1. Usability for Adults Over 50 Amy Lee Director of Customer Experience for Web AARP Services, Inc.

2. Reality check on the demographic  This is not today’s “older adult”.

3. Complicated attitudes toward aging Denial is a powerful thing  Be sensitive to our unsaid stigmas around aging A person turns 50 every 8 seconds  Soon the Internet will be “like water from a faucet”

4. “I’m just too dumb for computers.”  Don’t trust your survey methods. Your respondents might be making wrong assumptions.  Always watch users interact with your site.

5. Attitudes toward interacting online  People were embarrassed about spending time on a Web-based community application, even if they did participate on message boards. “I have real friends”  Gaming: Older adults get on the Web to play games, but many seem to loathe to admit it.

6. Watch your language!  If you are self taught on the computer, why would you know technical terms?

7. Feeling overwhelmed  “The page is just so cluttered” Related to “cautious clicking?

8. Designing for Older Adults: The Bottom Line  Good Web site design for older adults follows the standards of good Web design for everyone. There is no reason why it has to be “boring”.  Ultimately, everyone benefits.

9. Older Wiser Wired  A community of practice around usable Web site design for older adults  Will post research results and tools  Online community of peers (discussion board and email newsletter)  www.aarp.org/olderwiserwired

10. Thanks! Amy Lee Director of Customer Experience for Web AARP Services, Inc. alee@aarp.org