Designing the kitchen of a lifetime
Louisville, ky.--(business wire)--every seven seconds, someone in the united states turns 50.1 by 2020, 55 million americans will be 65 years of age or older, up 38 percent from today. while there's no question americans are getting older, today's seniors defy the stereotype, and are interested in far more than life insurance and medical claims. in fact, people are living longer — and are more active — than ever before. the average 65-year old is expected to live approximately 19 more years.2 when it comes to accommodations, seniors are moving into areas that can support their interests and hobbies for the long-term, and are seeking amenities that will suit their lifestyle — and style — needs over time. aging americans do not have to give up the granite countertops, stainless appliances or tiled backsplashes to have a functional space over the next several decades. in fact, innovative appliances — like induction cooktops, single-double wall ovens, and ge's advantium® speedcook oven — offer the convenience, safety benefits, performance features and style options for consumers who want it all. "function and style are both considered during the design of our appliances," said marc hottenroth, manager, industrial design organization (ido), ge appliances. "ge designers create appliances with all life phases in mind, and we consider the desires of the 75-year old just as we would the 35-year old." the principles of universal design cover everything from designing appliances that are easily manipulated by those who are left-handed or right-handed, to implementing features that are usable to people who may be hearing-impaired, visually-impaired, or confined to a wheelchair. "ge designers conduct empathy sessions during the design process, wearing or using special devices to simulate sensory deprivations and physical limitations during usability testing," hottenroth explained. usability testing result in very important design considerations, including some of the following: pressure and strength: ge considers the pressure required to push button controls — which should be five pounds or less — as well as the strength required to open appliance doors. installation flexibility: many of ge's appliances offer installation flexibility at various heights. handle grip: ge appliances with a full handle grip enable consumers' full strength to be applied. sound and illumination: push-button controls, as well as many knob controls, provide aural indicators as well as visual cues for those who may be visually impaired. universal design at work: here are some examples of universal design at work. refrigerators: we've all been there, bent over with our heads inside a dim refrigerator to search for our recipe's one missing ingredient. many of ge's refrigeration products, including the new ge profile™ side-by-side and french-door bottom-freezer refrigerators, offer bright interiors illuminated by light emitting diodes (leds), adjustable and see-through bins, and upfront controls; bottom-freezer units provide easy access to the fresh-food section — without bending. wall ovens: in addition to installation flexibility, the ge profile single-double wall oven offers another benefit — because there are two ovens in one, the door heights are shorter, meaning there's less of a reach when adding or removing the oven's contents. ranges: for consumers who may prefer a free-standing range, the ge profile free-standing double-oven range has a smaller upper oven that requires minimal bending for loading and can accommodate the average-size meal, and a larger lower oven available for bigger meals. cooktops: when it comes to cooktops, consumers should consider location of controls, ease-of-cleaning, and of course, safety. upfront controls prevent reaching over hot-surfaces, and smooth-top electric and induction cooktops make cleaning easy. on the ge profile induction cooktop, unused portions of the burner and surrounding areas do not get hot, meaning that spills do not cook on, and consumers are much less likely to burn themselves. dishwashers: bending and straightening to load and unload the dishwasher is not fun for anyone. ge offers dishwasher models with a single-rack wash feature, which enables consumers to avoid bending by using only the top rack for every-day cleaning, while still having the lower rack for larger dish loads. to make cleaning easier, consumers may opt for the ge profile dishwasher with smartdispense™ technology, which holds an entire 47-ounce bottle of detergent, reducing the daily lifting of cumbersome detergent bottles and a steam pre-wash, which virtually eliminates the hassle of pre-rinsing. laundry: while laundry isn't a traditional "kitchen" appliance, more americans are moving the washer-dryer pair to main levels of the home. ge recently launched the ge profile frontload laundry pair with smartdispense™ technology, which holds and automatically dispenses up to six months worth of detergent and fabric softener — so consumers can avoid lifting heavy jugs of detergent with each load. additionally, the pair is elevated on pedestals, which means that less bending is required when adding and removing clothing from the machine. universal design installation considerations: the installation of appliances is just as important as how appliances are designed, and the following design features will help ensure the kitchen of a lifetime: a pull-out counter beneath a built-in single wall oven to enable easy transfer of dishes. an elevated dishwasher to reduce bending and improve access for people with limited mobility. cooktops with knee-space underneath to enable someone to cook while sitting. an adjustable-height sink that can raise and lower with the push of a button. roll-out shelves make it easier to see and reach items stored in lower cabinets. a contrasting tile border aids those with limited eyesight and adds visual appeal. 1. forbes.com. "next generation retirement." http://www.forbes.com/2007/09/11/retirement-baby-boomers-pf-retire-in_rl_0912retire_inl_land.html. 12 september 2007. edited by matthew schifrin and john dobosz. 2. u.s. department of health and human services, administration on aging. "a profile of older americans: 2009." highlights. http://www.aoa.gov/aoaroot/aging_statistics/profile/2009/2.aspx. friend ge appliances on facebook to view how-to videos, learn about new ge appliances, and join in the discussion with other ge appliance owners. join today and follow @ge_appliances on twitter, or just locate detailed information about our products at www.geappliances.com. about ge appliances & lighting ge appliances & lighting spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliances, lighting, systems and services for commercial, industrial and residential use. technology innovation and the company's ecomagination (sm) initiative enable ge appliances & lighting to aggressively bring to market products and solutions that help customers meet pressing environmental challenges. general electric (nyse: ge), imagination at work, sells products under the monogram®, profile™, ge®, hotpoint®, reveal® and energy smart® consumer brands, and tetra®, vio™ and immersion® commercial brands. for more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com. photos/multimedia gallery available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6580224&lang=en
