An Age-Related Comparison of a Touchscreen and a Novel Input Device

Interaction with almost any technical system requires the user to use an input device. Typically, the most common input device for a computer has been the mouse. However, the mouse presents challenges to a large segment of a potential user population: older adults. The current study examines potential performance differences in two types of input devices. The first, a touchscreen, is a direct input device that requires almost no training to use. The second, a rotary encoder, is a novel input device that is being used more frequently in consumer devices but has received little to no research attention. The current results suggest that choice of input device is highly related to the type of interface (what elements make up the interface) and age. Both age-dependent and age-independent guidelines are provided to address interface and input device interactions to positively affect usability.