ELDERS IN MODERN SOCIETY

Universal UI filter for the elderly users
UI/UX Design I 8 Months
Elders in Modern Society is a graduate thesis project that focuses on researching how to assist elderly users' digital experience.
Methods
Industry expert interview, user interview, family interview, user testing, research, usability testing
Tools
Adobe Illustrator,
Adobe Photoshop,
Adobe InDesign,
Figma
My role
UI/UX designer, researcher.
A universal UI filter to transform information on the page for the elderly users.
Goal
Enable people of all ages and walks of life to navigate the world as seamlessly as possible.
Overview‍
How would you feel, if one day you are not able to do something that you used to do for a long time?

This happened my grandpa, an 89-year-old formal professor, was unable to get his favorite meal: hamburgers.
  • Our daily use of electronic devices is higher than ever before.
  • Technology has many advantages, such as sharing entertainment, experiences, and emotions without limitations in time and distance.
  • However, it is not benefiting everyone, and many forgotten users have accessibility barriers.
The project:
“Elders in Modern Society” is a visual language filter that offers cross-platform for elderly users digital device usage assistant."
The problem:
How to empower elderly individuals to confidently navigate and engage with digital platforms, ensuring that they can fully participate in the modern digital age?
The Goal:
Introduce a universal UI filter that works as elderly users’ digital language system, enabling users to utilize different digital devices seamlessly as possible..
Process 01: Market + Media Research‍
Media:
  • The vast majority of Americans – 97% – now own a cellphone of some kind.
  • ex) “Monday late show” interviewed, and pointed out grandpa knows how to make a call, but doesn't know how to create and save a contact.
  • ex) Elders are having trouble booking transportation tickets through online. Drivers deny them pay the fare in cash, blocking elders in using transportations.
  • Learnings: Current techno-industry is not fully accommodating certain demographics.
Product trends:
  • Based on the research of the mass market industry, I concluded that almost every life essential product is digitalizing.
  • This includes every service that we need for our basic everyday life.
  • Digitalizing phenomenon happening on the techno-industry benchmark systems could excessively decrease the life quality of people who are not used to, or unable to access screen based technology devices.
Industry:
  • There are some existing features of elderly web support tools.
  • However, when I revisited these sources a few months later, I noticed that some of these features had disappeared.
  • Unfortunately, the industry benchmark system kept eliminating accessibility for elderly users.
  • Does tech have the right to decide who’s more important when it comes to living and connection?
Quantitative research:
  • I realized that people in mid 50 to early 60 can utilize the essential core functions of each technological touch point.
  • Even thought they had some problem of using digital devices on advanced features, most of them were able to perform basics.
  • People having a severe challenge with technology accessibility were those age of late 60 or older.
  • The technology barrier showed the most in three categories: internet, SNS, and others.
Learnings
The problem is very urgent. We need to ensure that technology is designed in a way that is inclusive and accessible to all, including the elderly population. Elderly user experience and interface design would benefit those in need and ultimately help everyone in the future.

Process 02: Interviews‍
User interview 01: Smart phone
Explore the challenges and pain points that older adults face in utilizing modern digital technology in their everyday lives.What are the problems for elders to utilize the common screen-based technology?
  • I interviewed adults age between 55+ to 80 to identify their pain points in using smartphones.  
  • Observed them facing digital product challenges that they expressed. Based on their responses, I created quick sketches to address these issues.
  • These tests allowed me to empathize elders’ concerns, needs, and defiene problems in using modern everyday technology devices.
Users' family interview
From the user interview, I realized not many elders know why they get in problems with digital device usage.

Many elders get their motivation or have their young family member as a digital tutor. I asked them what are the problems that they encounter when they are seeing their elders when it comes to technology.
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Learnings‍
  • The iPhone's norm feature, which requires a three-finger gesture, can be challenging for some elderly users.
  • The use of metaphoric simplified icons has caused confusion among elderly users, making it difficult for them to memorize its meaning and hindered their ability to take notes.
  • Some elders expressed security concerns and expressed a desire for an assistant that can help protect them from potential digital fraud or mistakes.
  • Elderly users also dislike sudden and drastic screen shifts. They prefer elements that can be easily hidden or removed from the screen.  
  • They are open to learning and adapting to a single UI system, and they value consistency in how different applications function.
  • There is an age gap when it comes to icons and design preferences.
User interview 02: AI technology
Explore the challenges and pain points that older adults face in AI speakers, such as Nest, Alexa, etc.
  • I interviewed adults age between 55+ to 80 to identify their pain points in using AI products.  
  • Observed them facing AI product challenges that they expressed. Figure out painpoints, looking for an opportunity.
  • These tests allowed me to empathize elders’ concerns, needs, and defiene problems in using modern AI technology devices.
Learnings‍
  • AI speakers required specific terms as a input.
  • AI technology is not as organic as human representative, If the input is wrong, there is not much forgiveness.
  • Elders get frustrated if AI keep gets a wrong answer. They think the technology is too advanced.
  • Does not support mistake correction, or different accents.
  • Need specific guidance, something like "If you want to hear it, say yes, or no" just like ARS calls.
  • Does not have CC or other supportive options only the sound, if you miss or forget the information, users don't know how to proceed further.
Process 03: Initial user testing‍
Post-it UI
A quick post-it UI button layout to test and learn the inclusivity of elderly users on everyday digital devices. This test will help me understand older users’ preferences, structure, and prioritizes.
Learnings: Success‍
  • Participants preferred the letter buttons over icon buttons, as the former reminded them of older electronic devices. (Pay phones, radios, televisions, cassette tape players, typewriters, and microwaves)
  • Many elders need help reading icons. Some of them are not accustomed to modern-century imagery and have difficulty registering it when they are nervous.
  • Discovered importance to connect with their memories and components from the earlier times of the older generations.
  • Participants shared that they feel comfortable, welcomed, and nostalgic when they see and use items that resemble something they used to have.
Doodle
Icon sketching test to study the knowledge and visual standards of digital icons among elderly demographics. ‍
  • It was evident that many elders preferred letter buttons over icons.
  • However, I was curious to see if they could still understand and indicate messages with digital icons. 
  • Therefore, I conducted a quick icon sketch test to investigate this further.
The process proved fairly complex as only a few participants were familiar with the technology terms such as “icons” and “mobile buttons.” Despite providing detailed explanations, some refused to participate, citing a lack of artistic ability or unsure about what exactly they have to intent to draw.

To overcome this, I provided specific guidelines and examples to help them understand the task. Most elderly testers could create house-shaped sketches, but connecting them with digital language was challenging. Many needed clarification about illustrating “home” button requests unless they were already friendly towards technology.
Learnings: Overall Fail‍
  • The drawing had no intention of representing a digital “home” button but was more of a house illustration.
  • Through this exercise, I learned once again that it is hard for elders to adapt to the ideas of icons.
  • Discovered that elders well understand universal symbols/signs.
  • Reconstructing or designing older imageries could be a suitable solution for elders rather than upgrading contemporary minimalistic digital icons.
  • I decided to research some old international signs. The common, well-known signage would be Olympic, transportation, or pictographic signs.
Leila L.
Kimberly V.
Ron R.
Sean A.
Tyler P.
Industry expert interview
I interviewed six professionals who are in different industries to get a related advice and viewpoints about digital visual language for the elders.
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Solution‍

To Improve digital accessibility and give consistent experience, we need digital language that are created for elderly users.
  • Literacy:
    Lower the barrier towards digital devices by helping them reading and understanding technology terms and icons.
  • Consistency:
    Elderly users are willing to learn only one user scenario and hope it applies to every other applications. They want everything looks and functions in a same way. 
  • Persistence: Sudden page shifts or hidden buttons were one of the most difficulties that elderly users were facing. It make them hard to navigate by creates a fear of making mistake, and thinking they might of break the devices. One of my interviewee said by 1 mistake all of the sudden stuff that she needed are all gone.
Process 04: Digital Language for Elders‍
User Persona
The user persona was created based on the interview I conducted with actual audience in as same age groups. Imagining future target audience gain a deeper understanding of their target audience.
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Elderitional Dictionary
Translating tech words to a better vocabulary for senior users to understand. Such as FaceTime to video call, Unlock to open, Gallery to Album, and Filter settings as remote control. These features are later implemented on my core project Elderly UI Filter.

(The term was made based on Elder+international)‍
Icons
When I conduct UI preference test, many elders had trouble recognizing modern minimalistic icons. Which led me think they need their own icon sets that are designed based on their perspective and understandings.
  • Familiarity, Something that they are used to, and already know.
  • Transportation signs as a base style which were used for, a long time and known by seniors. 
  • Also got inspired by products from 1940s to 60s
  • The process was very fun, it was like playing Pictionary with elders!
Elderly UI Filter
A universal UI filter to transform information on the page for the elderly users’ convenience. To Improve digital accessibility and give consistent experience, unifying each platforms's UI/UX experience is necessary for elders to learn one scenario and apply them for all.
  • A universal UI filter to transform information on the page for the elderly users.
  • Planned to implement in each digital platforms and give elders a choice of turn it on or off as how we change the language settings. 
  • Help seniors to navigate through different websites, just how they use Television remote control.
  • The process was very fun, it was like playing Pictionary with elders!
Process 05: Wireframes + Component design‍
Paper wireframe: Ideation + Taskflow‍
The prototype ideas all implemented from interview, and tests and conducted.
While creating a paper prototype, I observed one of my interviewee's house and the electronics products he is using.
  • Older products from the 1900s have fewer settings than the most recent models.
  • Every function is straight forward.
  • All of them are made out of the physical buttons.
“I like to keep things I used to use. Not just to save some money, but I just feel comfortable around them. - Mr. Jacobs (65 yrs old)”
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Within additional tests and small interviews, It helped me to keep developing on further process to meet opportunities, goals, and needs.
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Digital wireframe: with core user-flow
Wireframe 02 Mid-fidelity wireframes with core user-flow
Created to test out the essential functions, validating right amount of steps, visual language and spacing for the elderly UI filter.
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Process 05: UI component design process‍
UI component 01: Button design‍
Based on user observation, and tests, I realized that technology device for elders were remained as image of 3D buttons from older product designs.
  • Just like icons, technology interaction has a generation gaps
  • Seniors have trouble to use touch screen because they are used to physical button push motions.
  • On other hand, Gen Alpha are having trouble interacting with toys that had physical buttons by trying to touch it, not pushing.
  • 3D button with the analog button sound register to mimic physical push button appearance.
  • Give elderly user clear intentions: "This is something I can push and has a function to it."
UI component 02: Remote control panel design‍
Nostalgia as a bridge to connect familiarity with elders, getting motifs from 1940s-60s ultimately improving user experience and instinct.
  • Retro remote control
  • Pay phone
  • Typewriter
  • Radio button
UI component 03: Color Palette‍
Color palette that supports vision impairments from the aging. Also got inspired by 1940s interior design trends both primary and secondary colors.
  • Charcoal black in icon and typography.
  • Cream beige as a background color.
  • Turquoise blue and lemon yellow shades to give accent.
  • Goal: Clear read on letters and color distinguish.
I have tested various visual impairment views of the final product to ensure visibility and distinguishability of all elements.

Through this process, I have also discovered new opportunities for future expansion, such as the Elderly UI Filter serving as a digital visual helper filter.‍
Prototype 03 High fidelity prototype in progress‍
With a constant feedback loop, I have stylized Elderly UI Filter’s visual system. 

Problems encountered:
  • Confusing having two different home buttons, for web and device.
  • 6 is still too much options.
  • Too many color accents.
  • Willing to categorize each page just like TV settings.
  • Goal: Clear read on letters and color distinguish.
Final High fidelity prototype‍
The prototype ideas all implemented from interview, and tests and conducted, the design was iterated continuously with some major improvements.

Iteration:
  • 4 functions/icons each pages with a category name.
  • Blue frame refers core applications that most of the elders are willing to know how to use
  • yellows are little but more advanced features that they might want to get deeper understanding of the digital devices to utilize.
  • Ai assistant that can help protect them from potential digital fraud or mistakes.
    This assistant can guide the elders and provide warnings before they make any important choices, helping to prevent mistakes, and threats.
Core Functions:‍
Before (left) and after(right) filtering the visual UI system with Elderly UI Filter.
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They can turn this on or off as how we change the language settings. 
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It can be apply on many different products as universal elderly digital visual language.
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Helps seniors to navigate through different websites, just like Television remote control.
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Elderly UI "How to use" Guide‍
Most elders answered they rely on guidebooks when it comes to learning digital products. Therefore I created a "How to use" guidebook that describes core functions of the Elderly UI Filter.
  • Conduct test for UI guidance for elderly users prior to creating an UI guidebook.
  • Directed elders on how to flip the camera from the face cam to the back cam.
  • Learning the best way to explain the location, functions, and look of the button in many different ways.
  • Instructional sheet for elders should include an illustration with a clear direction, where each component is located on the screen.
  • A clear instruction sheet will help seniors but also younger users who are not tech-savvy.
The goal of the guidebook is help elders to learn about the product, comfortably approach, and control Elderly UI Filter.
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Style guide‍
Process 06: Usability Test‍
Insights
From the user testing, my product was successful in certain way.
  • A 90 yr old grandma still needed, her newspaper glasses to read some of the text.
  • Happy about the system’s forgiveness, could go back to the pages anywhere anytime they wanted.
  • Still need education on how to use Elderly UI Filter.
  • Better understanding on recognizing UI components, and following the directions.
  • Once learn a 1 system able to use it on many other devices, and platforms.
Conclusion‍
With my project I wish to provide tools for elderly demographics to stay integrated in our society. Such as Elderitional dictionary, icons, and Elderly UI Filter.
Impact:
Provide tools for elderly demographics to stay integrated in our society. Such as Elderitional dictionary, icons, and Elderly UI Filter.
“I still need to use news paper glasses to read some of the texts, but it is definitely more visible than other systems I experienced.”
— Mrs. Im (Female, age: 90)
Learnings:
Technology is at the weird point, not as advanced to be super organic, but advanced enough to get people lost. We need more empathy, and humanity in digital products. Support elderly users to able to get their favorite hamburger meals just how they used to be.

I learned how to conduct qualitative, quantitative research, user interview, and testing to create a validate design. Which can help users with actual user feedbacks.
Next step‍
My work doesn’t end here, my next step would be get further user insights, collaborate with other professionals and continue to explore. All people, regardless of age or background, should navigate the world with technology as seamlessly as possible. 
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+Extras
Please ask me for my research, and thesis process book for the full documentation!
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gracesooyeun.kim@gmail.com
© reserved by Grace Kim 2022