Goñi, I. (2026)
This paper reviews how older adults are included in usability and user experience research for mobile apps. Drawing on 56 studies, it shows that research often frames older users in terms of decline and focuses narrowly on health applications. The paper argues for a shift towards more inclusive and diverse approaches, treating older adults not just as patients, but as full participants in digital life.
As populations age globally, mobile technologies are increasingly positioned as tools to support independence, wellbeing, and participation. Yet many mobile applications remain difficult for older adults to use, and, more importantly, older users are still rarely meaningfully involved in how these technologies are designed.
This paper presents a scoping review of 56 studies on usability and user experience (UX) research involving older adults in mobile app development. Combining quantitative mapping with qualitative interpretive analysis, the study examines three key questions: how older users are represented, what types of apps include them, and which research methods are used to evaluate design.
The findings reveal a strong pattern: older adults are frequently portrayed through a deficit lens, associated with risk, decline, and vulnerability. Much of the research focuses on mHealth applications, reinforcing the idea that technologies for older people are primarily about care and assistance rather than broader participation in everyday digital life