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Analysing Touchscreen Gestures: A Study Based on Individuals with Down Syndrome Centred on Design for All
Jorge Martin-Gutierrez1, Marta Sylvia Del Rio Guerra2
1Department of Techniques and Projects in Engineering and Architecture, Universidad de La Laguna, Av. Angel Guimerá sn, 38071 Tenerife, Spain.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 6, 2021
Summary
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) show varied performance with touch gestures, indicating not all gestures are equally suitable for them. Understanding gesture suitability is key for inclusive app design.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Assistive Technology
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Growing demand for inclusive digital applications.
- Limited research on cognitive impairments compared to visual or hearing impairments.
- Need for evidence-based gesture selection for users with Down syndrome (DS).
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze touch gestures for touchscreen usability.
- Identify gestures suitable for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and other cognitive impairments.
- Inform app developers to meet Design for All (DfA) standards.
Main Methods:
- Defined and evaluated twenty distinct touch gestures.
- Recruited eighteen participants with Down syndrome (DS).
- Utilized a custom tool to measure gesture performance (success rates, completion times).
- Analyzed the influence of Gender, Type of DS, and Socioeconomic Status.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in gesture performance among individuals with DS were observed.
- Gender and Socioeconomic Status did not significantly impact gesture success or completion times.
- Type of Down syndrome (DS) was found to influence gesture performance.
Conclusions:
- Not all touch gestures are performed with equal ease by individuals with Down syndrome (DS).
- The specific type of Down syndrome (DS) is a relevant factor in touch gesture performance.
- Findings support tailored gesture selection for developing more accessible applications for users with cognitive impairments.
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