Designing for the Life Span Segment 3
Designing for the Life Span Segment 3 
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The high amount of glare and the confusing array of shadows falling across the steps visually flattens the distances between steps, making the wood plank landing seem like a continuous surface and increasing the difficulty in finding the edges of the steps...
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For older adults, glare will flatten space. The slide shows a relatively common set of steps. The steps are subjected to a considerable amount of high level sun light and deep contrasting shadow. In the photograph without the empathic lens, the rise of the steps is barely discernible. With the lens in place, the steps appear to have no rise at all.
Experience will inform an older person that the steps are present and may also inform that person as to their location, tread and rise. Descending the steps will likely be done cautiously with dependency upon the railing for support. For someone without that experience - or for someone with the onset of memory loss - negotiating the steps is a different and possibly dangerous matter.
Note that hip fractures are a major nemesis for older adults so that this common part of the environment requires serious design attention.
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