Personalization of Web browsing: adaptations to meet the needs of older adults

Abstract

Despite difficulties in using the Web, older adults are motivated to use it. This paper reports on work underway to ease Web access for this population. Although Web accessibility standards provide specifications that Web content providers must incorporate if their pages are to be accessible, these standards do not guarantee a good experience for all Web users. This paper will discuss user controls that make a number of dynamic adaptations to page presentation and input that can greatly increase the usability of Web pages for older users. The paper will discuss the authors' original work on the topic, lessons learned, and usage patterns. Current extensions to that work are also discussed.

The impact of aging on access to technology

“…However, some guidelines (e.g., decrease demands on working memory) are somehow vague and difficult to implement. Also, as discussed by Hanson and Crayne [24], guidelines or standards do not guarantee a good experience for all users. For example, guidelines to help people with severe visual impairments, such as text-only software, may prove to be challenging for individuals with literacy problems.…”

“…For example, guidelines to help people with severe visual impairments, such as text-only software, may prove to be challenging for individuals with literacy problems. In this regard IBM is currently developing software, Web Adaptation Technology (see [24] for a more complete description of this project) that allows users to make adjustments to Web pages to tailor them to their own needs. Results from initial testing of the product with older adults indicate that user reactions to this product have been positive and that users have taken advantage of the available features.…”

Adaptive Interfaces and Agents

“…Jacko, Leonard, & Scott, 2008;and Sears, Young, & Feng, 2008). A system in which the two approaches are combined is the WEB ADAPTATION TECH-NOLOGY of IBM Research (Hanson & Crayne, 2005), which aims to facilitate web browsing by older adults. With regard to most of the adaptations, such as the reformating of multicolumn text in a single column, the system is adaptable: It provides convenient ways for the user to request the changes.…”

Using an Error Detection Strategy for Improving Web Accessibility for Older Adults

“…The normal aging process can trigger decreases in acuity of vision and cognition as well as physical impairments, which impact Web usability, particularly if Web designs are not user-friendly [7,9]. Web design issues related to fonts, colors, graphics, background images, navigation, and search mechanisms might prevent older adult users from taking full advantage of online health resources.…”