Domain independent regulative norms for evaluating performance of assistive solutions

When considering touch devices, hand dexterity becomes an issue for the elderly population. Solutions to this issue ought to be on the supportive side while not diminishing the autonomy of the users. According to self-determination theory, this implies being autonomy supportive. This idea inspires two concepts introduced in this paper, the undesirable interruption and tolerated failure. Both can be computationally represented using a normative system approach. This representation permits to quantify the performance of a system in terms of norm violations and punishments. The normative system approach applicability is essayed in a case study with a touch operated remote control for a smart TV. The case study is realized through a simulation framework that allows to describe the expected user behaviours as well as emulating the assisting solution, the remote control in this case.