1 Multi-Layered Interfaces for Mobile Applications for Older Adults: Qualitative Analysis By Justine Yang CPSC 448B April 28, 2009

2 Introduction Mobile devices have gone through a major transformation in the past decades First phone in the 1970’s Phones we have today

3 Introduction And emerged in popularity in recent years Wait, there’s something missing!

4 Introduction And emerged in popularity in recent years Where are the seniors in the picture?

5 Introduction It is observed that seniors often perceive new technologies as too complicated “I don’t know how to use these new gadgets, my son taught me before, but I always forget after a while…”

6 Motivation Attempting to make the interfaces on mobile devices easier to use Multi-Layered Interface!!!

7 Motivation Previous research shows “Multi-layered interfaces have been seen as a suitable approach to helping novice users to learn to use software interfaces.” - Shneiderman, B. “Novices can learn with multi-layered interfaces by starting with an initial layer consisting of a limited function set, and progressing to successive layers when needed or when they are comfortable using the initial set.”

8 Study Design

9 Participants: 16 young participants (age 20-39) 16 senior participants (age 65+)

10 Study Design Independent Variables (Interface): Multi-Layered Interface –Perform tasks on different interfaces Non-Layered Interface (control) –Perform all tasks on one interface Elaborate more in a bit…

11 Study Design Tasks: 1 st set: Basic (Add user, edit user, and delete user) 2 nd set: Advanced (Add voice dialing, send text message and add custom ringtone)

12 Study Design Participants using Multi-Layered Interface Interface 1 Perform 1 st set of task (Add, edit, delete user) Interface 2 Perform 2 nd set of task (voice dial, text message, ringtone)

13 Study Design Participants using Non-Layered Interface Perform both sets of tasks Interface 2

14 Study Design Data: 1. Performance –Track the number of extra steps performed in a task 2. Questionnaires –Given after each set of tasks and rate on Likert scale 3.Post-study Interview –Open ended questions, understand preferences and reasoning Data: 1. Performance –Track the number of extra steps performed in a task 2. Questionnaires –Given after each set of tasks and rate on Likert scale 3.Post-study Interview –Open ended questions, understand preferences and reasoning

15 Study Design 1.What are the perceived benefits of the ML interfaces for learning? 2. What are the perceived benefits of the ML interfaces for long term usage? 3. Do seniors prefer multi-layered interfaces or traditional non-layered interfaces and Why? 4. Do age-related differences exist in the aforementioned questions?

16 Results and Analysis

17 Results and Analysis Performance Data on Initial Learning ML NL ML NL

18 Results and Analysis Seniors prefer the ML interface for learning LearningPreference MLNL Seniors using ML 5/83/8 Seniors using NL 5/72/7 Total: 10/15 of the seniors prefer the ML interface

19 Results and Analysis Reasons why seniors prefer the ML interface: Gradual Learning Curve “[D]oing the simpler thing first is easier. Going from simpler to complex is more of a natural progress of learning.” (ML, age 65+, P53) “I would learn this first and go on to the other option if one is comfortable with [interface 1]. (ML, age 65+, P63)

20 Results and Analysis Drawbacks of the ML interface for Learning: 1.“Because you sort of get in your mind that it’s a different thing and you had to learn this all over again.” (ML, age 65+, P69)

21 Results and Analysis Drawbacks of the ML interface for Learning: 2. “If you do the first one, then you become over competent. Like you’d think you can do it with your eyes closed. Then, you get this false sense of competence. So I think I would want to go with the 2nd system first.” (ML, age 65+, P57)

22 Results and Analysis Performance Data on Long Term Usage ML,NL

23 Results and Analysis Same number of seniors prefer the ML and NL interface for long term usage ** B = Only Basic Interface Long Term UsagePreference MLNLB Seniors using ML 4/83/81/8 Seniors using NL 3/74/70/7

24 Results and Analysis Reasons why seniors prefer the ML interface: “I think I would prefer them both even if I never use interface 2. If it’s there, there’s a possibility for me to use it.” (ML, age 65+, P67) “I would prefer the one where you have all the personal commonly used [features]…I would use this most of the time… It might be the occasional time that I want to use [interface 2] or probably not you know? “(ML, age 65+, P69)

25 Results and Analysis Reasons why seniors prefer the NL interface 1.“I think I would choose the one with all the functions because it’s all there.”. (ML, age 65+, P52) 2.“I would want all of the functions” (ML, age 65+, P53) 3.“It’s not difficult to use…Keep it simple.” (NL, age 65+, P70)

26 Results and Analysis No drawback was seen from participants’ response in using the ML interface for long term usage

27 Results and Analysis Age-related differences: Preference for Learning: Senior: ML interface v.s. Young: Mixed preferences Preference for Long Term Usage: Senior: Equal v.s. Young: ML interface

28 Results and Analysis Age-related differences in Learning: Senior: ML interface v.s. Young: Mixed preferences Seniors take more steps, difference between NL and ML is larger Seniors take more time, difference between NL and ML is larger

29 Results and Analysis Age-related differences in Long Term Usage: Senior: Equal v.s. Young: ML interface Takes same number of steps, no difference between NL and ML Seniors take more time, no difference between NL and ML

30 Results and Analysis Possible Cause #1: Priority Senior: Simplicity “Probably, it’s simpler to do a bit and get more familiar with fingers and where the buttons are and so on. Just the way you did.” (ML, age 65+, P59) [Interface 1] Always. It’s simple. [For interface 2], well if you feel more ambitious and want to do more fancy things. (ML, age 65+, P65) Young: Efficiency and Convenience “I’ll definitely be faster if I use the one with fewer options…Use it when I first got it. I would switch to the other one when I feel like I know how to do the other functions.” (ML, age 20-39, P13)

31 Results and Analysis Possible Cause #1: Priority Senior: Simplicity For learning: ML interface “It was easier and then increase the complexity. That worked well for me.” (ML, age 65+, P67) For long term usage: either ML interface: Use this one most of the time. These are the essential functions. The other functions are extras, fancy things to impress your friends.” (ML, age 65+, P65) NL interface: “It’s not difficult to use, just more functions to use. I would just go with one [interface]. Keep it simple.” (NL, age+, P70)

32 Results and Analysis Possible Cause #1: Priority Young: Efficiency and Convenience For learning: Mixed ML participants prefer the ML interface: “[Interface 1] add quickly. Also for learning. [Interface 2] when bored, and want to try and use the other functions.” (ML, age 20-39, P3) NL participants prefer the NL interface: “less moving around and all in one place. There are fewer steps.” (ML, age 20-39, P6) For long term usage: ML interface “I would choose interface 1 because I have fewer options to scroll through. Interface 2: Use interface two when I have more time.” (ML, age 20-39, P10)

33 Results and Analysis Possible Cause #2: Past Experience Senior: Little Experience Young: Abundant Experience Experience ComputerMobile Devices Senior 15/155/15 Young 16/16

34 Results and Analysis Possible Cause #2: Past Experience Senior: Less Experience complex, need guidance Takes more steps and longer time

35 Results and Analysis Possible Cause #2: Past Experience Senior: Less Experience complex, need guidance For learning: ML interface “It was easier and then increase the complexity. That worked well for me.” (ML, age 65+, P67) For long term usage: either ML interface: Use this one most of the time. These are the essential functions. The other functions are extras, fancy things to impress your friends.” (ML, age 65+, P65) NL interface: “ I can see what features that are in there, and I think it would be very useful for me and for my work. ” (NL, age+, P62)

36 Results and Analysis Possible Cause #2: Past Experience Young: Abundant Experience not complex, efficiency “Plus, it’s not that complicated…It’s probably harder for people in my parents’ age (NL, age 20-39, P4)

37 Results and Analysis Possible Cause #2: Past Experience Young: Abundant Experience not complex, efficiency For learning: Mixed ML participants prefer the ML interface: “[Interface 1] add quickly. Also for learning. [Interface 2] when bored, and want to try and use the other functions.” (ML, age 20-39, P3) NL participants prefer the NL interface: “less moving around and all in one place. There are fewer steps.” (ML, age 20-39, P6) For long term usage: ML interface “I would choose interface 1 because I have fewer options to scroll through. Interface 2: Use interface two when I have more time.” (ML, age 20-39, P10)

38 Conclusion

39 Conclusion Senior Users: Learning Senior participants prefer ML interface Drawbacks exist, but can be overcome by switching to interface 2 Long Term Usage Equal number of senior participants prefer the ML and NL Interfaces but no drawback was found

40 Conclusion Younger Users: There was no distinct improvement in terms of performance when learning through the ML interface For long term usage, the ML interface is beneficial to younger population as the basic interface makes the operations more efficient

41 Questions and Answer