ABSTRACT
Mobile phones can provide a number of benefits to older people. However, most mobile phone designs and form factors are targeted at younger people and middle-aged adults. To inform the design of mobile phones for seniors, we ran several participatory activities where seniors critiqued current mobile phones, chose important applications, and built their own imagined mobile phone system. We prototyped this system on a real mobile phone and evaluated the seniors' performance through user tests and a real-world deployment. We found that our participants wanted more than simple phone functions, and instead wanted a variety of application areas. While they were able to learn to use the software with little difficulty, hardware design made completing some tasks frustrating or difficult. Based on our experience with our participants, we offer considerations for the community about how to design mobile devices for seniors and how to engage them in participatory activities.
- Abeele, V. A. V. and Rompaey, V. V. Introducing human-centered research to game design: designing game concepts for and with senior citizens. Proc. CHI 2006 Extended Abstracts, ACM Press (2006), 1469--1474. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Carroll, J. Scenario-based design: envisioning work and technology in system development. John Wiley & Sons, Inc (1995). New York, NY, USA. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Ellis, R. D. and Kurniawan, S. H. Increasing the usability of online information for older users: a case study in participatory design. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction 12, 2 (2000), 263--276.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Greenbaum, J. and M. Kyng Design at work: cooperative design of computer systems. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. (2002). Mahwah, NJ, USA. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Goodman, J., A. Dickinson, and Syme, A. Gathering requirements for mobile devices using focus groups with older people. Proceedings of the 2nd Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology (CWUAAT), Springer (2004).Google ScholarCross Ref
- Kamssu, A. Global connectivity through wireless network technology: a possible solution for poor countries. International Journal of Mobile Communications 3, 3 (2005), 249--262. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Keating, E., Nagai, E., Hadder, N., Kowalsky, J. The Role of the Mobile Phone in the Welfare of Aged and Disabled People. DoCoMo (2007), Retrieved from http://www.moba-ken.jp/kennkyuu/chousa/2006/research06_05/finalreport_06-05.pdf. Last accessed April 25, 2007.Google Scholar
- Kurniawan, S. and Zaphiris, P. Research-derived web design guidelines for older people. Proc. ASSETS 2005, ACM Press (2005), 129--135. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Kurniawan, S. An exploratory study of how older women use mobile phones. Proc. UBICOMP 2006, Springer LNCS (2006), 103--122. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Leonard, V. K., Jacko, J. A., and Pizzimenti, J. J. 2005. An exploratory investigation of handheld computer interaction for older adults with visual impairments. Proc. ASSETS 2005, ACM Press (2005), 12--19. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Lewis, C. A model of mental model construction. Proc. CHI 1986, ACM Press (1986), 306--313. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Liu, A. L., Hile, H., Kautz, H., Borriello, G., Brown, P. A., Harniss, M., and Johnson, K. Indoor wayfinding: developing a functional interface for individuals with cognitive impairments. Proc. ASSETS 2006, ACM Press (2006), 95--102. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Moffatt, K., McGrenere, J., Purves, B., and Klawe, M. The participatory design of a sound and image enhanced daily planner for people with aphasia. Proc. CHI 2004, ACM Press (2004), 407--414. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Muller, M. PICTIVE - an exploration in participatory design. Proc CHI 1991, ACM Press (1991), 225--231. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Myers, B. A., Wobbrock, J. O., Yang, S., Yeung, B., Nichols, J., and Miller, R. Using handhelds to help people with motor impairments. Proc. ASSETS 2002, ACM Press (2002), 89--96. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Nokia 6185. Retrieved from http://www.nokia.ca/english/products/6185/6185.asp. Last accessed May 23, 2007.Google Scholar
- Reuters. Mobile phone market seen to reach 2 billion users in '05. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2005-01-19-wless-outlook-05_x.htm. 2005. Last accessed May 23, 2007.Google Scholar
- Rosson, M. B., Carroll, J. M., Seals, C. D., and Lewis, T. L. Community design of community simulations. Proc. DIS 2002, ACM Press (2002), 75--83. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Schulze, H. 2004. MEMOS: an interactive assistive system for prospective memory deficit compensation-architecture and functionality. Proc. ASSETS 2004, ACM Press (2004), 79--85. Google ScholarDigital Library
- SilverPhone Easy5. Retrieved from http://www.silverphone.co.uk/mobilephone/info.php. 2004. Last accessed April 25, 2007.Google Scholar
- Sorrells, Z. Finding a mobile phone for grandma. Avec Mobile (2004). Retrieved from http://www.avecmobile.com/index.php?id=348. Last accessed April 25, 2007.Google Scholar
- Strothotte, T., Fritz, S., Michel, R., Raab, A., Petrie, H., Johnson, V., Reichert, L., and Schalt, A. Development of dialogue systems for a mobility aid for blind people: initial design and usability testing. Proc. ASSETS 1996, ACM Press (1996), 139--144. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Tohidi, M., Buxton, W., Baecker, R., and Sellen, A. 2006. Getting the right design and the design right. Proc. CHI 2006, ACM Press (2006), 1243--1252. Google ScholarDigital Library
- United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development. Report of the second world assembly on aging. Madrid, Spain: United Nations (2002).Google Scholar
- Wu, M., Baecker, R., and Richards, B. Participatory design of an orientation aid for amnesics. Proc. CHI 2005, ACM Press (2005), 511--520. Google ScholarDigital Library
Index Terms
- Using participatory activities with seniors to critique, build, and evaluate mobile phones
Recommendations
Moses -- method for selecting senior mobile phones: supporting design & choice for the elderly
SAICSIT '12: Proceedings of the South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists ConferenceThe current focus on the development of mobile and ubiquitous computing technologies presents new and exciting challenges for the evaluation of interactive products. Despite a vast and growing literature on mobile phone requirements for the elderly ...
Age-related difference in the use of mobile phones
This study examined the difference between younger adults and older adults in requirements for mobile phones and acceptance of new functions. A survey was conducted among 351 older adults and 140 younger adults in China. Four major findings were ...
Use of mobile phones by male and female Greek students
Mobile technology is a continuously growing domain, and research activities regarding its use are quite intensive. A questionnaire regarding the use of mobile devices was developed and distributed to 416 students in a Greek University. There were completed ...
Comments