弱勢族群中的身心障礙者與兒童，因生理與心理的狀態不同於一般人，所以常常會對週遭的環境或產品感到不方便或不安全，因此若未給予其適度的關心，他們的生存權利與基本的生活尊嚴都將會受到嚴重的威脅，因此如何為弱勢族群做特別的相關規劃，再依其不同生理、心理特性來加以逐步改善其生活品質並提高其生活福祉，將成為先進國家一個相當重要的研究議題。
本研究之弱勢族群對象係以盲人和兒童為主，概因視障者和兒童之認知模式均和正常成年人有相當大之差異，也因此常造成其與外界之溝通介面不甚理想之情形，因此本研究首先選擇此二類弱勢對象做為研究的主題，係期望能透過科學化與客觀化的研究，以定義出適用於弱勢族群的產品介面，更進而帶動弱勢族群相關研究之風氣。
案例研究一主要係探討盲人對於立體造形與觸摸圖像的辨識能力，藉由實驗者所設計的實驗器材，以人因實驗的方式來釐清盲人的感覺與知覺特性，實驗結果發現盲人受測者對於大尺寸的基本造形觸摸圖像有相當優異的辨識性(96.9%)，但對於象徵符號的觸摸圖像辨識性則相當不理想(13.8%)，這些結果將有助於未來從事產品介面設計時能符合視障者的特殊需求。
案例研究二則是希望建構出一個兒童汽車安全座椅的產品設計評價模式，主要是透過生理實驗與灰色系統理論之灰關聯分析法建構出一個理想的設計評價模式，可提供兒童汽車安全座椅設計師得以開發出不僅安全更能讓兒童感到舒適的汽車安全座椅。
以上研究將能逐步解開盲人與兒童等弱勢族群對產品介面的認知特性，並得以協助產品設計師開發出更多適用於弱勢族群使用者的產品，讓弱勢族群不再是被遺忘的一群，而可以如同一般人一樣活得更自在、更有自信！

Among disadvantaged minorities, children with physical or mental disabilities, due to the unique nature of their mental and physical situation, may experience more inconvenience and insecurity with the environment or certain products. If proper care is not given, their right to survival and basic dignity will be seriously undermined. Therefore, how to make exclusive plans for the disadvantaged minorities and progressively improve their living quality and welfares, according to their physical and mental characteristics, is believed to be an important issue for advanced nations.
In this study, the focus is placed on visually impaired people and children. The cognitive model of the visually impaired and children is significantly different from that of normal adults, so it is hard for designers to develop proper communication interface for people with disabilities. In this study, two types of disadvantaged minorities are selected as research subjects. Through a scientific and objective approach, we aim to define product interface suitable for the two groups.
The first case study focuses on blind people’s ability to recognize three-dimensional patterns and tactile icons. Using the experimental facilities designed by the researcher, this case study is intended to clarify blind people’s sensing and perceptual characteristics. In the experiments, the blind subjects presented an outstanding ability to recognize large-sized tactile icons in basic patterns (96.9%) but not tactile icons in symbolic patterns (13.8%). The result is expected to be a reference for designers to develop product interfaces that meet the needs of the blind.
The second case study is designed to construct a product design evaluation (PDE) model for child safety seats using the grey system theory and grey relational analysis（abbreviated as GRA in this article）. It is expected that, with this product design evaluation model, child safety seats designers are able to develop not only safe but also comfortable seats for children in sedan.
This study aims to progressively unveil the characteristics of the blind people and children’s cognition of product interface and assist product designers to develop more products that are friendly to minority groups. Therefore, minority groups can also enjoy equal benefits and live with comfort and confidence as ordinary people.

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