For the last assignment for this course, I chose to focus on exploring the possibility of desiging apps for middle aged and older adults. This project was inspired by an amazing Japanese woman named Masako Wakamiya.
Visit my site: https://sites.google.com/view/etec523a3projectmobile-apps/home to learn more about Masako, the state of research with mobile technology regarding middle aged and older adults as well as the future of such apps. As always, feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you and Happy Reading!
Hi Bianca,
Thank you for the great presentation. You brought us a topic that is often overlooked in an era where technology is mostly focused on younger generations. The analysis approach of presenting the results of the research by Mohtar is very effective to show the rationale of why there is a need to explore apps for middle and older aged adults. There is a fluid flow between each section, and it provides readers with a good understanding of the state of current apps and what benefits AI can bring. I appreciate that you presented the negative, but also the positive side of data collection and this leaves readers to reflect: What is the perfect balance? How can we leverage these data without giving opportunities to other parties to use them without users’ consent? Having an extensive data governance protocol is something important to explore when it comes to creating or redesigning apps.
Hi Bianca,
This was a great presentation and touched on an important topic that many people don’t often consider. Mobile phones and devices, while they do have accessibility features built-in, the default settings often do not lend themselves to a simple user-friendly interface. There are an amazing amount of accessibility tools built into mobile devices that help support people of various abilities and demographics, but people often do not know they are there, or sometimes the features they need are not developed enough, or designed with their needs in mind. For example, I have assisted my great uncle on numerous occasions with his mobile phone. His eyesight is poor, and even though we have the icons set to maximum size, he still struggles with seeing the correct application. I was disappointed in the design of the user interface because even at maximum size, the applications were not actually that large. Unless the base features of mobile technology begin to change, I believe they will still primarily target younger generations. This as you have pointed out is not only a lost opportunity but also a lost market for developers; as have all learned through this course, we are only beginning to understand the vast potential of mobile culture.
I also appreciate that you brought up the concept of AI as well. While my uncle struggles to manually use his phone due to arthritis, and poor vision, he has taken like a fish to water to his Google Home. He loves being able to ask it about the weather, telling it to set a timer for his boiled egg, and having it help him locate his phone when he has misplaced it. We also added a Google Assistant widget (that I still wish was larger) on the main screen of his cellphone so he can make calls and open applications through voice commands. He thinks it’s nifty, and like he’s on Star Trek, and that excitement, that intrigue is something that draws him towards mobile technology instead of the frustration discouraging him and pushing him away from its potential.
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for sharing your experience with your great uncle. His current situation shows that developers need to step up with creating displays to cater adults with special vision needs. It’s hard to design something when the designer itself doesn’t experience the same frustration and difficulty that your great uncle faces.
I’m glad to see Google Home and Google Assistant put to good use. Some people may think these voice assistants are frivolous or that it can encourage users to be “lazy”. I like how your uncle uses this opportunity to change his perspective about all the tech we have. I hope this curiositity and optimism continues!
Hi Bianca,
Your website exploring mobile learning for middle-aged and older adults is truly enlightening. The journey you’ve taken us on, from Masako Wakmiya’s inspiring story to the in-depth research on fitness apps and the potential impact of AI, is both insightful and thought-provoking. The way you’ve connected the dots between technology, learning, and the unique needs of this demographic is commendable
The Masako video is very encouraging for older people to keep learning, and I totally resonate with that sentiment. As people reach middle age, their active lifestyle often just begins. Despite the challenges of a busy life, the desire for continuous learning and maintaining an active lifestyle remains a priority for many adults.
Just thinking about the whole smartphones designed for older adults got me reflecting on the cool devices we’ve got for kids these days. You know, those with screen time limits and app store restrictions like Gabb Devices https://gabb.com/blog/gabb-vs-iphone/ – they keep things in check for the younger ones. It hit me – what if future tech lets us pick a phone tailored to different age groups?
Imagine having one device that works seamlessly for both kids and seniors, aligning perfectly with the way we handle responsibilities in Asian cultures, like here in Taiwan. I’m curious, how do you see the potential of these versatile devices, balancing the needs of the young and old generations?
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for posting your review! I think the potencial for versatile devices would eventually gain traction. I think there may be some differences with devices that are designed for kids and older adults. Kids are more quick when learning new app functionalities. There may be more focus on controlling content that they see and controlling screen brightness or interface to reduce damage to their eyes. The occurrence of kids that wear eyeglasses have increased a lot in the last few years.
I do see how a device that works seamlessly for both kids and seniors could be highly beneficial in some cultures. My family is from the Philippines, and traditionally kids do take care of their parents when they get old. Having a device that would help keep track of their wellness and whereabouts could take off some load from their day to day lives. Communication between grandparents and granchildren are also an important part of some older adults’ lives. For example, my grandma loved video chatting with me and my brother.
Hi Bianca,
I enjoyed your presentation on mobile apps for older adults. The perception of older generations not being tech-savvy plays a role in the lack of mobile apps for middle-aged and older learners. When we think of mobile technology, the target audience is usually younger, many of whom we perceive as digital natives. Many assume that older adults would require extra support in ‘learning’ to use the digital learning tool, whereas we assume younger generations would naturally figure out what to do on an app with minimal support. As you mentioned, it is important to consider various aspects of the learning profile of the older population and ensure that the mobile tool has higher usability with easier interfaces, along with audio and visual support specifically designed for older adults.
Castro et al.’s study about fitness apps got me thinking about wearable mobile devices such as Fitbit and Apple Watch. Although the wearable aspect of the device would lessen the burden of carrying their cell phones everywhere, the smaller screen and interfaces may not be ideal for older adults. This is where a personal trainer avatar with audio reminders can be useful. Bigger fonts would be one of the first things I would consider to enable them to read on their devices without their reading glasses. What other features of mobile technology do think could benefit the older adult population? What would be other motivators for older adults to use wearable devices other than for their fitness and health?
Hi Amy,
I think besides fitness and health, the influence of family and friends can be a huge factor. I think when one sees their close friends and family use a device that can heavily influence them to try it out as well. In terms of other features of mobile technology, I think the basic functionality of reminders works really well for them. Whether it be to remind them of taking their medication or reminding them of an appointment they may have, that makes planning their calendar somewhat easier. Now that we’re talking about this, I wonder if a lot of older adults and seniors are open to using mobile banking. I still see some seniors carry a passbook to track their bank accounts. I wonder what kinds of interface designs they must make in order to make it more user friendly for that specific demographic.
Hi Bianca,
Thank you for your work on this project, I think this population is overlooked when it comes to inclusion in the mobile and tech conversation so I applaud you for your focus in this project. I think your work on this could go beyond just an older age group but also could be considered for other users who have impairments. Creating content that is accessible and inclusive can reach far beyond just an older population and I think focusing on the specific elements of the app that make it inclusive and not just the age of the user is smart. Things like simple plain design and language with easy to use controls is important for use and then the content could be catered to a number of different audiences. You focused on a fitness app which is great and I think there are so many applications this could extend to.
With the inclusion of AI you bring up the concern of privacy and data collection, I can see this being a barrier with this population as they are already skeptics when it comes to technology integration. What are some of the ways this could be mitigated?
Hi Meagan,
Thank you for your review of my project. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure if this project would materialize as there’s not much research out there yet. I’m glad to receive good reviews from the class so far. I agree with your idea about extending the project to users who have impairments. It’s something I didn’t consider while making my site.
With your final question about mitigating skepticism, I think it’s an ongoing battle between companies and the government. I consulted an article written by Norkute (2023) for Reuters and these are the things that I got from it:
People need to know how AI gets its responses to queries. This also touches upon the so called blackbox system in AI where we can’t examine the system’s code when producing outputs. This then leads to better transparency. Governments must give more regulations or guidelines at least to start combating the misuse of user data. Companies also need to step up with justifying how user data can help build better AI systems.
It’s definitely something to keep an eye on over the next few years. I’m also curious how this would unfold.
Link to article: https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/our-purpose/the-road-to-building-trust-with-ai-systems/#:~:text=To%20trust%20AI%20decisions%2C%20people,to%20acquire%20and%20provide%20explanations.
Hello Bianca,
Your foray into the development of apps for older adults is an excellent address to the often overlooked need for inclusive and accessible technology. Your insightful perspective on learning, emphasizing that it extends beyond the traditional school system and age brackets, opens up a realm of possibilities for mobile learning.
One notable part of your presentation is the intersection of mobile learning and fitness for older adults. However, you could include the skewed nature of the modern fitness industry, which predominantly caters to younger demographics and adheres to youth beauty standards. A deeper exploration of this issue could have illuminated the potential benefits of tailored fitness apps for older individuals. You astutely raise concerns about the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) among older individuals. The inherent distrust that exists in people towards modern technology, including AI, is a pertinent issue that should not be underestimated, especially among older adults. However, you could include in-depth analysis of potential solutions or strategies to overcome the trust barrier.
Your presentation is a great way to address the technological needs of older individuals. The inclusion of mobile learning for this demographic is a forward-thinking approach. I particularly like how you address adaptability and mobility in an age group that is increasingly immobile, and would perhaps benefit most from this technology.
Hi Rylan,
You have a nicely written review. I agree with the two areas you’ve mentioned. While I was drafting the project, I briefly thought about how fitness is always geared towards the young. I also thought about beauty standards along the lines of who should we feature in the instructional videos for these apps? Certainly not a person in their 20s. Hopefully, app developers in the future are good enough to catch this.
You also mentioned about solutions about overcoming the distrust for AI and it is definitely an evolving topic. Meagan also mentioned it in her review of my resource. I’m glad we get to have this discussion with the class. It gives me a chance to see areas of improvement with my work.
What a good news story about Masako! It’s unbelievable how she learned to code and built an app at 81.
Some other design features to consider when desining apps for older an demographic: touch friendly controls, consistent and simple design patterns, clear and simple language, accessibility features, and minimal cognitive load. Some barriers may include limited social pressures (not to conform like younger gens), preference for traditional methods, tech intimidation, and digital literacy and comfort. I will be sharing the video with my parents to give them some motivation!
Hi Sebastian,
She definitely showed me not to be intimidated by anything I don’t know. I’m glad that you found her story inspiring enough to share to your parents. I hope they get some motivation to try out and experiment with tech. 🙂
You offered great features to consider for the future. The touch friendly controls are definitely a big factor. If they can’t tap a specific tile, then that would definitely deter them from using the app further.
I also agree with the barriers you listed. Digital literacy is needed. The library system where I live in offer some help for middle aged and older adults to get them comfortable with using their tablets and phones. They definitely need to fund more projects like this as tech is not going away.
As a member of the middle aged, I appreciate you considering us for your project!
I appreciated the research basis for your ideas and the way you embroidered the research strands into your presentation.
The ideas for redesigning a fitness app were interesting – although the approach taken seems to have been to interview older folk in an attempt to capture their particular user requirements, rather than having older folk actually (re)build the app, which is what Masako did.
Some of the barriers you identify are to do with form factor – the desire for a wearable device and the desire to be able to watch fitness videos presented by an avatar. I don’t think that a single device would resolve these, and I wonder if part of the future of mobility will be apps and tools that make use of multiple different devices for different experiences?
Lastly, I agree that recent developments in AI since 2020 have changed things significantly, and in the near future apps like Pacer will incorporate AI to deliver some of the functionality you describe.
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for being the first one to contribute your thoughts! Thanks for also complementing how I tied into Masako’s story and some research I’ve done. I usually like a good story.
As I was writing this project, I was trying to think of ways how to incorporate everyhing into one device. I think you’re right. We may need mutiple devices depending on the functionality we desire. We can see this in some smartphones. For example, Samsung designed a phone where it folds and can be unfolded into a bigger screen. If ever this area of mobility gets traction in the future, it would be interesting to see if they would design a standalone device for this purpose.