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The Usability Issues Encountered in the Design Features of Intelligent Products for Older Adults in China: A Scoping Review

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  • Ting Zhang

    (Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
    Industrial Design Institute, Zhaoqing University, Duanzhou, Zhaoqing 526061, China)

  • Rosalam Che Me

    (Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
    Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43300, Malaysia)

  • Hassan Alli

    (Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study aims to expand upon the understanding of the multifaceted usability issues older adults encounter when using intelligent products. This was achieved by synthesizing extant research findings to come to an understanding of why usability issues still exist in intelligent products for older adults in China, even when appropriate design features are incorporated. This review was conducted by searching the literature on the Scopus, Springer, ScienceDirect, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases as well as Google Scholar using the terms “older adults in China”, “intelligent products”, and “usability.” Forty-three studies from between 2007 and 2022 were included in the review. The results reveal three salient aspects directly related to the usability issues of intelligent products experienced by older adults in China: (1) the usefulness of the product; (2) the ease of use of the product; and (3) the impact of the policy. The first two impact the effectiveness of the use of intelligent products, while the lack of policy intervention in the management system of intelligent products results in product clutter. This review provides insights for designers by proposing a conceptual framework for an intelligent product service platform for older adults, which will help researchers and research teams better understand the usability issues according to older adults’ feedback on intelligent products. We suggest a unified standard for intelligent product management in the future that is compatible across systems and reduces older adults’ learning stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Ting Zhang & Rosalam Che Me & Hassan Alli, 2023. "The Usability Issues Encountered in the Design Features of Intelligent Products for Older Adults in China: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4372-:d:1084275
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Na Yu & Ziwei Ouyang & Hehe Wang & Da Tao & Liang Jing, 2022. "The Effects of Smart Home Interface Touch Button Design Features on Performance among Young and Senior Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Chengmin Zhou & Fangfang Yuan & Ting Huang & Yurong Zhang & Jake Kaner, 2022. "The Impact of Interface Design Element Features on Task Performance in Older Adults: Evidence from Eye-Tracking and EEG Signals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-24, July.
    3. Chengmin Zhou & Yingyi Dai & Ting Huang & Hanxiao Zhao & Jake Kaner, 2022. "An Empirical Study on the Influence of Smart Home Interface Design on the Interaction Performance of the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-29, July.
    4. Zhu Zhu & Yingying Ren & Pei Duan & Wen-Tsao Pan, 2022. "Modeling of Smart Watch and System Construction Method for the Elderly Based on Big Data," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2022, pages 1-9, May.
    5. Winger Sei-Wo Tseng & Chih-Wei Hsu, 2019. "A Smart, Caring, Interactive Chair Designed for Improving Emotional Support and Parent-Child Interactions to Promote Sustainable Relationships Between Elderly and Other Family Members," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-32, February.
    6. Yu Song & Chenfei Qian & Susan Pickard, 2021. "Age-Related Digital Divide during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-13, October.
    7. Fengyu Wu, 2022. "Intergenerational Support and Life Satisfaction of Older Parents in China: A Rural–Urban Divide," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 1071-1098, April.
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