Effect of Surface Geometry on Affordance and Cognitive Load: A Comparison of Different Age Groups
Matthieu Tessier, Masahiro Ura, Kazunori Miyata · 2016
With the ever increasing number of interfaces and tangible interfaces a person might be interacting with on a daily basis, we are eager to understand how the shape of those artifacts play a role in the interaction process. This study aims at understanding differences in the analysis of a volume and its affordances between different age groups: children (8 years old), and young adults (25 years old). Each participant was asked to associate one of three given tangible displays (each with a unique geometry) to a common task (usually done on computers or tablets). The tests were done with each display showing a single color (white) to evaluate the level of abstraction each age group was able to achieve. The children group was given a second test, with identical questions, but using video projected content on the three displays to compare their answers between an abstract representation and a direct visual representation. Despite the limited amount of test participants, these results indicate that higher levels of abstraction are understandable by older participants. However, the children showed they can perceive the ergonomic features of a volume and link a volume with the visualization and interaction of digital content. The results of the second test with the children also indicate that video projected images drastically modify their appreciation of a volume.