Bridge

Through surveying 84 participants, we identified key obstacles through qualitative coding such as time zone differences, busy schedules, language barriers, and cultural gaps that often prevent meaningful communication between younger users and their older relatives. Many shared stories of missed opportunities to engage, from simple greetings lost in translation to a lack of common topics to discuss. These insights revealed a significant unmet need, while younger generations use digital tools constantly, older family members are often left out or feel overwhelmed by technology. Existing apps focus on quick check-ins rather than fostering deeper, shared experiences. Inspired by these findings, we designed an app to bridge this gap, offering personalized conversation prompts and an adaptive user interface that caters to all ages, encouraging meaningful and inclusive interactions within families.

By identifying a gap in the digital landscape for connecting younger generations with their elderly loved ones, we designed Bridge, an app that offers daily prompts to facilitate easy, low-pressure interactions, while also promoting healthy habits like exercise and creativity. We prioritized accessibility by developing two separate user interfaces, one for younger users and one tailored for older generations with larger buttons, simpler navigation, and voice features. Bridge aims to make staying connected with loved ones meaningful, easy, and enjoyable for both sides.

Bridge was honored as one of the top 5 projects selected for final presentation. We had the opportunity to pitch our work to an audience of industry professionals, faculty, and fellow students, receiving positive feedback for our user-centered approach, accessibility, and emotional impact. This recognition affirmed the value of our solution and highlighted the importance of designing for connection across generations.