Initial observations on children and online instructions
Matleena Kähkönen, Saila Ovaska · 2006
When children use a computer, they often need instructions for how to proceed. However, giving instructions in the user interface is challenging: young children do not know how to read, or the instructions might be in a language they do not master. We describe three small scale usability studies where the amount and method of advice giving in the interface varied. Our results show that children manage to use properly designed software with no instructions at all. Some usability test protocols emphasize giving children spoken instructions to help them get started. In our case studies we report two kinds of adult presence in the group for providing the spoken instructions, and the mixed findings of the role of the adult.