GUIs for older users first learning about computers

[Gio1978]

Hello all,

I am teaching an introduction to computers course for people in their
60's to 80's. It is remarkable how my students are interested in
learning about computers, but I have observed that older users have
different habits than younger ones. For example, older users who are
relatively new to computers simply assume that, when using Word, when
they move the mouse and position it somewhere on the document (without
clicking on it) and they start typing, the text will just start
filling the page from that particular spot. I have also noticed that,
when they use drop-down menus, they do not start reading from the top
but from the center. Is anyone aware of GUI design tips for the
elderly?

Thanks,
Giovanni Vincenti
http://sites.google.com/site/giovannivincenti/

[Leon]

I remember seeing something like your problem with users starting from
the centre of a drop-down menu many years ago, with operator
instruction cards on Xerox copiers, when I was doing usability
evaluations for Xerox Research (UK). Inexperienced users tended to
miss the information towards the top of the card. I think we amended
the instruction booklet, emphasising that the whole page had to be
read, starting at the top.

Leon

[Cyanto]

Hi Giovanni,
I think that you can pick up any solutions from Eldy (http://
www.eldy.org/).
I had any teach experience with elderly people and I had notice the
same habits like you.
I think that people doesn't think to cursor and Word work area like
two layer one on the other.
The MS Word mental image of the older user needs to transfer the point
& click mechanism from the entire OS to the specific program.

Greetings

[Gio1978]

Thanks for all the great information! I think Eldy will work quite
well for my courses.
Giovanni