UNIVERSAL DESIGN OF A FUTURE GROCERY RETAIL CHECKSTAND

This project as part of CATEA's RERC workplace accommodations grant researched and developed a retail checkout workstation that maximizes independence and participation of employees. Preliminary research shows that current designs of retail checkout workstations do not accommodate the intended employees including the seated and standing users. Factors like task design and ease of use have contributed to job loss and reduced employment. Through participatory research techniques and ergonomic studies this project identified accessibility and usability needs and outline design guidelines of a retail workstation that would address these needs. Based on these guidelines and examining possible future retail checkout scenarios influenced by new trends and emerging technologies future grocery retail checkout concepts were developed. These concepts try to address the need for wider accessibility and better interactions while adding value through design that aims to increase job opportunities for people with disabilities provide a better experience for the end users and maximize store investment efficiency of front-end equipment.