User interface considerations for older users
User interface considerations for older users
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老用户的用户界面注意事项
DOI：
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发表时间：
2005
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Matthew Schaefer
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
John Gould;Matthew Schaefer
为老年用户设计的计算机应用软件的需求日益增长。这张海报描述了针对老年用户的人机交互（HCI）研究。根据美国人口普查局的数据，2000年，65至84岁的老年人占美国人口的10%;预计这一数字在未来30年内将上升至17%[5]。不幸的是，软件行业似乎没有充分解决老年用户和年轻、经验丰富的用户之间存在的技术差距。针对大众市场的主流计算机应用程序没有考虑到老年用户的需求。由于老年用户与年轻的“主流”用户不同，并且有不同的需求，因此为他们设计软件需要不同的过程。首先，这个年龄组在身体和认知能力以及对技术的舒适程度方面都非常多样化。因此，正如Norman所强调的，在软件设计过程中观察和包括用户是很重要的。当用户群与老年用户群体一样多样化时，以及当开发人员难以以与预期用户相同的方式理解或体验软件时，这一点尤为重要。霍桑[1，2]研究了计算机对衰老的影响。这项研究建立在他的研究基础上，并结合了其他人机研究。由于电子邮件的普及，以及老年用户希望与家人联系的信念，本研究选择了一个电子邮件客户端的界面。为了开发创建高级友好计算机界面的方法，开发了一个名为“SilverMail”的电子邮件客户端界面。本研究提出一套人性化的设计原则与建议。在这项研究中，设计过程本身很重要。年长的用户参与了界面设计的三个不同阶段----一个纸上原型，在最初的计算机原型之后进行可用性测试，以及在根据以前的测试结果进行修改之后进行可用性测试。在这个研究项目中，有几个独特而有趣的概念被开发或遵循。其中一个想法就是隐喻的使用。“SilverMail”能够始终如一地表明，隐喻的使用有助于老年用户对界面的理解。如果年长的用户能够接受一个新的任务，比如发送电子邮件，并将其直接与熟悉的任务联系起来，比如发送邮政邮件，他们就能够高效快速地完成目标。还有其他的发现和建议。通常，年长的用户很难评估按钮的功能。使用清晰的描述性语言来定义功能的概念似乎是一个直观的想法，但当涉及到软件界面时，这一点往往被忽视。可点击文本是“SilverMail”的一个有点争议的功能。虽然它确实为用户提供了更大的成功机会，但它也增加了界面的复杂性，并可能导致混乱。对话框是“SilverMail”最初设计的一部分。“在可用性测试完成后，它们被删除了。它们没有澄清职能;相反，它们造成了混乱和挫折。在“SilverMail”中需要许多标准的GUI控件。“其中一些控制措施被认为对老年用户不满意。它们通常不是很直观，需要一定程度的计算机知识才能有效地使用它们。一个例子是滚动条。这个功能的设计往往会给老年用户带来很大的挫折感。
There is an ever-growing need for computer application software designed with older users in mind. This poster describes research in human-computer interaction (HCI) targeting older users. According to the United States Census Bureau, 65 to 84-year old individuals comprised 10% of the U.S. population in the year 2000; it is predicted that this number will rise to 17% over the next 30 years [5]. Unfortunately, the software industry does not appear to be adequately addressing the technology gap that exists between older users and younger, more-experienced users [3]. Mainstream computer applications targeting the mass market do not take into consideration the needs of older users. Since older users are different from, and have different needs than the younger “mainstream” users, designing software for them requires a different process. First, this age group is immensely diverse both in terms of physical and cognitive abilities and the level of comfort with technology. Thus it was important to observe and include users during the software design process as stressed by Norman[4]. This is especially important when the user base is as diverse as the older user population and when developers have difficulty understanding or experiencing the software in the same manner as the intended user. Hawthorne [1,2] researched the impact of computers on aging. This research builds on his research and incorporates other human-computer studies. An interface for an e-mail client was selected for this research due to the popularity of electronic mail, and the belief that older users want to connect with their families. In order to develop methods of creating senior-friendly computer interfaces, an e-mail client interface called "SilverMail" was developed. From this research, a set of user-friendly design principals and suggestions were created. In this research, the design process itself was important. Older users were involved at three different stages of the interface design – a paper prototype, usability testing after an initial computer prototype and usability testing after modifications based on previous test results. There are several unique and interesting concepts developed or followed during this research project. One such idea is the use of metaphors. "SilverMail" was able to show consistently that the use of metaphors aids an older user’s understanding of the interface. If older users are able to take a novel task, such as sending an e-mail, and relate it directly to a familiar one, such as sending postal mail, they are able to accomplish their goals efficiently and quickly. There were other discoveries and recommendations. Often, older users have difficulty assessing the functionality of a button. The concept of using clear, descriptive language to define a function seems like an intuitive idea, but when it comes to software interfaces this is often overlooked. Clickable text is a slightly debatable feature of "SilverMail". While it does give the user a greater opportunity for success, it also increases the complexity of the interface and may cause confusion. Dialog boxes were part of the original design of "SilverMail." After usability testing was completed, they were eliminated. They did not clarify the function; instead, they created confusion and frustration. Many standard GUI controls were required in "SilverMail." Some of these controls were found to be unsatisfactory for older users. Often they are not very intuitive, requiring some level of prior computer knowledge to use them effectively. One example is the scrollbar. The design of this feature often caused the older users a great deal of frustration.