Course Overview
Designing for an Aging Population:
Toward Universal Design
Kate Finn & Jeff Johnson
Wiser Usability, Inc.
21361 Milford Dr.
Cupertino, CA 95014
phone, fax: +1 (408) 806-8451
Abstract
This course describes age-related factors that affect
ability to use the Web, and presents Web design
guidelines that reflect the capabilities, usage patterns,
and preferences of older Web users. The course also
explains the value of testing websites on older adults.
Author Keywords
Web design; website; design; user interface; user-
centered design; interaction; user experience; human-
computer interaction; universal design; accessibility;
design guidelines; demographics; seniors; elders;
elderly; older users; older adults;
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CHI'16 Extended Abstracts, May 07-12, 2016, San Jose, CA, USA
ACM 978-1-4503-4082-3/16/05.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2851581.2856669
#chi4good, CHI 2016, San Jose, CA, USA
ACM Classification Keywords
D.2.2. Design tools and techniques, user interfaces;
H.1.2. User/machine systems, human factors; H.5.2.
User interfaces: theory and methods, Ergonomics,
Screen design, User-centered design; K.4.2. Social
issues, handicapped persons/special needs.
Introduction
The worlds population is aging, especially in developed
countries. The audience for most websites and apps
includes older adults, so most websites and apps should
be designed to accommodate older adults. Based on
our experience designing, reviewing, and testing apps
and websites with older adults, we describe age-related
factors that affect their ability to use digital technology,
and present design guidelines that reflect their varied
capabilities, usage patterns, and preferences. We also
describe the value of conducting usability tests with
older adults.
This class is appropriate for CHI because it presents
material that more HCI professionals particularly
practitioners should know in order to be able to
produce universally usable desktop and mobile apps
and websites. It is especially relevant for presentation
in Silicon Valley, where many designers and developers
work.
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Course Overview
Content
This course covers:
! demographics of users of digital technology, by age,
! age-related factors affecting ability to use
computers, mobile devices, and the Web,
! common design problems that decrease usability for
older adults,
! design guidelines that can help designers improve
experiences for users of all ages.
Learning Objectives
After taking this course, attendees will:
! understand how poorly-designed apps and websites
can present barriers for older users,
! recognize ways in which their app or websites
usability can be improved,
! learn that testing on older adults is crucial.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for Web designers and
developers of all levels. Others who might benefit:
Software Q/A engineers, website usability testers, and
development managers.
#chi4good, CHI 2016, San Jose, CA, USA
Agenda
! Introduction and definitions
! Demographics of digital technology usage, by age
! The problem: too many apps and websites that are
unfriendly to older adults
! Motivation for solving the problem
! Age-related changes and characteristics
! Guidelines for age-friendly technology
! Summary, wrap-up, evaluations
Instructor Biographies
Jeff Johnson is co-founder of Wiser Usability. After
earning B.A. and Ph.D. degrees in psychology from Yale
and Stanford, he worked at Xerox, US West, Hewlett-
Packard, and Sun. He has taught at Stanford, Mills,
and the U of Canterbury. He is a member of the CHI
Academy. He authored papers and chapters on HCI,
and the books GUI Bloopers, Web Bloopers, GUI
Bloopers 2.0, Designing with the Mind in Mind, and
Conceptual Models (w/ Austin Henderson).
Kate Finn is co-founder of Wiser Usability. After
receiving a Ph.D. in Computational Linguistics from
Georgetown University, she conducted research on
natural language understanding and automated speech
recognition. At SRI International, she created
prototypes of graphical UIs. She co-edited the book,
Video-Mediated Communication and obtained a
Certificate in Gerontology to better understand the
capabilities and needs of older adults.
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