Design approaches in tablet applications for children and a mobile application trial

Nowadays smartphones and tablets have become indispensable parts of human life. Children, like adults, spend a lot of time with these devices and use mobile devices in many areas of their lives. For this reason, mobile application design for children has become a very important issue in recent years. On the other hand, it is seen that there are no comprehensive researches on our subject and there is a lack of Turkish resources. In this thesis, it is aimed to examine the approaches put forward by the experts in the development process of the tablet applications for children, and to define the suggestions emerged as the result of these approaches in a theoretical framework. At the same time, it is aimed to produce an application by adhering to the suggestions emerged as the result of this theoretical research. In this study, using qualitative research method mobile devices, mobile operating systems, mobile applications, development theories, developmental stages of children - motor skills are investigated and these topics have been compiled by examining theoretical sources related to digital design for children. In the usability test phase of the sample application run, a feedback survey was conducted and some improvements and adjustments were made to the application design through the data obtained from this survey. In this research, opinions of experts and their proposals for solutions are listed, mainly; important information that help them to develop an application for children has been put together. In line with this information, a mobile e-book application has been produced, which is adapted from the Japanese folk tale "The Straw Headman" whose primary target audience is children aged 7-10 years old. As a result, it is thought that this research will provide an important source in Turkish language to the experts who are interested in the subject, and will contribute to the future studies and application designs for children.