Evaluation of Model-based Optimized Touchscreen Keyboard for Older Adults with Hand Tremor

This paper investigates the efficacy of a computational user interface design approach, which leverages model-based optimization, toward developing senior-centred interfaces. Here we explore touchscreen keyboard design where individual differences of task performing abilities of older adults having essential tremor are parametrically expressed as part of a task-specific cognitive model, and the model estimates how the individual might adapt user interaction to the task, chosen as an optimized design from the large design space explored through the interface design choices provided by older adults. The outcome design can potentially improve speed and reduce errors for older adults while using proposed keyboard design for text input, over the baseline QWERTY layout. We believe that this novel computational touchscreen design approach will produce universal interface designs more adapted to the specific abilities of aging populations.