Adapting Transportation Planning e-Tools to Older Adults' Needs: Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Transportation Planning

Background:

• Aging often reduces mobility and sensory capacities, challenging older adults' travel and public transport use.
• Limited mobility can lead to social isolation by restricting access to essential services and leisure activities.
• Fostering autonomy and active mobility is crucial for healthy aging and social engagement among seniors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map existing transportation planning e-tools for older adults.
• To identify gaps in current e-tool functionalities concerning seniors' needs and preferences.
• To inform the development of e-tools that better support older adults' mobility.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of scientific and gray literature was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's approach.
• Searches included multiple databases (e.g., MEDLINE, CINAHL, TRID) updated through May 2022.
• Analysis involved evaluating 42 transportation e-tools based on characteristics and 10 defined functionalities aligned with older adults' needs.

Main Results:

• The review identified 42 transportation planning e-tools.
• No reviewed e-tool fully addressed all 10 functionalities essential for older adults.
• Specific functionalities like dark avoidance and support affordance were absent in all reviewed e-tools.

Conclusions:

• Current trip planning e-tools largely fail to meet the specific needs and preferences of older adults.
• This review identified key functionalities to enhance e-tools for promoting active aging.
• Developing e-tools with multicriteria optimization algorithms is recommended to address seniors' mobility requirements.