Improving Accessibility for Seniors in a Life-long Learning Network: A Usability Study of Learning Websites

Senior citizens are comparatively vulnerable in accessing learning opportunities offered on the Internet due to usability problems in current web design. In an effort to build a senior-friendly learning web as a part of the Life-long Learning Network in Shanghai, usability studies of two websites currently available to Shanghai senior citizens were conducted, with the intention of integrating these websites into a senior learning web as well as promoting accessibility for senior users. Through this study usability problems were identified generating suggested changes for designing websites focused on learning by seniors. This study contributes empirical findings to the field of information system design and its accessibility for seniors. Initiative, which is being developed with the goal of building Shanghai into a learning city for ‘anyone, anytime and anywhere’ (SMC, 2006). There is substantial growth in the use of the Internet by older people (Morrell, 2005; Becker, 2004a; Wick, 2004; Nahm et al., 2006; SCAB, SBSC, & SSB, 2009). However, many of the senior Internet users are not taking full advantage of online resources due to usability and accessibility issues common to elderly participants (Morrell, 2005; Dickinson & Gregor, 2006; Aula, 2005). Computer software and most web content are usually developed by and for DOI: 10.4018/javet.2011040102 12 International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology, 2(2), 11-24, April-June 2011 Copyright © 2011, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. younger users; lack of consideration for the elderly and the problems associated with aging, such as computer experience and attitude, age-related constraints, language barriers, and software complexity (Dickinson et al., 2005) contribute to the problems of usability and accessibility. In the work reported here we consider the terms senior citizen or elderly refers to those who are 60 and older as is common in China (Chinese Government, 1996), while in most developed countries 65 has been accepted as definition of older people (Arch, 2008). The Life-long Learning Network has identified a number of websites with content appropriate to the elderly with the intention of integrating these sites into the learning network for seniors in Shanghai. From the current set of websites identified as having the elderly as the target audience, a representative site from two groups has been chosen: one is from the group of the websites developed by senior related agencies, and the other is from the group of websites developed by corporations. The criteria for selection are that they are learning oriented, and the design of the website has been based on some kind of senior-friendly requirements. The objective of the current work was to examine these existing sites using usability guidelines for usage by the elderly so as to identify needed improvements in the sites as well as to build new knowledge about the use of guidelines in designing websites for the elderly. Thus, we conducted a usability study of each of these two selected learning websites. Lessons learned from the study will be used to improve the usability and therefore improve accessibility of the learning opportunities for seniors in life-long learning network. The usability requirements found in this study can also contribute to the field of information system design and its accessibility for seniors in general.