UX Research
Improving Smartphone Usability for the Elderly
ROLE
UX Researcher
DURATION
3 months
YEAR
2021
In 2021, when COVID-19 forced families to stay home, we noticed a significant challenge facing older adults and their generation navigating smartphones. My parents and elderly relatives, who were now dependent on smartphones for socializing, gathering information, and performing daily tasks, struggled with the complexities of modern technology.
This inspired us to explore the usability of smartphones for the elderly. The goal was to understand how older adults use smartphones, what difficulties they face, and how the design of these devices and apps can be improved to better accommodate their needs. I was responsible for conducting user interviews, designing and distributing surveys, analyzing data, and preparing the final report.
We hypothesized that the lack of familiarity with digital interfaces and the absence of tailored support for older adults were the primary obstacles to smartphone adoption. Our research aimed to understand the following
What challenges do elderly individuals face when using smartphones?
How do they gather information and socialize using their phones?
How can the user interface and overall design of smartphones be improved to make them more accessible for this demographic?
We recruited participants from our own family and close relatives who were either elderly or around that age. The focus was on people who had used smartphones before but found certain features challenging or unfamiliar. We used both qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to gather data:
Interviews
We conducted in-person and video interviews with 19 elderly participants, asking them to walk us through their daily phone usage, their struggles, and their preferred apps.
Survey
We distributed surveys to a broader group (81 respondents), focusing on their daily phone usage patterns, difficulties, and the apps they used most frequently.
Themes highlighted during our interview & survey
Communication apps
WhatsApp was the most widely used app, with participants primarily using it for video calls, family groups, and staying connected.
Gestures & navigation
Many struggled with basic gestures such as pinch-to-zoom or swiping.
Text and icons
Small text and confusing icons led to frequent errors.
Language Barrier
Although many smartphones provide regional language support, there were still issues in navigating in English.
Dependance on family
A majority of participants relied on younger family members for help with tasks, reducing their independence and confidence.
We analyzed the interview and survey data by identifying recurring patterns. Common themes included difficulties with navigation, emotional frustration, and the use of smartphones as a tool for social connection. For example, participants with vision issues struggled more with smaller text and complex icons, while younger elderly participants had fewer issues adapting to smartphones. We also compared the results from the interviews and surveys to validate our insights and ensure consistency.
Based on the research, we proposed several recommendations to improve smartphone usability for the elderly
Color-coding cues
Using color to signal actions or statuses (e.g., green for “go,” red for “stop”)
Regional language support
Better localization to support users who are not familiar with English.
Guided learning
Including tutorials and onboarding guides to help elderly users learn how to use their phones.
Voice assistance
Although many smartphones provide regional language support, there were still issues in navigating in English.
Dependance on family
Adding more voice-activated features for ease of use, particularly for those with vision or language barrier issues.
This project really opened my eyes to the challenges older adults face with technology. I learned a lot about how important it is to design with empathy, especially when working with people from a different generation. Even though we encountered some challenges, like recruitment and quantifying emotional responses, it felt rewarding to see the insights we gathered make a small difference. This experience helped me sharpen my skills in user research and showed me how valuable it is to listen closely to users their struggles often reveal the best solutions.
Looking back, this research reinforced the idea that good design is all about making things more accessible for everyone. As covid made smartphones become a central part of life, it’s crucial that we make them easier for everyone to use, no matter their age or experience. I’m sure to carry these insights into future projects and keep working towards making technology more user-friendly for everyone.