Healthy Movement Leads to Emotional Connection: Development of the Movement Poomasi "Wello!" Application Based on...

Background/Objective: The global acceleration of population aging presents profound challenges to the physical, psychological, and social well-being of older adults. As traditional exercise programs face limitations in accessibility, personalization, and sustained social support, there is a critical need for innovative, inclusive, and community-integrated digital movement solutions. This study aimed to develop and evaluate Movement Poomasi, a hybrid digital healthcare application designed to promote physical activity, improve digital accessibility, and strengthen social connectedness among older adults. Methods: From March 2023 to November 2023, Movement Poomasi was developed through an iterative user-centered design process involving domain experts in physical therapy and sports psychology. In this study, the term UI/UX-short for user interface and user experience-refers to the overall design and interaction framework of the application, encompassing visual layout, navigation flow, accessibility features, and user engagement optimization tailored to older adults' sensory, cognitive, and motor characteristics. The application integrates adaptive exercise modules, senior-optimized UI/UX, voice-assisted navigation, and peer-interaction features to enable both home-based and in-person movement engagement. A two-phase usability validation was conducted. A 4-week pilot test with 15 older adults assessed the prototype, followed by a formal 6-week study with 50 participants (≥65 years), stratified by digital literacy and activity background. Quantitative metrics-movement completion rates, session duration, and engagement with social features-were analyzed alongside semi-structured interviews. Statistical analysis included ANOVA and regression to examine usability and engagement outcomes. The application has continued iterative testing and refinement until May 2025, and it is scheduled for re-launch under the name Wello! in August 2025. Results: Post-implementation UI refinements significantly increased navigation success rates (from 68% to 87%, p = 0.042). ANOVA revealed that movement selection and peer-interaction tasks posed greater cognitive load (p < 0.01). A strong positive correlation was found between digital literacy and task performance (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). Weekly participation increased by 38%, with 81% of participants reporting enhanced social connectedness through group challenges and hybrid peer-led meetups. Despite high satisfaction scores (mean 4.6 ± 0.4), usability challenges remained among low-literacy users, indicating the need for further interface simplification. Conclusions: The findings underscore the potential of hybrid digital platforms tailored to older adults' physical, cognitive, and social needs. Movement Poomasi demonstrates scalable feasibility and contributes to reducing the digital divide while fostering active aging. Future directions include AI-assisted onboarding, adaptive tutorials, and expanded integration with community care ecosystems to enhance long-term engagement and inclusivity.