Schwender, C., & Kohler, C. (2006). Introducing seniors to new media technology: New ways of thinking for a new target group. Technical Communication, 53 (7), 464-470.

Schwender, C.; Kohler, C.

2006

Schwender, C., & Kohler, C. (2006). Introducing seniors to new media technology: New ways of thinking for a new target group. Technical Communication, 53 (7), 464-470.

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As adults get older, they face somatic (such a eyesight, hearing, motor control) and cognitive (such as information processing, memory, multitasking) restrictions. These restrictions also affect the reading and understanding of technical documentation. In a three-phase program, we investigated the documentation-related problems of seniors and developed solutions. Phase I: We read and discussed a chapter of a handbook for a mobile phone with older adults to find out where the problems were. Phase II: We reformulated and redesigned that chapter with another group of seniors. Phase III: We tested the final version against the original with yet another set of our target population. Briefly, the three phases of the test revealed that on the somatic level, seniors need an appropriate font size. On the cognitive level, they need clearly structured information and less computer terminology. Most likely all audiences would benefit from these changes.

The participants using the original instructions needed an average of 27 more minutes to complete the assignment. The fastest participant needed 20 minutes. In comparison, the participants with the new version of the operating instructions needed an average of only 16 minutes. The reworked version can therefore be viewed as successfull.

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