Age-related differences in processing visual device and task characteristics when using technical devices
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Standard
In: Applied Ergonomics, Vol. 48, No. 5, 01.05.2015, p. 214-223.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Age-related differences in processing visual device and task characteristics when using technical devices
AU - Oehl, Michael
AU - Sutter, Christine
PY - 2015/5/1
Y1 - 2015/5/1
N2 - With aging visual feedback becomes increasingly relevant in action control. Consequently, visual device and task characteristics should more and more affect tool use. Focussing on late working age, the present study aims to investigate age-related differences in processing task irrelevant (display size) and task relevant visual information (task difficulty). Young and middle-aged participants (20–35 and 36–64 years of age, respectively) sat in front of a touch screen with differently sized active touch areas (4″ to 12″) and performed pointing tasks with differing task difficulties (1.8–5 bits). Both display size and age affected pointing performance, but the two variables did not interact and aiming duration moderated both effects. Furthermore, task difficulty affected the pointing durations of middle-aged adults moreso than those of young adults. Again, aiming duration accounted for the variance in the data. The onset of an age-related decline in aiming duration can be clearly located in middle adulthood. Thus, the fine psychomotor ability “aiming” is a moderator and predictor for age-related differences in pointing tasks. The results support a user-specific design for small technical devices with touch interfaces.
AB - With aging visual feedback becomes increasingly relevant in action control. Consequently, visual device and task characteristics should more and more affect tool use. Focussing on late working age, the present study aims to investigate age-related differences in processing task irrelevant (display size) and task relevant visual information (task difficulty). Young and middle-aged participants (20–35 and 36–64 years of age, respectively) sat in front of a touch screen with differently sized active touch areas (4″ to 12″) and performed pointing tasks with differing task difficulties (1.8–5 bits). Both display size and age affected pointing performance, but the two variables did not interact and aiming duration moderated both effects. Furthermore, task difficulty affected the pointing durations of middle-aged adults moreso than those of young adults. Again, aiming duration accounted for the variance in the data. The onset of an age-related decline in aiming duration can be clearly located in middle adulthood. Thus, the fine psychomotor ability “aiming” is a moderator and predictor for age-related differences in pointing tasks. The results support a user-specific design for small technical devices with touch interfaces.
KW - Business psychology
KW - Ergonomics
KW - Human computer interaction
KW - Human Factors
KW - Inclusive Design
KW - Age Groups
KW - Touch Interfaces
KW - Age
KW - Display size
KW - Tool use
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922830542&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apergo.2014.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.apergo.2014.12.002
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 25683548
VL - 48
SP - 214
EP - 223
JO - Applied Ergonomics
JF - Applied Ergonomics
SN - 0003-6870
IS - 5
ER -