Exploring Strategies in Website Development in Human-Computer Interaction for Older Adults Over 65: A Case Study

Date of Conferral

10-25-2023

Degree

Doctor of Information Technology (D.I.T.)

School

Information Systems and Technology

Advisor

Gail Miles

Abstract

Human-computer interaction (HCI) website developers often lack the understanding necessary to build interfaces to meet accessibility requirements for older adults over 65. Adults over 65 often have difficulty using computer technology to access information over the Internet and are slow to adapt because websites are not fully accessible to older adults. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies that HCI website developers use to build interfaces to meet accessibility requirements for older adults over 65. The participants were four HCI website developers from four website development companies in the New York City metropolitan area of the United States. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and organizational documents. Using thematic analysis, the major themes found were ease of readability and accessibility, ease of navigation and simplicity, and the importance of feedback. A key recommendation is for web designers and developers to use best practices and guidelines identified by the World Wide Web Consortium to create accessible websites for adults over 65. The implications for positive social change include the potential to improve the number of websites that are easier to use for older adults, thus providing benefits to older adults by enriching their worlds, allowing their families to use distance communication to interact with them, and affording health providers with an avenue to have more contact with the older adults.

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