A 2024 study by Age UK found that 42% of people aged 65+ in the UK do not use the internet, compared to just 5% of remaining adults. In parallel, the UK government has announced plans to make 80% of its services “digital by default” by 2025, with reduced funding for or outsourcing of traditional operations. This imbalance will leave many seniors struggling to easily access what will soon be the most basic public services.
I want to shed some light on something that’s not often discussed, and which impacts all of this: current tech solutions for older adults, the gatekeepers of their digital access, are not helping where they should. They usually fall into two problematic categories:
- Mainstream products with half-baked accessibility features are tacked into the existing technology as an afterthought. An example is the iPhone accessibility settings, which although impressive, essentially require a “genius” to configure. It does very little to address the fundamental usability issues for someone who’s never used a smartphone before.
- Niche products are designed to solve hyper-specific problems, like a single-button computer for arthritic hands.
Both approaches, while well-intentioned, fail to really equip seniors to access the digital interfaces that rule their lives today.
The consequences of this failure are far-reaching and often deeply personal. We conducted research into seniors’ digital habits and during that process, we met an elderly man who had missed his doctor’s appointment because he accidentally changed a preset alarm on his phone and couldn’t figure out how to fix it. It’s a small usability issue, but it had significant real-world consequences – showing us how seemingly minor design flaws can profoundly impact seniors’ lives. Similarly, there is a huge waste of money and time. We’ve encountered countless latest model smartphones in the hands of seniors ( often paid for by their children), which are permanently locked. They had forgotten the passcode months ago.
It’s not solely limited to health or government services either. Take entertainment and travel, for example. We’re moving towards a world where everything from concert tickets to train timetables are primarily accessed through smartphone apps. For many seniors, this is effectively cutting them off from experiences that bring joy and social connection to their lives which we know has a significant mental and physical health benefit too.
Clearly, a change is needed in how we approach access to technology for older adults. And what if, instead of just compensating for physical or cognitive decline, we designed technology that actually enhanced seniors’ ability to engage with the world?
This presents both a pressing need and a significant opportunity. By reimagining tech design for older adults, we can not only solve existing limitations but also open new avenues for seniors to experience increased enjoyment and independence through their devices.
To guide this reimagining, I propose seven senior-tech design principles:
- Design for digital newcomers, not just older users. Imagine you’re creating interfaces for someone who’s never used a touchscreen before. This approach often leads to more intuitive designs for everyone.
- Prioritise instructive, explanatory interfaces. Don’t assume any prior knowledge. Every action should be clearly described, not just represented by a potentially confusing icon.
- Build in flexibility for various physical and cognitive needs without making it feel like a “special” product. Design for potential issues like poor eyesight or decreased dexterity from the ground up.
- Allow the user to explore freely, without fear of getting stuck, changing something by mistake, or breaking the phone
- Technology should empower older adults to do things for themselves, not just provide a simplified experience.
- Adopt a non-patronizing approach to the design process. Too often, tech for seniors inadvertently makes users feel incapable when they encounter difficulties. Instead, we should aim to create interfaces that instill confidence and encourage exploration.
- Create intuitive paths for troubleshooting and support. So if something is confusing, they intuitively understand the route out.
Implementing these principles requires us to unlearn much of what we think we know about UX/UI design. What works for digital natives often falls flat for older users. We need to question every assumption and design choice, always asking, “Would this make sense to someone who’s never used a smartphone?”
This rethinking is not easy and will extend to features that by design are inaccessible, such as security. Two-factor authentication is a common stumbling block for many seniors, for instance. Instead of relying on remembered codes or app-based systems, why not use voice calls for verification? It’s a familiar technology for most seniors and doesn’t require learning new interfaces or remembering complex passwords.
By reframing tech design for seniors as a frontier of inclusive innovation, we open up possibilities that benefit users across all age groups. I believe this approach can create adaptable, intuitive technology that will serve us well as we all age.
