{"id":173,"date":"2012-10-22T13:22:40","date_gmt":"2012-10-22T20:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/cic138\/?p=173"},"modified":"2012-10-22T13:57:13","modified_gmt":"2012-10-22T20:57:13","slug":"writing-for-the-web-and-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/cic138\/2012\/10\/22\/writing-for-the-web-and-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing for the web and seniors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jacob Neilson\u2019s paper Writing for the Web<\/a> uses studies from several sources to quantify reader habits and behaviors and suggests user and design application of these findings.
\nResearch presented in this paper shows web designers must style their work to better engage the audience. Clearly writing styles for the web must be different from print because the web audience is different. Most users are looking for specific information and will pay attention only for a minute or two.
\nThe average web user does not read the page from top to bottom instead they scan the page in F-shaped patterns for what they need. Some other techniques to captivate the audience:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Titles\/Headings – attract the reader to content with key words
\n\u2022 Inverted pyramid style paragraphs – most important information on top
\n\u2022 Bullet lists – specific concise easy to read
\n\u2022 Images, boxes, colors for pizzaz and to attract the eye – web pages are not linear
\n\u2022 Fonts, bold words or phrases<\/p>\n

These all seem like common sense guidelines for average users and web designers. However, for seniors and low literacy users they are essential for positive and productive experience.<\/p>\n

Nielsenwire.com<\/a> showed in 2009 people 65 and older made up less than 10 percent of the active Internet universe but, their numbers are on the rise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Top 10 Online Activities Performed in the Last 30 Days by People 65+ (U.S.)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

RANK<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Profile Point: Internet Activities in Last 30 Days<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Audience Composition Percent<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

1<\/strong><\/td>\nPersonal E-mail<\/td>\n88.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/strong><\/td>\nViewed or Printed Maps Online<\/td>\n68.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/strong><\/td>\nChecked Weather Online<\/td>\n60.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/strong><\/td>\nPaid\/Viewed Bills Online<\/td>\n51.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/strong><\/td>\nView\/Posted Photos Online<\/td>\n50.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/strong><\/td>\nRead General\/Political News<\/td>\n49.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/strong><\/td>\nChecked Personal Health Care Info<\/td>\n47.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/strong><\/td>\nPlanned Leisure Travel Trip Online<\/td>\n39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/strong><\/td>\nSearched Recipes\/Meal Planning Suggestions<\/td>\n38.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/strong><\/td>\nRead Business\/Finance News<\/td>\n37.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source: The Nielsen Company, Nielsen @Plan Fall 2009 Release, Adults 18+<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Because of<\/strong> my work with seniors and my parents (80+) I have some insights to the difficulties and frustrations many seniors encounter when using computers.<\/p>\n

Most seniors never used personal computers when they were working so they have limited experience or knowledge of the advancements in technology.\u00a0For example, grasping the concept that the Web is an active medium is a major obstacle for my parents. They also struggle with physical and cognitive challenges of aging that make reading, scanning, navigating, and typing difficult.<\/p>\n