Seniors who once sat in digital literacy classes have now taken part in building a smartphone app designed for people just like them.
The project is drawing attention as an example of older adults and young people not merely closing the digital divide, but actively creating new digital content together.
Seodaemun-gu announced Wednesday that 19 senior learners from the Inlife Care Lifelong Learning Center's "7th Grade Classroom" and a Seoul youth volunteer planning team called "Segeoleum" — comprising Jo Seo-won, Moon Ye-hyeon and Oh Ju-ha, affiliated with the Seoul Volunteer Center — recently completed development of "Oneuldo Masil," a senior-led digital activity app.
The collaboration came about at the initiative of the Segeoleum team, which had been observing digital education classes for seniors at the Inlife Care Lifelong Learning Center.
"Oneuldo Masil" is a mobile app that applies gamification elements to help older adults learn to use smartphones more easily and enjoyably. It is designed to build device proficiency naturally as users complete a variety of missions on their smartphones.
What set this project apart is that the seniors did not simply test the app — their voices as actual users were incorporated directly into the development process.
In in-depth interviews, the seniors shared the difficulties they encounter using smartphones and the features they felt were needed. They then tried out the app firsthand, completing missions such as decorating a room, taking photos and setting alarms, and offered suggestions for improvement.
The learning center's on-the-ground expertise also fed into the development process. Hong Jeong-ja, the instructor who leads the smartphone course at the Inlife Care Lifelong Learning Center, provided professional input on the app's structure and functions based on her understanding of how older adults use digital devices and their learning levels.
The project also carries significance as the first trial session and field test conducted with actual senior users. The Segeoleum team plans to refine the app based on feedback gathered during the test before releasing it officially.
"It's amazing to see an app that actually contains what I said in my interview," one senior participant said. "Making and using an app we truly need alongside young people who could be my grandchildren has made me feel like the smartphone is no longer a difficult device — it's become a fun playground."
The case is also notable for expanding the role of lifelong learning from simply providing learning opportunities to enabling social participation and value creation. Rather than passively receiving digital education from young people, the senior learners conveyed their own experiences and needs, which gave rise to a new digital service.
"This collaboration shows that seniors are not the marginalized in a digital society, but equal partners with young people who are driving change in their communities," Seodaemun-gu District Mayor Park Un-gi said. "We will continue to actively support a variety of intergenerational programs so that seniors' lifelong learning experiences can translate into social value."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
