← QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1

User characteristics

Facts about users, like age, abilities, experience, language and where they use a device, that affect how they use an interface and what it needs to do.

Part of: QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — User Experiences and Interfaces — Module 18

Understanding User characteristics in QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1

What it does: This shows technical experience as a characteristic. A beginner needs more guidance, so the interface should avoid jargon. The device and where it is used affect how the interface is seen and touched, so it is a user characteristic. User characteristics are facts about the people using the interface, such as age and experience. A logo colour is a design choice, not a fact about users. Age affects reading level and how well users can handle small targets, so the interface should be pitched to the age of its users. Colour blindness is a visual disability. Designers should not rely on colour alone, so they might add text labels or icons as well.

Common mistakes: The if line is missing its colon. It should be 'if age < 8:'. Age is a user characteristic, so young users get big icons and simple words. This line uses == (compare) when it should use = (assign). It should be 'screen_reader = True'. Low vision is a disability characteristic, so a screen reader should be switched on.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 82–148) and word search (Modules 82–380).

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Learning
Duo
Which of these is a user characteristic?
The colour of the company logoA user's age and how much experience they have with apps
Matches
User characteristics: the colour theme the designer likes best
↓
User characteristics are facts about the users, not the designer's own preferences
Applying
Meanings
Term
user characteristics
Meaning
Facts about users, like age, abilities, experience, language and where they use a device, that affect how they use an interface and what it needs to do.
Practice
User: Year 7 student
Testing
Gaps
if userAge 10:
Check Answer
Spots
1if age < 8
2 use_big_icons = True

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Quick Questions

1. Which of these is a user characteristic?
A. A user's age and how much experience they have with apps ✓
B. The colour of the company logo
User characteristics are facts about the people using the interface, such as age and experience. A logo colour is a design choice, not a fact about users.
2. A primary school student is the main user of a reading app. Which design choice fits their age?
A. Short sentences, large buttons and simple words ✓
B. Long paragraphs and technical jargon
Age affects reading level and how well users can handle small targets, so the interface should be pitched to the age of its users.
3. Which user characteristic does this describe: 'The user is colour blind and cannot tell red from green'?
A. Technical experience
B. Disability ✓
Colour blindness is a visual disability. Designers should not rely on colour alone, so they might add text labels or icons as well.
4. True or false: Technical experience is a user characteristic that affects how much help an interface needs to give.
A. True ✓
B. False
A first-time user needs clear labels and guidance, while an expert may want shortcuts. Technical experience changes what the interface needs to do.
5. A tradie uses a quoting app on a building site in bright sunlight, wearing gloves. Which sub-theme of user characteristics is this?
A. Age
B. Device and environment ✓
Where and how the app is used (outdoors, bright light, gloves) is the context of use. It leads to needs like high contrast and big touch targets.

Match the Pairs

Age: 68, retired → A user characteristic about age that may mean larger text and simpler steps are needed
Uses a screen reader (vision impairment) → A disability characteristic that means the interface must work with audio tools and have alt text
Technical experience is a user characteristic: a first-time user needs clear guidance and plain steps → Experience: first-time user, never used an app
Device and environment is a user characteristic: a user in bright sunlight on a small phone needs high contrast and big buttons → Context: outdoors, bright sun, phone screen
User characteristics: the colour theme the designer likes best → User characteristics are facts about the users, not the designer's own preferences
All users are Year 11 students, so every user has the same needs → Assuming all users share the same characteristics. Users differ in age, ability, experience and context.

Key Term

user characteristics
Facts about users, like age, abilities, experience, language and where they use a device, that affect how they use an interface and what it needs to do.

Fill in the Blanks

1. userAge = 8 if userAge < 10: simpleWords = True
Hint: Type the comparison operator that checks the user is younger than 10.
2. screenReader = True if screenReader: addAltText()
Hint: Type the variable name for the assistive tool a user with low vision relies on.
3. experience = "beginner" if experience == "beginner": showTutorial()
Hint: Type the operator that tests whether two values are equal.
4. device = "phone" if device == "phone": layout = "single"
Hint: Type the variable name for the kind of hardware the user is holding.
5. noisy = True if noisy: showCaptions()
Hint: Type the variable that records whether the user's surroundings are loud.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A if age < 8
B use_big_icons = True
C use_simple_words = True
Line A — The if line is missing its colon. It should be 'if age < 8:'. Age is a user characteristic, so young users get big icons and simple words.
Question 2
A if vision == "low":
B font_size = 24
C screen_reader == True
Line C — This line uses == (compare) when it should use = (assign). It should be 'screen_reader = True'. Low vision is a disability characteristic, so a screen reader should be switched on.
Question 3
A experience = "beginner"
B if experience == "beginner":
C show_tutorial = True
D show_help = False
Line D — Beginners have little technical experience, so they need help to be shown. It should be 'show_help = True'.
Question 4
A device = "phone"
B if device == "phone":
C button_size = "tiny"
Line C — Phone users tap with a finger on a small screen, so buttons should be large. 'tiny' buttons would be hard to press. It should be 'button_size = "large"'.
Question 5
A place = "outdoors"
B if place == "outdoors":
C screen_contrast = "low"
Line C — Sunlight causes glare on a screen, so the environment calls for high contrast. Low contrast would be harder to read. It should be 'screen_contrast = "high"'.

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