3.1 Maximize legibility of essential text

▪ Use large fonts.

▪ Use plain fonts.

▪ Use mixed case.

▪ Make text enlargeable.

▪ Make information easy to scan.

▪ Use plain backgrounds.

▪ Use static text.

▪ Leave plenty of space.

3.2 Simplify: Remove unnecessary visual elements

▪ Present few calls to action.

▪ Keep graphics relevant.

▪ Don’t distract.

▪ Minimize clutter.

3.3 Visual language: Create an effective graphical language and use it consistently

▪ Maintain visual consistency.

▪ Make controls prominent.

▪ Indicate strongly, not subtly.

▪ Change links on hover.

▪ Mark visited links or not?

▪ Label redundantly.

3.4 Use color judiciously

▪ Use color sparingly.

▪ Mix colors carefully.

▪ Use distinguishable link colors.

▪ Combine color with other indicators.

▪ High contrast.

▪ Adjustable contrast.

3.5 Position important content where users will start looking

▪ Lay elements out consistently.

▪ Place important information front and center.

▪ Make error messages obvious.

3.6 Group related content visually

▪ Group related items.

3.7 Take care when relying on scrolling

▪ Minimize vertical scrolling.

▪ Don’t require horizontal scrolling.

3.8 Provide text alternatives for nontext content

▪ Supplement images and videos with text.

4.1 Make sure users can hit targets

▪ Big click targets.

▪ Maximize clickable area.

▪ Put space between click targets.

▪ Big tap targets.

▪ Maximize tap target.

▪ Big swipe targets.

▪ Put space between tap targets? Maybe.

▪ Place important tap targets near users’ hand.

▪ Place swipe targets bottom or right.

4.2 Keep input gestures simple

▪ Avoid double click.

▪ Avoid drag.

▪ Leave menus open.

▪ Multilevel menus: avoid or design carefully.

▪ Avoid multi-finger gestures.

4.3 Make it obvious when a target has been selected

▪ Make feedback obvious.

▪ Provide feedback immediately.

4.4 Minimize the need to use the keyboard

▪ Gesture input preferred.

▪ Structure user input.

4.5 For touch-screen devices, provide within-app training on gestures, if possible

▪ Provide in-app demos.

4.6 Allow users plenty of time to complete operations

▪ Avoid time-out.

4.7 Avoid causing physical strain

▪ Keep user’s body position neutral.

▪ Minimize repetition.

▪ Minimize movement.

5.1 Ensure that audio output is audible

▪ Avoid high-frequency sounds.

▪ Ensure that sounds are loud enough.

▪ Make auditory signals long.

5.2 Minimize background noise

▪ Avoid distracting sounds.

5.3 Convey important information in multiple ways

▪ Supplement images with text.

▪ Make alerts multimodal.

▪ Provide text-to-speech.

5.4 Allow users to adjust device output

▪ Make volume adjustable.

▪ Let users replay audio.

▪ Make play speed adjustable.

▪ Let users select alert sounds.

▪ Provide alternative voices.

5.5 Make speech output as normal as possible

▪ Not too fast.

▪ Avoid robot speech.

5.6 Provide an alternative data entry method for people who cannot use the main one

▪ Allow speech input.

▪ But don’t require speech input.

6.1 Design for simplicity

▪ Minimize stimuli.

6.2 Help users maintain focus

▪ Present one task at a time.

▪ Eliminate distractions.

▪ Indicate current task prominently.

6.3 Simplify navigation structure

▪ Put most important information up front.

▪ Make navigation consistent.

▪ Make structure obvious.

▪ Keep hierarchies shallow.

▪ Make categories unique.

6.4 Clearly indicate the progress and status of operations

▪ Lead users step by step.

▪ Show what step the user is on.

▪ Show progress.

▪ Provide immediate, clear feedback.

6.5 Make it easy for users to return to a known and “safe” starting place

▪ Provide a link to Home.

▪ Provide Next and Back.

▪ Provide Undo.

6.6 Let users see where they are at a glance

▪ Show current page.

▪ Provide a site map.

▪ Preserve page appearance.

6.7 Minimize the need for users to manage multiple windows

▪ Minimize number of windows.

▪ Keep tasks together.

6.8 Avoid burdening users’ memory

▪ Don’t strain working memory.

▪ Support recognition and avoid relying on recall.

▪ Remind users.

▪ Make gestures memorable.

▪ Bring task sequences to closure.

▪ Avoid modes.

6.9 Minimize impact of errors on users

▪ Prevent errors.

▪ Allow easy error recovery.

▪ Allow users to report problems easily.

6.10 Use terms consistently and avoid ambiguous terminology

▪ Same word = same thing; different word = different thing.

▪ Same label = same action; different label = different action.

▪ Link label = destination name.

6.11 Use strong words to label page elements

▪ Use verbs.

▪ Make labels semantically distinctive.

6.12 Use writing style that is concise, plain, and direct

▪ Be brief.

▪ Keep sentences simple.

▪ Get to the point quickly.

▪ Make language active, positive, and direct.

▪ Be explicit.

6.13 Don’t rush users; allow them plenty of time

▪ Don’t make messages time out.

▪ Let users take their time.

▪ Make playback speed adjustable.

6.14 Keep layout, navigation, and interactive elements consistent across pages and screens

▪ Consistent layout.

▪ Consistent controls.

▪ Consistent order and labeling.

▪ Consistency across related apps.

6.15 Design to support learning and retention

▪ Show gestures.

▪ Repetition is good.

▪ Tell users what to bring to task.

▪ Let users reuse previous paths or choices.

6.16 Help users with input

▪ Show what’s valid.

▪ Preformat input fields.

▪ Be tolerant.

▪ Show what’s required.

▪ Provide reminders.

6.17 Provide on-screen help

▪ Provide easy access to help.

▪ Provide context-sensitive online help.

▪ Provide help desk chat.

6.18 Arrange information consistent with its importance

▪ Prioritize information.

▪ Use tables when appropriate.

7.1 Organize content to match users’ knowledge and understanding

▪ Group, order, and label content in ways that are meaningful to users.

7.2 Use vocabulary familiar to your audience

▪ Avoid technical jargon.

▪ Spell words out.

7.3 Don’t assume the user has a correct mental model of the device, app, or website

▪ Design a simple, clear conceptual model.

▪ Match users’ mental model of navigation space.

7.4 Help users predict what buttons do and where links go

▪ Make link labels descriptive.

7.5 Make instructions easy to understand

▪ Be explicit.

▪ If steps are to be executed in a certain sequence, number them.

7.6 Minimize the negative impact on users of new versions

▪ Avoid needless change.

▪ Change gradually.

▪ Guide users from old to new.

7.7 Label interactive elements clearly

▪ Label with text if possible.

▪ Use easy-to-recognize icons.

8.1 Help users construct successful queries

▪ Put the search box in upper right.

▪ Show search terms in large font.

▪ Make the search box long.

▪ Make the search box “smart.”

▪ Anticipate likely searches.

8.2 Design search results to be friendly to users

▪ Mark paid results.

▪ Show search terms.

▪ Mark already visited results.

9.1 Be flexible in how users can enter, save, and view data

▪ Provide “smart” data input.

▪ Put users in control.

9.2 Earn users’ trust

▪ Ask only what’s necessary.

▪ Mark ads clearly.

▪ Don’t make users log in.

9.3 Make your design appeal to all your users, including older adults

▪ Understand older adults’ values.

▪ Don’t talk down to older adults.

▪ Don’t assume users are young adults.

▪ Don’t blame users.

▪ Don’t be scary.

▪ Don’t rush users.

▪ Don’t skip steps.

9.4 Provide ready access to information users might want

▪ Provide an easy way to contact you.

▪ Provide a telephone alternative.

▪ Show summary.

▪ If you offer senior discounts, say so.

10.1 Choose a study design or protocol suited to the population.

▪ Make use of the advice offered by other age-related researchers.

▪ Decide between individual or group designs.

▪ Make sure the study situations are relevant to your participants.

▪ Choose between concurrent and retrospective think-aloud protocols.

▪ Avoid using user diaries.

▪ Make it easy for participants to participate.

▪ Avoid between-subjects experimental design.

10.2 Identify potential design or study participants.

▪ Know your population.

▪ Approach group living settings with caution.

10.3 Recruit and schedule participants.

▪ Having a personal connection helps.

▪ Select your contact method.

▪ Recruit early, recruit extras.

▪ Decide the desired diversity level in advance.

▪ Plan to modify your screening tool.

▪ Schedule your participants with their needs in mind, not yours.

▪ Do yourself a favor: use reminders.

▪ Take extra steps to increase participant attendance.

10.4 Plan the activity with extra attention to older-adult-centric details.

▪ Be patient, be nice.

▪ Be on the alert for any access issues.

▪ Take control of the logistics and security.

▪ Take the pressure off data collection.

10.5 Be especially mindful when conducting an activity with older adult participants.

▪ Be polite, considerate and respectful.

▪ Be as clear as possible.

▪ Be patient.

▪ Set expectations.

▪ Warm up first.

10.6 Have an ethical “exit strategy” for your participants.

▪ Wrap it up.

▪ Teach your participants something new.

▪ Return everything to its place.

▪ Do no harm.