Comparison of elderly and younger users on keyboard and voice input computer-based composition tasks

Abstract

An experiment was run in which elderly and younger people used a keyboard editor and a simulated listening typewriter to compose letters. Performance was measured and participants rated the systems used. Our general conclusions were as follows: There are no major differences in performance between elderly computer users and their younger counterparts in carrying out a computer-based composition task. Elders appear to be more enthusiastic users of computer systems than are younger people. This is shown by preference ratings, behavioral observations, and post-experimental debriefings. Voice input does not improve performance on composition tasks, but it is greatly preferred over the traditional keyboard input method.