Designing a video library for senior users of iTV

Abstract

The adoption rate of technologies by older adults is dependent on several factors, such as the identified potential benefits in the users’ perspective. Designing and creating technology-based products since their beginning with potential end users, will help to guarantee a high rate use of these type of solutions, as verified in literature. In the scope of +TV4E project, which aims to deliver information regarding public and social services to older people through an interactive television (iTV) platform, this study analyses the best approach to implement a video library. This functionality allows the user to access a list of produced videos in the last days, categorized as "seen" and "unseen". Therefore, this article explores the process carried out to define the best approach to present a video library. For this, the research team presented to a sample of 4 seniors, three video library proposals developed concerning the design guidelines for iTV applications for elderly, supported on literature review. The data collection was followed by a cognitive walkthrough and a focus group session. Aspects as using different combinations to present the layouts and ensure that participants were not influenced, allowed to obtain results free of bias.