Location
Accra, Ghana and Virtual
Start Date
29-8-2025 10:45 AM
End Date
29-8-2025 11:15 AM
Description
Since mobile phones are increasingly becoming livelihoods-enablers to people in developing economies, inclusive interaction design are critical. This research on the age inclusivity of feature phones was motivated by some observation that elderly users had challenges with adoption of text messaging. We, therefore, hypothesized that elderly people had challenges with texting ‘cash’, ‘cheque’ or ‘visa’ on a feature phone. The paper investigates if the required agility and interface ergonomics were age discriminatory inhibitors of the adoption of text messaging given the diminishing dexterity and cognitive skills of seniors. Using Sen’s (1999) ‘heterogeneity of capabilities’ theory and Davis et al (1989)’s Technology Acceptance Model to sensitize an interpretivist qualitative study, the research shows that sophisticated the interaction design of feature phones SMS user interfaces are ergonomically inclement to seniors. Based on empirical research conducted in Zimbabwe, we found that the adoption of text messaging by elderly users is affected by un-user friendliness of the interface design of feature phone handsets, handset key pad complexity and low literacy levels. An age inclusive interface design framework is developed from Sen’s (1999) Capability approach and Davis et al (1989).
Included in
Towards Age-Inclusive Human Computer Interaction: A Study of Text Message Adoption by Seniors
Accra, Ghana and Virtual
Since mobile phones are increasingly becoming livelihoods-enablers to people in developing economies, inclusive interaction design are critical. This research on the age inclusivity of feature phones was motivated by some observation that elderly users had challenges with adoption of text messaging. We, therefore, hypothesized that elderly people had challenges with texting ‘cash’, ‘cheque’ or ‘visa’ on a feature phone. The paper investigates if the required agility and interface ergonomics were age discriminatory inhibitors of the adoption of text messaging given the diminishing dexterity and cognitive skills of seniors. Using Sen’s (1999) ‘heterogeneity of capabilities’ theory and Davis et al (1989)’s Technology Acceptance Model to sensitize an interpretivist qualitative study, the research shows that sophisticated the interaction design of feature phones SMS user interfaces are ergonomically inclement to seniors. Based on empirical research conducted in Zimbabwe, we found that the adoption of text messaging by elderly users is affected by un-user friendliness of the interface design of feature phone handsets, handset key pad complexity and low literacy levels. An age inclusive interface design framework is developed from Sen’s (1999) Capability approach and Davis et al (1989).
