A review of the development of interactive applications for older adults

an Information and Communication Technologies literacy approach

Abstract

In the digital context in which society finds itself today, older adults must be allowed to access the use of innovative technologies, and one way to do so is by designing and developing practical, valuable, and easy-to-use applications for them. This article presents the results of a study conducted to characterize software development practices aimed at generating inclusive environments for older adults and proposes a general form of practice. Systematic literature review procedures were followed to select relevant scientific studies that refer to software development practices and processes for older people. Class diagrams were used to describe how, in each study, the authors define the practices they apply to develop applications to generate inclusive environments for older people. Class diagrams describe concepts (classes) integrated into conceptualizing practice and the structural relationships between these classes. Furthermore, the class diagrams allowed a general vision that made it easier to identify the common and differential elements of the vision of the different authors whose studies were analyzed in this research. The general form of practice resulting from this research can make it easier for developers to identify essential elements that should be considered when creating applications for older adults. Ultimately, the software products developed through this orientation have been part of Information and Communication Technologies literacy processes for older adults.