Swipe a Screen or Say the Word: Older Adults' Preferences for Information-seeking with Touchscreen and Voice-User Interfaces

Abstract

Over a decade ago, the introduction of touchscreens greatly enhanced older adults' access to information online. Today, voice-user interfaces (VUIs) promise a similar revolution. However, relatively little is known about older adults' preferences for using touchscreens versus VUIs to access different kinds of information. In this lab and interview study, older adults used both a touchscreen (tablet) and VUI (smart speaker) to search for various types of information requiring different levels of exploration and judgment. Participants found the VUI generally easy and efficient for obtaining simple information, but they critiqued its value for providing more in-depth information. The touchscree..