GenConnect

Research & Methods

A mixed-methods approach was used to gather insights from younger adults who assist older relatives with social media, and to validate findings with older adults themselves.

Our research involved 18 participants across four methods. We interviewed 4 older adults aged 60 and above via video call, ran a week-long cultural probe with 3 younger adults between 18 and 30, hosted two co-design workshops with 8 participants total, and conducted follow-up validation sessions with 3 older adults.

Literature Review

After narrowing our project focus, we conducted a literature review to understand existing research on intergenerational technology adoption.

Logistics

Each team member analyzed 3–4 academic sources, synthesizing insights in a shared Google Sheet (opens in new tab) to inform our project paper.

Key Findings

• Technology adoption, especially social media, helps older adults reduce isolation, maintain family relationships, and access critical services, though adoption rates remain uneven due to trust and usability concerns.
• Seniors face challenges such as complex interfaces, cybersecurity worries, lack of confidence, and insufficient support. Internet access and digital skill gaps further hinder engagement.
• Younger family members are the main motivators and teachers for older adults' technology use. Intergenerational mentorship is characterized by personalized, repetitive, and emotionally supportive guidance which proves most effective for overcoming both technical and psychological barriers.
• Older adults prefer simple, low-stress designs, hands-on practice, and step-by-step instructions. They value reassurance about privacy and security and often benefit from structured learning with family support.

Summary

While family support is important, not all intergenerational teaching fully meets seniors' needs. Few studies compare traditional family mentorship with hybrid or community-based models, highlighting opportunities for more tailored and multifaceted support approaches.

Initial Contextual Interviews with Older Adults

Interviews with four older adults aged 60+ provided foundational understanding of their technology attitudes and interactions.

Logistics

We conducted four one-on-one video interviews with older adults aged 60+. Interviewers followed a semi-structured question guide exploring digital habits, frustrations, and learning preferences, with leeway to follow up on notable insights. Findings were thematically coded.

Key Findings

• Most used social media to connect with family, but struggled with changing interfaces and managing security.
• Preferred learning through hands-on guidance from a trusted family member.
• Expressed anxiety about making mistakes, especially regarding privacy and account security.

Contribution

These insights highlighted the need for a solution that feels safe, familiar, and supportive, which prompted us to prioritize clear, step-by-step guidance and reassuring feedback.

Method I: Cultural Probe with Younger Adults

A week-long cultural probe with younger adults aged 18–30 captured nuanced insights into teaching dynamics, communication challenges, and emotional labor. Participants used kits with scenario prompts, journals, and teaching aid documentation tools. Findings highlighted complexity and privacy as major concerns for older adults, and the importance of patience, repetition, and clear instructions from younger helpers.

Logistics

We recruited 3 younger adults aged 18–30 who had recently assisted older relatives with technology use. Each received a cultural probe pack including:

• Teaching Timeline: A beginner-to-advanced timeline with technologies suggested to inspire older loved ones and brief justifications for each choice.
• Journal Reflection: Participants reflected on the experience from the perspective of the older adult they were assisting.
• Scenario-Based Guidance Recording: Support scenarios prompting participants to record audio or video explaining how they would resolve each support situation.
• Teaching Aid Photo Documentation: Using the "Disposable" app, participants captured photos of physical objects they found helpful as teaching aids.

Key Findings

• Younger family members are essential in helping older adults adopt and use technology by providing both technical and emotional support.
• The teaching process was often reciprocal: older adults shared life experience while younger adults shared digital skills.
• Older adults face anxiety about making mistakes and concerns over privacy and security.
• Technical jargon and changing interfaces can be overwhelming.
• Younger mentors often struggle with patience and adapting their teaching methods.

Summary

These findings showed us that accessible, supportive solutions help both generations feel empowered and connected.

Method II: Co-Design Workshops

Two co-design workshops with younger adults focused on problem framing, ideation, and concept development. Participants explored everyday support hurdles and collaborated on interface concepts to bridge the generational digital divide.

Logistics

We hosted two 60-minute in-person workshops with 4 young adult participants each. Using whiteboards, collaborative exercises, and paper prototyping supplies, participants mapped out common support scenarios and brainstormed ideal features. Sessions were recorded and analyzed for recurring themes.

Key Findings

Participants focused on familiar physical metaphors, visual documentation, and blended human/AI assistance, identifying several key priorities:

• Desire for a quick assistance button for seniors.
• Interest in personalized, family-created walkthroughs.
• Need for reminders and progress tracking to reinforce learning.

"What is my username? What is my password?"

"One week later... they're not here, so how did she increase the volume?"

"So you fake the TV dial. You fake the typewriter."

"A folder of visual steps and physical manuals."

"It's a new type of world with problems they're not trained for."

Contribution

These workshops shaped our feature set. We added a help button, custom walkthroughs, and progress dashboards based on what participants told us they needed.

Older Adults Follow-up

Follow-up interviews with older adults aged 60+ validated concepts from the co-design workshops. Participants confirmed challenges with password management, expressed a preference for family support alongside openness to AI assistance, and emphasized the necessity of larger interface elements and privacy-conscious screen sharing.

Logistics

We interviewed 3 older adults aged 60+, presenting interactive prototypes and storyboards. Each 30-minute session focused on usability, appeal, and likelihood of adoption. Feedback was recorded and synthesized alongside workshop findings.

Key Findings

• Strong preference for large, clear visuals and the option to hear/see instructions.
• Appreciation for being able to revisit help content at their own pace.
• Valued the option to connect with a real person if needed.

"I have a little book... That's my password book."

"I almost always go straight to asking someone in my family."

"I like big buttons and big text... I press wrong things if icons are small."

"If she could see what I saw, that would save us both time."

"Reading instructions doesn't help much and I need to see and hear it."

Contribution

This feedback confirmed that our focus on accessibility and flexible, multimodal support met the needs of older adults.

Design & Solution

Our research identified two key pillars for fostering effective intergenerational tech support: context-aware guidance and long-term familiarity with foundational digital skills.

To ensure our design addressed authentic user needs, we developed a persona that was iteratively refined throughout the project.

Ideation

As research concluded, we transitioned into rapid brainstorming to generate a wide range of solution concepts. We grouped and prioritized ideas that balanced technical clarity with emotional reassurance. For inspiration, we also looked at how self-care apps work—especially Finch, which lets friends check in on each other's well-being.

Following our final direction, our application was fleshed out around three core goals. Furthermore, we created an information architecture to help guide the flow of the application.

Core Concepts of GenConnect

For Older Adults: An interface with a voice agent integrated into social media platforms for natural questioning and immediate guidance. A notification icon provides walkthroughs from family members. Behavior-based suggestions offer proactive help. "Missions" and community groups foster learning and accomplishment.

For Younger Adults: A dedicated app to respond to questions, create custom walkthroughs, and track the progress of older adults they assist. This addresses the challenges of teaching and the need for structured communication tools.

Key Features of GenConnect

Voice Agent + Keyboard Input

Flexible input methods for older adults to ask for help within social media. The system offers proactive help based on user behavior (e.g., lingering on a screen).

Custom Walkthroughs

Younger family members can review questions submitted by older adults and create tailored step-by-step guides.

Learning Missions & Community

Structured learning and social support for older adults. Younger adults can monitor learning progress to help tailor support.