Developer Perceptions on Utilising Low-Code Approaches to Build Accessible and Adaptive Applications for Seniors

2025-08-04

AI Summary

To address the urgent need for inclusive digital services in aging societies—where conventional development methods struggle to simultaneously satisfy accessibility requirements, personalization needs, and resource constraints—this paper proposes and empirically validates AdaptForge, a low-code model-driven engineering (MDE) tool specifically designed for age-friendly applications. AdaptForge enables rapid development of accessible, adaptive applications through visual modeling and automated code generation, supporting dynamic adjustment to users’ evolving capabilities. Based on in-depth interviews with 18 professional developers, the study demonstrates its effectiveness in lowering technical barriers, enhancing the quality of age-inclusive design, and facilitating compliance with accessibility regulations. As the first low-code MDE tool explicitly targeting digital inclusion for older adults, AdaptForge contributes a reusable methodological framework and industry-oriented guidelines for accessible software engineering.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Adaptive Behavior
• Application Domains: Software Engineering

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User privacy protection in personalized systems
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Applied ML and AI for Web-based mobile applications
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs

Abstract

The global ageing population presents a growing societal challenge, creating an urgent need for inclusive technologies that promote autonomy among older adults. Software practitioners can address this by delivering digital services that enhance seniors' independence and reduce reliance on routine support from family members and healthcare infrastructure. However, traditional development practices, constrained by time and resources, often result in applications with major accessibility and personalisation barriers. Increasing pressure from regulatory requirements, such as the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and the personal empathy many developers feel toward supporting their older loved ones and their own future selves have created a demand for tools that support the development of accessible and adaptive software. To address this demand, this paper presents an interview-based empirical study with 18 software practitioners, evaluating AdaptForge: a low-code model-driven engineering (MDE) tool that enables the efficient creation of accessible and adaptive applications for senior users by mitigating development constraints through automated code generation. Based on these insights, we identify developer expectations for adopting such tools as industry-standard solutions and provide empirically grounded recommendations for designing low-code tools that support accessible and adaptive software development.

Problem

• Addressing accessibility barriers in senior-focused app development
• Meeting regulatory demands for inclusive digital services
• Reducing development constraints via low-code automation tools

Innovation

• Low-code MDE tool for senior apps
• Automated code generation for accessibility
• Empirical study with 18 developers