Barrier-free Internet: analysis of eye movement during Internet use by older employees

Project No. BGAG 7600100611

Status:

completed 02/2005

Aims:

The medium of the Internet is increasingly found in everyday situations. The design of web pages frequently neglects particular groups of users, such as older employees, who may differ in the way they perceive and process the information. A research project considered the best way of designing web pages. The study concentrated upon web pages dealing with occupational health and safety.

Activities/Methods:

A study was performed in which younger and older employees evaluated various web pages dealing with occupational health and safety. Eye movement was recorded during viewing of the pages, and the pages were assessed by the test subject following each viewing

Results:

Contrary to anticipations, almost no significant differences were observed between older and younger individuals in use of the Internet pages. Overall, the study showed that a discriminating analysis of workplace design for older employees is important and that a blanket assumption of impaired performance in old age is not tenable.

Last Update:

2 May 2016

Project

Research institution(s):
  • BGAG - Institut Arbeit und Gesundheit der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung
Branche(s):

-cross sectoral-

Type of hazard:

design of work and technology

Catchwords:

special groups of persons, video work, ergonomic design of software

Description, key words:

assessment of web pages, analysis of eye movements, older employees