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

调查 WeWALK 无障碍智能手机和基于硬件的移动应用对老年人功能表现的影响

• 批准号: 10017017
• 金额: $ 6.36万
• 依托单位: WEWALK LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Small Business Research Initiative
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10017017
• 关键词: Investigating; Enabling; Impact; WeWALK; Accessible

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.

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