becomes poorer with age, and similar colours grow harder to tell apart.
Blue shades are especially difficult, so software designers normally avoid blue when developing interfaces for elderly users.
Ageing also affects motor control.
Some people begin to struggle with simple actions, such as lifting a cup or opening a door, and using a mouse or keyboard may become difficult too.
For this reason, voice access is now a standard alternative for giving commands.
It is useful to consider what happens when designers fail to include a broad range of users, because the consequences can be serious.
Access is an obvious concern, particularly because it affects the independence of disabled people.
If buses and trains cannot accommodate wheelchairs, many people are unable to travel unless somebody accompanies them.
Safety presents another problem.
Surprisingly, the dummies used in most vehicle crash tests are still modelled on an average-sized man.
This creates risks for women generally, but pregnant women are especially affected because the seat belts on those dummies have not been adapted for pregnancy.
British workplaces have become much safer overall during the last century.
Employers must provide any necessary personal protective equipment, or PPE, at no cost, and they are legally responsible for keeping it in good condition.
This may include anything from protective glasses to a complete bodysuit.
However, most PPE is still made to fit male bodies.
One recent report found that employers sometimes assume a jacket designed for a small man will also suit a woman.
Yet, a woman may be tall while having much narrower shoulders than the average man.
Poorly fitting high-visibility jackets, vests and body armour can therefore place female workers in danger.
In the same report, 95% of women said their PPE regularly interfered with their work.
The problem was most severe in the emergency services, particularly among police officers.
Workplace comfort creates a further difficulty.
In summer, it is common to find women in offices wearing sweaters or wrapping themselves in blankets, while the air conditioning is running at full power.
At the same time, male colleagues may be comfortable in shorts and t-shirts.
The explanation lies in differences between male and female metabolic rates.
Air conditioning is commonly set to a temperature of 21 degrees.
A standard developed around men's needs.
In many newer offices, staff cannot adjust that setting.
Consequently, the temperature is often too low for women.
Offices with mainly female staff may also waste energy because the air conditioning is kept at an unnecessarily high level.
These examples show that failing to consider all potential users can have substantial consequences.
