Effects of user age and target-expansion methods on target-acquisition tasks using a mouse

Effects of cursor freeze time on the performance of older adult users on mouse-related tasks

This study determines the optimum range of cursor freeze time (CFT) for basic target acquisition tasks. The effect of five levels of CFT was measured on double-clicking, clicking, and drag-and-drop operations, along with the inconvenience perceived by users at these levels. Older adult users find these standard mouse operations challenging because of slipping and accidental cursor movement. In this study, 24 older adult participants (13 males and 11 females) performed the abovementioned tasks repeatedly across five levels of CFT (0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 ms) and rated their perceived inconvenience at each level. CFT was found to have a significant effect on the three basic target acquisition tasks as well as the inconvenience perceived by participants. Performance on the drag-and-drop task was negatively influenced when the CFT was increased from 600 to 800 ms. The analysis suggests that a CFT of 200-400 ms is the optimum range for improved performance on the tasks.

Effects of Target Expansion on Selection Performance in Older Computer Users

Point and click interactions using a mouse are an integral part of computer use for current desktop systems. Compared with younger users though, older adults experience greater difficulties performing cursor positioning tasks, and this can present limitations to using a computer easily and effectively. Target expansion is a technique for improving pointing performance where the target grows dynamically as the cursor approaches. This has the advantage that targets conserve screen real estate in their unexpanded state, yet can still provide the benefits of a larger area to click on. This article presents two studies of target expansion with older and younger participants, involving multidirectional point-select tasks with a computer mouse. Study 1 compares static versus expanding targets, and Study 2 compares static targets with three alternative techniques for expansion. Results show that expansion can improve times by up to 14%, and reduce error rates by up to 50%. Additionally, expanding targets are beneficial even when the expansion happens late in the movement, that is, after the cursor has reached the expanded target area or even after it has reached the original target area. The participants’ subjective feedback on the target expansion are generally favorable, and this lends further support for the technique.

Myths about older people's use of information and communication technology

This paper discusses six myths common in the field of 'human-computer interaction (HCI) and older people'. These myths are widespread among computer scientists, engineers and programmers, as well as among the general public and even older individuals themselves. We can define these myths as follows. (1) Just wait and see. Future generations of older people will use computers without problems. This myth differs from those following, as it may lead to a (dangerous) conclusion of avoidance and inactivity by integrating myths 2-6. If the other myths are accepted as being true and one assumes that the problems will eventually solve themselves, it might not seem worthwhile to expend any effort on 'universal design' for older people's use of information and communication technology (ICT). However, we argue that if we do not actively and properly counteract these myths, we will perpetuate them and their grave consequences. (2) Older people are not interested in using computers. They are unaware of computer capabilities. (3) Older people consider computers as useless and unnecessary. (4) Older people lack the physical capabilities to use ICT. (5) Older people simply cannot understand interactive computing technology. (6) You can't teach an old dog new tricks. The problem of HCI for older people is that they do not learn to use new technologies and interaction techniques. In discussing these myths, we demonstrate that each one contains a grain of truth. However, the myths are improperly overgeneralized and, therefore, often wrong. Such myths are problematic. Designers and engineers often accept them as truths and neglect older users and/or apply information and communication technologies in an age-discriminating manner. Furthermore, the myths are problematic as they lead older people to avoid computer usage (i.e. a self-fulfilling prophecy). We present evidence to support the notion that these myths may often be largely - although not completely - wrong. We then demonstrate how they can be counteracted through user-centered design, training and instruction.