Study of user interface for browsing web contents that considers the cognitive features of older users

Abstract

Web accessibility for old users has become a serious issue, especially in Japan. The problems involve cognitive as well as physical characteristics. Cognitive problems are well-handled by the metaphor approach, especially for older users when Web browsing. In order to investigate the impact of his approach, we conducted experiments with 11 old subjects and 10 young subjects. They were asked to search for a target in a Web site via the book metaphor interface and with a common Web browser interface. Although there were no differences in the task success rates or the task completion time between the two interfaces, there was a difference in the browsing time per Web page. The results of a questionnaire show that many old users prefer the metaphor interface. With the book interface, they selected the strategy of look and click because it lessens the demands placed on working memory. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.