Research on Interface Design for the Elderly

Abstract

The study aims to examine the intuitive use of different types of product interfaces by the elderly. A total of 31 elderly users were invited to participate in the test to use TV remote control interfaces. A test program was designed to present the interfaces on a tablet computer in three ways, which differ in the functional block position, and the size and shape of number buttons. The participants performed specific operations on the interfaces. The test program recorded the response time of each participant in the first operation. According to the research findings, in terms of the position of functional blocks, the participants’ response in intuitive use is the fastest when the channel tuning buttons, volume buttons and number buttons are located in the lower part of the remote control. The key size had little impact on the participants. The intuitive use of the participants is better when the keys have a rectangular or round shape. The research findings also reveal that the elderly users’ intuitive use of product interfaces is related to their use experience.