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Smartphones for Seniors

E-Learning - UX/UI Design

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ROLE

E-Learning

UX Designer

UI & Visual Designer

Project Manager

Information Architecture

TIMELINE

Sept 2018 - Dec 2018

13 weeks

TOOLS

Adobe Illustrator

Paper Prototyping

Adobe Xd

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THEMES

Blended Learning

E-Learning Evaluation

Instructional Design Model

Clayton Wright's Criteria

Gardener's Multiple Intelligences

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PROJECT BRIEF

I chose this module as my 3rd year elective. The brief was to: Create a short piece of E-Learning (60 minutes), on a topic of your choice.

CHOSEN TOPIC

Technology for Seniors

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I strongly believe that the older generation are missing out on the benefits of technology due to poor accessibility for senior users. I am focusing my project on introducing seniors to smartphones, in an informal and compassionate way.

AIM

  • Connect generations

  • Address issues around digital illiteracy of the older generation

  • Making smartphones inclusive of everyone in our society

  • Allow seniors to avail of the benefits of technology including online shopping (Tesco free delivery over 60s), entertainment, digital diary and reminders

  • Increase safety of older generation - using smartphones as an emergency device 

  • Allow seniors to record medical data eg: heart rate/ sleep cycle.

UX RESEARCH

  • Personas and scenarios

  • Empathy map

  • Point of view statements

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COLOUR RESEARCH FINDINGS

  • Variety of colours to keep cognitive abilities functioning in the seniors

  • Warm shades of red & orange are proven to improve energy levels, which will be important to include in my project, to keep the older adult user engaged

  • Soft blue & green are peaceful and keep the user calm (Ross Coleman, 2017).

HOW SENIORS LEARN?

  • Seniors can strengthen networks in the brain by staying active, eating well and getting plenty of sleep, users should be following these guidelines to maintain good health and prime the mind for learning.

  • Seniors learn best when they get out of their comfort zone, proven by a survey conducted by neuroscientist Denise Park.

  • She concluded that “…it is not enough just to get out and do something—it is important to get out and do something that is unfamiliar and mentally challenging, and that provides broad stimulation mentally and socially.”

  • “When you are inside your comfort zone, you may be outside of the enhancement zone.” (Richmond, 2015)

ELEMENTS OF E-LEARNING COURSE

Blended Learning​

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Group meetings (in-person)

Physical printed manual

Mobile app 

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN MODEL

ADDIE Insights

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  • Emotions: Intimidated, overwhelmed

  • Existing technology Skills: limited knowledge

  • Requirements: Simple instructions, sense of community & compassionate tutors

GARDENER'S MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCIES

Linguistic

Users learn by reading, verbally hearing and seeing words. In the group meetings, students will receive presentations from their tutor which will involve both verbally and hearing the information. There is a printed manual - useful for the linguistic learners as they learn from reading books.

 

Visual/spatial

To cater for users with visual/spatial intelligences, various multimedia resources will be part of the course. Video tutorials, text, maps, and images will appear on the app. The printed manual will include colour, text, images and graphics.

 

Interpersonal

Allowing the user to learn by interacting with other students and tutors at group meetings. These students will also benefit from the interaction with the group members on a social media group chat. They will receive time and attention from the tutor and will be able to contact the instructor on email and social media platforms.

 

Intrapersonal

This user has a good understanding of themselves. Students will attend group meetings each week, and they can learn independently and privately in their own time, using the app and printed manual.

RESEARCH STATISTICS

“A generation of older people is being left behind as an increasingly online Ireland fails to support and empower older people to properly participate in our society as digital citizens”  (Age Action, 2017).

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50% of Irish citizens between 65-74 have never used the internet, this is the highest rate in Europe (Age Action, 2017).

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FLOWCHARTS

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PAPER WIREFRAMES

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MOODBOARD

The red is used for the help button, and the green for buttons, which are familiar to older users. Higher contrast colours were chosen, which display better on screen and are clearer for older users to see with the decline in colour vision among seniors.

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FINAL USER INTERFACE

login.jpg
login keyboard.jpg
profile.jpg
profilehelp.jpg
menu.jpg
manual.jpg
lesson.jpg
contacts1.jpg
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REFERENCES

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Ross Coleman, B. (2017). The Best Colors for the Elderly. [online] Healthfully. Available at: https://healthfully.com/colors-elderly-8551183.html [Accessed 21 Oct. 2018].

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Richmond, S. (2015). How Learning New Skills Keeps the Elderly Mind Sharp | HomeHero. [online] HomeHero. Available at: https://www.homehero.org/blog/lifestyle/how-learning-new-skills-keeps-the-elderly-mind-sharp [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018].

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Ageaction.ie. (2017). [online] Available at: https://www.ageaction.ie/sites/default/files/attachments/briefing_paper_5_-_supporting_digital_li teracy_among_older_people.pdf [Accessed 21 Oct. 2018].

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