Skip to main content
Log in

Multimodality and interactional differences in older adults

  • Special issue on multimodality: a step towards universal access
  • Published:
Universal Access in the Information Society Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many age-associated impairments such as loss of memory and vision make computer use difficult for older adults. This paper is concerned with interface design in a voice Web browser, which compensates for age-associated impairments, particularly loss of memory and vision. It describes a special Voice Help facility talking to older adults through their browser interaction, and reports experiments to establish the mixes of output media (text and speech) that are most effective for information transfer. In particular, the paper demonstrates that older adults’ retention of spoken output is different to that of younger people. The paper provides information on absorption rates for different media for older adults, which supports the design of multimodal systems suited to older adults. This is important for the development of systems that enable older adults to absorb information easily.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Czaja S, Clarke C, Weber R, Nachbar D (Oct 1990) Computer communication among older adult. In: Proc The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 33rd Annual Meeting, Denver, USA, pp 146–148

  2. Gardner DK, Helmes E (1999) Locus of control and self-directed learning as predictors of well-being in the elderly. Aust Psychol 34(2):99–903

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gregor P, Newell A, Zajicek M (2002) Designing for dynamic diversity – interfaces for older people. In: Jacko JA (ed) ASSETS 2002, 5th International ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies, 8–80 July, Edinburgh, Scotland 2002, pp 151–156

  4. Kalyuga S (2000) When using sound with text or picture is not beneficial for learning. Aust J Educ Technol 16(2):161–172

    Google Scholar 

  5. Park DC (1998) Ageing and memory: mechanisms underlying age differences in performance. Aust J Ageing 17(1):69–92

    Google Scholar 

  6. Rabbitt P (1997) The Alan Welford memorial lecture – ageing and human skill: a 40th anniversary. Ergonomics 40(10):962–281

    Google Scholar 

  7. Stuart-Hamilton I (1999) Intellectual changes in late life. In: Woods E., R.T. Psychological Problems of Ageing (Chichester, 1999) Wiley, Chichester

  8. Wilkniss SM, Jones M, Korel D, Gold P, Manning C (1997) Age-related differences in an ecologically based study of route learning. Psychol Ageing 12(2):372–275

    Google Scholar 

  9. Zajicek M (2000) The construction of speech output to support elderly visually impaired users starting to use the Internet. ICSLP 2000, vol I, Oct 2000, China Military Friendship Press, Beijing, pp 150–153

  10. Zajicek M, Hall S (2000) Solutions for elderly visually impaired people using the Internet. HCI 2000, Sept 2000, Springer, Sunderland, pp 299–907

  11. Zajicek M, Powell C, Reeves C (1998) A Web navigation tool for the blind. In: Proc 3rd ACM/SIGAPH on Assistive Technologies, ACM Press, Marina del Rey, CA, USA, pp 204–406

  12. Hearing Concern (2000) Factsheet 23, Presbycusis. http://www.hearingconcern.com/factsheets/factsheet_10.htm

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary Zajicek.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zajicek, M., Morrissey, W. Multimodality and interactional differences in older adults. UAIS 2, 125–133 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-003-0045-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-003-0045-y

Keywords

Navigation