Development of a Mobile Navigation Smartphone Application for Seniors in Urban Areas

Many seniors face mobility issues and lifestyle changes, such as switching from driving to using a carpool, taxi or fixed-route or demand-responsive public transportation. While there are many navigation apps on the market, very few cater to the specific mobility needs of seniors (such as incorporating information on ADA compliant infrastructure), and the few that exist have limited functions.

This project aims to understand the lifestyle and mobility needs of seniors and to develop a prototype smartphone smart mobility application that caters to those needs.

The researchers worked with the City of El Paso to conduct surveys at senior centers in the city to learn what features and functionality are most important to the app’s potential users. The survey’s results showed that respondents want driving navigation functions, with options to choose routes based on their main concerns, such as avoiding traffic congestion or parking availability.

The findings from this survey will be used to design and develop an app. The prototype will undergo pilot testing in El Paso and New York, and feedback from testers will be used to improve the app’s functionality.

The UTEP team made numerous efforts to reach out to their target user group, both to gather data that inform the design of the Urban Connector app and to publicize the app and its features.