SCWeb2: Senior Citizens On The Web 2.0

Leverhulme Trust Reference: F/00 120/BL

The Web is changing! The much vaunted Web 2.0 sees once static pages evolving into hybrid applications. Content which was once simple to surf is now becoming increasingly complicated due to the many updating components “dotted” throughout the page. The information overload and visual complexity is significant. However the sites most effected by these changes are often the most popular for social interaction. Sites such as Flickr, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and Google Maps all rely on these new components and are all popular with older users. This increased complexity is a major problem for an ageing population of ‘knowledge workers’ expected to work longer into old age. Indeed, we already know that seniors experience an increased cautiousness and a hesitancy about making responses that may be incorrect. In ‘noisy’ information environments this increased complexity produces lower performance and higher levels of stress and frustration which negatively effect both work and social activity.

Objectives

Without a full understanding of the interaction of older people with Web 2.0 technologies the Web will rapidly become unable to support their interaction needs. Only by a deep understanding of this interaction can we propose assistive solutions. Therefore the objective of SCWeb2 is to create a cognitive model of ageing users’ Web 2.0 interactivity and suggest interventions, realised as an experimental assistive advisor, to overcome their interactivity problems. Therefore, by the end of this project we expect to be able to:

1. Develop a profound understanding of the nature and evolution of ageing users cognition and perception of Web 2.0 based information in order to better understand the nature of their interaction.
2. Build a model of the interaction of older users and the Web 2.0 including an experimental framework to facilitate evaluation.
3. Design, develop, and evaluate a prototypical experimental application for older surfers using the Web 2.0.

Further information about the progress of SCWeb2, please see the Project Plan page.