Keywords

1 Introduction

As numerical and information technology developing progressively, human being are confronting an age of information society. With safety, communication, entertainment, and internet service technology, diversely applications has been extended from individual personal device to family life experience service. Thus the operations system transformed from separately devices to integrated effective and user-centered approach. Take smart home as an example, TV set is no longer a simple visual-audio consumer product, but a key interface for people’s daily life (Bull and Rayne 2004; Bin and Gavriel 2009). Nevertheless, smart TV is mainly account on the two critical technologies, namely smart man-computer interactive interface and internet. To provide a simple interface with integrated multiple function network is the goal for all smart TV research and development institute. In this study, we design and evaluate the smart TV interface, hoping to present a preliminary model for the related research and industry.

1.1 Smart TV

As Fig. 1 shows, smart TV not only possesses the internet function which is compatible with PC or touch panel device, but also provides smart control of house-keeping and electrical product including air condition, lighting, washing machine, refrigerator etc.… To support the above multiple functions, a new control device that can shift among device modes and functions is needed to replace the traditional TV remote control. This new control interface shall have to integrate new function modes such as hot-key, pointing curser, keyboard and monitoring display to enhance the operation effectiveness and efficiency. However, the evaluation of the interface on the usability issues remained to be testified (Sears et al. 2010; Simon et al. 2013).

Fig. 1.
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System devices of the smart TV (source: Institute for Information Industry 2011)

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1.2 Topological Structures

There are two common topological structures in interface layout design, linear and network structures (Chang and Chen 2011). A linear topology is essentially characterized by its linear links where the user can be well guided under such a rigid structure (i.e., less disorientation). In contrast, a network structure provides users with all the functions and layouts on the same user interface, enabling users to visualize them all at one time. Users can “jump” to different functions or units by using hypertext features. Previous studies had attempted to find the best hypertext topology by comparing. These studies were hypothesized based on the theory of spatial metaphor (Chang et al. 2011). It was believed that user behavior in hypertext perusal is similar to the spatial processing in a physical environment. However, they have been divided as to which topological structure is easier to use and best enhances navigation. Chang and Chen (2011) argued that task difficulty and high cognitive load are two major reasons for this uncertainty.

1.3 Individual Difference Effect

Most digital interface is designed to increase convenience and comfort of Human being life, however, it was noted that technological advancement did make the new inventions harder to operate and use by the seniors. As most designs neglected age effects, seniors are asked to adapt to digital consumer products continually (Wirtz et al. 2009). Previous study indicated, due to aging deteriorates senior citizens’ quality of life and physical functions were facilitating increased falls and psychological problems (Evans and Rowlands 2004).

In this study we planned to evaluate the smart TV interface design on the task performance among age difference, task difficulty and topological structure issues.

2 Methods

2.1 Experimental Design

In this study, a three-mixed-factor experimental design (2 × 2 × 3) was adopted. Between-subjects factors are age (2 levels: seniors and younger), topological structure (2 levels: linear and mixed-interfaces), and within subject factor is the task complexity (3 levels: easy, middle and hard). There were 72 participants. Note that the subjects were intended-random recruited depending on sex (36 male and 36 female), and age (24 senior and 48 young) factors.

2.2 Topology

Two topological interface designs, namely linear (Fig. 2) and network (Fig. 3) interfaces were proposed with the same modes, function and graphic design after repetitive pilot tests.

Fig. 2.
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Linear topological interface design of the smart TV

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Fig. 3.
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Network topological interface design of the smart TV

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2.3 Procedure

All documents were run on ASUS TF101 and were displayed on a 271x176.8x12.98 mm LCD color monitor. The resolution was 1280 × 720 pixels at a frame rate of 85 Hz.

After the participants had become familiar with the interface design, the experiment formally began. Each task was explained on a paper sheet, and the participants followed the list order to complete the navigational tasks. Participants were required to complete all of the interaction tasks. The full experiment lasted approximately 1 h for each of the participant.

3 Result and Conclusion

The result indicated that a three-way interactive effect among age, topology and task complexity was found to be significant, especially on the senior and linear topological interface condition (the difference of easy and middle level tasks eliminated). The study result benefit the study related to the interactive effect on the age, topology and task complexity.