Thesis no: MSCS-2015-15 Experienced issues with tablet computer interfaces among older adults An exploratory study using a human centred interaction design approach Linnéa Persson Faculty of Computing Blekinge Institute of Technology SE-371 79 Karlskrona Sweden This thesis is submitted to the Faculty of Computing at Blekinge Institute of Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (120 credits). The thesis is equivalent to 20 weeks of full time studies. Contact Information: Author: Linnéa Persson E-mail: [email protected] External advisor: IF APPLICABLE University advisor: Professor Sara Eriksén DIKR Department of Creative Technologies Faculty of Computing Internet : www.bth.se Blekinge Institute of Technology Phone : +46 455 38 50 00 SE-371 79 Karlskrona, Sweden Fax : +46 455 38 50 57 i i ABSTRACT Context: Older adults’ everyday usages of tablet computers in a home environment are currently left out from today’s research. Current researches include many specialized focuses regarding tablet computer interfaces but a holistic view of how older adults experience usage of tablet computers in their everyday life is still to a large extent missing. Objectives: The aim of this study is to apply a use- and user-centred action research approach to explore how older adults experience the usage of tablet computers in their everyday life. Older adults are observed using tablet computers in their home environment in order to explore experienced issues and identify possible improvements for the older adults’ interaction and use of tablet computers. Methods: This study is a qualitative explorative case study using a grounded theory approach. The study consists a two week observation period beginning with an introduction and tutorial to tablet computers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted directly before and after as well as a long term follow up interview, few months after the observation period. The research body with the first two interviews and observation period was conducted using grounded theory iteration, allowing for analysis between each participant. The study involved 10 older adults and took place in the older adults’ natural everyday home environment and targeted older adults born 1960 or earlier. Results: The study used different ways to introduce tablet computers to the older adults, individually adjusted to their knowledge about information communication technology in general and tablet computers in particular as well as for them familiar subjects. Associations using their familiar subjects were used to help the older adults to remember the functionality of different icons. Some of the interaction issues encountered could be solved on the spot using accessibility options and accessories. The participants’ interest in tablet computers increased during the main body of the study, but later decreased again between the last two interviews. Conclusions: Many interaction issues were identified during the study where the main issues were related to accuracy, typing, gesture and terminology. Suggestions are made concerning how to solve some of the issues encountered, like a dynamic grid for icons and text on the tablet computer home screen and an ergonomic version of a touchscreen pen. Although there are interaction issues that are directly related to the interface, there are other important aspects too that affect the experienced interaction issues when interacting with and using a tablet computer in one’s everyday life home environment. Influencers affecting how older adults feel about tablet computers played a very important role. Having the observer functioning as a technical mentor, during the two week observation period, played a bigger role than expected, but the short time the older adults had with the mentor was not enough to keep them interested on a long term basis. Keywords: Human Computer Interaction, Tablet Computer, Older adults, Home environment. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In memory of Hans Persson 1960-2012 without him I would have never started studying interaction design or even computer science. This thesis is written to honour Hans Persson and his beliefs. The choice of including user experience in this study is greatly influenced by his research. Had he not given me my first smartphone with an internet subscription, I would never have developed an interest for smartphones and tablet computers and never opened my eyes to the possibilities with these devices. I can never thank my supervisor Sara Eriksén enough for never stopping to believe in me and the subject of this thesis. Her support, advice and guidance has been highly valued. I am honoured to have had a supervisor who has put so much effort into encouraging me with this thesis. Lastly, many thanks to Karl-Johan Tõnso for being there, supporting me and being a wonderful sounding board throughout the process of this entire thesis study. When things have been tough and motivation low he has kept me from giving up on my thesis and encouraged me go on and finish what I started. CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................................................................I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................................... II CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................................... III LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................ IV LIST OF TABLES AND DIAGRAMS .............................................................................................. V ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS............................................................... VI 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................................... 2 1.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS .......................................................................................................... 3 1.3 APPROACH ............................................................................................................................. 4 1.4 CONTRIBUTION ...................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 THESIS OUTLINE .................................................................................................................... 6 2 RELATED WORK ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS’ USAGE OF ICT ............................. 7 2.2 MOBILE APPLICATIONS IN OTHER STUDIES ........................................................................... 7 2.3 ICT HEALTHCARE .................................................................................................................. 9 2.4 OLDER ADULTS AFFECTED BY DEGRADATION .................................................................... 10 2.5 WHAT IS MISSING IN THE CURRENT RESEARCH ................................................................... 11 3 METHOD ................................................................................................................................... 12 3.1 DESIGN OF THE STUDY ......................................................................................................... 12 3.2 SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND EQUIPMENT ................................................................... 14 3.3 THE DATA GATHERING PATH .............................................................................................. 17 3.4 PATH OF ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................. 19 4 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................... 22 4.1 PRE-STUDY .......................................................................................................................... 22 4.2 INTRODUCTION INTERVIEWS ................................................................................................ 24 4.3 FROM THE OBSERVATIONS................................................................................................... 28 4.4 FROM THE DIRECT FOLLOW UP INTERVIEW ......................................................................... 35 4.5 FROM THE LONG TERM FOLLOW UP INTERVIEW ................................................................. 37 5 ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................. 41 5.1 ANALYSIS OF RESULTS ........................................................................................................ 41 5.2 INTERACTION CHALLENGES ................................................................................................. 46 5.3 THOUGHTS ABOUT TABLET COMPUTER INTERFACES ........................................................... 48 5.4 INTERACTION INFLUENCERS BEYOND THE INTERFACE ........................................................ 53 5.5 CAN OLDER ADULTS BE USED AS AN ASSET IN ICT DEVELOPMENT? .................................. 55 6 CONCLUSION AND FUTURE