Smart Shower Systems for Older Adults: Accessible Design Guidelines

Ongoing Research | MSc Thesis Project

Overview

As the global population ages, ensuring that smart technologies address the unique needs of older adults becomes increasingly essential. This project focuses on developing user-centered design guidelines for smart shower systems that improve accessibility, safety, and independence for senior users.

Research Objectives

The aim was to explore how multimodal interactions in smart shower systems (e.g., touchscreens, voice commands, and gesture controls) can enhance usability for older adults while addressing their physical and cognitive challenges.

Methodology

practical and effective solutions, I employed a mixed-methods approach, including:

  • Qualitative Content Analysis: Analyzing literature to identify key challenges in current shower systems.
  • Semi-Structured Interviews: Conducting in-depth interviews with older adults and caregivers to validate findings and uncover additional insights.
  • Concept Testing: Developing and evaluating prototypes for touchscreen, voice command, and touchless gesture interfaces with end-users.
  • Expert Evaluation: Refining the guidelines through feedback from UX designers, industrial designers, and mechanical engineers.

Prototypes and Low-Fi Wireframe

This project has 3 main prototypes: touchscreen, touchless and voice command. Here is the first iteration for the touchscreen wireframe.

Summery of Outcomes

  • Older adults preferred touchscreen interfaces for their familiarity and simplicity, especially when designed with large, clear elements and visual feedback.
  • Safety features such as anti-scald protection, error alerts, and accessible placement of controls are critical.
  • Personalization options, such as user profiles to save preferred settings, were highly valued by participants and experts.

Impact and Applications

The guidelines developed in this research aim to bridge the gap in the market by providing practical solutions for designing inclusive smart shower systems. This work has potential implications for developing other smart home technologies for senior users, promoting safety, comfort, and independence.


*Note

This project is currently under review for publication at a conference. For more details, please reach out.