Designing for the Life Span Segment 4
Designing for the Life Span Segment 4 
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[D]
Distribution of Human Body Dimensions.
Body Dimensioning for the "Normal" Adult Population, 16 to 64 Years.
A national study of body dimensions published in 1962 provided information about the differences in stature between younger and older adults. Older adults are smaller - regardless of the specific measurement - in every way excepting hip width.
Unfortunately, this study is over 40 years old. There has not been another effort to develop an anthropometry of older adults since the publication of the 1962 study. Nevertheless, it is significant that there are differences that likely prevail even 40 years later.
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When the body dimensions of older adults are compared with younger adults, their range produces smaller dimensions in every category of dimension with the exception of hip width.
If a designer is intent upon an inclusive approach in the design process - integrating the dimensions of older adults within the context of a general population distribution - one of two possibilities must occur: 1) the percentile range must be extended to include 90 to 95 percent of the older population, or 2) another methodology must be found to insure inclusiveness.
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