Eye tracking study on Web-use: Comparison between younger and elderly users in case of search task with electronic timetable service

The World Wide Web provides a variety of information and services, however, its usability is still under discussion. In order to clarify concrete difficulties in Web use, the behavior of younger and elderly users was observed with eye tracking during a timetable search task using electronic timetable systems on the Web. The result shows on the one hand common difficulties for younger and elderly users caused by an inconvenient navigational structure and an inappropriate page design. On the other hand, several important differences between the two age groups are confirmed. It suggests the necessity of particular consideration for elderly users in Web design.

[1]  Andy Cockburn,et al.  Which way now? Analysing and easing inadequacies in WWW navigation , 1996, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[2]  Jinwoo Kim.  An empirical study of navigation aids in customer interfaces , 1999, Behav. Inf. Technol..

[3]  N Charness.  Ergonomics and ageing: the role of interactions. , 1998, Studies in health technology and informatics.

[4]  D. Bachiochi,et al.  Usability Studies And Sesigning Navigational Aids for the World Wide Web , 1997, Comput. Networks.

[5]  Panayiotis Zaphiris,et al.  Depth vs Breath in the Arrangement of Web Links , 2000 .

[6]  A. L. Yarbus,et al.  Eye Movements and Vision , 1967, Springer US.

[7]  James E. Pitkow,et al.  Characterizing Browsing Strategies in the World-Wide Web , 1995, Comput. Networks ISDN Syst..

[8]  J. P. Hansen.  The use of eye mark recordings to support verbal retrospection in software testing , 1991 .

[9]  A. L. I︠A︡rbus.  Eye Movements and Vision , 1967 .

[10]  Jinwoo Kim,et al.  Toward the optimal link structure of the cyber shopping mall , 2000, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[11]  Joseph H. Goldberg,et al.  Eye tracking in web search tasks: design implications , 2002, ETRA.

[12]  Saul Greenberg,et al.  How people revisit web pages: empirical findings and implications for the design of history systems , 1997, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[13]  Sri Hastuti Kurniawan,et al.  Increasing the Usability of Online Information for Older Users: A Case Study in Participatory Design , 2000, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[14]  K. Rayner.  Eye movements in reading and information processing: 20 years of research. , 1998, Psychological bulletin.

[15]  Andrew T. Duchowski,et al.  Eye Tracking Methodology: Theory and Practice , 2003, Springer London.

[16]  Christopher B. Mayhorn,et al.  A Survey of World Wide Web Use in Middle-Aged and Older Adults , 2000, Hum. Factors.

[17]  Constantine Stephanidis,et al.  Universal access in HCI : inclusive design in the information society , 2003 .

[18]  Wendy A. Rogers,et al.  Age-Related Differences in Perceptual Learning , 1996, Hum. Factors.

[19]  Heiner Deubel,et al.  The mind's eye : cognitive and applied aspects of eye movement research , 2003 .

[20]  H. Bouma.  Gerontechnology : making technology relevant for the elderly , 1992 .