Notebook input devices put to the age test: the usability of trackpoint and touchpad for middle-aged adults

Influence of a special training process on the psychomotor skills of cadet pilots – Pilot study

Objectives

The aim of the pilot study was to check the influence of the training process on the Special Aviation Gymnastics Instruments (SAGI) on the improvement of the psychomotor skills, expressed as an increase in the percentage of ability to perform all tasks and the number of reels on a loop.

Materials and methods

Cadets - second year pilots (n = 20), male, mean age 20.8 years old, studying at the faculty of a pilot. Cadets were carrying out a 40-h special pilot training program on SAGI. They were subjected to two exercise tests (reels forward on looping), before and after the period of special training. Exercise tests were performed with the use of a diagnostic and training device used to assess psychomotor skills. During two tests, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure were measured. The obtained results were analysed statistically.

Results

There was a statistically significant increase in the percentage of ability to perform all tasks (p < 0.01) and a statistically insignificant increase in the number of reels forward on looping, in test II in relation to test I. A significant increase was found in the correct execution of arithmetic operations (p < 0.05) in test II in relation to test I. In the remaining tests, an increase in results in test II was noted, but it was not statistically significant. There was a significant correlation between the percentage ability to perform all tasks and the number of completed reels in test I (p < 0.05) and insignificant in test II. In test II, a statistically insignificant higher level of heart rate and blood pressure before and after the effort was noted, compared to test I.

Conclusion

It was found that the training process on SAGI increased the psychomotority level by increasing the percentage of ability to perform all tasks and the number of reels, in test II in relation to test I.

Advances in Psychotherapy for Older Adults Using Video-to-Home Treatment

Providing telemental health services to older adults has become especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Video-to-home (VTH) treatment is an effective treatment modality; research shows that older adults are open to using VTH. However, there are unique barriers to using VTH with older adults. Barriers include access to technology, acceptance of technology, and physical and cognitive limitations. Additional concerns include establishing rapport with older patients and the policy and ethical concerns surrounding the use of VTH. Methods of addressing these barriers have been developed, and more research is needed to develop evidence-based VTH practice.

The Use of the Term Virtual Reality in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review and Commentary

Virtual reality (VR) offers many opportunities for post-stroke rehabilitation. However, "VR" can refer to several types of computer-based rehabilitation systems. Since these systems may impact the feasibility and the efficacy of VR interventions, consistent terminology is important. In this study, we aimed to optimize the terminology for VR-based post-stroke rehabilitation by assessing whether and how review papers on this topic defined VR and what types of mixed reality systems were discussed. In addition, this review can inspire the use of consistent terminology for other researchers working with VR. We assessed the use of the term VR in review papers on post-stroke rehabilitation extracted from Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed. We also developed a taxonomy distinguishing 16 mixed reality systems based on three factors: immersive versus semi-immersive displays, the way in which real and virtual information is mixed, and the main input device. 64% of the included review papers (N = 121) explicitly defined VR and 33% of them described different subtypes of VR, with immersive and non-immersive VR as the most common distinction. The most frequently discussed input devices were motion-capture cameras and handheld devices, while regular 2D monitors were the most frequently mentioned output devices. Our analysis revealed that reviews on post-stroke VR rehabilitation did not or only broadly defined "VR" and did not focus on a specific system. Since the efficacy and feasibility of rehabilitation may depend on the specific system, we propose a new data-driven taxonomy to distinguish different systems, which is expected to facilitate communication amongst researchers and clinicians working with virtual reality.

User performance effects with graphical icons and training for elderly novice users: A case study on automatic teller machines

This study investigated the effects with training and graphical icons on task performance for elderly novice users on automatic teller machines (ATMs). 124 elderly novice users who had no prior ATM experience participated in the training and test of ATM usage. Participants in the control group (n = 62) were training to use the traditional text-based ATM interface meanwhile those in the experimental group (n = 62) were training to use the alternative ATM interface with graphical icons. They were asked to learn how to perform three major tasks of ATMs. A test immediately following the training and a test one month after training was carried out. Task completion score was used for measuring user performance. The results showed although training could help elderly novice users succeed in learning to use ATMs, they still had a significant decline in user performance in the test one month later compared with the immediate test. Participants of the experimental group outperformed those of the control group in both the immediate test and one month test after training, especially in the latter. The finding suggested graphical icons could help to improve the learning and retention of ATM usage for elderly novice users, especially the latter, which would compensate for the drawback of training and reduce forgetting rate to some extent. Well-designed graphical icons could benefit elderly novice users much from learning phase to retention phase. The findings of this study can be applied to guide the design and development of ATMs or other public technology devices considering elderly novice users.

Usability Challenges for Health and Wellness Mobile Apps: Mixed-Methods Study Among mHealth Experts and Consumers

BACKGROUND

By 2019, there will be an estimated 4.68 billion mobile phone users globally. This increase comes with an unprecedented proliferation in mobile apps, a plug-and-play product positioned to improve lives in innumerable ways. Within this landscape, medical apps will see a 41% compounded annual growth rate between 2015 and 2020, but paradoxically, prevailing evidence indicates declining downloads of such apps and decreasing "stickiness" with the intended end users.

OBJECTIVE

As usability is a prerequisite for success of health and wellness mobile apps, this paper aims to provide insights and suggestions for improving usability experience of the mobile health (mHealth) app by exploring the degree of alignment between mHealth insiders and consumers.

METHODS

Usability-related major themes were selected from over 20 mHealth app development studies. The list of themes, grouped into 5 categories using the Nielsen usability model, was then used as a framework to identify and classify the responses from mHealth expert (insider) interviews. Responses from the qualitative phase were integrated into some questions for a quantitative consumer survey. Subsequently, categorical data from qualitative mHealth insider interviews and numerical data from a quantitative consumer survey were compared in order to identify common usability themes and areas of divergence.

RESULTS

Of the 5 usability attributes described in Nielsen model,  Satisfaction ranked as the top attribute for both mHealth insiders and consumers. Satisfaction refers to user likability, comfort, and pleasure. The consumer survey yielded 451 responses. Out of 9 mHealth insiders' top concerns, 5 were similar to those of the consumers. On the other hand, consumers did not grade themes such as Intuitiveness as important, which was deemed vital by mHealth insiders. Other concerns of the consumers include in-app charges and advertisements.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports and contributes to the existing pool of mixed-research studies. Strengthening the connectivity between suppliers and users (through the designed research tool) will help increase uptake of mHealth apps. In a holistic manner, this will have a positive overall outcome for the mHealth app ecosystem.

A literature review of the effects of computer input device design on biomechanical loading and musculoskeletal outcomes during computer work

BACKGROUND

Extended use of conventional computer input devices is associated with negative musculoskeletal outcomes. While many alternative designs have been proposed, it is unclear whether these devices reduce biomechanical loading and musculoskeletal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To review studies describing and evaluating the biomechanical loading and musculoskeletal outcomes associated with conventional and alternative input devices.

METHODS

Included studies evaluated biomechanical loading and/or musculoskeletal outcomes of users' distal or proximal upper extremity regions associated with the operation of alternative input devices (pointing devices, mice, other devices) that could be used in a desktop personal computing environment during typical office work.

RESULTS

Some alternative pointing device designs (e.g. rollerbar) were consistently associated with decreased biomechanical loading while other designs had inconsistent results across studies. Most alternative keyboards evaluated in the literature reduce biomechanical loading and musculoskeletal outcomes. Studies of other input devices (e.g. touchscreen and gestural controls) were rare, however, those reported to date indicate that these devices are currently unsuitable as replacements for traditional devices.

CONCLUSIONS

Alternative input devices that reduce biomechanical loading may make better choices for preventing or alleviating musculoskeletal outcomes during computer use, however, it is unclear whether many existing designs are effective.

Evaluating Patient Usability of an Image-Based Mobile Health Platform for Postoperative Wound Monitoring

Background

Surgical patients are increasingly using mobile health (mHealth) platforms to monitor recovery and communicate with their providers in the postdischarge period. Despite widespread enthusiasm for mHealth, few studies evaluate the usability or user experience of these platforms.

Objective

Our objectives were to (1) develop a novel image-based smartphone app for postdischarge surgical wound monitoring, and (2) rigorously user test it with a representative population of vascular and general surgery patients.

Methods

A total of 9 vascular and general surgery inpatients undertook usability testing of an internally developed smartphone app that allows patients to take digital images of their wound and answer a survey about their recovery. We followed the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9241-11 guidelines, focusing on effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction. An accompanying training module was developed by applying tenets of adult learning. Sessions were audio-recorded, and the smartphone screen was mirrored onto a study computer. Digital image quality was evaluated by a physician panel to determine usefulness for clinical decision making.

Results

The mean length of time spent was 4.7 (2.1-12.8) minutes on the training session and 5.0 (1.4-16.6) minutes on app completion. 55.5% (5/9) of patients were able to complete the app independently with the most difficulty experienced in taking digital images of surgical wounds. Novice patients who were older, obese, or had groin wounds had the most difficulty. 81.8% of images were sufficient for diagnostic purposes. User satisfaction was high, with an average usability score of 83.3 out of 100.

Conclusion

Surgical patients can learn to use a smartphone app for postoperative wound monitoring with high user satisfaction. We identified design features and training approaches that can facilitate ease of use. This protocol illustrates an important, often overlooked, aspect of mHealth development to improve surgical care.

Thumb performance of elderly users on smartphone touchscreen

This study investigated the relationship between thumb muscle activity and thumb operating tasks on a smartphone touchscreen in elderly users (right hand posture). Three thumb muscles were targeted in the experiment, namely, abductor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis longus (APL) and first dorsal interosseous (FDI). The results showed that the elderly participants developed fatigue rapidly and tapped more slowly when operating on smaller buttons (diameter 3.0 mm compared with 9.0 mm) and moving in the flexion–extension (compared with adduction–abduction) orientation. Meanwhile, electromyography and perceived exertion evaluation revealed significant increases in FDI in the small button task, and results for APL were significantly greater in the flexion–extension task. This study suggests that the use of small touch-buttons and flexion–extension movement should be minimised in the handheld touchscreen interface design for elderly users.

The influence of age in usability testing

The effects of age in usability testing were examined in an experiment. Sixty users from two age groups (M = 23.0 yrs, M = 58.1 yrs) operated two technical devices (keyboard-based and touchscreen-based smartphones). In addition to various performance measures (e.g. task completion time, task completion rate), several subjective measures were taken (e.g. perceived usability, affect, and workload). The results showed better performance scores for younger adults than older adults for task completion time. For older adult users there was a mismatch between usability ratings and task completion time but not between usability ratings and task completion rate. Age-related differences in the importance of speed and accuracy in task completion point to the need to consider more strongly the factor user age in usability research and practice.

Age-related differences in processing visual device and task characteristics when using technical devices

With aging visual feedback becomes increasingly relevant in action control. Consequently, visual device and task characteristics should more and more affect tool use. Focussing on late working age, the present study aims to investigate age-related differences in processing task irrelevant (display size) and task relevant visual information (task difficulty). Young and middle-aged participants (20-35 and 36-64 years of age, respectively) sat in front of a touch screen with differently sized active touch areas (4″ to 12″) and performed pointing tasks with differing task difficulties (1.8-5 bits). Both display size and age affected pointing performance, but the two variables did not interact and aiming duration moderated both effects. Furthermore, task difficulty affected the pointing durations of middle-aged adults moreso than those of young adults. Again, aiming duration accounted for the variance in the data. The onset of an age-related decline in aiming duration can be clearly located in middle adulthood. Thus, the fine psychomotor ability "aiming" is a moderator and predictor for age-related differences in pointing tasks. The results support a user-specific design for small technical devices with touch interfaces.

Gerontechnology acceptance by elderly Hong Kong Chinese: a senior technology acceptance model (STAM)

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a senior technology acceptance model (STAM) aimed at understanding the acceptance of gerontechnology by older Hong Kong Chinese people. The proposed STAM extended previous technology acceptance models and theories by adding age-related health and ability characteristics of older people. The proposed STAM was empirically tested using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey with a sample of 1012 seniors aged 55 and over in Hong Kong. The result showed that STAM was strongly supported and could explain 68% of the variance in the use of gerontechnology. For older Hong Kong Chinese, individual attributes, which include age, gender, education, gerontechnology self-efficacy and anxiety, and health and ability characteristics, as well as facilitating conditions explicitly and directly affected technology acceptance. These were better predictors of gerontechnology usage behaviour (UB) than the conventionally used attitudinal factors (usefulness and ease of use).

Age effects on controlling tools with sensorimotor transformations

Controlling tools in technical environments bears a lot of challenges for the human information processing system, as locations of tool manipulation and effect appearance are spatially separated, and distal action effects are often not generated in a 1:1 manner. In this study we investigated the susceptibility of older adults to distal action effects. Younger and older participants performed a Fitts' task on a digitizer tablet without seeing their hand and the tablet directly. Visual feedback was presented on a display in that way, that cursor amplitude and visual target size varied while the pre-determined hand amplitude remained constant. In accordance with distal action effects being predominant in controlling tool actions we found an increase in hand movement times and perceptual errors as a function of visual task characteristics. Middle-aged adults more intensely relied on visual feedback than younger adults. Age-related differences in speed-accuracy trade-off are not likely to account for this finding. However, it is well known that proprioceptive acuity declines with age. This might be one reason for middle-aged adults to stronger rely on the visual information instead of the proprioceptive information. Consequently, design and application of tools for elderly should account for this.

Information presentation in small screen devices: the trade-off between visual density and menu foresight

Small mobile devices are ubiquitous and must be designed with great care. One of the most serious challenges is how information on the small displays is presented optimally. This paper addresses the special problem of the increasing number of aged users. On the one hand, information displayed should be easily readable. This requires a low information density and a sufficiently large font size. On the other hand menu orientation is facilitated when the amount of information per screen is maximized and a large preview is allowed. This requires presenting as many functions as possible on the screen at a time. Thus, the tradeoff between readability and orientation demands is crucial. In the present study, this tradeoff was experimentally investigated. Two factors, font size (8pt, 12pt) and the size of the preview (one or five functions per screen at a time) were varied and effects on navigation performance were observed. Forty older participants solved nine common phone navigation tasks twice consecutively on a simulated mobile phone. Both factors contributed to performance, but there was a significant interaction: navigation performance was optimal when font size and the size of the preview were large. The lowest performance was obtained when the preview was small and the font size large, showing that proper orientation is more important than visibility demands. The results can be used in ergonomic guidelines to optimized information presentation on small screens.

Development and performance usability testing of a theory-based, computerized, tailored intervention

Technology offers innovative and promising methods of delivering health messages to provide knowledge and potentially facilitate improved health behaviors. Theory was foundational to the development of a new intervention using a tailored Web site and a handheld computer. A performance usability study was conducted to determine if women could use this newly developed intervention delivered via a Web site and pocket computer accurately and in a timely manner in real-world settings. A convenience sample of 15 women between 35 and 55 years of age were observed as they used "Complete a Task" and "Talk Aloud" performance usability methods. Results identified several problems affecting the ability of participants to use the Web site and handheld computer.

A visual ergonomic evaluation of different screen types and screen technologies with respect to discrimination performance

An increasing demand to work with electronic displays and to use mobile computers emphasises the need to compare visual performance while working with different screen types. In the present study, a cathode ray tube (CRT) was compared to an external liquid crystal display (LCD) and a Notebook-LCD. The influence of screen type and viewing angle on discrimination performance was studied. Physical measurements revealed that luminance and contrast values change with varying viewing angles (anisotropy). This is most pronounced in Notebook-LCDs, followed by external LCDs and CRTs. Performance data showed that LCD's anisotropy has negative impacts on completing time critical visual tasks. The best results were achieved when a CRT was used. The largest deterioration of performance resulted when participants worked with a Notebook-LCD. When it is necessary to react quickly and accurately, LCD screens have disadvantages. The anisotropy of LCD-TFTs is therefore considered to be as a limiting factor deteriorating visual performance.

Sensumotor transformation of input devices and the impact on practice and task difficulty

In the present study, the usability of two laptop input devices, touchpad and trackpoint, is evaluated. The focus is set on the impact of sensumotor transformation of input devices on practice and task difficulty. Thirty novices and 14 experts operated either touchpad or trackpoint over a period of 1600 trials of a point-click task. As hypothesized, novices and experts operated the touchpad by 15% faster compared to the trackpoint. For novices, performance rose distinctly and levelled off after 960 trials. This consolidation occurred earlier than reported in literature (1400-1600 trials) and, contrary to the assumption, learning was similar for touchpad and trackpoint. The impact of task difficulty dropped remarkably by practice, which points at a more general than specific task learning. In conclusion, ergonomic guidelines can be derived for the user-specific optimization of the usage of touchpad and trackpoint. Actual and potential applications of this research include the user-specific optimization of laptop input devices. Within the theoretical framework of psychomotor models, a profound knowledge of user behaviour in human-computer interaction is provided. Ergonomic guidelines can be derived for the efficient usage of laptop input devices and an optimized hardware and software design.