Elderly Usability Interaction Design Model for Home Appliances: Theoretical Framework

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2nd Art and Design International Conference 2016 (AnDIC 2016), Shah Alam, 9-11 October 2016
Elderly Usability Interaction Design Model for Home Appliances:
Theoretical Framework
Zainudin Sirana, Rusmadiah Anwarb, Shahriman Zainal Abidinb
*
a Product Innovation Group(SIG) Department of Interface Design, Multimedia University (MMU), Cyberjaya, Malaysia
bFormgiving Design Research Group, Faculty of Art & Design, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia
Abstract
Digital features that appeared on everyday life have been a phenomenon with a modern, busy schedule and high living costs,
whereas elderly people need to be more independent, know how to use the electrical product for cooking, washing, and house
cleaning. Most of the current home appliances product features are not user-friendly for the elderly condition such as a digital
integrated operating system with multi-function features. There are several factors that influence product usability problem on
elderly; cognition, perception, and movement control. These factors caused them forgetful on past command, unclear vision, weak
hand grasp, fail to integrate multi-function etc. As Malaysia becomes an ‘Ageing Country’ in the year 2035, the government needs
to allocate such a big amount of budget to provide life need and supportive environment even though elderly have no longer
contribute to the country’s productivity. In the year 2012, Malaysian government spends RM519.3 million for this group and it
will increase in the future. Therefore the objective of this research is to propose a model of improvement for product usability
interaction issue. The research method to be applied are based on Design Research Model, involves survey, observation, and
experiment. The expected outcome of this research is a proposed prototype of home appliances product, featured with improved
usability design criteria for elderly user. The design criteria become a guideline for industry and academic field for elderly usability
studies.
© 2016 Published by/and/or peer-review under responsibility of Faculty of Art and Design, Universiti
TeknologiMARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor
Keywords: Elderly, Usability, Interaction Design Model, Product Interface
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +0-000-000-0000 ; fax: +0-000-000-0000 .
E-mail address: zainudin.siran@mmu.edu.my.

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1. Introduction
The usability interaction problems between elderly
and product in line with decreased performance of
cognition, perception (sensation) and movement control
(Fisk et al., 2004). Elderly have difficulty when using a
product with multi-task function, forgot on past
command, indistinct vision, low memory, weak hands
grasp due to arthritis illness etc.
Nowadays with a modern, busy lifestyle and high
living cost, resulting people can’t take care of their parent
all the time. Therefore elderly need to be independent in
life such able to use the electrical product for cooking,
washing and house cleaning. Most of the current home
electrical appliances features are not user-friendly for the
elderly condition. Digital integrated operating system
with multifunction features make elderly unable to use
the electrical product effectively (Fukuda, 2009).
As Malaysia becomes an ‘Ageing Country’ in the year
2035 (Berita Harian, 2016), the government needs to
allocate such a big amount of budget to provide life need
and supportive environment (Harjeet, 2012) even though
they have no longer contributed to the country’s
productivity. In the year 2012, Malaysian government
allocated RM519.3 million for elderly (through National
Policy for Older Person). Without independent life, the
amount will increase in the future. Therefore this
research mainly focuses on the interrelated issue of
elderly, interaction and product interface (Fig. 2), which
emphasize on some sub-components as stated below:
1.1. Elderly.
The sub-components to be studied including user
background, condition, and limitation. The study will be
held in southern region: Melaka, Johor, and Selangor.
The range of age to be studied is from 60-80 years old
(WHO, 1989). As this research focusing on local context,
the finding might different compared with previous
research model which held in another country. The
method of data collection is through interview,
observation, and experiment.
1.2. Product Interface.
The element to be studied is including tangible and
intangible interfaces, factor contributes, the meaning of
some term, and the approach. The criteria of the problem
to be focus are based on which type of product mostly
have a usability problem to elderly. While the different
criteria of a problem for each product are based on what
types of features available.
1.3. Interaction.
Interaction is a major component of this research
which involved factors, meaning, and approach. The
contents are referred to some previous research models
with similar study area. The data finding of this research
will be compared with previous interaction models for
validation.
2. The limitation of elderly-product interaction
2.1. Elderly Health Limitation
Product usability problem among elderly strongly
influenced by health condition. Due to this issue, they
faced such a problems like hard to grasp firmly a tiny
handle or small top lid cover because of arthritis, slow
movement due to heart problems and asthma, can’t see
clearly text or image content in digital screen panel etc.
All this leads to not understand menu function and
operating system of the product. In addition, due to the
decreased of cognitive capabilities, elderly is only
capable of using basic and single product function such

Zainudin Siran / Procedia Economics and Finance 00 (2012) 000–000 3
as calling and texting messages in a smartphone
(Kurniawan, 2008). They seldom use integrated
functions like photo shooting, voice recording,
organizer, WhatApp, email, navigation, game etc.
similar finding with of our pilot study, where 90% of
elderly only know how to used three buttons in ASTRO
remote control which are Power, Volume, and Channel
Search.
2.2. Elderly-Product Interaction Problem from
Previous Research Models.
To identify factor contribute to the problem, a study
on two research finding from Lee (2003) and Akatsu
(2004). The major problem is due to low knowledge on
product system and the decrease performance of
cognitive capability. Elderly unable to use properly the
product function, cannot read the text and understand the
product system and forgot the previous command which
integrates with the current one. The social factor is also
influenced by elderly interaction while in the public
place (Akatsu, 2004). They feel annoyed while using
ATM due to the unperformed task. In addition, improper
product features contribute to usability problems like the
small size of text or panel, a wide gap of icon and button,
glare screen with low brightness and incorrect view
angle. The finding is consistent with past interaction
design models where effective design approach is
strongly influenced by the simple system and organized
appearance arrangement (Verplank,et al, 1984 and
Norman 1988). While according to Cooper (1998), new
design needs to be precise with the target user’s
condition and their environment (the ‘Goal-Directed
Design’), through the model “Do the right thing. Think
about your users”.
2.3. Product Interface for Interaction.
Product Interface consists of the tangible and the
intangible. The tangible interface is a ‘physical object’ or
‘artifact’ (Ullmer et al., 2000), which is there
dimensional form (3D), something can be touch and see.
While intangible interface determines as “something not
physically embodied’ (Ullmer et al., 2000), can be seen
but cannot touch, like screen content. Elderly have a
problem to perform usability interaction on both
elements due to the reduction of health performance
which needs someone assistance. According to Charness
(2010), the importance of product interfaces is to provide
clear system output from devices. Modification on
product design features is needed to overcome the
problem in perceptual, psychomotor, cognitive and
physical. In order to understand the specific elderly
usability problems, a review of two research paper has
been carried out.
2.4. Product Elements
The main factor that contributes to the product
usability problem to elderly is product appearance and
the mechanical system (Shannon et al., 1949). Other
elements such surface texture, form size, color, material
and structure profile will influence product usability.
Those all elements will determine the effectiveness of the
product function to the user. According to Mono’s model
(1997) of product – user communication, some factors
will influence user toward product like fact description,
expressing properties, exhorting to the reaction and
product identification as shown in Fig. 3. Therefore it
will attract user intention toward the product, through
some elements such as recognizing, feeling, evaluation,
conception, the impulse to act, and understanding to the
product function.
3. The development of the theoretical research
frameworks
In this research, three models of design research will
be referred in order to establish a strong research base.
We refer a design research from Frying (1993), Cross
(1999) and Fallman (2008). According to Frying (1993),
research on design can be approach through three ways;
‘Into Design’ (from Design history), ‘Through Design’
(from industry method) and ‘For Design’ (through
practice). While Cross (1999) believes that the focus of
investigation in design research approach should involve
three main components which are people, process, and
product. The importance of the connection between
Design practices, Design Studies, and Design
Exploration is the key factor to the successful of research
in design (Fallman, 2008). Through this three model,
therefore, the study are focusing on the design process,

4 Zainudin Siran/ 2nd Art and Design International Conference 2016 (AnDIC 2016),
product, and user. In the early stage of the research, the
literature review will be conducted to clarify those some
important definition and term related to title and area of
study. The amount of information to be gathered from
previous study wills later influencing a guideline of the
research (Anwar, 2016).
Based on empirical data review, we compare and
identify factors that influence knowledge gap which later
clarifies the task. Based on Abidin et al. (2008), in order
to empirically test a design activity, it is important for us
to understand the way designers’ think during the
formgiving process. He then clarifies the divergent and
convergent process (Anwar et al., 2015) which involved
in any industrial design process. Especially during the
process of concept solution.
Fig. 1. Divergent-Convergent Process by Anwar et al. (2015)
As principle-solution requires design-inspired
approaches, and final design structure of ablution design
endows the theory of formgiving design (Anwar et al.,
2015). The pattern of formgiving in design explained by
Anwar influenced the development of a theoretical
framework for this study especially on fragmenting the
process of research activity (Fig. 1).
This research study will focus on three main factors;
1) Theoretical factors; previous research which
aligns with this topic. 
2) Design factors; design process practiced for the
development of home appliances product. 
3) Human factors; from elderly people which faced
some difficulties in using home appliances product. 
These factors divide into three main research
framework (see Fig. 2) in order to achieve three goals
proposed to investigate interaction research among
elderly.
Fig. 2. Elderly Usability Interaction Design (EUID) research
framework
3.1. Survey.
Based on the research framework (Fig. 2), the first
stage of research framework involves 100 elderly age 60-
80 years old and 100 future elderly people the age of 45-
50 years old. The survey will be located at villages and
small town area in southern peninsular Malaysia. The
selection of this two area is based on three reasons which
is:-
 This area has a bigger population of elderly people
more than other places.
 A short research timeframe limit the category of the
elderly and the selected study area.
 Selangor residents who mostly came from other
states in Malaysia facilitate the researcher to focus
on the people here only.

Zainudin Siran / Procedia Economics and Finance 00 (2012) 000–000 5
The interview session will involve three industry
experts in the field of product design development and
one from elderly behaviors development. The scope of
product to be surveyed is any electrical home appliances
with LCD screen use by elderly. The objective interview
and survey session is to identify specific types of
products used by elderly and to identify basic usability
problems from the product. The involvement of current
and future elderly in the survey is identify the research
gap based on similarity and differences of the data
collection. Preferred equipment: High resolution moving
image recording device and high resolution still image
recording device.
3.2. Observation in the experiment (interview).
In the second stage of research framework, an
intensive with detail investigation will be conducted to
ten respondent (Anwar, 2016). Five elderly and five
future elderly to be observed and interviewed on how
they use the selected product and what are the problems
they faced. Only one product selected from stage one will
be used for intensive observation. The objective is to
identify the specific and detailed usability problems
faced by the elderly user. Preferred equipment: selected
electrical home appliances products, high-resolution
moving image recording device, and high resolution still
image recording device.
3.3. Prototypes development.
A few variation of proposed prototypes will be
developed based on data finding in stage one and two.
The working prototype will be equipped with an
electronic circuit board with advice from electronic
engineer and IT expert. The objective is to provide some
option to find the final solution for usability problem
from the survey and observation studies. Preferred
equipment: electronic circuit board set, product casing
(ABS plastic) to produce rapid prototyping, rubber mold
and 3D digital data (Solidwork or Rhino).
3.4. Sample test and observation.
All the proposed prototypes will be tested to five
elderly and five future elderly. All the movements and
user behavior while using the prototype will be recorded.
At the end of the session, all respondent will be an
interview to get their feedback on using the proposed
prototype. The selected design will be based on which
design has fewer usability problems and improvement on
selected design will be done following the respondent's
feedback. The objective is to test and to finalize some
proposed working prototypes design. Preferred
equipment: some proposed prototypes, high-resolution
moving image recording device, and high resolution still
image recording device.
3.5. Validation.
In the final stage, the final prototype will be presented
and tested by few experts from product design industry,
academic and elderly development specialist. The
objective is to validate the final design through feedback
from some experts in the different field. Through this
session, therefore, the solid result can be constructed.
Preferred equipment: final working prototype, high-
resolution moving image recording device and High
resolution still image recording device.
4. Conclusion and future work
In this paper, we integrate the need for research either;
research into the design; research through design and;
research for design as a whole research framework. Our
future work will include exploring the notion of a
function mean analysis throughout the interaction design
methodology, in order to recognize how it might differ
the use of the method underlying the designer’s way of
thinking.
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the generous
participation of the interaction designers in the research.
Fully appreciation to Multimedia University (MMU) for
the financial support under Human Resource
Development Fund (HRDF).

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