To assess participants’ attitudes, expectations, and key adoption factors for an intergenerational communication app, we used a mixed methods approach with quantitative survey items and qualitative open-ended responses. Our measurement strategy primarily used single-item indicators, carefully adapted from established multi-item scales for their high face validity and relevance [21-27]. This approach prioritized feature-level granularity over composite scoring, aligning with our exploratory UCD goals. Furthermore, we followed prior methodological support for single-item measures when constructs are narrow, concrete, and easily understood [28-30]. As these items were not intended to form reflective scales, internal consistency metrics like Cronbach α were not computed.

Participants’ overall attitudes toward intergenerational communication were assessed using an adapted version of the scale by Lee and Lee [21]. Two conceptually distinct items measured interest and perceived importance (eg, “How interested are you in communicating with other generations?” and “How important do you think it is to have communication between generations?”), rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=not at all and 5=very much).

To assess both the perceived necessity of an intergenerational communication app and participants’ willingness to use it, two key items were included: (1) “How necessary do you think an app for intergenerational communication is?” (1=not necessary at all and 5=very necessary). (2) “If an app for intergenerational communication were developed, how often do you think you would use it?” (1=not at all and 5=very often). These items aimed to evaluate both the demand for such an app and participants’ likelihood of adoption.

This section examined the anticipated use cases of the app, including social communication (eg, maintaining relationships across generations), entertainment (eg, engaging in shared recreational activities), information exchange (eg, learning about generational perspectives), and emotional support (eg, alleviating social isolation). Participants rated 8 motivational factors on a 5-point Likert scale (1=not relevant at all and 5=very relevant) to assess their perceived significance. These factors included social communication, passing time (relieving boredom), entertainment and enjoyment, exchanging necessary information or opinions, reducing loneliness, health management, discussing concerns not easily shared with same-generation peers, and cultural exchange. The items were adapted from Lee and Na [22] and Jun et al [23] to align with prior research on intergenerational communication and digital engagement.

Guided by Davis’s [18] technology acceptance model, participants evaluated both content and design attributes likely to influence perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the app. For perceived ease of use, 7 items were assessed (eg, ease of access to content, clarity and accuracy of information, and simplicity of design). For perceived usefulness, 9 items were included (eg, convenience, sense of belonging, emotional satisfaction, and health relevance). These items were adapted from prior studies on digital content evaluation and intergenerational engagement [24,25].

Six aesthetic and gamification components were assessed to evaluate their perceived importance in enhancing user engagement. These included rewards (eg, points, badges, and levels), customization options (eg, avatars and profiles), friend integration (eg, KakaoTalk and Facebook), immersive meeting spaces (eg, augmented reality or virtual reality), visual appeal (eg, icons and backgrounds), and auditory appeal (eg, sounds and music). All items were rated on a 5-point importance scale (1=not important at all and 5=very important). The items were adapted from Choi et al [26] and Kim and Kim [27] to ensure consistency with prior research on digital engagement and user experience (UX) design.

In addition to structured survey items, participants provided open-ended responses about specific topics and types of information they believed would best facilitate meaningful intergenerational interactions. These qualitative insights supplemented the quantitative findings, ensuring that the app’s design aligns with real-world conversational preferences.

Participants’ postuse evaluation of the app and their behavioral intentions were assessed using a multidimensional measurement strategy comprising both multi-item and single-item indicators, all rated on 5-point Likert scales. Items were adapted from instruments used in the discover phase and modified to capture users’ emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses after 2 weeks of app use. Single-item measures were selected for their clarity and conceptual precision, consistent with prior methodological recommendations [28-30].

To evaluate affective aspects of intergenerational communication facilitated through the CoGen app, participants were asked to rate their comfort during cross-generational conversations (“How comfortable did you feel while having conversations with individuals from other generations using the CoGen app?”) and their satisfaction with those conversations (“How satisfied were you with the intergenerational conversations through the app?”). These items captured users’ emotional responses and overall impressions of the app-mediated interaction.

Emotional engagement was measured through 4 items: “enjoyment,” “happiness,” “interest,” and “a sense of similarity or affinity with others.” These were presented under the prompt, “To what extent did you experience the emotions or values you had expected from using the intergenerational communication app?” and were designed to evaluate participants’ subjective emotional experiences during app use.

Functional usability was measured using 2 items: “It was easy to find the information I needed in the CoGen app” and “The information and content provided in the app were easy to understand.” These were also rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree). All items were analyzed individually, and descriptive statistics were used to examine users’ perceptions of the app’s usability, clarity, and interface design.

Participants’ attitudes toward the CoGen app were assessed using 3 single-item measures, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Two items (eg, “Do you think the CoGen app is necessary?” and “Do you intend to continue using the CoGen app in the future?”) were administered both before and after the intervention to assess perceived necessity and continued use intention, respectively. An additional item (eg, “Would you recommend the CoGen app to others?”) was included in the postintervention survey to assess participants’ willingness to recommend the app to others.

Changes in intergenerational communication were measured using 6 items administered before and after the 2-week intervention, rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree). Items were adapted from the European Values Study and the revised Solidarity Scale [31,32], modified for app-based cross-generational contexts. Intergenerational interaction was assessed with 2 items (pre: α=.76; post: α=.79), such as “I now talk with members of other generations more frequently than before.” Intergenerational understanding was measured with 4 items (pre: α=.87; post: α=.91), including “I have come to respect the culture of other generations” and “I have come to understand the realities faced by other generations.”

Perceived social support was assessed using 8 items from the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey [33], rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree) before and after the intervention (pre: α=.91; post: α=.93). Example items include “There is someone who makes me feel cared for” and “I have someone to talk to about work or household problems.”

Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, validated in Korean [34], with responses rated on a 5-point scale (1=not at all and 5=almost always; pre: α=.83; post: α=.85). Sample items include “I felt depressed” and “I had trouble concentrating on what I was doing.”

Both younger and older adults highly prioritized the reliability of provided information (younger adults: mean 4.26, SD 0.86 and older adults: mean 4.41, SD 0.66), with older adults showing a marginally higher preference (t₄₁₁=–1.98; P=.048; d=0.20). Similarly, clarity and accuracy of information received high, comparable ratings from both groups (younger adults: mean 4.16, SD 0.83 and older adults: mean 4.26, SD 0.68; t₄₁₁=–1.34; P=.18; d=0.13).

A significant difference emerged in the ease of access to information, where older adults placed notably higher importance (mean 4.14, SD 0.60) than younger adults (mean 4.00, SD 0.73; t₄₁₁=–2.12; P=.03; d=0.21), underscoring the need for an intuitive and navigable interface for this demographic. While simplicity and readability of content were also more valued by older adults, this difference was not statistically significant.

Both groups rated the relevance, appropriateness, and immediate accessibility of content similarly, with no significant differences. Interestingly, younger adults placed slightly more emphasis on engagement and entertainment value, though this difference was not significant.

Older adults consistently reported significantly higher expectations across several usefulness-related values. They notably emphasized health as a critical factor (older adults: mean 4.02, SD 0.79 vs younger adults: mean 3.60, SD 1.03; t₄₁₁=–4.64; P<.001; d=0.46), highlighting their preference for health-related features. Additionally, novelty was rated significantly higher by older adults (mean 3.97, SD 0.74) than by younger adults (mean 3.45, SD 0.89; t₄₁₁=–6.44; P<.001; d=0.62), suggesting an attraction to fresh and innovative experiences.

In terms of emotional and social benefits, older adults consistently placed greater importance on convenience (mean 3.91, SD 0.62), fun (mean 3.85, SD 0.70), and friendship (mean 3.37, SD 0.72) compared to younger adults (convenience: mean 3.59, SD 0.95; fun: mean 3.46, SD 0.96; and friendship: mean 3.03, SD 0.97). They also rated confidence (mean 3.66, SD 0.81) and a sense of belonging (mean 3.54, SD 0.79) significantly higher than younger adults (confidence: mean 3.21, SD 0.91 and belonging: mean 3.25, SD 1.01). While not statistically significant, both age groups similarly recognized the emotional benefits related to memories, though these were less differentiated between them.

In evaluating aesthetic and gamification components, older adults generally expressed a greater interest in several features compared to younger adults. Specifically, older adults showed a significantly stronger interest in customization options like avatars and personalized profiles (older adults: mean 3.28, SD 0.89 vs younger adults: mean 2.92, SD 1.08; t₄₁₁=–3.69; P<.001; d=0.36), suggesting a desire for more personalized UXs.

A notable difference also emerged in friend integration, with older adults showing a much higher preference for linking the app with external platforms like KakaoTalk or Facebook (mean 3.64, SD 0.88 vs mean 3.04, SD 1.17; t₄₁₁=–5.87; P<.001; d=0.57). This highlights the importance of seamless social connectivity for older users. Furthermore, older adults reported greater interest in immersive meeting spaces (eg, augmented reality or virtual reality features) compared to younger adults (mean 3.12, SD 0.87 vs mean 2.91, SD 1.12; t₄₁₁=–2.12; P=.03; d=0.20), suggesting that immersive environments may enhance their digital engagement.

While older adults appreciated rewards like points and badges more than younger adults (mean 3.49, SD 0.84 vs mean 3.32, SD 1.12), this difference was not statistically significant (t₄₁₁=–1.74; P=.08; d=0.17). Finally, visual appeal (eg, icons and backgrounds) was rated similarly across both age groups (older adults: mean 3.50, SD 0.81 and younger adults: mean 3.46, SD 0.93; t₄₁₁=–0.47; P=.64; d=0.04), indicating a shared preference for aesthetically pleasing user interface (UI).

Table 1 summarizes generational differences in attitudes toward intergenerational communication, perceptions of app necessity and willingness to use, motivational factors, and preferred app features.

The functional prototype incorporated features designed to foster sustained intergenerational engagement, informed by user needs identified in earlier phases. Feedback from older and younger participants highlighted differing priorities—older adults emphasized meaningful conversation and ease of use, while younger users favored interactivity and entertainment-driven engagement. Four key features were evaluated and refined based on user reactions.

Theme-based forums were designed around topics such as hobbies, travel, and health. This structure aimed to support older users’ desire for organized, topic-specific discussions while offering younger users spaces for more casual and spontaneous interaction.

Participatory elements, including prompts and quizzes, were introduced to ease the initiation of conversations. These features were intended to reduce entry barriers and encourage mutual storytelling, particularly among younger users who prefer playful engagement.

A proprietary friend-matching feature was included to support more personalized interactions, especially for older adults who seek deeper, one-on-one conversations. This function was designed as an in-app alternative to social media integration, minimizing complexity and maintaining user privacy.

To promote age-aware interaction, generation-specific icons (eg, youth and older adult symbols) were added next to each user ID. This visual cue enabled users to identify the generational background of their conversation partners, fostering mutual understanding and respectful communication across age groups (Figure 2).

To encourage consistent app engagement, a light-touch gamification system was implemented. Users could earn points through participation (eg, posting or commenting), which contributed to levels and badges. The system was intentionally noncompetitive, reflecting older users’ preference for collaborative over competitive dynamics.

Initial usability testing with 8 participants (5 younger adults and 3 older adults) revealed critical insights that informed refinements to the CoGen prototype. Participants evaluated the app’s overall appeal, navigability, and clarity of features. Several features were refined based on this feedback.

The app was named “CoGen” to reflect its focus on cogenerational engagement. The elephant logo—symbolizing wisdom, memory, and social bonds—resonated with participants’ desire for meaningful and emotionally grounded experiences.

Participants favored prompts that evoked shared memories and generational perspectives. Based on this input, the “Weekly Question” was redesigned to include open-ended questions that invite storytelling and nostalgic reflection.

The original numeric level and progress bar were perceived as impersonal. In response, the engagement indicator was redesigned into a metaphorical growth journey—a seed blossoming into a flower—offering a more intuitive and emotionally resonant representation of user progress, especially appreciated by older participants.

Younger participants emphasized the importance of a conversational tone. In response, feature names were modified to be more inviting and playful. For example, the discussion board was renamed “CoGen Life,” and the weekly prompt became “Coni’s Question.” These refinements finalized the CoGen prototype by incorporating user-driven feedback into its core features and design, setting the stage for real-world testing in the deliver phase (Figure 3).

Participants reported that their attitudes toward intergenerational communication shifted positively during the 2-week period. Younger adults initially expressed concern about potential generational conflict but noted that the platform encouraged the use of respectful and considerate language. In turn, older adults also exercised caution to avoid appearing condescending or outdated, demonstrating a shared effort to communicate with mutual respect. This digital form of etiquette was recognized by both groups as an important cultural adjustment, especially when engaging with unfamiliar age cohorts.

The app served as a space where younger users could seek emotional support, practical advice, and broader perspectives from older participants. Many reported gaining comfort, validation, and a renewed appreciation for the insights of older generations. Meanwhile, older adults described feeling revitalized by the interactions, often expressing surprise at the empathy and openness of younger users. They also viewed the app as a rare opportunity to reflect on their own life stories while learning about new cultural trends and digital practices.

Participants across age groups highlighted how the experience disrupted stereotypical perceptions. Younger users came to recognize the diversity among older adults, moving beyond generalized assumptions. Conversely, older participants reported gaining a more nuanced understanding of younger people’s struggles and viewpoints, fostering empathy and solidarity.

Despite the positive feedback, participants noted several functional improvements necessary for long-term engagement. Many called for real-time chat features, simplified login processes, and improved content navigation to support more spontaneous and efficient communication. Additionally, participants expressed that future iterations of the app should focus on enabling users to “gain something meaningful” through dialogue—such as wisdom, emotional encouragement, or practical advice. Both groups emphasized the need for structured prompts and shared interests (eg, health and hobbies) to sustain motivation.

Users also offered specific UI or UX recommendations, including expressive elements like emojis or stickers, and personalized notification systems. These enhancements were seen as important for maintaining emotional resonance and playful interaction across generations, supporting more engaging and expressive communication for all users.