Hello everyone!
I want to present you an interesting study held by the Social Computer Science team from our university: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321262540_Older_adults_and_hackathons_a_qualitative_study . This study is very interesting from various perspectives. Firstly, it indicates necessity for novel and unique approaches in designing technologies for elderly people. Secondly, it emphasizes what I have personally met during my career in software development. That developers and product designers often stick to their IDEA of a user (and focus on developing products for those fantasy-users), rather than checking how do REAL people from their group of interest look and feel.
This is quite a long paper, so I recommend reading only first and fifth chapter where objectives and conclusions of the study have been included. After you do, I want you to discuss some of the following questions:
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
I want to present you an interesting study held by the Social Computer Science team from our university: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321262540_Older_adults_and_hackathons_a_qualitative_study . This study is very interesting from various perspectives. Firstly, it indicates necessity for novel and unique approaches in designing technologies for elderly people. Secondly, it emphasizes what I have personally met during my career in software development. That developers and product designers often stick to their IDEA of a user (and focus on developing products for those fantasy-users), rather than checking how do REAL people from their group of interest look and feel.
This is quite a long paper, so I recommend reading only first and fifth chapter where objectives and conclusions of the study have been included. After you do, I want you to discuss some of the following questions:
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI have quite huge experience, when it comes to creating software for elderly people and I participated in hackaton like that. After variety of applications and research I believe that not the user interface is a problem but using electronically devices itself. We have created super simple interface and when we tested it, by presenting to old lady, even before trying she did not want to use it. And the reason was because she never used laptop, tablet or smartphone. The problem is device itself not the design of our work.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
Yes I did many times. I have read a lot of books, asked specialists, created paper mockup, created clickable user interface in proto.io. We spoke with final customer, and asked a lot of questions, as well as asking about expectations.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
It depend, mostly I focus on backend part and just to make everything work, then on front-end. But it depends, some customers have very specific vision of what they have, so I have to follow their’s ideas.
Thank you for an interesting article. I do not work in this filed, however, I think that it has an enormous potential. In each situation, dedicated solutions are suited better. Unfortunately there are a few problems. The first one is division the society. The ideal situation would be if applications were created in two versions – for those who have good sight and for poor viewers. What are the problems of elderly people? What prevents them from using modern applications? Sometimes the text and the icons are too small - this is a serious problem in the navigation of devices with touch screens. There are still a few other barriers such as fear of new technologies or fear that something will break down. Certainly, the development of solutions similar to those described in the article will encourage seniors to use modern solutions. In addition, the trend for using modern application hasn’t appered yet. I can’t answer the last two of your questions because I have never dealt with this and don’t have experience in this area.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteCool first article from PJA :D
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
Hmmm that is tricky question. I can say that my father is in his late 60's and he is using computer, smartphone, tablet quite well. Of course he is using it in his work, so this have forced him to use nowdays technology, he was using computers in past but not as much as he is using now. This is my father when it comes to my mother, she doesn't have interest in using computer, she is using phone to make calls (they are engineers). So I think it depends on situation if they will be "forced" to use nowdays technology I think that they will handle it. Also I think that depends on wealth on eldery people in Poland most of them have trouble to pay rent, but when it comes to Japanese society, elder people are playing Wii games in nursing homes :D. UI won't change anything.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
No never :D. I am know that I am don't have any knowledge in this area and also no sens where to place what, so I leave this part of work for others.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
When it comes to myself I was always developing apps for internal use. Right now I am building aplication for doctors and they are not interest in fancy UI, they only want to have all information available on one screen if application is doing its work they are very happy and pleased with it.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your article. I think that proper design may increase numebr of elderly people using technology. They want to use them and want to learn how to use them but some phisical disabilities like worse seeing make it difficult. Also a lot of complicated and unclear layouts, applications and actions can make learning and using technologies overwhelming rather than helpful.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
No, usually I do not care about usability of product in my reaserch field. I rather focus on how the result of my reaserch can be used in other reaserches or applications.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
I am not developing or designing systems so I do not know but when I am presentig some data and results I care about the audience. I always try to prepare charts, tables and the whole story about data depending on who will be listen or reading that, if it is for experts, students or begginers. I think the similar approach could be for designing systems.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cezary. It's not about interface, it's about electronic devices themselves. Generally, people tend to feel resistance when it comes to things they have no or limited knowledge of. I guess next generations of elderly people will be different, as those will be people who already had a chance to get acquainted with computers and other electronic devices, so for them a unique interface design may make a difference.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
I had a chance to do that many times. It'a all about making appropriate background research and interviews with customer. It's great to know the opinion and expectations of the end user too.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
It depends on the project and the customer. If the customer has fuzzy idea of his/her expectations and demands, then it often turns out that in the end we also have a fuzzy idea of the end user, because we don't exactly know what we are supposed to deliver.
From my personal experience elderly people and their attitude when it comes to a new technology the resister is caused more by the fear that they'll break something or something bad happen rather than usability issues. But probably it would harm if interfaces were designed uniquely for them.
ReplyDeleteNo, usability studies are beyond my duties, but I had a UX class at the university. For example, we had to design a machine selling tickets. The first step was to sketch all screens of the interface on paper and then play a role of a machine and show a page with adequate screen based on the user's actions.
Even when I don't do something directly for the end users I always try to think about my work's usability and use cases.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion a better design would help elderly people, but it wouldn't be a breakthrough when it comes to the technology adoption in this group. I think those people just don't feel like they should use the technology. TV and a possibility to call the other family members is usually enough for them.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
I had UX workshop this week, on Thursday. When it comes to the new development, in my company we have some best practices collected together. You know, an approach to A/B testing, a way of identifying "personas" and some more stuff like this.
But majority of projects I participated in, were already started and I was just helping developing them further.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
Depending on the system. But usually I'm not developing/designing on my own. Also, my company is rather into insurance market and the systems for the agents/backoffice, so the ideas about the end users are limited.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI also think, as my colleagues said, a matter of device and new technology itself, rather than bad UX design of the applications inside of it.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
Yes, we are doing a lot of research before we start development. In the most of the cases, there are paper mockups, clickable prototypes, 1:1 interviews, eye tracking recordings, mouse movement patterns and clicks analysis with heatmaps.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
In the most of the cases, we are developing a product that is dedicated to the specific group of end users, so we know more or less their expectations.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion design should be adapted to the person which will use it. Nevertheless more important is an patience and time consumed for training sessions that helps elderly person to understand why, and what we can do with selected device / application.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
Unfortunately UX sessions are out of my qualifications. I prefer to order design (hire professional expert) that prepare proper interface. To set proper layout you have to understand problem and analyse it. You have to decide what would be best for users - because good interface is crucial. I do not have a skills that give me an opportunity to prepare colorful, interesting template.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
I specify requirements. I am in most of cases responsible for understanding customer needs. I translate customer needs to developers friendly language. In the other case I am responsible for backend, that processes user requests - interface is black box for me :).
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI don't have much contact with elderly people, but of those I know there is little resistance for using mobile devices (smartphones and tablets), but computers (PCs) are often beyond their reach. In that case, they sometimes rely on help from younger people - e.g. a middle-aged neighbor. But self-contained devices can be used with little relative ease.
Some interfaces are easy for everybody. Sometimes, skeuomorphism is involved. A good UI for the elderly is not synonymous with a good UI for low-IQ users. The elderly might not be open to exploration, so good built-in documentation, which can be accessed before performing operations, is helpful.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
Not in person. I worked on a project which did this, but actually it was a remake of a failed project. This previous system was unsuccessful, allegedly, due to UX problems. The new product's development was preceded by a series of UX interviews and on-site usability research.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
Well, I actually have a sharp vision of my end user, so it's not a fantasy user, but it may not be a good model of the actual target demographic. It's done with a simple thought experiment - I design and implement as if I was going to use it myself.
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ReplyDelete1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting article, especially for me because I never think about it before. Dedicated interface would be good solution and making 2 interfaces isn't any problem for quite easy application but the biggest problem is to use smartphone. Of course the application could have enormous buttons and big letters but what about entry to this application and installation? This is the first thing which they have to do. If they learn how to use smartphone and how to install the apps, the rest would be peace of cake.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
Never before. I get prepared project and get one part to create. That's my job. Of course I can make some note to the project menager (e.g. too many options on one page or too complicated menu) but that's all. I hearing about that process,but never take part in it.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
As I mentioned before I only get documentation which contains requirements which are neccesary in end product. The product always try to be as simply in use as it's possible. Unfortunately many systems have so many functions that end users have to get instruction how to use it. The most important in systems are menu. If user cauldn't find all functions using 4 or 5 click it's too complicated.
I think that the interface especially for the elderly would make it easier for them to use phones and new technologies.
ReplyDeleteI haven't conducted any usefulness tests before developing the product, so I can not comment on that!
When developing a product, I do not have a specific end user in mind it comes with time.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI know that large companies which produces smartphones do not targeting their products to elderly people. But they are trying to produce very simple and user friendly interface. Unfortunately beta test do not include being tested by elderly people so they do not have feedback from them. You can suggest Samsung or Apple doing this.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
No, I am not a product designer.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
You need to build personas who will be using your system and how they will be working with it.
1. I don’t think the resistance of that kind has anything to do with the interface issues. More older we are – less open-minded we are.
ReplyDelete2. Usability (or even feasibility) study done before decision concerning further product’s modifications is a necessary condition to do professional product development. Otherwise it is directed towards undefined future and receivers. It causes losses of time and money. And in the end provokes us to go back to the beginning – to prepare adequately to the whole process.
The research concerning complex electric energy product I was taking part in, was strictly connected to the market specific, because before “development decision” linked to potential high financial costs, my team had to gain the data about energy business needs and perspectives. The research was performed in many units (entities) in the country and the results were precisely described, then they became the base to further steps.
3. I always have very accurate vision of my end user. The problem is that the idea is evaluating according to project’s progress. Sometimes the final version of end user is a bit different from the basic first one.
ReplyDelete1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
This concept would be ok 20 years ago. Now when people are born with a screen in front of their face the gap between young and old people won’t be so big. So in my opinion this is pointless.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
Yes, the work was done by UX specialist and it was based on prototyping of the UI
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
Very fuzzy. Most of my ideas evolve in time
1. Do you think that people would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI think it is a good direction. eg: We have Messenger, Messenger Lite, that's why we can not have: Messenger Senior ??
2. Have you ever done before usability study? How did the research look like?
I did not have such a case.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
When I develop anything, I need to have a full specification. And the vision of the end.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteThere is a quote: "you can't teach an old dog new tricks". A lot of elders, especially in Poland have problems with getting new technologies. A lot of them can't afford them and that's the main problem. Another one is in teaching them how to use smartphones etc. The biggest problem is on the country sides, so basically it depends on the country and so on. Different answer for different region of the world.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
I had a class on the university. Nowadays, we prefer going wild :D Means, we don't have enough time for it.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
Even though, I have very specific idea at the end it ends miserably. Most of the time I'm overestimating end user capabilities. That's why it's good to build a small prototype and let them use it. It's working with every kind of the client.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI think it depends who will we call 'elderly people'. I think the ones at the age 50-65 are using smartphones, computers and internet and do not have problems with that. People at age 70-90 might need simplified interfaces with more visible the options and applications they often use.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
Usually I do not do usability study, because there are more qualified people in the projects than me for doing this. In one small project I did such study. Firstly I discussed with the users their needs, we draw how the interface should look like and what should it do. After that I made a prototype where they were able to check how it looks online. After few changes I created the application. And some minor changes were also required after the application was done.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
Usually very specific as I mostly created applications for manufacturing.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI don’t think it matters. I totally agree with Cezary that the main problem for elderly people is to use new technologies in general. They aren’t used to use modern solutions and in my opinion it is the biggest problem. I’m not sure but maybe it is a kind of fear of technological novelties.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
I’m not a developer so I haven’t done such research. On the other hand I’m convinced that it is really needed. The area of research should be very wild including various age groups, opinions of other developers and specialists and surveys of target groups.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
As I mentioned above, I’m not a developer so it’s hard to say for me. However I think that the set of end users is rather fuzzy. Of course, it depends on the specific project but you never know who will eventually reach for the product, so you have to be prepared for different possibilities.
1. Do you think that for elderly people the resistance for new technologies (e.g. smartphones) would be smaller if interfaces were designed differently - uniquely for them?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if it is possible to create less complicated software with more intuitive interface. It is one of main ideas of companies like Google or Microsoft to prepare as simple applications as possible.
2. Have you ever done usability study before starting product development? How did the research look like?
No I haven't. But I'm preparing a vision of new product where content of application will base on user specification. First part of software will be common for all users to get knowledge about each person attributes. Further parts will be personalized.
3. Whenever you develop or design a system, do you have rather fuzzy or very specific idea of your end user?
I think most of users has similar expectations about product. Especialy in comlex branches where official procedures are much more important than user preferences.