Adaptable web search user interface model for the elderly

Abstract

The elderly population is rapidly increasing worldwide, but many face challenges in using digital tools like the Internet due to health and incapacity issues. Existing online search user interfaces (UIs) often overlook the specific usability needs of the elderly. This study proposes an adaptable web search UI model for the elderly, based on their perspectives, to enhance search performance and usability. The proposed UI model is evaluated through comparative usability testing with 20 participants, comparing it to the Google search UI. Effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction are measured using task completion time, error rate, and subjective preferences. The results show significant differences (p > 0.05) between the proposed web search UI model and the Google search UI. The proposed UI model achieves higher subjective satisfaction levels, indicating better alignment with the needs and preferences of elderly users. It also reduces task completion time, indicating improved efficiency, and decreases the error rate, suggesting enhanced effectiveness. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the unique usability needs of the elderly when designing search UIs. The proposed adaptable web search UI model offers a promising approach to enhance the digital experiences of elderly users. This study lays the groundwork for further development and refinement of adaptable web search UI models that cater to the specific needs of elderly users, enabling designers to create more inclusive and user-friendly search interfaces for the growing elderly population.