A Usability Evaluation of Workplace-Related Tasks on a Multi-Touch Tablet Computer by Adults with Down Syndrome
Libby Kumin, Jonathan Lazar, Jinjuan Heidi Feng, Brian Wentz, and Nnanna Ekedebe
Journal of Usability Studies, Volume 7, Issue 4, August 2012, pp. 118 - 142
Abstract
This research study focuses on evaluating the usability of multi-touch tablet devices by adults with Down syndrome for workplace-related tasks. The usability evaluation involved 10 adults with Down syndrome, and the results of the study illustrate that (a) adults with Down syndrome are able to use multi-touch devices effectively for workplace-related tasks, (b) formal computer training seems to impact participant performance, and (c) password usability continues to be a challenge for individuals with Down syndrome. Implications for designers, for policymakers, for researchers, and for users are discussed, along with suggestions for effective implementation of usability testing when involving adults with Down syndrome. Information technology can be a potential workplace skill for adults with Down syndrome, and more of the user experience community needs to get involved in understanding how people with Down syndrome utilize technology.
Practitioner’s Take Away
Tips for Usability Practitioners
When performing usability testing involving people with Down syndrome, we have seven suggestions for user experience practitioners:
- Use pilot sessions prior to usability testing with users with disabilities. There are often more logistical challenges to doing usability testing with people with disabilities than with standard usability testing. It can help focus the usability testing as well as reveal potential challenges before they occur during the actual usability testing.
- Use real examples and real accounts when conducting usability testing. People with Down syndrome are often literal and direct and would feel uncomfortable using accounts that are not theirs.
- Be flexible when participants say that they would instead prefer to type in a different time or a different piece of data. The level of engagement with tasks is high, and allowing for flexibility allows for the level of engagement to remain high. As presented earlier in the paper, some of the participants argued about the data entry not being to their liking or not being appropriate (writing a paragraph about wintertime clothes when it’s actually summertime outside).
- Ask participants to bring their passwords to the usability testing written out on paper. The participants often forgot their passwords or had trouble remembering where the capitalization or symbols were in the password.
- Present satisfaction scales (such as a Likert scale) visually (as described earlier in the paper), due to the visual strength of people with Down syndrome. Instructions should be provided both verbally and also in printed, visual format. Having the printed versions of instructions and materials seems to be helpful in having participants comprehend the information.
- Cover up any list of tasks (when using printed instructions), whenever possible, so that the participant will not be distracted by the other tasks listed on the sheet and will not jump ahead to a different task.
- Create tablet apps that include robust auto-suggested search features, visual as well as text-based aspects, and clear, straightforward icons, as these were features of particular value to users with Down syndrome in this study.
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