Designing for Aging Well: A Usability and Acceptability Study Through Wearable Gerontechnology for Healthy Aging

Technological innovation, digitalization, and demographic changes are leading to transformations that are shaping societies and creating valuable opportunities to promote active and healthy aging. Digital technologies such as smartwatches can foster a positive attitude toward active and healthy aging as they enable the tracking of health-related data and contribute to an increased awareness of good practices for personal care and well-being. However, the scientific literature lacks comprehensive guidelines on the design of smartwatches for older users. For these reasons, in this study, a research project within the framework of the national research program “Age-It Aging Well in an Aging Society” is described, whose objective is the testing of two smartwatch interfaces designed to promote active and healthy aging. This study addresses this gap in the scientific literature by focusing on the factors influencing the usability of smartwatch prototypes and offering design recommendations to support the design of more accessible interfaces. Specifically, attention is given to visibility issues, the comprehension of potential interactions, user engagement, and content clarity, all of which are essential for ensuring a high-quality interaction.