Seoul Digital Foundation-Korea Digital Payments Sign Business Agreement
From Analyzing Elderly Users' Kiosk Usage Barriers to User Research... Developing Improvement Prototypes
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Digital Foundation has decided to promote a collaborative research project with Korea Digital Payments (KDP) to create a convenient digital usage environment for the elderly in Seoul.
According to the foundation on the 22nd, the two parties signed a business agreement for the advancement and application of digital accessibility standards friendly to the elderly (kiosks) in the presence of Kang Yo-sik, chairman of the foundation, and Choi Jin-gyu, CEO of KDP, and will begin full-scale cooperation.
Through this agreement, the foundation will specifically identify the difficulties experienced by the elderly through KDP’s brand, TouchBee kiosks, and develop a prototype that improves these issues. Using experimental and observational methods along with scientific measurement techniques, a user survey targeting the elderly will be conducted, and the effectiveness of usability improvements compared to existing models will be analyzed.
The two organizations will jointly pursue ▲ analysis of factors hindering kiosk use by elderly users ▲ user research to improve kiosk usability ▲ development of kiosk UI improvement proposals (prototypes) ▲ pre- and post-improvement effect analysis and prototype standardization.
Through this agreement, the foundation plans to review the practical applicability of the elderly-friendly digital accessibility standard kiosk application guide, analyze its effects and issues, and enhance the guide’s effectiveness.
Based on the foundation’s kiosk application guide and collaborative research results, KDP plans to gradually expand the TouchBee kiosk solution to cafes, restaurants, and unmanned stores. Since last year, KDP has been conducting UI/UX research to improve kiosk usability for digitally vulnerable groups including the elderly, and has been providing TouchBee kiosk devices, software, and educational materials free of charge to public institutions and welfare organizations.
Chairman Kang Yo-sik said, "This collaboration will be a great opportunity to apply accessibility standards to kiosk solutions in various industries such as dining establishments and retail stores," adding, "In an environment where the number of unmanned stores using kiosks is rapidly increasing, we will do our best to create a digitally inclusive city Seoul where the elderly can use kiosks conveniently without feeling self-conscious."
CEO Choi Jin-gyu said, "Due to COVID-19, the use of kiosks in offline stores has rapidly increased, which has been a great help to small business owners and self-employed individuals, but it has also caused the elderly who have difficulty using digital technology to be marginalized," and added, "Through this collaboration, we will strive to produce effective research results and gradually expand kiosks with improved usability."
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