2 Days in 2023
Buddy
An app catering exclusively to the needs of seniors in a world where most current apps only cater to youngsters and seniors often feel left out.
The Overview
My grandmother struggled to use her regular apps
During my vacation, I stayed with my grandmother and noticed something interesting. While she had finally gotten the hang of using her smartphone and loved it, I observed her squinting and feeling a bit uncomfortable while using her regular apps. When I asked her about it, she replied, "I can't seem to make the text bigger in my app, and what are these shapes(she was talking about icon's)?" That got me thinking, and the rest,...........well keep reading to find out what happened next!
My Role
Personal UX project
The Assumption
Many of the apps that currently exist are not entirely inclusive towards seniors
To validate this assumption, I decided to explore whether this is indeed a problem that I can solve or if it remains as just an assumption.
Many of the apps that currently exist are not entirely inclusive towards seniors, as they are typically designed with a younger population in mind.
Impact
Seniors dont have to feel left out anymore
With Buddy, seniors have their very own app tailored to meet their everyday needs.
The Research
Validating of the assumption
Turns out my grandmother is not alone, according to an article by Nielsen and Norman Group, "Users ages 65 and older face unique challenges when using websites and apps. Digital literacy among this demographic is rising, but designs need to accommodate aging users."
This led me to conduct some secondary research, that helped me identify few key gaps/problems in current apps, and categorized them into three themes.
1. Illegible text and tiny targets
Today's apps are designed by and for young people which are often inaccessible for older users. Even though a lot of seniors find applications on their mobile phones to be convenient, readability challenges are significant. The text is often too small and often lightly colored which becomes challenging for seniors to read.
For example in the youtube app, the text on the nav menu on the bottom are tiny.
2. Use of only icons for navigation
There are also a lot of apps like Facebook and Amazon who don't even use text and only icons for the bottom navigation bar. Facebook being a widely used social app, using only icons for navigation makes it limiting for seniors as they do not understand iconography like younger people. Similarly, seniors can find it very challenging when order essential items from apps like Amazon.
A lot of color
As we age, our eyesight changes, making it difficult for seniors to use apps with low contrast colors. Doordash, a popular delivery app, is an example how it can be challenging to use for seniors due to its excessive use of colors. This can create accessibility issues for color-blind users as well. If done right seniors can really benefit from delivery services like this.
The Problem
Seniors struggle to use these applications as part of their daily routine.
After the research I was able to conclude that it indeed was a problem. Hence the problem statement is, " The current generation of apps are not fully optimized to meet the unique needs of seniors, leading to a lack of interest among seniors to adopt technology. This, in turn, creates a struggle for seniors to use these applications as part of their daily routine."
The Scope
Identified the top three needs/tasks that seniors commonly perform on their mobile phones
Once I identified the problem, I realized the importance of narrowing down the scope of my project before beginning to work on a solution. As a designer and a grandson, I was determined to create an app that would cater to the unique needs of seniors. Given the limited resources and experimental nature of the project, defining the scope was crucial to ensure its feasibility.
Through research, I identified the top three needs/tasks that seniors commonly perform on their mobile phones, and used this information to guide the design of the app.
Medicine tracking and health needs
Services like grocery/food delivery and transportation
Social Interactions
The Solution
A functional experience, rather than something that is only visually appealing but not practical
Buddy is a solution that caters to seniors and their daily needs.
Simplified navigation with no ambiguity
Buddy is designed to simplify the lives of seniors by addressing three critical gaps identified through research: illegible text and tiny targets, use of only icons for navigation, and poor color contrast. With Buddy, everything is clearly labeled using simplified language and paired with fun icons, making it an enjoyable experience for seniors.
Health Needs
Buddy meets seniors' health needs by managing medication schedules, accessing, and uploading medical records. Its large touch targets make tasks easy, while the intuitive interface helps seniors stay on top of their health.
Socialize
As we age, it's common to feel lonely and isolated. Buddy helps seniors connect with others in their community, fostering new friendships and meaningful connections.
Volunteer help
"Buddy collaborates with NGOs to offer seniors volunteer assistance with daily needs. Seniors can easily request help for groceries, transportation, and more, providing peace of mind and support whenever needed."
The Learnings
A satisfying feeling
The idea for developing Buddy came from a personal experience, and being able to use my UX skills to create a solution was incredibly satisfying.
Through secondary research and design, I was able to develop a functional app that caters specifically to seniors. I completed the project in two days, which allowed me to practice my skills and refine the app's to the best of my abilities with the resources in hand.
One unique aspect of Buddy is that it may not appear visually appealing at first glance, but that was intentional. The ultimate goal was to create a functional app that caters to seniors and makes their lives easier.
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