Visualization Design and Color Preference in Medical Application Interfaces for Older Adults: The Impact on Cognitive Load and User Experience

The increasing digitization of healthcare demands that electronic medical applications prioritize usability for older adults. This study investigated the influence of visualization design and color preference in digital medical reports on older adults’ cognitive load and user experience (UX). The first experiment (n = 31) compared a baseline, a color visualization, and a graphical visualization interface. By measuring both objective metrics, like task time and pupil diameter, and subjective feedback, the results clearly indicated that the color visualization interface significantly reduced cognitive load and improved UX. Furthermore, the second experiment (n = 35) explored color schemes, finding that blue-themed interfaces were consistently rated as the most calming and emotionally supportive. These critical findings provide practical insights for developers, underscoring the necessity of using effective visualization and color choices to enhance the older adult experience in medical technology.