Tablet Applications for the Elderly: Specific Usability Guidelines

While the world population is aging, the technological progress is steadily increasing. Smartphones and tablets belong to a growing market and even more people aged 65 and above are using such touch devices. However, with advancing age normal cognitive, sensory, perceptual and motor changes influence psychological and physical capabilities and therefore the way the elderly are able to use tablet-applications. When designing tablet-applications for the elderly developers have to be supported in understanding these capabilities. Therefore, this thesis provides a comprehensive compilation of usability guidelines in order to develop user-friendly tablet-applications for older people. The development and testing of an exemplary tablet-application within this thesis shows how these guidelines can be brought into practice and how this realization is evaluated by test persons in this age group

Touch-screen tablet navigation and older adults: an investigation into the perceptions and opinions of baby boomers on long, scrolling home pages and the hamburger icon

How information and navigation are presented on a website can greatly impact one\u27s ability to successfully use the site. While this is an important consideration for all audiences, it is especially important for older adults. Decreases in visual acuity, working memory, and the ability to block out distractions can greatly impact the successful use of a website and, therefore, the overall user experience for older adults. Compounding these issues, it has been observed web designers often do not take into consideration the usability needs of older adults. This is unfortunate, since the world population is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the average age of the population. By 2017, roughly half of the population of the United States will be fifty years of age or older (Nielsen & BoomAgers, 2012). Baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964, are the fastest growing cohort on the Internet today (Moran, 2013; Spiezle & Shambaugh, 2001; Wagner et al., 2014). Despite extensive research into website usability for older adults, data on website design and navigation guidelines--specifically for touch-screen tablets--is scarce. This is an area of opportunity and relevance, since the use of touch-screen tablets by older adults is rapidly expanding. To facilitate the creation touch-screen tablet experiences inclusive of older adults, this study examines what is known about aging, older adults, in general, and baby boomers, in particular, and website usability best practices. This study explores the perceptions and opinions for adults ages 50-68 on two popular navigation techniques frequently found on touch-screen devices--long, scrolling home pages and hiding the menu under a symbol commonly referred to as a hamburger icon. The ultimate goal of this research is to expand knowledge in this area and provide recommendations and directions for future research

eInk versus paper: exploring the effects of medium and typographic quality on recall and reading speed

This study compares the effects of reading from paper and an eInk display on recall and reading speed alongside the effects of changes in typographic quality (fluent and disfluent conditions). Both medium and typographic quality were between-subject variables resulting in four groups of participants. Each participant was timed while they read one text. They then completed a general questionnaire before answering multiple-choice questions evaluating their recall of the content they had read. Comparable reading speeds for paper and eInk were recorded and these were slower for disfluent conditions. Improved typographic quality significantly enhanced recall on eInk, whereas for paper participants who read the disfluent condition recalled more. These findings suggest that typographic quality has a significant effect on reading, which is also influenced by the medium. Although recall was better in the disfluent paper condition, some caution should be observed in translating this into recommendations that would result in more effortful reading

Tablet computers for older people in Thailand and the UK: usability and effects of different text presentations

As there is a sharp increase in the older population in Thailand, the UK and worldwide and the older population will continue to grow worldwide in the next two decades. The use of personal technologies such as tablet computers has also rapidly increased in both Thailand and the UK. Although the number of older people using tablet computers has increased, some older people still have issues in using tablet computers. Thus the usability and acceptability of tablet computers for older people is still an issue and there is little research about how to best present text on tablet computers on tablets for older people in English and none for the Thai language. Therefore this programme of research investigated usability issues in using tablet computers and attitudes toward tablet computers for older people in Thailand and the United Kingdom. In addition, it investigated a number of aspects of text presentation for tablet computers in Thai and English with both younger and older people. Study 1 focused on older people’s attitudes to and use of the tablet computers and another three studies focused on the effects of text presentation on tablets. Study 2 investigated font types and font sizes, Study 3 investigated text and background colours, and Study 4 investigated column format and text justification. Key findings included that Thai and UK older people had positive attitudes toward tablets, although some encountered usability problems such as text which was too small and not resizable. In addition, tapping and zooming on the tablet were generally easy for older people, but tapping is still a problem for some of them. On text presentation, on the basis of the findings in these studies, 18 point text in a Sans Serif typeface for English and a Serif typeface for Thai are recommended for text presentation on tablets. Black text on a white background is the best for readers in both countries. Finally, a format of two columns with left justification is recommended for both English and Thai, when tablets are used in landscape orientation

The Legibility of Serif and Sans Serif Typefaces

This open access book provides a detailed and up-to-date account of the relevant literature on the legibility of different kinds of typefaces, which goes back over 140 years in the case of reading from paper and more than 50 years in the case of reading from screens. It describes the origins of serif and sans serif styles in ancient inscriptions, their adoption in modern printing techniques, and their legibility in different situations and in different populations of readers. It also examines recent research on the legibility of serif and sans serif typefaces when used with internet browsers, smartphones and other hand-held devices. The book investigates the difference in the legibility of serif typefaces and sans serif typefaces when they are used to produce printed material or when they are used to present material on computer monitors or other screens and it explores the differences in readers’ preferences among typefaces. The book’s main focus is on the psychology of reading, but there are clear implications for education and publishing. Indeed, the book can be read with benefit by anyone concerned with communicating with others through written text, whether it is printed on paper or displayed on computer screens

iRead: An Application for enhanced reader navigation on e-reading tablet devices

As the digital world is becoming more and more a part of people\u27s daily lives, the publishing industry has begun to evolve. The traditional print codex form of the book has been challenged by new technologies that have brought traditional books into the digital world--e-books. Reading has become evermore digital. Many of the current technologies for e-reading, whether it is the devices or the applications, are lacking navigation tools which limit the reader\u27s experience in comparison to reading a printed book. The goal of this thesis project was to design an application for reading e-books, to be used on tablet devices such as the iPad, focusing on solving the issues of user wayfinding and orientation for readers of all ages. To solve the problems of user wayfinding and orientation in e-reading applications research was focused on typography, book design, digital publishing and e-books, e-reading devices, and application design. All aspects related to books, both traditional and digital, as well as application design and user navigation were taken into consideration in order to come up with the most effective solution possible. A survey about e-reading applications was conducted to find out what readers would want when using an e-reading application. The project entailed three phases-graphic design, interactive design, and website design. A two column layout was developed to help users better understand what they were viewing as they navigated through the demonstration. The left column provides a project description and guides users through each section of the project. The project was broken down into four main sections-iPad, iRead, Library, and Book. The right column is a demonstration of the iRead application prototype where users can click on all icons, menus, and options to test how the application would work. I have designed iRead, a prototype for an e-reading application for the iPad. User testing proved the application prototype to be successful. The iRead application allows readers to navigate through an e-book in a manner that is parallel to that of reading a printed book

Designing Restaurant Digital Menus to Enhance User Experience

Menu is a primary marketing and communication tools in the restaurants industry. Business-to-consumer digital devices are widely used in both daily life and business, especially the hospitality industry. Menus have a history of 260 years and now more restaurants are revising menus and starting to use digital menus. Marketing research and reports from Nation\u27s Restaurant and New York Times show that digital menu helps restaurants to increase profit by making food more accessible, selling more and requiring less labor in comparison to the traditional printed paper menu. The design principles and user interface are different in print menu and digital menus and we need design guidelines for new generation of digital menus. Digital menus also offer great opportunities of customization and personalization for using interaction to enhance user experience.There is little research that has been done in the graphic design and human computer interaction field for digital menu design. It seems that digital menus create a more effective and flexible way of reading and ordering while at the same time people have different experiences and expectations for using digital menus with interaction, not to mention personalization and customization will create better user experience. Currently no specific research shows how typography, orientation, layout and columns work for digital menus; what the efficient ways of arranging all the elements in digital menus are, and how images, graphic elements and descriptions would help to communicate with viewers

Digital design for an ageing society

An ageing population and the progression of technology is the context for this practice-led research project. Through studying the relationship between older people and technology the research’s primary aim is to explore computer interactions aimed at older people. An inquisitive visual design practice was proposed to help stimulate debate and examine the effectiveness of design for health and wellbeing in a digital context. Many difficulties surrounding older people and their relationship with technology were identified during this research. As well as the obvious physical disabilities such as reduced mobility, dexterity issues and reduced eyesight, other issues less apparent include reduced memory, stereotyping and isolation. A reluctance to adopt new technologies, and in some cases avoid them altogether was identified in this demographic grouping as a significant problem too. The practice element of the thesis incorporates the design of an iPad app prototype, which uses food as a vehicle to facilitate the research by investigating for example: typography, colour and layout. The design process is informed by findings from a literature review coupled with a heuristic approach to interaction design. Two qualitative focus groups were conducted with a variety of computer users and non-users. Participants discussed their relationships with computers and how they are perceived. They also gave responses after testing the app prototype and completed a questionnaire based on focus group activities. The results from both sessions concluded that the majority of older people are interested in computers and what they have to offer, but often find it difficult to know where to begin. The importance of patience and consistency when introducing an app to older people was also observed. Some participants were frustrated by inconsistent user interfaces. As a result a set of accessible guidelines is suggested to engage with designers, policy makers and service providers