The DOI matches its Crossref record, with a small difference in title or year; 30 of the 30 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Age-related differences in the initial usability of mobile device icons
Abstract
Mobile devices offer much potential to support older adults (age 65+). However, older adults have been relatively slow to adopt mobile devices. Although much ongoing HCI research has examined usability problems to address this issue, little work has looked at whether existing graphical icons are harder to use for this population compared with younger adults. We conducted a qualitative exploratory study and a follow-up experimental study to determine which icon characteristics help initial icon usability for older adults. We found that our older participants did have more problems using existing mobile device icons, but that particular icon characteristics – semantically close meaning (i.e. natural, close link between depicted objects and associated function), familiar, labelled and concrete (i.e. those depicting real-world objects) – improved icon usability for them. We discuss how these findings can help icon designers to create mobile device icons that are more suited to the abilities and technology experience of older adults.
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In the citing paper
“The results of the preliminary tests indicated that spatial ability, verbal memory, and self-efficacy of younger users were significantly higher than older users.”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [40]
In the citing paper
“Although all older users in their study were experienced computer users, the study found that more than half of them were not able to build a mental model of how the system was constructed.”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [40]
In the citing paper
“However, further analysis found that the variable which had the best predictive power for navigation performance was not age but spatial ability; age was only a carrier variable that was related to many variables which changed over the lifespan.”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [40]
In the citing paper
“Task completion time, number of tasks completed, detour steps, and nodes revisited of older users were significantly greater than those of younger users; in other words, younger users outperformed older users on mobile menu navigation [40].”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [40]
In the citing paper
“Their study also found that both verbal memory and spatial ability were related to strategies employed in menu navigation.”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [40]
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Mobile Application Usability: Conceptualization and Instrument Development1
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Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review
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“The studies of Gatsou et al. [65], Leung et al. [64], Ghayas et al. [72], and Koutsourelakis and Chorianopoulos [75] show the effect of age on icon usability.”
BackgroundHow Older Adults Learn to Use Mobile Devices: Survey and Field Investigations
Leung, R., Tang, C., Haddad, S., Mcgrenere, J., Graf, P., & Ingriany, V. (2012) · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing · doi:10.1145/2399193.2399195 · Cited by 162
Self-citationDesign Guidelines of Mobile Apps for Older Adults: Systematic Review and Thematic Analysis
Gomez-Hernandez, M., Ferre, X., Moral, C., & Villalba-Mora, E. (2023) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth · doi:10.2196/43186 · Cited by 161
“This category includes guidelines 9-11: • Use icons that are concrete and familiar images [60,68,69].”
BackgroundInfluential
Metadata
- Authors
- Leung, R., McGrenere, J., & Graf, P.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Leung, Rock
- Venue
- Behaviour & Information Technology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-09
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 629-642
- ISSN
- 0144-929X (ISSN-L)
- 1362-3001
- OpenAlex
- W2011111325
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 9.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour and Information Technology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Technology Use by Older Adults
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
- Social Sciences › Human Factors and Ergonomics › Safety Warnings and Signage
- Keywords
- older adults, age differences, icon design, semantic meaning, familiarity, technology adoption, user interface design
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