Effects of text input methods on performance in operating handheld devices between young and elderly users

摘要

This study investigated the effect of age (elderly and young participants), input methods (keyboard and handwriting), and input tools (finger and stylus) on participants' performance in operating handheld devices. The correct ratio and execution time for device operation served as the criteria for performance evaluation. The study results revealed that the interaction between age, input method, and input tool had a significant effect on the participants' correct ratio in operating handheld devices. For young participants, only the input method had a significant effect on the correct ratio. The keyboard provided superior results to handwriting. For the elderly participants, the interaction between input method and input tool had a significant effect on the correct ratio. When the input method was handwriting, the input tool had a significant effect on the correct ratio. Specifically, the stylus provided superior results to the finger. However, when a keyboard was used, the input tool had no significant effect on the elderly participants' correct ratio. Concerning execution time, the interaction between age and input method had a significant effect on performance. For the young participants, the input method had a significant effect on the execution time. Specifically, the keyboard provided superior results to handwriting. However, for the elderly participants, the input method had no significant effect on the execution time.