Developing a Framework of Guiding Interface Design for Older Adults

Abstract

Many design recommendations have been provided for designing user interfaces for older adults. Existing design recommendations over the last twenty years were reviewed. Most of the design recommendations focused on older adults’ age-related changes in physical, sensory, and cognitive abilities, from an aging perspective or aging-oriented approach. Few design recommendations have been generated focusing on older adults’ prior knowledge and experience from a generation perspective or generation-oriented approach. The comparison of the two approaches is provided and the significance of taking into account both approaches during the design process is discussed. A framework guiding interface design for older adults systematically combining both the aging-oriented approach and the generation-oriented approach is proposed. This paper describes the framework which aims to assist developing user interfaces for maximum usability and accessibility for older adults.