Paper Info
Title
Barriers of information access in small screen device applications: the relevance of user characteristics for a transgenerational design
Abstract
The proliferation of ubiquitous computing is accompanied by the development of devices, which promise to facilitate the daily living activities of people. However, the question if mobile devices address the usability demands of older users is still unsettled. This paper reports the findings of a series of studies that examined the performance of younger and older adults when using personal data management software applications of a PDA. In order to learn about the ageing impact, the influence of user characteristics like spatial and memory abilities, the subjective technical confidence and computer-expertise on performance outcomes were analysed. Beyond quantitative performance measurements, the major shortcomings in interface design were identified. Results showed that older users reached lower performance outcomes. Even young adults did not reach a perfect performance level, hinting again at shortcomings in the design of PDA applications. Overall, the findings demonstrate the need to include user characteristics in interface design.
Year
DOI
Venue
2006
10.1007/978-3-540-71025-7_9
Universal Access in Ambient Intelligence Environments
Keywords
Field
DocType
user characteristic,perfect performance level,interface design,information access,ageing impact,small screen device application,transgenerational design,performance outcome,quantitative performance measurement,pda application,older user,older adult,lower performance outcome,ubiquitous computing,data management,young adult,mobile device,experimental
Activities of daily living,Simulation,Computer science,Usability,Information access,Mobile device,Human–computer interaction,Transgenerational design,Ubiquitous computing,Multimedia,Spatial ability,Data management
Conference
Volume
ISSN
Citations 
4397
0302-9743
26
PageRank 
References 
Authors
1.67
11
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Katrin Arning125120.57
Martina Ziefle21176135.05