Short answer

Incorporate game-like features and reward systems into tourism applications to cater to the user's intrinsic motivations for autonomy and achievement, thereby enhancing their overall experience.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Sustainability (2020)
Method: Qualitative research combining participant observation and interviews.
Evidence: Moderate effect

Designing tourism applications with gamified elements that cater to the specific psychological needs of visually impaired individuals, such as autonomy and achievement, can lead to a more engaging and enjoyable experience. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Sustainability. Using Qualitative research combining participant observation and interviews., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate game-like features and reward systems into tourism applications to cater to the user's intrinsic motivations for autonomy and achievement, thereby enhancing their overall experience.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Gamified tourism apps can significantly boost engagement for visually impaired users by tapping into their desire for autonomy and achievement.

Sustainability · 2020

Key Findings

01People with visual impairments generally have a positive outlook on travel.
02Key psychological needs for this user group include autonomy, achievement, and social interaction.
03There is a desire among visually impaired individuals to engage with games on their mobile devices.
04A gamified approach can enhance engagement, motivation, and enjoyment in tourism apps.

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate game-like features and reward systems into tourism applications to cater to the user's intrinsic motivations for autonomy and achievement, thereby enhancing their overall experience.

How to apply

When designing digital tourism platforms, consider implementing features such as points, badges, leaderboards, or challenges that align with the user's desire for accomplishment and exploration, particularly for underserved user groups.

Project actions

01When researching user needs, consider both functional requirements (e.g., screen reader compatibility) and psychological needs (e.g., sense of accomplishment).
02Explore how gamification can be applied to different aspects of a user journey, not just the final destination.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can a gamified application approach, informed by the needs of people with visual impairments, enhance their smart tourism experience?

MethodQualitative research combining participant observation and interviews.

ProcedureResearchers conducted multisensory participant observations and interviews with individuals with visual impairments to understand their tourism aspirations and needs, subsequently proposing a gamified app design based on these findings.

ContextSmart tourism experience for people with visual impairments.

Variables

IVGamified application approach.

DVSmart tourism experience (engagement, motivation, enjoyment).

CVUser group (people with visual impairments), tourism context.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses an under-researched area in accessible tourism.
+Combines user needs analysis with established design frameworks (PERMA, MDA).

Limitations

The proposed gamified approach might not appeal to all visually impaired users, and the effectiveness of specific gamification mechanics would require extensive user testing.

Reliability & validity

The use of multiple qualitative methods (observation and interviews) enhances the validity of the findings. However, the sample size and specific context may limit generalizability, impacting external validity.

Think critically

To what extent can the principles of gamification identified for visually impaired users be applied to enhance the tourism experience for other user groups with different needs or preferences?

Design Principles

"Design for psychological fulfillment by integrating elements of autonomy, achievement, and social connection into digital products."

This research highlights the critical need to move beyond basic accessibility and actively design for positive user experiences. By understanding the psychological drivers of visually impaired travelers, designers can create inclusive digital products that foster greater participation and satisfaction in tourism.

What This Means for Your Design

Making travel apps fun with games can make them much better for people with visual impairments because they like feeling independent and achieving things, and they enjoy playing games on their phones.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to justify the inclusion of gamified elements in your design proposal, especially if targeting users with specific needs or motivations.
2.Cite the study to support the idea that gamification can enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research by Huang and Lau (2020) highlights the potential of gamified applications to significantly enhance the smart tourism experience for people with visual impairments. By addressing key psychological needs such as autonomy and achievement, and leveraging the user's interest in mobile gaming, a gamified approach can foster greater engagement, motivation, and enjoyment within tourism platforms, aligning with principles of inclusive and user-centered design.

Source

Sustainability

Enhancing the Smart Tourism Experience for People with Visual Impairments by Gamified Application Approach through Needs Analysis in Hong Kong

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about gamified tourism apps can significantly boost engagement for visually impaired users by tapping into their desire for autonomy and achievement?: Incorporate game-like features and reward systems into tourism applications to cater to the user's intrinsic motivations for autonomy and achievement, thereby enhancing their overall experience. Evidence: Sustainability (2020).
Why does "Gamified tourism apps can significantly boost engagement for visually impaired users by tapping into their desire for autonomy and achievement." matter for design?: This research highlights the critical need to move beyond basic accessibility and actively design for positive user experiences. By understanding the psychological drivers of visually impaired travelers, designers can create inclusive digital products that foster greater participation and satisfaction in tourism.
How can designers apply this research?: Incorporate game-like features and reward systems into tourism applications to cater to the user's intrinsic motivations for autonomy and achievement, thereby enhancing their overall experience.
What were the main findings?: People with visual impairments generally have a positive outlook on travel.. Key psychological needs for this user group include autonomy, achievement, and social interaction.. There is a desire among visually impaired individuals to engage with games on their mobile devices.. A gamified approach can enhance engagement, motivation, and enjoyment in tourism apps.
What research method was used?: Qualitative research combining participant observation and interviews..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from Sustainability.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing digital tourism platforms, consider implementing features such as points, badges, leaderboards, or challenges that align with the user's desire for accomplishment and exploration, particularly for underserved user groups.
What are the limitations?: The study was conducted in Hong Kong, and findings may not be universally generalizable without further research in different cultural contexts. The specific gamified application was proposed, not fully developed or tested.