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ChessNet: Fostering Connectivity Among Seniors
A creative solution combined physical and digital products to expand the social life of introverted migrant seniors by connecting with locals
The challenge
Senior migrants struggle to connect with locals, aggravating feelings of loneliness.
In China, there is a large population of elderly migrants, and this group has been growing significantly, especially among the floating population. From 2000 to 2015, the number of migrant elderly people increased rapidly, from 5.03 million to 13.4 million, representing an average annual growth rate of 6.6%.
We distributed surveys to our neighbors and received 360 responses from seniors living in the neighborhood.
The solution
Building new connections: a platform to empower seniors' social lives.
A service system provides a platform for seniors to connect with others in their community by playing board games on a physical chess board.
The experience is enhanced with the help of a mobile app that enriches their social life and improves their mental health.
Reflection
Improving accessibility
The previous color palettes had limited contrast with the background and text, so if I had more time to optimize the app, I would prioritize accessibility improvements, focusing not only on color contrast but also enhancing interactions.
Updated home page
Updated home page
Color contrast
Tough target
One Handed
Cradled
Two Handed
The impact
Effectively combating senior Isolation by enhanced engagement
10 usability tests were conducted using a simulated chessboard interaction through video and an interactive app, employing the Wizard of Oz technique.
Insights from the survey
What prompted seniors to relocate?
Reliance on family members' financial stability;
Aspiration for a large family setup, with children and grandchildren;
Assistance with household tasks and childcare duties.
What factors contributed to their feelings of loneliness?
1. Anxiety of making new friends
2. Mobility limitations due to health issues
3. The unfamiliar surroundings cause a loss of sense of belonging
The user group
Delving into seniors lives and social activities
Based on the frequency of participating in social events and platforms of activity, we divided the elderly into several groups, which contributes to the analysis of competitors and potential users.
Persona
Introverted seniors and seniors with mobility limitations
Therefore, the target users are introverted seniors and seniors with mobility limitations, as they find it challenging to adapt to new environments and are more susceptible to loneliness.
Insights from the survey
Identifying the types of events they prefer to participate in
Most elders kick off the conversation with strangers through topics about hobbies and engaging in activities such as games, sports, travel, etc.
Among all hobbies, the elderly like games the most, especially board games such as chess, Go, etc. In addition to playing board games, the elderly enjoy watching others play games and meanwhile, exchange ideas with other spectators.
Brainstorm
Integrated Physical and Digital Solutions to Improve Senior Well-being
We brainstormed potential solutions across various aspects: platform, interaction method, and end-to-end service.
Following the discussion, we determined the key features of the service, including an applet integrated into the most popular social media platform in China, a physical board, an instrument rental service, and a live game broadcast.
The basic structure of the service system is outlined below.
The storyboard as follows.
App Design
Tailoring for seniors
Through design iteration, we summarized the key features of the app as follows:
Clarity: Use clear, large fonts and icons with high contrast for better readability.
Touch Targets: Make interactive elements such as buttons and menus large enough and well-spaced to accommodate older adults' reduced dexterity and precision.
Error Handling: Design error messages that are easy to understand and provide actionable steps for resolving issues. Minimize the occurrence of errors through clear instructions and validation checks.
Inclusive Design: Take into account the diverse needs and abilities of older adults, including those with age-related impairments such as vision or hearing loss, limited mobility, or cognitive decline.
