It has been found that people over sixty-five are among the fastest group of Internet users. They find the internet useful for sourcing information on anything from health through to finance. They also like to play games as much as younger generations and use the internet for booking travel and shopping. People in this age group are more than capable of using the internet, but often find that, as they get older, they can encounter age related problems such as reduced text comprehension or poor eyesight. They might also find that their ability to accurately click on a single word or target is not what it used to be. As one of the best web development companies, the following are some principles that should be followed when building websites for old people: The first is to keeping the layout clean. When designing your website ensures that, the page is uncluttered and there are no distractions from the key information. Break this information down into clear sections with bold headings. Allow extra space around clickable targets and make buttons work with just one click. Use either black text on a light background or white text on a dark background. Keep the page short rather than having the user scroll down too deep. If all content can fit within the browser window, it is even better. Use standard templates included in your CMS where possible. The second is making the world legible. When designing websites for the older audience it is suggested that you should not make your type any smaller than 12 point. Some sites have the ability for users to adjust the point size if they are struggling to read it. Keep text in upper and lower case. It is easier to read. Use a san serif font and avoid script fonts. Use left-justified type as it makes the line breaks uneven and will help them not to lose their place on the page. The third step is having an easy navigation. Keep navigation simple and consistent. Don't have too many layers or pages. Use buttons, which say 'previous page' and 'next page' to make navigation easier. Avoid scroll down menus, as they can be difficult to navigate. If you have to use links, explain what to expect when you click on them so that they can make informed decisions about whether or not to click. The older web user may be hard of hearing or have poor eyesight so, as well as ensuring the text is as legible as possible, you may want to add audio files, which read out what is written. You can place a large button next to the text, which reads 'audio' as a cue. You may want to add a video that they can watch and listen to. If you use audio and video, make sure there is a downloadable transcription of the content for those who are hard of hearing. Lastly, the proof lies in testing. It is a good idea to test your website on the target age group. You can hold either usability tests or focus groups to gather feedback. Going through the testing is always hard for the designer, as it can be seen as negative feedback. You should think of it, rather, as constructive criticism from your target audience. You are not the end user, they are. Listen to them. They may just teach you something you had not even thought of! Lastly, as the web development companies it is important to remember that designing for the old age is a rewarding experience and it will make the Internet a more user-friendly place. The key is to keep it simple. Author Bio: The author thinks that web development companies should use tests to generate the feedback about the website. To know more about the services, contact us here.
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