When computers hit the mainstream, the older guy in the office would always be sniggered at when bashing away on his QWERTY keyboard, only using his two index fingers to type. To the amusement of his younger, tech-savvy colleagues, he would almost look Neanderthal next to those who grew up with computers and used all their fingers on the keyboard quickly and fluently.

Younger users adopt a two-handed approach, using both thumbs to type, while older users cradle their phone in one hand and type with one finger

In offices around the world, after computers entered every part of our lives, it was indicative of how wide the generational gap had become in how people interacted with new, emerging technology.

But nothing stays still. Those young sniggerers, born at the dawn of the tech revolution, are now the ones who look old-fashioned when it comes to using mobile phone keyboards.

With the increasing popularity of touchscreen smartphones, there’s increasing emphasis on ergonomics – and a growing interest in how older and younger users interact with their devices.

Indeed, a recent experiment I undertook yielded a very revealing observation. Younger users adopt a two-handed approach, using both thumbs to type, while older users cradle their phone in one hand and type with one finger.

New designs

If you’re an ergonomic designer working on the next wave of smartphone tech, this is an important point to note as it will no doubt influence some of the basic parameters of your next design. Because after all, products must meet the needs of the consumers who will buy them.

It could be that we see the development of a layered approach to interface design, allowing the button size to increase to reduce user errors

Although designers have considered the interaction needs of users when designing touchscreen interfaces, there is still room for improvement in certain areas. One thing is clear: more focus needs to be made on the interaction of the QWERTY keyboard, alongside the sensitivity and responsiveness of touchscreens.

If the debate is to be moved forward, a better understanding of interaction styles among people needs to be developed by academia and industry. More work will need to be done to determine how experience, rather than age, affects the use of a touchscreen. And a study to analyse the ease of navigation for users through different app processes would also be revealing.

It could be that we see the development of a layered approach to interface design, allowing the button size to increase to reduce user errors, and greater efforts made to ensure easier navigation.

The ConversationOnly then will we start to see designs produced which are more inclusive and meet the needs and attitudes of older generations, who are more excited at the prospect of using technology than their younger colleagues.

Tom Page, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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