Development of universal design mobile interface guidelines (UDMIG) for aging population

Abstract

The number of older adults using technology is steadily increasing. However, this group of users has faced a variety of user interface (UI) usability issues due to various and multiple age-related limitations they have. Four different strategies designed to solve the usability issues older adults have while interacting with user interfaces were analyzed. When placed in a context of mobile interfaces for older adults, Universal Design (UD), Design for Aging, Universal Usability (UU), and Guidelines for handheld mobile device interface design were not found sufficiently complete and inclusive to meet the usability needs of older adults. There is a need to address these usability needs and reconcile inconsistencies between the four strategies. The purpose of this research study was to develop a robust, integrative set of design guidelines based on the four design strategies to ensure usability of mobile devices by older adults. An example of the application of the guidelines to the mobile interface is presented in the paper.