Interface Design and Research Process for Studying the Usability of Interactive Home-Entertainment Systems by Young Children
Titel:
Interface Design and Research Process for Studying the Usability of Interactive Home-Entertainment Systems by Young Children
Auteur:
Revelle, Glenda L. Medoff, Lisa
Verschenen in:
Early education and development
Paginering:
Jaargang 13 (2002) nr. 4 pagina's 423-434
Jaar:
2002-10-01
Inhoud:
This study evaluated young children's understanding of and ability to use an input device of the type associated with home-entertainment systems (like videogame players, DVD's, and other interactive systems that connect to a television set). These systems have the potential to serve as a powerful platform for delivering interactive educational programming to young children. However, the input controllers for these systems have proven extremely difficult for young children to use, as they typically require use of very small buttons that are close together, and arrow-based keys or joystick-like devices. To examine the potential for enabling young children to use such hardware devices, three adapted software interfaces were implemented. Eighty-four children, ranging in age from 36 to 59 months and from lower to lower-middle socio-economic status, participated in this study, using one of the three software interfaces to make simple on-screen choices. The results demonstrate that it is possible to enable preschool children to use home-entertainment system control devices, by implementing adapted software interfaces which limit the kinds of inputs and choices that are required. In addition, this study describes and documents a process for conducting usability research with young children using home-entertainment interactive media systems.
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