Catering to Seniors: Guidelines for User-Driven Perceived Aging Adaptation in User Interface Design

Currently, silver economy is substantial, but there is a clear supply imbalance issue. The social responsibility of companies related to aging and accessibility has gradually become a topic of concern. To design aging-friendly applications, it is necessary to have better knowledge about older adults’ perceptions and experiences of mobile applications. Given the above setting, a user-driven aging design system guide based on the perception system of the elderly has been offered as a solution to the digital divide issues created by the shortcomings in user interface design for aging adults in contemporary China. The Kano model (KANO), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methods are integrated into the design of the aging design guideline. First, a quantitative study was conducted, collecting questionnaires from a total of 100 participants, including 52 individuals aged 41–50, 28 individuals aged 51–60, and 20 individuals aged 60 and above. Second, a qualitative study was carried out involving in-depth interviews with 16 participants aged 50–60. Through the research, 15 user requirements were identified and classified using KANO. Next, AHP was introduced to determine the weights of different attributes of user requirements. Finally, in order to prioritize the design elements, QFD was used to identify the design elements that needed emphasis during the design process. This study provides a basis for the perceptual information interaction of Chinese older adults within smartphone systems, offering standardized guidance for subsequent researchers in user-centered interaction design for the elderly, ultimately enhancing the well-being of the elderly.