Investigating the usability of PDAs with ageing users

Mobile technologies have the potential to enhance the lives of ageing users, especially those who experience a decline in cognitive abilities. However, diminutive devices often perplex the aged and many HCI problems exist. This research ultimately aims to develop a mobile reminiscent application for ageing users entitled MemoryLane. This application will use artificial intelligent techniques to compose and convey excerpts from a lifetime’s memories to the user in a multimodal storytelling format. The proposed deployment platform for MemoryLane is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The initial stage of this research, a HCI pilot study was recently conducted with a sample of ageing users, the study aimed to investigate the usability of a PDA. This paper documents the methodologies employed in this pilot study and its subsequent results. The next stages of the research are also identified and discussed. Categories and Subject Descriptors K.4.2. [Social Issues]: Assistive technologies ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: BCSHCI
• Authors: Sheila Mc Carthy, Heather Sayers, Paul McKevitt
• Keywords: BCSHCI 2007, HCI Pilot Study, Human Computer Interaction, Pilot Study, Users Entitled Memorylane