Alan H.S. Chan

Effect of display factors on Chinese reading times, comprehension scores and preferences

This paper presents the results of research on elemental standard reading time estimates for traditional Chinese characters on computer displays and explores the factors that may affect the time estimates. Seventy-two native Chinese readers, aged 19 to 24, were asked to read 16 simple passages and then answer four multiple-choice questions. Results indicated that the basic reading time was 213 milliseconds per character (msC − 1) for comprehending the messages conveyed by the passages. Analysis of variance showed that font type, character size, line spacing and display polarity affected reading speed. Traditional Chinese characters of Ming style, 14-point size, double line spacing and positive polarity produced faster reading times and higher preferences than characters of Li style, 10-point size, single line spacing and negative polarity. However, only character size had a significant influence on comprehension score. Recommendations for appropriate display formats and layouts for traditional Chinese characters on computer displays based on the results of subjective preferences and objective measures are discussed.

Using AHP for determining priority in a safety management system

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to determine the priority of processes outlined in the BS8800 Guide to Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems for the Hong Kong construction industry. Analysis of variance was used to further investigate the differences among three different kinds of construction enterprises: joint venture (JV), well‐established (W‐E) and small and medium sized (SME) enterprises. This study of 32 construction enterprises suggests that JV and W‐E enterprises are able to demonstrate stronger commitment to strategic safety issues whereas SMEs focus more on the short‐term safety issues in implementation of safety management system. The results also indicate that “Safety Training” may be a problem area in all three groups. When considering differences shown between groups, these rankings can be used as a guide for the practical implementation of the British Standard BS8800 Safety Management System in construction enterprises in Hong Kong.

Subjective health complaints of teachers from primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong.

This study aimed to investigate the subjective health complaints (SHC) in the teaching profession of Hong Kong. On the basis of the SHC inventory, a questionnaire was prepared for data collection through a mail survey. A total of 1 710 usable questionnaires were returned by the primary or secondary school teachers. The results showed that 99.5% (n =1702) of respondents suffered at least one type of the 39 single health problems on the total SHC scale during the preceding 30 days. The 10 most frequently reported health complaints among the teachers were tiredness, eyestrain, anxiety, sleep problems, voice disorder, shoulder pain, neck pain, headache, cold/flu, and lower-back pain. With the exception of the category of pseudoneurological complaints, primary school teachers showed a statistically higher prevalence in reporting problems in 6 of 7 subscales. The 5 most severe complaints were tiredness, eyestrain, sleep problems, shoulder pain, and voice disorder.

Prioritising the safety management elements: A hierarchical analysis for manufacturing enterprises

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a hierarchy decision model for assessing the priority of safety management elements in manufacturing enterprises with reference to three major industries (i.e. textile and clothing, electronics, and printing and publishing) in Hong Kong. The identification of core decision criteria and safety management elements were addressed with respect to the effective implementation of safety management systems (SMS) in manufacturing enterprises.Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data were acquired via a conduct of personal interviews with evaluators (i.e. safety personnel, experts and professionals) in industry. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology, a list of seven decision criteria and 13 safety management elements were identified and their relative importance were evaluated.Findings – It was found that the top three criteria for SMS implementation were “client requirement” “insurance company requirement” and “employee requirement”. Both “safe...

Gerontechnology acceptance by elderly Hong Kong Chinese: a senior technology acceptance model (STAM)

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a senior technology acceptance model (STAM) aimed at understanding the acceptance of gerontechnology by older Hong Kong Chinese people. The proposed STAM extended previous technology acceptance models and theories by adding age-related health and ability characteristics of older people. The proposed STAM was empirically tested using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey with a sample of 1012 seniors aged 55 and over in Hong Kong. The result showed that STAM was strongly supported and could explain 68% of the variance in the use of gerontechnology. For older Hong Kong Chinese, individual attributes, which include age, gender, education, gerontechnology self-efficacy and anxiety, and health and ability characteristics, as well as facilitating conditions explicitly and directly affected technology acceptance. These were better predictors of gerontechnology usage behaviour (UB) than the conventionally used attitudinal factors (usefulness and ease of use). Practitioner Summary: Previous studies have not given much consideration to age-related health and associated abilities when examining acceptance of technology by the ageing population. By encompassing conventional technology acceptance constructs together with age-related health and ability characteristics, the present study was able to identify more factors affecting gerontechnology acceptance by older Hong Kong Chinese.

Color associations for Hong Kong Chinese

Abstract Population stereotypes for color were tested with 117 Hong Kong Chinese subjects. They were asked to associate ten colors and sixteen concepts. Chi-square tests demonstrated significant color associations for all sixteen concepts. Although significant associations were demonstrated, they were not as strong as those found for Yunnan Chinese and US subjects obtained in previous studies. The three primary colors red, green, and blue had six, three, and one significant associations, respectively. The strongest associations found were red and stop (66.4%), red and danger (63.0%), and green and go (62.6%) which are associations that coincide with daily experiences of the subjects. Red had the highest percentage associations with six out of the sixteen concepts tested, viz. potential hazard, danger, radiation hazard, caution, stop, and strong, indicating that for Hong Kong Chinese there was no clear differentiation between caution and danger, and different types of hazards. Consensus between Chinese and US subjects was found for color associations with the concepts of safe, danger, go and stop. For the concept on, both green and red were highly associated. Some other differences for color associations were found between Hong Kong Chinese and other populations. Relevance to the industry The nonconformity of the choice of colors with international standards and the divergence found in this experiment suggested that ergonomists and industrial designers must be prudent on equipment and facilities designed for the Chinese with appropriate research on applications of color associations.

Use or non-use of gerontechnology--a qualitative study.

This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the attitudes and experiences of older people towards using gerontechnology, and to determine the underlying reasons that might account for their use and non-use of gerontechnology. Four focus group discussions and 26 individual interviews were undertaken. Qualitative data were analyzed using NVivo software and were categorized using coding and grounded theory techniques. The result indicated that old people in Hong Kong had an overall positive attitude toward technology. Positive attitudes were most frequently related to enhanced convenience and advanced features. Negative attitudes were most frequently associated with health risks and social problems arising from using technology (e.g., social isolation and addiction). Usage of technology is driven by outcome expectations and social influences, and supported by facilitators, whereas non-use of gerontechnology relates to the personal (e.g., health and functional capacities), technological (e.g., cost and complexity), and environmental barriers experienced. Use of gerontechnology is a synthesis of person, technology, and environment. To encourage non-users to adopt technology, there is a need to remove barriers at personal, technological, and environmental levels.

Effects of sign characteristics and training methods on safety sign training effectiveness.

This study investigated whether or not training methods affected the effectiveness of symbol training and if there were any relationships between sign symbol characteristics and training effectiveness. Altogether, 26 Mainland China industrial safety signs were used and 60 participants were randomly assigned into four equal-sized groups of control, paired-associate learning, recall training and recognition training. The result was that participants from all the training groups showed significantly greater improvement in comprehension performance than those in the control group, indicating that the training methods improved comprehension of the meaning of safety signs. Participants from the recall training group performed better in the post-training test than those from other training groups. It seems that the recall task elicited a deeper level of learning than the recognition task and that questioning and feedback had a positive effect on training effectiveness. The results also showed that sign characteristics had no significant influence on training effectiveness. It was concluded that recall training is more effective in enhancing comprehension of industrial safety signs than paired-associate learning or recognition training. The findings of this study provide a basis for useful guidelines for designing symbol-training programmes and for designing more user-friendly safety signs. Statement of Relevance: The present study shows that recall training was more effective in improving comprehension of industrial safety signs than paired-associate learning or recognition training and cognitive sign features did not influence training effectiveness. They provide a basis for useful guidelines for designing symbol-training programmes and for designing more user-friendly safety signs.

Spatial S-R compatibility of visual and auditory signals : implications for human-machine interface design

Abstract This study investigated spatial stimulus–response (S–R) compatibility for visual and auditory signals presented on longitudinally and transversely oriented axes. The objective was to establish data in order to make ergonomics recommendations for multi-sensory interface design in control consoles. The results showed strong stimulus–response compatibility effects. Relatively faster reaction times (RTs) and lower error percentages (EPs) were found for the compatible S–R conditions than for the incompatible conditions. Other than the main S–R compatibility effect, a stimulus–hand (S–H) compatibility effect was also found when there was no clear stimulus–response compatibility. Responses made to visual signals were faster than those to auditory signal, suggesting that the processing of visual signals dominated processing of auditory ones. Response speed increased and accuracy decreased with the adoption of crossed hand posture. Response speed decreased with the length of the warning time interval. The findings in this experiment were translated into practical ergonomics recommendations for signal–response layout, stimulus–hand layout, hand condition, warning time interval, and methods of presenting visual and auditory signals. These recommendations were made with a view to improving control console design in order to enhance operator and overall system performance.

Personal and other factors affecting acceptance of smartphone technology by older Chinese adults.

It has been well documented that in the 21st century, there will be relatively more older people around the world than in the past. Also, it seems that technology will expand in this era at an unprecedented rate. Therefore, it is of critical importance to understand the factors that influence the acceptance of technology by older people. The positive impact that the use of mobile applications can have for older people was confirmed by a previous study (Plaza et al., 2011). The study reported here aimed to explore and confirm, for older adults in China, the key influential factors of smartphone acceptance, and to describe the personal circumstances of Chinese older adults who use smartphone. A structured questionnaire and face to face individual interviews were used with 120 Chinese older adults (over 55). Structural Equation Modeling was used to confirm a proposed smartphone acceptance model based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The results showed that those who were younger, with higher education, non-widowed, with better economic condition related to salary or family support were more likely to use smartphone. Also, cost was found to be a critical factor influencing behavior intention. Self-satisfaction and facilitating conditions were proved to be important factors influencing perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use.