Scholarlink

In today's tech-driven landscape, smartphone usage has become ubiquitous, yet older adults often face significant challenges in embracing and efficiently utilizing these devices. This paper’s qualitative study delves into designing smartphone experiences explicitly tailored for India's elderly population, aiming to narrow the digital divide by understanding their distinct needs, challenges, and preferences when interacting with smartphone interfaces. The study identifies three distinct user profiles among the elderly: tech-anxious learners, moderately tech-savvy individuals, and community-driven/non-users. Our findings underscore the intricate challenges and hurdles these user profiles encounter most frequently when engaging with smartphone interfaces. From struggles in making calls, sending messages, and sharing media to navigating complex app functionalities, each interaction presents unique hurdles for older adults. To address these challenges, we propose comprehensive design guidelines and suggestions aimed at enhancing smartphone usability for the elderly population. The proposed design system emphasizes simplicity, intuitive navigation, and tailored guidance, recognizing varying levels of technological proficiency among older users and providing guidelines for the same. Practical observations and task analyses reveal specific pain points in smartphone usage, advocating for larger icons, simplified navigation steps, and clear instructions for common tasks such as calling, messaging, and utilizing applications like WhatsApp and YouTube (the most used apps in the study identified). Our approach aligns with accessibility and inclusivity within the digital realm. By addressing cognitive, physical, and usability aspects of smartphone interactions, our proposed design system strives to empower India's aging population, enabling active participation in an increasingly digital society. This research advocates for empathetic design principles, advocating for smartphone interfaces that cater to the unique needs of the elderly, fostering their engagement and integration into the digital sphere with the proposed guidelines.

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Bridging the Digital Gap, Tailoring Smartphone Experiences for India's Elderly

  • 会议论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

查看全文
  • Soniya Singh,
  • Diksha Singh

摘要

In today's tech-driven landscape, smartphone usage has become ubiquitous, yet older adults often face significant challenges in embracing and efficiently utilizing these devices. This paper’s qualitative study delves into designing smartphone experiences explicitly tailored for India's elderly population, aiming to narrow the digital divide by understanding their distinct needs, challenges, and preferences when interacting with smartphone interfaces. The study identifies three distinct user profiles among the elderly: tech-anxious learners, moderately tech-savvy individuals, and community-driven/non-users. Our findings underscore the intricate challenges and hurdles these user profiles encounter most frequently when engaging with smartphone interfaces. From struggles in making calls, sending messages, and sharing media to navigating complex app functionalities, each interaction presents unique hurdles for older adults. To address these challenges, we propose comprehensive design guidelines and suggestions aimed at enhancing smartphone usability for the elderly population. The proposed design system emphasizes simplicity, intuitive navigation, and tailored guidance, recognizing varying levels of technological proficiency among older users and providing guidelines for the same. Practical observations and task analyses reveal specific pain points in smartphone usage, advocating for larger icons, simplified navigation steps, and clear instructions for common tasks such as calling, messaging, and utilizing applications like WhatsApp and YouTube (the most used apps in the study identified). Our approach aligns with accessibility and inclusivity within the digital realm. By addressing cognitive, physical, and usability aspects of smartphone interactions, our proposed design system strives to empower India's aging population, enabling active participation in an increasingly digital society. This research advocates for empathetic design principles, advocating for smartphone interfaces that cater to the unique needs of the elderly, fostering their engagement and integration into the digital sphere with the proposed guidelines.