Buddy Buddy
Creating a Social Networking Service for the Elderly
2023-Current
Product Design
Overview
This device kit and its UX/UI design are specifically created to encourage social interaction among the elderly. The intuitive UX/UI design incorporates familiar elements that provide positive and enjoyable stimulation, which helps to expand our users’ social space into the virtual world, ultimately breaking the cycle of social isolation.
Role
UX Research, Product Design, & Prototyping
Team
Elizabeth Jones
Jeremy Tai
Problem
The social isolation of the elderly
Social isolation is a prevalent issue among older adults in the United States, with around 25% of individuals aged 65 or older considered socially isolated. Unfortunately, this isolation has significant consequences, including a 30% increased risk of heart disease and a 50% increased risk of dementia.
25%
of people aged 65 or older are considered to be socially isolated.
30%
Social isolation has been linked to a 30% increased risk of heart disease.
50%
Social isolation has been linked to a 50% increased risk of dementia.
1. They tend to hide their desire to socialize with others.
According to the study, elderly people who were considered socially isolated appeared passive in social activities and denied feeling lonely, but in reality, they were experiencing significant loneliness.
2. 38% of them have a physical disability.
According to statistics, 38 percent of elderly individuals in the United States have various physical disabilities. This is a significant factor that limits their social and external activities.
These two factors are creating a vicious circle.
"I experience discomfort in my legs, which makes it difficult for me to go outside, and as a result, I am hesitant to socialize with others. When I avoid socializing, I start to feel anxious about meeting new people. "
- Yoshiko Sakai, 87
User Persona & Journey Map
Ideation
Project Goal
A gradual change in our users’ daily lives.
Short-term goal
Generating feelings of happiness to brighten our users’ daily lives.
Long-term goal
Stimulating our users’ desires to socialize with others.
Ultimate goal
Engaging in social pursuits more actively than before.
1. Our users are very interested in the latest technologies and virtual experiences.
Studies have shown that elderly people are increasingly interested in the latest technology, including virtual experiences, which can provide social interaction.
(Völter et al., 2019; Banbury et al., 2018; Soliman et al., 2020)2. Looking at photos of people smiling tends to make us happy.
Viewing images of happy facial expressions were associated with increased positive mood and reduced negative mood among participants.
(Hennenlotter et al., 2009)3. Use of elements that are more familiar to their generation.
They tend to be more comfortable with certain design elements that are more familiar and accessible to them, such as larger text, simple interfaces, and haptic reaction.
(Berkowsky et al., 2021; Xie et al., 2021; Czaja et al., 2020)Prototyping Physical Device
This device kit draws inspiration from retro cameras and incorporates design elements that are familiar to the elderly generation, including physical buttons and framing gestures. It is designed to make digital products more accessible and intuitive for the elderly.
* Prototyping and creation of physical product handled by Jeremy TaiPrototyping the Mobile and Tablet Experience
System Interaction Diagram
This user flow contains 3 steps that seamlessly integrate the physical camera device, mobile app, and tablet app.
Horizontal Swipe VS Vertical Scroll
75% of users preferred horizontal swipe, while the rest preferred vertical scrolling. A preference for landscape photography and the way the pages of a book are turned was mentioned by users that were interviewed.
75%
of users preferred horizontal swipe, mentioning that it was more familiar.
25%
of users preferred vertical scroll. These users tended to engage with new-age social media platforms.
Final Product
Onboarding
To help users navigate the app and feel confident using its features, we created an in-app guidance page that provides step-by-step instructions and helpful tips.
Gallery
Users can see photos uploaded by their “buddies” in their personal Gallery. Horizontal-swipe gives our users a feel they’re familiar with.
Messaging
Messaging menu that is intuitive and visible, making it easier for users to access and use the messaging feature.
Buddy
The user’s Buddy list makes it easy for users to video or voice call their buddies. Focused on creating an intuitive and user-friendly design, the card section layout is simple and makes use of large buttons for visibility.
Help
'Help' menu with a floating button that remains visible and accessible to users as they navigate Buddy Buddy, providing them with assistance and support when/where ever needed.
Minimum Tapping Area
Based on Apple HIG and Material design, the minimum suggested touch target sizes are 44px to 48px. However, to best serve the needs of our users who often have visibility and mobility issues, we increased the size of touch targets.
Buttons
To ensure that buttons are easily and accurately used, I made all interactive elements at least 56px and positioned them with enough space from other competing touch targets to ensure no ‘fat-finger’ issues. In our research, small targets led to longer acquisition time and errors, and caused frustration for our user group.
Next Steps
Moving forward, our strategy involves integrating user feedback and insights from testing to continually refine and enhance the product. Our main objective is to broaden the app’s features and capabilities by incorporating more social and communication options tailored to the specific needs of elderly users. We are also exploring the integration of additional hardware components or accessories to elevate the overall user experience.
Social Interactions
I will measure metrics related to social interactions within the app, such as the number of connections/friends made, messages sent, and group interactions.
User Retention
I plan to monitor retention rates over time, including day 1 retention, week 1 retention, and month 1 retention.
Accessibility Metrics
We will evaluate accessibility-related metrics such as font size preferences and overall usability for users with varying degrees of disability and technological familiarity in-app and for our physical product.
Furthermore, we are actively considering partnerships with organizations or businesses focused on serving the elderly community. These collaborations aim to increase awareness of our product and encourage its adoption among our target audience. Additionally, we are committed to developing a sustainable business model that strikes a balance between social impact and financial viability, ensuring the long-term success and availability of our service.
My first experience designing a mobile experience alongside a physical product taught me the crucial role of communication between design teams. This collaboration is essential for creating a product that aligns the physical product and direction of the mobile app as it grows.