BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to identify shortcomings of electronic interface designs for older users. Beyond general ergonomic factors, the study focused primarily on visual and language aspects of interface design. By means of a multi-method approach, combining cognitive walkthrough proce-dures with a usability test, age-specific problems and requirements of older computer users were ex-amined. In the cognitive walkthrough shortcomings of a sample application were analyzed. In the usability test the navigation performance of older users (aged 55+) was contrasted to a young adult group, to identify usability problems, which are age-exclusive (interaction difficulties only for older users) and age-specific (general problems that are more pronounced in the older group)