Web Design for the Silver Surfer
With around 30% of Internet users between 45 and 65, and 10% over 65, Silver Surfers are an important group.
As they're increasingly interested not just in using the Internet, but in web design services, it's important to keep these older Internet users in mind when designing websites.
While it's true that eyesight, motor control and hearing deteriorate with age, research shows that most Silver Surfers' problems with Internet use aren't caused by these factors.
Instead, their problems stem from difficulties in making sense of on-screen information, and in comprehending the whole concept of browsing and searching, using links, and handling a mouse.
This isn't helped by the fact that powers of perception, concentration and memory also decline with age.
It's important to have a clear, clean and crisp layout to attract Silver Surfers.
Avoid too many colours on one page, and too much movement.
Consistency between pages is also crucial.
In particular, keep your menu and links in the same place on each page, and keep your colours and fonts consistent - including background colour and font size wherever possible.
Older people prefer a minimum font size of 12 point (possibly smaller for links) and sans serif fonts for easier viewing.
It's also sensible to left justify text, and to avoid using px to express font size (enabling browsers to zoom).
Go for easily readable colour combinations and contrast settings, too.
Silver Surfers appreciate help in distinguishing between what is a link and what isn't, and what kind of links are there.
So use underlining for links only, and display them in standard colours (links = blue, visited links = purple, active links = red).
Also remember that older Internet users avoid drop-down lists and rollover links, and prefer websites to space out links with white space using CSS line-height.
Remember too that this age group is less patient than younger users, and need more time per page to take in information.
And be sensible in your use of images: don't make them too small, and ensure details are clear to even those with ageing eyes! Additionally, be aware that older users don't like being constantly reminded of problems they might have using the Internet.
So avoid making too many references to how much you're tailoring your web design to older Internet users! It's a tricky balancing act - promoting web sites and web design to Silver Surfers without alienating them, while ensuring clients are confident your services will be easy for older people to use! One of the things we do well here with our web design in Chester, is to strike that balance: we take into account older users' needs, but don't patronise them by assuming that just because they're older, they need giant fonts and oversimplified structures.
As they're increasingly interested not just in using the Internet, but in web design services, it's important to keep these older Internet users in mind when designing websites.
While it's true that eyesight, motor control and hearing deteriorate with age, research shows that most Silver Surfers' problems with Internet use aren't caused by these factors.
Instead, their problems stem from difficulties in making sense of on-screen information, and in comprehending the whole concept of browsing and searching, using links, and handling a mouse.
This isn't helped by the fact that powers of perception, concentration and memory also decline with age.
It's important to have a clear, clean and crisp layout to attract Silver Surfers.
Avoid too many colours on one page, and too much movement.
Consistency between pages is also crucial.
In particular, keep your menu and links in the same place on each page, and keep your colours and fonts consistent - including background colour and font size wherever possible.
Older people prefer a minimum font size of 12 point (possibly smaller for links) and sans serif fonts for easier viewing.
It's also sensible to left justify text, and to avoid using px to express font size (enabling browsers to zoom).
Go for easily readable colour combinations and contrast settings, too.
Silver Surfers appreciate help in distinguishing between what is a link and what isn't, and what kind of links are there.
So use underlining for links only, and display them in standard colours (links = blue, visited links = purple, active links = red).
Also remember that older Internet users avoid drop-down lists and rollover links, and prefer websites to space out links with white space using CSS line-height.
Remember too that this age group is less patient than younger users, and need more time per page to take in information.
And be sensible in your use of images: don't make them too small, and ensure details are clear to even those with ageing eyes! Additionally, be aware that older users don't like being constantly reminded of problems they might have using the Internet.
So avoid making too many references to how much you're tailoring your web design to older Internet users! It's a tricky balancing act - promoting web sites and web design to Silver Surfers without alienating them, while ensuring clients are confident your services will be easy for older people to use! One of the things we do well here with our web design in Chester, is to strike that balance: we take into account older users' needs, but don't patronise them by assuming that just because they're older, they need giant fonts and oversimplified structures.
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