Nakano, Yasushi
Faculty of Economics Professor
Graduate School of Human Relations Psychology Professor
Research Overview
Since all people inevitably age and experience a decline in physical and mental functions, issues related to accessibility and barrier-free design can be regarded as fundamental challenges that concern all of humanity. The objective of my research is to explore effective ways of applying advanced science and technology in order to enable all citizens and users—including persons with disabilities and older adults—to live safely, securely, and comfortably in 21st-century society, and ultimately to contribute to the construction of a comprehensive barrier-free society of the future. My research and practice are guided by the perspective that “the most important issue for persons with disabilities and older adults is the fulfillment of functional needs in daily living.” In recent years, barrier-free design and universal design have attracted considerable attention. However, the perspectives of users—namely persons with disabilities and older adults—are not always sufficiently reflected, and a gap is often observed between needs (user requirements) and seeds (technological possibilities). To bridge this gap, it is essential to: (1) identify and understand the diverse needs of persons with disabilities, (2) effectively communicate these needs to researchers and developers, and (3) provide appropriate information and coordination to users whose needs align with the developed technologies. Accordingly, the training of professionals who can fulfill these respective roles has become an urgent priority. Furthermore, (4) in order to ensure the sustainable provision of developed technologies, it is necessary to promote their industrialization not as “special technologies for people in special circumstances,” but rather as “technologies that will eventually be needed by everyone in an aging society.” Through accumulating scientific evidence necessary to advance barrier-free and universal design, I aim to contribute to the realization of a society in which people of all physical and mental conditions can live with a sense of purpose and security.
Specialty
Experimental Psychology, Special Education, Human Interface, Perceptual Psychology, Study of Visual Disabilities