A User-Centered Design Approach to Developing Smart Speaker Learning Tools for Low-Income Older Adults: The VERIWell Study Protocol

Purpose: Smart speakers can support aging in place, yet older adults from low-income communities face barriers to adoption due to limited training and instructional materials. The current article outlines a user-centered design approach to developing and evaluating tailored video tutorials and print materials that teach smart speaker functions to low-income older adults in subsidized housing. Method: The four-phase study involved: Phase 1, needs assessment through focus groups with residents ( n = 5) and housing staff ( n = 3); Phase 2, prototype development with resident co-designers ( n = 2); Phase 3, pilot testing through individual interviews with users ( n = 5) and non-users ( n = 5); and Phase 4, evaluation of short-term effects on health and wellness. Results: The protocol integrates design thinking, systems approach to training, and Kirkpatrick Model frameworks to ensure community-responsive development and comprehensive evaluation. Conclusion: This replicable protocol offers a framework for developing equitable digital learning tools for underserved older adults through community partnership and iterative user-centered design.