Design research on home-based assistive reading products for older adults based on QFD and TRIZ - A user-centered innovation framework for enhancing accessibility and usability

Almost every country in the world is experiencing an increase in the number and proportion of older people. The concept of lifelong learning is conducive to the Gerontology & Successful Aging of the older adults, in which reading habits play an important role. In order to improve the reading experience and efficiency of the elderly, the study proposes design strategies to improve home-based assistive reading products for the elderly based on QFD and TRIZ. The study introduces the perspective of Human Factors Engineering (HFE), collects user reviews from domestic and foreign e-commerce markets (JD.com/approx. 30,000, Amazon/approx. 15,000) respectively by using web crawler, combines the analysis of human factors dimensions, constructs the user capability model, and refines the customer requirements ( CR ) and design requirements ( DR ). Then, through a questionnaire survey of the older adults (104 in total, with an average age of 69.6 years), the importance rating of CR was calculated, and expert members were invited to evaluate to determine the importance rating of DR . Finally, 31 design improvement strategies are proposed through the TRIZ contradiction identification process, parameter mapping, and inventive principles selection, systematically resolving both physical and technical contradictions to guide innovative design optimization. Based on the design strategies, the study proposes an application for product design. The optimizing senior assistive reading products can help seniors receive iterative information from the outside world, strengthen the connection between seniors and different groups in the family and society, and cultivate positive attitudes towards life in order to promote successful aging in the senior population. • A QFD–TRIZ integrated design approach is proposed to optimize home-based assistive reading products for older adults. • Web crawler-based user review analysis and capability modeling are applied to extract and prioritize customer and design requirements. • Eleven contradiction-resolving design strategies are developed to improve usability, emotional engagement, and information accessibility.