Investigation of Input Devices for the Age-differentiated Design of Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

Demographic change demands new concepts for the support of computer work by aging employees. In particular, computer interaction presents a barrier due to a lack of experience and age-specific changes in performance. This article presents a study in which different input devices (mouse, touch screen and eyegaze input) were analyzed regarding their usability and according to age diversity. Furthermore, different Hybrid Interfaces that combine eye-gaze input with additional input devices were investigated.

Model Based Processing of Swabbing Movements on Touch Screens to Improve Accuracy and Efficacy for Information Input of Individuals Suffering from Kinetic Tremor

“…As also previously found by Schneider et al [Schneider et al 2008], a touch screen serves as a very decent tool of interaction with elderly and those who have only few experiences with computer technology. This is an indication of touch screen technology being an ergonomic tool for interaction for the target group.…”

Learning to Drag: The Effects of Social Interactions in Touch Gestures Learnability for Older Adults

“…Touch-based interaction has the potential to support relatively swift learning and mastery for older adults. А majority of previous studies suggest that touch-based interaction has advantages in learnability, ease-of-use and acceptability [3,23,39]. Further studies suggest that touch screens are tolerant of motor issues typically associate with ageing [26] and relatively comfortable to master [22].…”

A General Methodology for Adapting Industrial HMIs to Human Operators

“…Moreover, in-and output techniques that rely on the sense of touch are not suitable for operators with disabilities of the upper limbs. Keyboards with textual input are not advisable for operators with low literacy and problems of performing accurate movements using a mouse are suggested by the declining motoric capabilities of elderly [2]. Of course, inand output techniques that rely on the sense of seeing are not suitable for blind operators.…”

“…While displacing some of the least-skilled labor, greater automation requires higher-skilled labor for monitoring and managing new automation systems [1]. Moreover, the ongoing demographic change requires future manufacturing systems to be accessible to aging employees with declining physiological and cognitive capabilities [2]. In spite of that, elderly operators represent a valuable resource for complex tasks (e.g., supervision of wide and diversified plants) given their working experience.…”