Empirical study on improvement of usability -for touch-panel for elderly - comparison of usability between touch-panel and mouse

In this study. we clarified the differences in the pointing time required when using a touch panel and a PC mouse for three age group: young, middleaged. and elderly. Furthermore, we constructed a performance model for a touch-panel operation (Experiment 1). The model is based on an equation that estimates the time required for the pointing task. Moreover. we investigated the visual interference caused by a multi-target presentation (Experiment 2 ) . I n Experiment 1. the experimental factors were target area, target distance, and approach angle to a target. In Experiment 2, the experimental factors were target area, approach angle to a target, and target position. A fully within-subject design was used. The pointing time and the error rate were measured for both a touch panel and a PC mouse. In Experiment 1, the pointing time with the PC mouse for the elderly group was significantly longer than that for the other age groups (young and middle-aged). O n the other hand, there was no significant difference in the pointing time by age group for the use of the touch panel. With respect to differences in the error rate by age group. there were none with either t h e touch panel or the PC mouse. These results indicate that a direct-input device, such 86 a touch panel, would be superior to an indirect-input device. such b4 a PC mouse, for older adults whenever i t is desired to prevent the influence of age. In Experiment 2. the difference in the pointing time between multi-target and singletarget conditions was calculated by using the proposed model. The delay caused by visual interference for the right-hand target was longer than that for the left-hand target, and that for the upper target was longer than that for the lower target. Keyword-elderly person, aging. touch panel. performance model. Fitts’ law