Investigating the Enabling Impact of the WeWALK Accessible Smartphone and Hardware-Based Mobility Application on the Functional Performance of Elderly People

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There are 12 million elderly people in the UK, many of whom rely on smartphones to aid participation in daily living, such as wayfinding, meeting family and friends, and seeking employment. This is made possible with built-in smartphone accessibility features such as screen readers (VoiceOver, TalkBack), colour filters, and dexterity tools. However, most smartphone interfaces are not developed with sufficient compatibility with these features, limiting their usefulness. This is especially problematic in wayfinding applications due to their complex, visually-driven design language that creates barriers for the elderly user.The WeWALK smartphone application aims to be the most accessible navigation and exploration solution for visually impaired users, providing reliable turn-by-turn walking and public transport navigation. It delivers both visual and auditory instructions, as well as full screen reader compatibility and low vision colour filters and text sizes. With the WeWALK companion smart cane, users can access all these features through voice and simple touch gestures, reducing complexity when on the go.These design principles can be extended to improve the lives of the broader elderly community, but this must follow a user-centric approach with extensive literature review and user testing. This project will first research the needs of elderly users, then setting a framework for the app's future development. New requirements can be defined and a better understanding of the functional impact of smartphone navigation solutions can be attained.