A STUDY ON VISUAL LIMITATION OF AGE, NUMERICAL SIZE, AND EXPOSURE TIME WHILE USERS OPERATE MOBILE DEVICES

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Gerontology
• Usability Engineering

Background:

• Mobile device usage is ubiquitous, making efficient text communication crucial.
• Reading performance is influenced by font size and exposure time, especially for older adults.
• Existing research on older adults' reading performance primarily uses print or computer monitors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate reading performance on mobile device interfaces among older adults.
• To identify visual limitations affecting mobile text message readability in this demographic.
• To compare performance across different font sizes and exposure durations.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-two participants were involved in the study.
• Text messages were displayed on mobile device interfaces with varying font sizes and exposure times.
• Reading accuracy was measured for different conditions.

Main Results:

• Younger adults accurately read 10-point font text.
• Older adults demonstrated significantly lower accuracy, even with 14-point fonts.
• Older adults' accuracy was impaired at 1-second exposure, while younger adults maintained >80% accuracy at 0.4 seconds.

Conclusions:

• Mobile device text readability is significantly impacted by age-related visual changes.
• Larger font sizes and longer exposure times are necessary for older adults to effectively read mobile text.
• Design considerations for mobile interfaces should prioritize accessibility for older users.