Designing TV Interaction for the Elderly – A Case Study of the Design for All Approach

Television based applications are different from traditional desktop applications, even if both can be Web applications. The distinct context surrounding both types of applications influences interaction and is the main driver for treating them differently. As such, not all Desktop design guidelines can be applied to the TV context. Additionally, when focusing on older adults it is mandatory to consider different interaction contexts. Multimodal interfaces can help by offering an interaction more flexible and robust, and by compensating for specific age-related impairments. If modern TV interaction is developed having concerns for motor, sensorial and cognitive impairments (design for all), and considering elderly users in the design process by taking a User Centred Design approach, the results can benefit everyone, social exclusion barriers can be dropped at the same time as usability gains. With all these concerns in mind, this chapter builds on the knowledge gained from designing, prototyping and evaluating different TV applications, supported by multimodal interaction, and aimed at the elderly population, to offer guidelines specific for designing TV interaction.