Table 2.

Distribution of usability heuristics for older adults features across the reviewed apps.

Feature		App ID number
		1a	2b	3c	4d	5e	6f	7g	8h
Cognition
	Focus on 1 task at a time instead of requiring the user to actively monitor ≥2 tasks and clearly indicate the name and status of the task at all times.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	N/Ai
	Avoid the use of animation and fast-moving objects.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	N/A	✓	✓
	Aim at creating an esthetical user interface by using pictures and graphics purposefully and adequately to minimize user interface clutter and avoid extraneous details.	N/A	N/A	N/A	✓	✓	✓	N/A	N/A
Content
	Give specific and clear instructions and make help and documentation available. Remember that it is better to prevent an error than to recover from it.	N/A	N/A	N/A	✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Provide clear feedback and when presenting error messages make them simple and easy to follow.	N/A	✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Write in a language that is simple, clear, and adequate to the audience.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Dexterity
	Avoid pull-down menus.	✓	✓	✓	N/A	✓	✓	✓	✓
	Avoid the use of scrolling.	✓	N/A	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
	Enlarge the size of user interface elements in general; targets should be, at least, 14 mm2.	N/A	✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	✓	N/A	N/A
Navigation
	Keep the user interface navigation structure narrow, simple, and straightforward.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	N/A
	Make sure that the “Back” button behaves predictably.	✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	✓	N/A	N/A
Perception
	Provide not only visual but also tactile and auditory feedback.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Make information accessible through different modalities.	✓	N/A	✓	N/A	N/A	✓	N/A	N/A
Visual Design
	Use high-contrast color combinations of font and graphics and background to ensure readability and perceptibility; avoid using blue, green, and yellow in close proximity.	✓	N/A	N/A	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
	Use color conservatively, limiting the maximum number of colors in use to ~4.	✓	N/A	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
	Make links and buttons clearly visible and distinguishable from other user interface elements.	✓	✓	N/A	N/A	✓	✓	✓	N/A
	Use user interface elements consistently and adhere to standards and conventions if those exist.	✓	✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	✓	✓	N/A
	Use simple and meaningful icons.	✓	✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	✓	N/A	N/A
Total features		13	10	8	9	10	14	10	6

^aApp 1: Alzheimer’s Daily Companion.

^bApp 2: Balance: Alzheimer’s Caregivers.

^cApp 3: Caregiver Buddy.

^dApp 4: Caregivers Matter.

^eApp 5: Caring Village.

^fApp 6: Dementia Advisor.

^gApp 7: Dementia Caregiver Solution.

^hApp 8: Lotsa Helping Hands.

ⁱN/A: not applicable.