Effects of Interface Button Styles on the Usability of Product Interfaces for Older Adults with and without Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Cognitive decline affects older adults’ ability to use of products in their daily lives. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of interface button styles on the usability of product interfaces for older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Older adults with and without MCI were invited as the subjects to participate in an evaluation of the usability of electronic rice cooker interfaces with different styles of touch buttons. The task completion time and touch traces of the participants were recorded. The results revealed that the participants without MCI could use the interfaces more efficiently than could those with MCI. Of the various styles of buttons, the circular buttons were the most usable for the participants without MCI. The use efficiency levels of participants with and without MCI were nearly equal when the participants used the interface with pictures aligned with text. The results would be contributive for designing product interfaces for older adult users as design references.