New guidelines to cater to digital needs of the elderly
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Too much text on webpages with low colour contrast, or buttons that “require too much precision to click on” are some of the taboos that a new set of guidelines seeks to tackle to better cater to seniors digitally.
Developed based on findings from a study of 700 seniors aged 55 to 75, the SS 618 guidelines on user interface design for older adults, launched yesterday, call on designers to incorporate senior-friendly features into digital devices and programmes.
The guidelines are part of a Standards Roadmap for the Silver Industry, also launched yesterday, that provides a framework for supporting elderly needs in residences, workplaces, physical and leisure activities, as well as infrastructure.
The roadmap sets the direction for standards development over the next three to five years to support the Republic’s national action plan for successful ageing. Other elements under this roadmap that were launched previously include nutrition standards for the elderly that have already been taken up by healthcare facilities and nursing homes.
Some of the recommendations under the SS 618 include using at least a 12-point font on a 15-inch screen — slightly larger than the length of an iPad Pro — and for fonts to be scaled according to the size of the user’s device. Websites should also be easy to navigate, such as by using buttons that, ideally, cover the width of the screen so that seniors will have no trouble selecting them. The guidelines also suggest providing users who are struggling to navigate the online space different ways of asking for help, such as by recording their queries on video.
Singapore University of Social Sciences’ Calvin Chan, who is the convenor of the working group for the guidelines, said the SS 618 could help seniors remain active and independent as more products and services become digitised, and Singapore moves towards becoming a Smart Nation.
Speaking at a launch event yesterday, MP Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC), who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for communications and information, urged the Government to take the lead in adopting the new standard.
“As Singapore progresses towards the vision of a Smart Nation, it is important that we address the ‘silver digital divide’, where our elderly may not be able to access new products and services,” he added.
Responding to the guidelines, homemaker Chong Choon Kiaw, 74, said more graphic cues would be helpful to older online users who are less literate. But better-designed interfaces may not necessarily spur seniors to hop on board the digital wave, she said.
“I think the digital push must be taken slowly and it is still important to have human guides at digital stations, such as self-service counters in supermarkets,” she added.
Dr Chan acknowledged that such “social and cultural barriers” are the most challenging to overcome.
“A lot of us associate ageing with a decrease in physical activity, but our study also found social and cultural factors that hinder them from using technology,” he said, citing as examples some seniors’ fear of ruining digital devices because they do not know how to operate them. KELLY NG
