The resulting BHF pedometer moves away from the complex, gadget feel of so many small electronic products. Its differentiating aesthetic aims to be desirable to all. The over-sleeve covers extraneous buttons when not needed and allows for personalisation (as with mobile phone covers) as well as brand customisation. The functions have been simplified to one button in daily use and a large screen enables older people, visually impaired people and walkers in bad light conditions to read the screen and access the functions more readily.

The study showed that designing to include the needs of older users and other ignored consumer groups can result in a better designed product that is more in line with people's lifestyles and aspirations. Many small electronic products have a long way to go to catch up with the mobile phone or computer industries where a growing emphasis is placed on the product as enhancing lifestyle, rather than just being a technology-driven innovation.

Products can be a powerful influence on the way we live our lives and on our health and well being. Can designers of technology products capitalise on this through interaction with the user?