Development and Evaluation of a Transportation Planning e-Tool for Older Adults: Co-Design Study

Older adults often face challenges using digital transportation planning tools to engage in meaningful activities. In Sherbrooke, a Canadian city located in the province of Québec, hilly terrain, bus-based mobility, and varied digital literacy among older adults highlight the need for accessible transportation planning technologies. Despite the growing demand for accessible and inclusive technologies, interfaces are often not tailored to the specific needs and preferences of older adults, making them difficult to use. Addressing this gap is essential to support the mobility and social participation of older adults in their communities.

This study aimed to enhance older adults' experience with a transportation planning e-tool-called Mobilainés-by co-designing its interface and evaluating its usability and user experience in line with their needs and preferences.

Using a participatory design approach, the study encompassed both development and evaluation phases, integrating qualitative and quantitative methods. In the development phase, heuristic evaluation, along with the Mobilaînés mock-up, was performed to identify the percentage of compatibility with age-friendly usability design principles and guidelines. Fourteen co-design workshops with the steering committee and research team informed persona development and core functionalities, while 3 workshops with older adults refined the mock-ups. For the evaluation phase, 2 laboratory usability tests (simulated context) and 1 in-field test (real-world context) were conducted with 5, 7, and 4 older adults, respectively. Data were collected using a combination of objective performance metrics recorded in real time by a computer and subjective user feedback, gathered using the System Usability Scale, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology questionnaires, and focus group discussions. For the in-field testing, user experience data were obtained via the User Experience Questionnaire and semistructured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

The participatory design and iterative evaluation process identified key design decisions for age-friendly transportation planning, including step-by-step navigation, simplified task flow, clear feedback, visual clarity, and personalization. In the final laboratory usability test, the Mobilaînés e-tool showed 84% compatibility with age-friendly guidelines, a 97% task completion rate, and System Usability Scale and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology scores corresponding to very good usability. In-field User Experience Questionnaire results and interviews suggested that participants perceived the e-tool as reliable, easy to use, and accurate, despite the lack of real-time data.

Participatory design and iterative usability testing revealed that older adults' experience with Mobilainés transportation planning e-tools is improved. These design learnings contributed to improved usability and confidence in real-world travel planning, offering practical guidance for the development of age-friendly digital transportation tools. Future research should explore collaborative and technological strategies to support its adoption and sustained use, particularly among older adults with limited digital literacy.