Meeting the Challenge: Training an Aging Population to Use Computers

Older adults present a special challenge to libraries offering computer training. Many of those seeking training have little, if any, prior experience with the concepts and skills necessary to use computers, yet their ability to learn those concepts and skills is hampered by the aging process. This article summarizes the factors in aging which most affect learning computer skills, and how those factors can be mitigated

Public library services to senior patrons

The purpose of this research study was to determine the attitudes of senior patrons, those age 55 and older, about computer technology at the Cape May County Public Library. It was hoped that this information would provide insight into older adults\u27 usage of OPACs, computers, and the Internet, suggesting areas for further research and leading to improved services to these patrons. Additionally, the following research questions were addressed: What computer resources do senior patrons use most frequently? For those senior patrons who do use the OPACs, computer, or the Internet, what is their level of competence or confidence with such technology? Fifty responses were collected over a three -week period. Results of the survey indicated that 86 percent of senior respondents had a positive attitude about computers in the library. Furthermore, senior patrons overwhelmingly knew how to use both computers and the Internet. However, a limited number of senior patrons were using the OPACs. Finally, senior patrons responded that their competence or confidence level was slightly above average in usage of computer technology

Effectiveness of Eye-Gaze Input System -Identification of Conditions that Assures High Pointing Accuracy and Movement Directional Effect-

The condition under which high accuracy is assured when using an eye-gaze input system was identified. It was also investigated how direction of eye movement affected the performance of an eye-gaze input system. Here, age, the arrangement of targets (vertical and horizontal), the size of a target, and the distance between adjacent rectangles were selected as experimental factors. The difference of pointing velocity between a mouse and an eyegaze input system was larger for older adults than for young adults. Thus, an eye-gaze input system was found to be effective especially for older adults. An eye-gaze input system might compensate for the declined motor functions of older adults. The pointing accuracy of an eye-gaze input system was higher in horizontal arrangement than in vertical arrangement. The distance between targets of more than 20 pixels was found to be desirable for both vertical and horizontal arrangements. For both the vertical and horizontal arrangements, the target size of more than 40pixels led to higher accuracy and faster pointing time for both young and older adults. For both age groups, it tended that the pointing time for the lower direction was longer than that for other directions

Effectiveness of the menu selection method for eye-gaze input system - Comparison between young and older adults -

Although the opportunity of older adults to use personal computer is increased more and more, the operation of a personal computer with a mouse is very annoying for older adults who cannot move his or her arm smoothly and effectively due to declined motor function. An attempt to move a cursor by an eye-gaze input system has been carried out as one solution to this problem. Until now, a menu selection method suitable for an eye-gaze input system has not been clarified. In this study, an effective menu selection for the eye-gaze input system was identified as a basic design parameter to develop a Web browser using an eye-gaze input system. Concretely, a menu selection method, that is, improved quick glance menu selection (I-QGMS) was proposed. The effectiveness was evaluated by means of the pointing accuracy, the pointing time, and the psychological rating on usability. On the basis of the evaluation experiment, the proposed I-QGMS was found to be effective especially for older adults

Effects of Image and Layered Structure on Web Search Performance -Evaluation on the Basis of Movement Distance of Mouse Pointer-

The aim of this paper was to explore the effects of image addition and layered structure on Web search performance on the basis of the search time and the movement trajectory of mouse pointer. The difference of search characteristics between young and older adults was also examined. Older adults tended to take more time to search for the linked item especially when the layered structure was deep. For the deep layered structure, both young and older adults allocate more time to think which items should be selected than to operate a mouse. For all participants, less mouse movement was observed for the image-based link condition than for the character-based link condition. This tendency was more remarkable for older adults. Moreover, it was clarified that more mouse movement was observed with the increase of the number of hyperlinks per Web page. When the layered structure was shallow, the following difference of mouse operation characteristics between young and older adults was observed: Older adults made an attempt to locate the search item while moving a mouse simultaneously. On the other hand, young adults began to move a mouse after locating the search item

Comparison of Performance among Different Situations of Operation in Web Display - Comparison of Behavioral Features between Young and Older Adults -

In order to clarify the situation where older adults feel inconvenient when carrying out various Web operations, the differences of Web search behavior between young and older adults were examined using Web sites with different layered structures. The following two situations were used to address the issue above: (1) operation of a "Back" button, and (2) operation of a hyperlink. When the operation of "Back" button was necessary, the task completion time of older adults was 2.3 times as long as that of young adults. Such a difference must be obtained, because older adults need more time to recognize and understand the layered structure. When operation "Back" button in a raw, the task completion time of older adults was 3.9 times as long as that of young adults. Moreover, the task completion time of older adults increased in case of searching in the deep layered Web site due to the slower and declined cognition and judgment. When selecting a hyperlink, the task completion time of older adults was 12.1 times as long as that of young adults. On the basis of this tendency, we inferred that older adults took more time and became more careful when selecting a hyperlink

Experimental Analysis of The Effects of Graphic Organizer Strategy and Age on Computer Anxiety of Distance Learning Students of University of Ibadan, Nigeria

This study examined the experimental analysis of the effects of graphic organiser strategy and age on computer anxiety of distance learning students of University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Pretest-posttest, control group quasi-experimental design with a 2x2 factorial matrix was used in the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in sampling 114 participants from 2 faculties of distance learning centre. The respondents were measured with validated scale of 0.86 reliability coefficient and the data obtained was analyzed using t-test statistical analysis. Two (2) research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that there was significant difference in the computer anxiety of distance learning students exposed to graphic organiser strategy and those in the control group (t= 41.36; p<0.05) and there was significant difference in the computer anxiety of old and young distance learning students (t= 28.53; p<0.05). In view of these findings, the study recommended that students should be encouraged and trained on the effective usage of graphic organiser strategy and that old students should be encouraged to improve on the usage of computer for academic development. This is because computers are being used majorly for academic tasks in distance learning centre. Word Count: 196 Keywords: Graphic organiser strategy, Computer anxiety, Age and Distance learning students &nbsp

Web Design that is Friendly to Older Adults – Effects of Perceptual, Cognitive and Motor Functions and Display Information on Web Navigation Time –

Older internet users are increasing more and more world widely. The information accessibility standard for Web contents (JIS X 8341-3) had been established. Although many researchers are pursuing the usability of Web site, we cannot design a usable Web site only by improving Web pages. One of the reasons is inferred that we didn’t consider perceptual, cognitive, and motor functions especially of older adults in the design of Web pages. The aim of this study was to propose a method to evaluate perceptual, cognitive, and motor ability and to explore the effect of perceptual, cognitive and motor abilities, and display information on Web navigation. We proposed a method to calculate display information on the basis of number of links. It was explored how display information, age, and the test score of perceptual, cognitive, and motor abilities influenced Web navigation time. This effect was examined using a multiple regression analysis. Display information influenced Web navigation performance for both young and older adults. The more the quantity of display information was, the longer the Web navigation time was. In addition to this tendency, the depth of display layer was found to affect the Web navigation time especially for older adults. We found that the perceptual, cognitive, and motor abilities of older adults, in particular, the spatial memory, spatial rotation ability, and mouse operation ability, led to longer Web navigation time. These results implies the necessity of designing Web site for older adults that considers the decline of perceptual, cognitive, and motor ability

The Southeastern Librarian v. 51, no. 3 (Fall 2003) Complete Issue

Complete issue of The Southeastern Librarian, volume 51, no. 3 (Fall 2003)

Decision Factors for the Adoption of E-Finance and other E-Commerce Systems

The development of e-commerce relies upon customer usage intentions, and IS researchers have examined usage intentions toward various online e-commerce systems. However, these systems have been studied in prior works independently rather than comprehensively. In order to pursue better measures for predicting and explaining B2C e-finance and some other major e-commerce adoptions for customers, we conducted a comparison analysis across different online systems to advance the understanding of the adoption factors and their linkage to customer behavior. Refining from Perceived Risk Theory and existing studies, specific risk facets, customer characteristics and system characteristics were operationalized and integrated within the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) resulting in a proposed e-finance and other e-commerce system adoption model