Age differences in smartphone menu item selection: the effects of menu patterns, icon background colours, and icon symbols.

Menu design includes elements such as patterns, depth and breadth, labelling, and structure, all impacting usability. With the rise of smartphones, many menu patterns have emerged, but icons now play a critical role, indicating that patterns alone don't determine usability. Previous research shows t...

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Publicado en:Behaviour & Information Technology Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 1407 - 1431
Autores principales: Punchoojit, Lumpapun, Hongwarittorrn, Nuttanont
Formato: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd May2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: May2026
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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        atl: Age differences in smartphone menu item selection: the effects of menu patterns, icon background colours, and icon symbols.
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          Punchoojit, Lumpapun
          Hongwarittorrn, Nuttanont
        affil: Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
      sug:
        subj:
          Smartphone
          User-Computer Interface Methods
          Computer Graphics
          Color
          Age Factors
          Consumer Attitudes
          Human
          Thailand
          Male
          Female
          Child
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Analysis of Variance
          Post Hoc Analysis
          Unpaired T-Tests
          Descriptive Statistics
          Time Factors
          Child: 6-12 years
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Menu design includes elements such as patterns, depth and breadth, labelling, and structure, all impacting usability. With the rise of smartphones, many menu patterns have emerged, but icons now play a critical role, indicating that patterns alone don't determine usability. Previous research shows that icon designs, including background colours and symbols, affect menu efficiency and this impact varies across age groups. This study aimed to understand the factors influencing menu selection time, selection errors, and user satisfaction by evaluating menu patterns as another independent variable. We investigated the effects of age groups, menu patterns, icon background colours, and icon symbols on these metrics. A total of 240 participants, divided into children, adults, and older adults (80 per group), took part in the experiment. Results showed that grid menus, multicolour backgrounds, and pictorial symbols significantly improved selection time. Age also significantly affected selection time, with adults being the fastest, followed by children, and then older adults. Based on these findings, we offer design recommendations for smartphone menus and icon designs.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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