Amouzadeh Elahe, Dianat Iman, Faradmal Javad, Babamiri Mohammad
Department of Ergonomics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Department of Occupational Health and Ergonomics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2025 Aug 14;37(1):248. doi: 10.1007/s40520-025-03157-7.
With the rapid growth of mobile technology, ensuring accessibility and usability for older adults has become a critical concern. This systematic review evaluates existing age-friendly mobile app design research, identifying key usability barriers and effective strategies for improving accessibility.
This study reviews English-language research (Published between Jun. 2014 and Mar. 2025) on mobile applications for adults aged 60 + , focusing on user-centered design, usability testing, and age-friendly adaptations. It compares different levels of accessibility features and evaluates their impact on usability, satisfaction, and engagement across various settings. Studies were retrieved from four online databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore).
This systematic review initially reviewed 1,556 records. From these, 132 articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings highlight several essential design elements, including simplified navigation, enlarged text and touch targets, voice interaction, and error-tolerant interfaces. Participatory design methods enhanced usability and satisfaction, demonstrating the importance of co-designing applications with older users. However, challenges like cognitive overload, lack of digital literacy, and accessibility barriers persist.
The review emphasizes the need for future research on Artificial Intelligence-driven personalization, long-term usability studies, and culturally inclusive mobile applications. By integrating age-friendly design principles, developers can enhance digital inclusion, promote independence, and improve the overall well-being of older adults in an increasingly digital world.
随着移动技术的迅速发展，确保老年人能够使用并易于使用移动技术已成为一个关键问题。本系统综述评估了现有的适合老年人的移动应用程序设计研究，确定了关键的可用性障碍以及提高可访问性的有效策略。
本研究回顾了2014年6月至2025年3月期间发表的关于60岁及以上成年人移动应用程序的英文研究，重点关注以用户为中心的设计、可用性测试以及适合老年人的调整。它比较了不同水平的可访问性特征，并评估了它们在各种环境下对可用性、满意度和参与度的影响。研究从四个在线数据库（PubMed、Scopus、科学网和IEEE Xplore）中检索。
本系统综述最初审查了1556条记录。其中，132篇文章符合纳入标准。研究结果突出了几个重要的设计元素，包括简化的导航、放大的文本和触摸目标、语音交互以及容错界面。参与式设计方法提高了可用性和满意度，证明了与老年用户共同设计应用程序的重要性。然而，认知过载、缺乏数字素养和可访问性障碍等挑战仍然存在。
该综述强调了未来对人工智能驱动的个性化、长期可用性研究以及具有文化包容性的移动应用程序进行研究的必要性。通过整合适合老年人的设计原则，开发者可以在日益数字化的世界中增强数字包容性、促进独立性并改善老年人的整体福祉。
