Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Instruction Manual Usage: A Comparison of Younger People, Older People and People with Cognitive Disabilities

  • Conference paper
Global Perspectives on Design Science Research (DESRIST 2010)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 6105))

Abstract

When people are faced with new products for the first time or require assistance using features, the instruction manual is a key information source and therefore the design of instruction manuals is as important as the design of the product itself. There are often situations where the design embedded in the product is not sufficient to express its usage to the user. In addition, users differ significantly from each other in terms of their needs, expectations and capabilities. The main question is “are instruction manuals accessible enough and do they consider a variety of user groups?” This paper investigates the differences between three user groups (i.e. younger people, older people and people with cognitive disabilities) regarding their approach to understanding of instruction manuals. An experimental study was carried out testing thirty volunteer participants from the aforementioned user groups, using two digital products from two different market segments and their instruction manuals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Backinger, C.L., Kingsley, P.A.: Write It Right: Recommendations for Developing User Instruction Manuals for Medical Devices Used in Home Health Care. FDA (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baskinger, M., Hanington, B.: Sustaining Autonomous Living for Older People Through Inclusive Strategies for Home Appliance Design. In: Langdon, P., Clarkson, J., Robinson, P. (eds.) Designing Inclusive Futures, pp. 117–126. Springer, London (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bauer, M., Gaskell, G.: Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound. Sage Publications, London (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Braddock, D., Rizzolo, M.C., Thompson, M., Bell, R.: Emerging Technologies and Cognitive Disability. Journal of Special Education Technology 19, 49–56 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  5. BS 7000-6:2005: Design Management Systems-Part 6: Managing Inclusive Design-Guide, British Standards Institute (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Clarkson, J., Coleman, R., Hosking, I., Waller, S.: Inclusive Design Toolkit, Kall Kwik Cambridge (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Coleman, R., Clarkson, J., Dong, H., Cassim, J.: Design for Inclusivity. Gower Publishing Ltd., England (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Czaja, R., Blair, J.: Designing Surveys: A Guide to Decisions and Procedures. Sage Publications, Pine Forge Press, London (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dong, H.: Barriers to Inclusive Design in the UK. PhD Thesis, Cambridge, Department of Engineering (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Eisma, R., Dickinson, A., Goodman, J., Syme, A., Tiwari, L., Newell, A.F.: Early User Involvement in the Development of Information Technology-Related Products for Older People. Universal Access in the Information Society, vol. 3, pp. 131–140 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  11. French, S.: Dimensions of Disability and Impairment. In: French, S. (ed.) On Equal Terms: Working with Disabled People, pp. 17–34. Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd., Oxford (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gardill, M.C., Jitendra, A.K.: Advanced Story Map Instruction: Effects on the Reading Comprehension of Students with Learning Disabilities. The Journal of Special Education 33, 2–17 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gersten, R., Fuchs, L.S., Williams, P.J., Baker, S.: Teaching Reading Comprehension Strategies to Students with Learning Disabilities: A Review of Research. Review of Educational Research 71, 279–320 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Gupta, S.: Design and Delivery of Medical Devices for Home-Use: Drivers and Challenges. Cambridge, Department of Engineering (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hawthorn, D.: Interface Design and Engagement with Older People. Behaviour & Information Technology 26, 333–341 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Heskett, J.: Design: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Horen, F.M., Jansen, C., Meas, A., Noordman, L.G.M.: Manuals for the Elderly: Which Information Cannot Be Missed. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 31, 415–431 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Horen, F., Jansen, C., Noordman, L., Maes, A.: Manuals for the Elderly: Text Characteristics That Help or Hinder Older Users. In: 2005 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference Proceedings, International, July 10-13, pp. 334–342 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Huppert, F.: Designing for Older Users. In: Clarkson, J., Coleman, R., Keates, S., Lebbon, C. (eds.) Inclusive Design: Design for the Whole Population, pp. 88–103. Springer, London (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Instruction Manual DSC-S730 Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera: Sony Corporation (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Instruction Manual R7 Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor. Omron Healthcase. Co. Ltd

    Google Scholar 

  22. Keates, S., Clarkson, J.: Design Exclusion. In: Clarkson, J., Coleman, R., Keates, S., Lebbon, C. (eds.) Inclusive Design: Design for the Whole Population, pp. 88–103. Springer, London (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Langdon, P., Lewis, T., Clarkson, J.: The Effects of Prior Experience on the Use of Consumer Products. Universal Access in the Information Society, vol. 6, pp. 179–191 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Margolin, V.: Getting know the user. Design Studies 18, 227–236 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. McKinney, J.D.: The Search for Subtypes of Specific Learning Disability. Journal of Learning Disabilities 17, 43–50 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Myerson, J.: A Growing Movement. In: Coleman, R., Clarkson, J., Dong, H., Cassim, J. (eds.) Design for Inclusivity, pp. 23–31. Gower Publishing Ltd., England (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Robson, C.: Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner-Researchers. Blackwell Publishing, Malden (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Smith, T.P.: Manufacturer’s Guide to Developing Consumer Product Instructions. US Consumer Product Safety Commission (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  29. The Department of Trade and Industry: Instructions for Consumer Products: Guidelines for Better Instructions and Safety Information for Consumer Products. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Thompson, C.W.: Rizzolo: Smart Devices and Soft Controllers. IEEE Internet Computing 9, 82–85 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Valett, R.E.: Programming Learning Disabilities. Fearon Publishers (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Vanderheiden, G.: Fundamental Principles and Priority Settings for Universal Usability. In: Proceedings of the ACM Universal Usability Conference, Washington, DC, pp. 32–38 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wiklund, M., Wilcox, S.: Designing Usability into Medical Products. CRC Press, Boca Raton (2005)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  34. Wright, P.: Supportive Documentation for Older People. In: Westendorp, P., Carel, J., Punselie, R. (eds.) Interface Design & Document Design, pp. 81–100. Rodopi, Amsterdam (2000)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Design, Uxbridge, Brunel University, UB8 3PH, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Abdusselam Selami Cifter & Hua Dong

Authors
  1. Abdusselam Selami Cifter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hua Dong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Information Management, University of St. Gallen, Müller-Friedberg-Strasse 8, 9000, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Robert Winter

  2. Department of Information Systems, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    J. Leon Zhao

  3. Institut of Information Management, University of St. Gallen, Mueller-Friedberg-Strasse 8, 9000, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Stephan Aier

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Cifter, A.S., Dong, H. (2010). Instruction Manual Usage: A Comparison of Younger People, Older People and People with Cognitive Disabilities. In: Winter, R., Zhao, J.L., Aier, S. (eds) Global Perspectives on Design Science Research. DESRIST 2010. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6105. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13335-0_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13335-0_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-13334-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-13335-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation