A User Study: Keyboard and Applications to Simplify Smartphone Adoption for Seniors

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2017:237:177-182.

Abstract

The aim of the user study was to evaluate how the developed assistive physical keyboard, the Ezi-PAD, and integrated senior friendly applications, can encourage non-smartphone seniors to start using the smartphone and enable senior smartphone users to continue using a smartphone in spite of increasing motoric or visual impairment. A number of seniors with different experience and impairment, aged 64 to 86, were equipped with a smartphone and an Ezi-PAD assembly. After basic training, their use of the smartphone was monitored for up to 2 months. Five out of nine participants used the system for 2 months, and found the Ezi-PAD easy to use. The senior friendly applications gave extra utilitarian value to the phone.

Keywords: Smartphone; impairment; senior.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mobile Applications*
  • Motor Skills Disorders*
  • Smartphone*
  • Vision Disorders*