Design and Assessment of User Interface Optimized for Elderly

People. A Case Study of Actgo-Gate Platform

Artur Rot, Robert Kutera and Wieslawa Gryncewicz

Department of Information Systems, Wroclaw University of Economics,

Komandorska 118/120, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland

Keywords: User Experience, Elderly People, Human-computer Interaction, GUI, Web-based Applications.

Abstract: In much of the world, particularly the developed world, there’s a growing aging population. Our work

focuses on user experience and its impact on user interface design of web-based applications for elderly

people. The paper presents the set of aging-centered user interface design guidelines. An initial collection of

guidelines was first developed through an extensive review of the human-computer interaction and aging-

oriented literature and through applying a series of classification methods. Then the Authors proposed an

assessment framework, which could be used as an universal tool to evaluate the web-based system

according the user interfaces dedicated for elderly people. The detailed guidelines were grouped into 7

categories which were granted with appropriate importance weights. In the next section ActGo-Gate

platform was presented as a web-based application dedicated for activating and supporting elderly people.

Finally, the user interface of the system was evaluated according the proposed criteria.

1 INTRODUCTION

The population in nowadays societies is older than

ever, and it is expected to get even older (Rocznik,

2015). Today’s seniors are living longer, are

healthier, wealthier, have a better education, and are

more experienced with technology (Leitãob et al.,

2014). This trend is accompanied by the

globalization and by the development of the

information and communication technologies (ICT).

Different studies also acknowledge the increasing

number of adults using ICT solutions. The two

aforementioned trends are highly connected and

dependent on each other. Subsequently there is an

increasing call for web-based applications to cater

more for elderly users. Designing the ICT systems

dedicated for older adults is more complex and

challenging than for typical user. The young

developers usually have limited experience and

understanding in age-related requirements,

especially in the context of designing graphical user

interfaces (GUI). They are in fact the most important

touchpoint where users really interact with the

system. That is why there is a strong need to put

emphasis on best practices in that area. The good

starting point could be to define an universal set of

principles for web-based applications. Thus the aim

of the paper is to propose GUI assesment framework

and evaluate our aging-centered ActGo-Gate web

application based on authors’ framework.

2 ELDERLY USERS AND THE

ICT IN THE CONTEXT OF

DEMOGRAPHICAL CHANGES

Globally, life expectancy for people born between

2010 and 2015 is 70 years (77 in Europe) and it is

expected to keep rising. Moreover, population aged

60 or over accounts in 2015 for 12% of the global

population (24% in Europe) and this age group is the

fastest growing (3.26% per year) (UN, 2015). What

is more, many of adult people have the basic skills

that allow them to use most interactive devices, and

thus, are more likely to already be familiar with

computers, mobile devices, and related technology.

Eurostat’s statistics on ICT show that in 2014 more

than one third (38%) of the elderly population (aged

65–74) in the EU used the internet on a regular

basis. Over one fifth (22%) of the analyzed

population made use of internet banking, this was

half the share recorded for the total population

Rot, A., Kutera, R. and Gryncewicz, W.

Design and Assessment of User Interface Optimized for Elderly People. A Case Study of Actgo-Gate Platform.

DOI: 10.5220/0006320001570163

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health (ICT4AWE 2017), pages 157-163

ISBN: 978-989-758-251-6

157

(44%). A similar share (23%) of the elderly

purchased products or services via the internet

(Eurostat, 2015). The increased participation of

senior citizens, demanded by the demographic

change, is in line with the observed transition to a

decentralized and skill-based service economy. The

experience and wisdom of elderly people are a huge

asset and underutilized enabler of Internet-facilitated

service economy of today (Maciaszek et al., 2016).

Along with an aging population and the

opportunities offered by ICT, solutions that reflect

on the needs of this particular user group are in

demand. Recent technology and software

engineering development produce a new generation

of applications (Rot, Sobinska 2013) that provide

their services in a more flexible and adaptive

manner, with easy to use interfaces dedicated for

elderly people.

3 ACTGO-GATE – THE PROJECT

SCOPE

The problems and opportunities mentioned in the

previous section are addressed by the project Active

Retiree and Golden Workers Gate (ActGo-Gate). Its

vision is to create an ICT based marketplace

supporting entrepreneurship, self-fulfillment and

social participation for golden workers and active

retirees. The project aims to create a transferable

model as gate for different occupation modules. The

model builds on local social marketplaces that serve

as a basis and starting point for developing three

occupational modules, starting with an established

user base and along existing structures: “Serve the

community”, “Flexible occupation”, and “Get

involved with organizations”, that will start off in

three different pilot regions.

In the long range, the vision is that the pilot

cases expand their offerings and converge into the

ActGo-Gate as central intermediate for occupation

and participation possibilities. The fully developed

ActGo-Gate will be the first of its kind to provide a

gate for a wide range of occupational possibilities

(voluntary, paid, task-based, project-based, etc.).

Thereby, market fragmentations as we see them

nowadays can be transcended. ActGo-Gate will

provide end users with easy access to this integrated

gate and enable them to offer their skills, abilities

and experiences to other community members.

To integrate the occupational modules with the

existing local social marketplaces, a modular

approach is targeted for the technical realization. It

will further offer tools for efficient transactional

occupational operations (appointments coordination,

quality assurance, payment handling, reporting etc.),

both for professional as well as informal activities.

4 GUI ASSESSMENT

FRAMEWORK FOR AGING-

CENTERED WEB

APPLICATIONS

The main goal of human-computer interaction (HCI)

is to improve the way that users interact with

computers and to improve user experience.

Interaction design for elderly users is more complex

than general user group since they might have

physical ability and mental declines. Moreover, most

software is made by the younger developers. With

their limited experience in age-related decline, they

may hardly understand limitation of elderly users

(Phiriyapokanon, 2011). GUI design should match

with user experience and expectations (Sommerville,

2004). A poor interface can lead to major errors by

user mistake. It is the reason that many software

application were never used.

In order to design good software, designers

should take into account user interface guidelines for

elderly users. Ambient Assisted Living is currently

one of the important research and development

areas, where accessibility, usability and learning

play a major role and where future interfaces are an

important concern for applied engineering

(Kleinberger et al., 2007).

Many researches recommended different user

interface guidelines for designing HCI. In different

approaches, the researchers argue that the user

interface design should be responded to the different

user needs, experiences and capabilities. A number

Figure 1: Main groups of GUI categories.

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of researches have suggested aging-centered design

guidelines (Kurniawan, 2005) (Loureiro and

Rodrigues, 2014) (Fisk et. Al, 2009) (Vines, 2015).

We proposed 7 main groups of categories of GUI

guidelines (see Fig. 1) with importance weights.

Within this set we proposed detailed guidelines, that

might improve the performance of the software

when used by the elderly users. They are gathered

on the basis of results of the literature research

(Boustani, 2010) (Kurniawan and Zaphiris, 2005),

our own experiences and focus interviews with

experts. The interviews were also used for

estimating importance weights for each group. The

weights were granted based upon their experience

and the observation of elderly people’s behaviors

using web applications. Experts granted their

weights, the average values were calculated and

obtained results were normalized. That is why the

Table 1: The proposition of assessment framework for web applications.

No.

Group of GUI

guidelines

Importance

weights

Proposition of detailed guidelines

1. Visualization 0,2  Provide generous spacing between items and lines of text

 Main body of the text should be in sentence case and not all capital letters

 Text should have clear large headings

 Avoid fancy font types (suggested font: black font, sans-serif, size: 14+ points)

 Make use of proper size interface components

 Graphics should be relevant and not for decoration

 Use simple and meaningful icons along with labels

 No animation should be present

2. Navigation 0,25  Screen layout and navigation should be simple, clear and consistent

 Provide a site map and show the current location clearly

 Use the home screen menu and the back button as a safe point of return

 Do not use a deep hierarchy, group information into meaningful categories

 Avoid double click and minimize the use of the keyboard

 Provide only one open window

 Links should be clearly named and should be in a bulleted list

 Rarely used functions should be removed

3. Communication 0,2  Design error messages (make it clear that the user isn’t the cause of the error)

 Make it easy for user to correct input errors

 Search engines should cater for spelling errors

 Keep communication area in the center of working page

 Use word-based interface than graphic-based interface (Bladder, 2008)

 Language should be simple, use wordings suiting older adults’ semantic field

 Avoid irrelevant information on the screen and highlight important ones

 Give elderly people time to read

 Avoid use of complex interactions and use wizard for complex tasks (one page-

one task and confirmations every possible time)

4. Support 0,1  Provide on screen help

 Support user control and freedom

 Error messages should be simple and easy to follow

 Provide feedback continuously, distinct feedback from each action

 Be prepared for older adults that refuse to learn

5. Safety sense 0,15  Provide and attach reviews, users’ opinions, certificates and usage statistics,

which would increase the sense of safety for the elderly users

6. Socialization of

the system

0,05  Allow discussion and comments on content (enquiries about the details, reviews,

comparisons, opportunity to be heard, to receive notifications)

 Provide activity log, activity feed, timeline

 Allow to establish a relationship between users: profiles and relationships

between them, the opportunity to follow the profile

 Provide viral marketing content: direct recommendations between users

7. Personalization

of the system

0,05  Ensure the user can easily make interface elements larger

 Provide ample time to read information

 Accessibility issues should be taken into account

 Enable older adults to adjust the volume at their will

 Increase duration of sound signals if needed

 Allow users to store shortcuts to their favorite functions

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most important ones are navigation, visualization,

and communication, while the personalization and

socialization seem to be less important for users.

The proposed model can be used as an universal

assessment framework for aging-centered web

applications, which could be used for evaluation of

the extent of fulfilling the UX-related requirements.

On the basis of it we perform an evaluation of the

ActGo-Gate platform.

5 IMPROVING ELDERLY USERS’

EXPERIENCE IN USING WEB

APPLICATIONS – THE ACTGO-

GATE CASE STUDY

The ActGo-Gate platform is a gate web application,

which main functional feature is to gather

occupational opportunities, coming from different

service e-marketplaces, and offer them to older

adults. In a result, it stimulates its end users to active

participation in occupational-oriented communities,

where people could help each other in the fields,

they are experienced in. Users can search for one-

time formal and informal services, search for long-

term, recurrent jobs or post a one-time demand of

something that has be to done for them.

Technically, the gate application is an offer

aggregator, that integrates some data flows (offer

feeds, notifications). The information on offers is

standardized and grouped into categories which can

be browsed in different views of catalog: the list, the

grid and the map. Each view is focused on alternate

information: the list – on name and short text

description of the offer, the grid – on its graphical

illustration, and the map – on its localization. The

catalog is built with the intent to browse offers

quickly and efficiently by using basic or advanced

sorting and filtering options. Also a location-

oriented full-text search engine is provided to users

for shortening the way of getting the right offer if

they exactly know what they are looking for. The

geo-location is an important part of the application

as it is able to adapt to current user location and

provide him/her with offers nearby him/her. It also

enables single sign on to all connected web services

(therefore with using an ActGo-Gate account users

can log into each connected service). On the other

hand in ActGo-Gate user profile section users can

edit their user data (which will be synchronized with

all connected services), browse and manage all

offers belonging to them and view all notifications

coming from connected services. The core logic of

the specific processes (like recruitment or

appointment coordination) remains the responsibility

of particular services. The web application is

designed with the principles of responsive web

design paradigm using technologies like HTML5,

AngularJS, Bootstrap and Sass. That is why it can

easily adapt its content to different screen sizes of

end devices.

Taking into account the proposed assessment

framework, we would like to check to what extent

the ActGo-Gate application is currently adapted to

the perceptual characteristics of its target group.

The visualization of the platform is intended to

be suitable for perception of elderly people. First of

all we use large sans-serif fonts – Source Sans Pro

with minimal size of 18 pts. Spacing between items

and text lines is intended to be kept as large as

possible. All components are large and clearly

separated from other parts (some are hidden and can

be displayed intentionally like advanced search

filters). The headings are highlighted so they can be

easily identified. Selected elements on the web

pages are equipped with adequate icons and labels

on the desktop view (on mobile views only icons are

displayed to ensure readability). The active elements

react on hover actions by highlighting the active

element. The color palette consists of white, blue

and black. Such a palette makes the interface clear

and light – most of texts are black. Graphics are used

for being the background of primary call to action

and to strengthen its message by presenting elderly

people that are actively spending their free time on

the retirement. Other graphics play the role of

illustrations supporting the text messages (e.g.

photos of people in testimonials) or give the real

information value. The animations are limited to the

extent possible. We can then assess that part of the

framework as passed with 100% accuracy.

Very important issue was to provide an intuitive

and simple navigation schema and consistent

vocabulary for supporting users at every stage of the

app usage. The user interface is designed to be

consistent in each part – there is a common header

and common footer section, that help to navigate

inside the platform. The similar convention of

building particular modules is used – highlighted

titles, rectangular buttons, the same hover actions on

active elements of the website (mostly the

background of the element is getting darker). Once

used element looks the same in each part of the

platform: search form is the same on landing page as

well as on the catalog page; although it is a separate

view, also uses the structure of the catalog list.

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For easier navigation a breadcrumbs module was

prepared, which aim is to show the current location

of the user within the structure of the website. It

enables to locate users themselves but also to skip to

any top level location from that point, including the

home page. The back button in the browser could

also be used in most cases as asynchronous

communication within the platform is limited to the

possible extent. There are also shortcuts to the

catalog, adding new offer feature and to the user

profile section. We don’t provide a site map.

Links are named clearly, mostly with using full

phrases. Double click is not used at all, while

keyboard usage is minimized to fill out the contact

form and search forms. Main content entity – the

offer – is categorized and the lists/grids of offers are

dynamically paginated. Both concepts are aimed at

minimizing the number of offers to be reviewed by

the user. The platform uses pull down menu for user

profile sub-menu in the header as well as in the

filters section of the catalog, what is inconsistent

with the defined GUI principles. The requirements

made us to use modal windows when presenting the

content from connected web applications. Such a

solution is a mode that temporarily disables the main

window, but still keeps it visible with the modal

window as an active child window in front of it. To

return to the parent application, users have to

interact with the modal window first. Users do some

actions there, like reading offer details, requesting it

etc. and finally close the modal window. Following

this line the registration and login path was based on

the same pattern with using modal windows.

Summarizing, the score of navigation part of the

framework could be estimated as completed in 85%.

The communication between the user and the

system is another priority. The application is

multilanguage-ready. Each page (except the landing

page) provides one main function so it doesn’t

distract users. The communicates are simple and

easy to understand by the users. Only important

information are presented to the user, most

important ones are specially highlighted like our

main Call to Action. The general communication is

usually conducted in central part of the application.

The designed user paths are shortened, not complex

and equipped with proper after-action messages –

confirmations or error reports. The errors of the

users are communicated clearly, supported by

special styling of the input with wrong content but

they are not handled by any autosuggestion

mechanisms and not corrected automatically. Search

engine isn’t able to handle input errors and display

correct results. System errors are reported

differently, so users know that they didn’t cause the

problematic situation. Because of lack of

mechanisms of errors autocorrection and inflexible

search engine the overall score can be only 70%.

Support of users at primary stage is also very

crucial issue. The platform provides a categorized

help system based on Question-Answer (QA) model.

User can also search for relevant content or use the

embedded video introduction, where most important

functions are explained. User is also supported by

contextual help. Each content element is tagged and

those tags are the basis for selecting proper help

notes on the top of the list. For feedback the

universal contact form could be used – there are no

plans to organize a special tool for feedbacks. The

support group can be estimated as compliant with

principles in 90% because of the lack of dedicated

tool of gathering feedback.

The platform considers a safety sense as an

concern and therefore does everything to convince

the user about the quality of offered services,

reliability of the providers or recruiters on the

platform as well as the platform itself. We present

success stories (testimonials) of former users of the

platform and the strong academic and socio-political

foundations of AAL Europe, National Funding

Agencies and leading Swiss and Polish universities.

The platform presents logotypes of all patrons and

supporters. The visualization and communication

also are aimed at maximizing the trust building. The

possibility of reviewing offers on the basis of

previous transactions has not been implemented yet.

Resultantly, this part can be assessed as 80%

compliant with the principles.

The platform doesn’t provide any social features

that allow building communities and widely named

socialization. Some functions can be provided by

client applications but there is a need of making an

additional effort to go directly to the client, find it

there and utilize data. The score for this part is 0%.

Personalization of the system is the last group of

principles to discuss. ActGo-Gate platform is

offering adjustment tool that allows for resizing text

content from 18 to 22 pts and change the original

layout on the simplified, high-contrast one. The

application will adapt properly to any screen size.

The application doesn’t handle voice communication

so people with serious sight disabilities can’t use it

currently but improvements in that area are planned.

The application gives the possibility of marking

offers and categories as favorites so the users can

have a quick access to them. The overall score for

that part is estimated as completing the requirements

of the framework to the extent of 90%.

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The overall calculation gives the following

result: (0,2 x 100%) + (0,25 x 85%)+ (0,2 x 70%) +

(0,1 x 90%) + (0,15 x 80%) + (0,05 x 0%) + (0,05 x

90%) =0,8075, what means that the gate application

is compliant with up-to-date GUI principles for

elderly people in 80%, which means that the

application is ready for being used by elderly people

– should support them in their operations on the

website, guide them to the target efficiently and

communicate easily, but only by text. Users should

feel safe on the website – the personalization

features should make the impression of “their” place

in the net. Two dimensions that definitely should be

improved, are socialization of the website and

making the voice communication available for

people with sight disabilities.

6 CONCLUSIONS

The study has demonstrated that the elderly people

experience a number of issues concerning the

access and use of the web-based applications. Their

growing health disabilities, as well as fact of rapidly

aging society especially in the developed countries,

make them the special group of interest for GUI

designers of web applications. Based on the

cognitive findings of the paper the utilitarian tool

for improving UX of modern GUIs – the assessment

framework with set of detailed guidelines – was

developed. With the use of that tool the

characteristics and evaluation of the platform was

made. All the details concerning the interaction

between the users and the system were explained in

the context of each framework category. In a result

a few missing important functions were identified,

which should be taken into account in future

releases of the application. Despite these minor

shortcomings the application still can be considered

as being adapted to the needs of elderly people and

providing positive user experiences. As a further

research it is planned to run a field trial with elderly

users, the system will be evaluated to identify

potential areas of improvement.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ActGo-Gate is part of AAL Joint Programme Call

6, a funding activity that aims to create better

condition of life for the older adults and to

strengthen the industrial opportunities in Europe

through the use of ICT. The consortium consists of

7 partners from Switzerland, Germany and Poland.

In Poland, the project is funded by the National

Centre for Research and Development and realized

at Wroclaw University of Economics (AAL6/2015).

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