A journey to old age and back

"How old am I now then?" Julia wants to know as she puts on the straps which simulate stiff elbows and knee joints. "It's not possible to say precisely," replies Requirements Researcher Sandra. The suit simulates limitations which typically arise as we age, however it is different for everyone depending on their level of fitness and physical condition. "So around 75 years old," says Sandra while filling the pockets of the orange overalls with around 5.5 kg of weights. Special ear muffs, glasses that simulate age-related farsightedness and a visor which restricts your field of vision complete the experience. Just the arthritis gloves to slip on and she's ready to go.

Julia wants to understand the challenges that physical difficulties can pose in your day-to-day home environment. She tries out a range of everyday tasks in her kitchen, such as making a salad. The arduous task of reaching for the salad bowl is particularly hard. "Could do with a step here," groans Julia. Even pouring a coffee is unexpectedly difficult. When stooping down to tidy toys away, Julia takes a deep breath: "This is already hard enough without the suit. It makes you understand how important ergonomics is as we age," she says pensively.