Are SmartPhones or Tablet Devices more usable by older people ?

Peng Wang and Dave ParrySchool of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Auckland University of Technologydparry@aut.ac.nz

Agenda

• Why do devices matter ?• Usability evaluation• User Preferences• Discussion

Mobile devices

• Multi-touch interface – e.g. zoom etc.• Soft keyboard• IoS and Android

What is already known ?

• Older people may prefer touch-screens to traditional keyboards• Excessive sensitivity and lack of feedback can be an issue for

older users.• Larger buttons and clear targets are helpful• Interface interaction must be clear.• Very large numbers of health apps are now available and

may of these are specifically targeted towards older people

Participents

• Six females, four males• Aged between between 65 and79 years old (average age:

71.9 years)• Members of SeniorNet Mt. Eden• 60% owned a multitouch device

Methods

• Devices• iPad (the “large device” with a 9.7-inch, 147.8x197.1 mm

multitouch screen with 768x1024 pixel resolution, weighing 680 g) running iOS 7

• Sony the “small device” with a 3.5-inch, 49.3x74.0 mm multi-touch screen with 640x960 resolution, weighing 101g )running Android

• Setting• SeniorNet Mt Eden

• Recording devices• Adjustable camera rig (Mr Tappy), a HD Webcam, and a laptop

• Software being tested myfitnesspal

Results – Pre activity Questionnaire

Do you own a multi touch device? Yes No

Participants 60% (6) 40% (4)

Do you feel comfortable using multi-touch devices? Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

Participants 20% (2) 40% (4) 40% (4) 0% (0) 0% (0)

What types of multi-touch devices do you prefer?

Tablet (iPad, Surface, etc.) Smart phone (iPhone, HTC, etc.)

Participants 100%(10) 0% (0)

Outline

• Initial questionnaire• Conduct activity with Smartphone• Conduct activity with Tablet• Post questionnaire

• During the activities, participants were asked to “think aloud” about what they were doing and any issues they were experiencing.

Tasks

1. Log in to the system2. Change demographic details3. Scan a bar code for nutrition information4. Sync the result with the database

Errors

13

98

47

14

62

225

7546

0

50

100

150

200

250

Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4

Tota

l num

ber of e

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s () #

TabletSmart‐phone

Comments - SmartPhone

• Data Entry Problems: “The keyboard is too small” “where is the keyboard to enter numbers” “it is quite difficult to enter the letters and numbers with the tiny keyboard” “This should be more accurate with scrolling input”.

• Complexity and Poor Visual Design: e.g. “How am I supposed to know what the signal means” “The icons are too small to read”.

• Navigation: “I am looking for the icon for this task” “I did not realize that the sync icon is hidden”

• Inconsistency of Information: e.g. “I didn’t realize that the scan barcode button is under the dairy option. It used to be under the food option on the iPad”

• Tactile User Feedback: e.g. “I think I pressed the setting option but did not see that” “The password is on the screen, when I touched the screen, noting happened“.

Comments - Tablet

• Data Entry Problems: some common verbalisations were “the bigger letters are not only better for eyes, also for understanding. If the letter is bigger, I can read them in a better a way, quickly, easily” “I like multiple choices input rather than direct input and scrolling input methods” “I am looking for the numbers on the keyboard”.

• Complexity and Poor Visual Design: e.g. “Do I have to go to the Face book to login.” “I am looking for something like barcodes”

• Navigation: “where is the back button on this” “I am looking for the icon for the task 2, but I couldn’t find it” “Food item doesn’t give me the key to scan the barcode” “I am completely lost here” “I didn’t realize that there is a rear facing camera on the tablet”.

• Support Information: “there should be a help message which shows how to scan the barcode”.

Results – Post Activity Questionnaire

Level of Agreement

Strongly agree Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

Devices T S T S T S T S T S

Useful 80% 10% 20% 10% 0% 20% 0% 40% 0% 20%

Accomplishing tasks 30% 10% 40% 20% 10% 0% 10% 60% 10% 10%

Ease of use 60% 10% 20% 10% 20% 20% 0% 40% 0% 20%

Discussion

• Tablet and smartphone devices have become increasingly important for health and wellness apps• Older people are a major market for these applications.• Despite limitations this paper emphasises the fact that

tablet-based, larger form factor devices are easier for older people to use.• Future work may include investigation of other usability

preferences for older people.

Acknowledgements

• We would like to thank the members of SeniorNET Mt Eden for their help and cooperation with this study. This work formed part of a master’s thesis available via http://hdl.handle.net/10292/7655

Questions ?