An 84-year-old programmer reveals the programming story of the world's oldest iOS developer

When Masako Wakamiya got her first computer at age 58, just before retiring from her job at a bank, she had no idea she was about to embark on a journey that would make her the world’s oldest known iOS app developer at age 81.

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In 2019, Masako Wakamiya, who is 84 years old, calls herself an IT evangelist, encouraging other elderly people to enrich their lives through digital technology. She holds lecture tours in Japan and abroad to spread her story of becoming an elderly developer. At the same time, she is also writing a book.

Recently, she spoke with Nikkei Asian Review about her remarkable story, from owning her first PC to discussing her apps with Apple CEO Tim Cook, and why advanced age is no barrier to learning new things.

Access to personal computers (PCs)

"At that time, only a few families had computers, but I seemed to be interested in computers, so I taught myself how to use them. At the time, my mother needed care, so I was always looking after her. There was a period when I couldn't go out at all, but computers opened my eyes to the world."

"Twenty years ago, I became the founder of the Mellow Club, a website that aims to facilitate communication among senior citizens. I am now the vice chairman. When I joined the predecessor of the club, I received a welcome message that said, 'Life will become more and more interesting after 60. Your life experience will not blossom until then. When you are in your 70s, life will be more fulfilling'."

"In the beginning, when I posted messages on the site, other members would criticize me, saying 'you're rude', 'you shouldn't post messages like that here'. But at this stage in life, even criticism is precious. I tell people it's never too late."

First iPhone game

As Wakamiya became more familiar with PCs, she learned to use early smartphones, even though older people tend to shy away from new technology. Soon she had an idea: to create a game based on the Girls' Day, a festival celebrated annually in Japan.

"There were no apps on the market that seniors would find fun, so I decided to create a game where seniors could beat the young. I thought it would be a good idea to put up dolls for the Girls' Day."

“I made a plan to ask the president of an app development company in Miyagi Prefecture to make the game. He and I both participated in volunteer activities in areas hit hard by the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, so we knew each other well. He told me, ‘Can I suggest that you develop the app yourself?’ I wrote the program at my home in Kanagawa Prefecture and learned app development from him over Skype.”

"The game is called Hinadan (a display stand for dolls) and was completed just in time for the 2017 Girls' Day."

A bond with Apple CEO

"The Asahi Shimbun reported on the app. CNN found out and sent me an email in English with about 20 questions. They wanted me to answer them within two hours, and I responded using Google Translate. Then they sent more questions and said if I could answer them within 20 minutes, they would publish a story that evening. Then they posted an article on their website that seemed to have been translated into more than 40 languages."

"After a while, someone from Apple Japan contacted me. A month later, he suggested, 'Let's go to the United States together.' I rejected the proposal at first, but he emphasized that an important person wanted to meet me. I asked him, 'Who is it?'"

"It's Apple CEO Tim Cook."

“I didn’t want to seem rude, so I went.”

Masako Wakamiya was invited to attend Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Traveling is not new to her. She said she has been to more than 60 countries and likes to travel alone. However, meeting the CEO of one of the world's largest technology companies must be unusual. Just one day before the opening of WWDC, she met Cook.

"I thought we would just say hello and exchange greetings, but he said we should discuss it and looked at my iPhone. I was at a loss for words and the others just watched us from a distance."

“I introduced my app to him: ‘Since seniors are not good at swiping on their phones, I let them play games by tapping’.”

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Figure 2: Cook introduces Masako Wakamiya at WWDC

"Cook asked me about the font size. I said, 'Since the iPhone screen is smaller, a larger font would throw off the balance between text and graphics. We also discussed adapting the app to the iPad and different screen aspect ratios, as if we were in a coding class.'"

"Cook said my story was inspiring and gave me an unexpected hug when we said goodbye."

"At the Apple Developer Conference the next day, Cook introduced me as the oldest developer in the world. Then I went on stage with a 10-year-old Australian boy. I think they wanted to highlight the diversity of app developers, different races, genders, etc., but I'm sure an 80-year-old female developer must be a major discovery."

Live and learn

As humans get closer to living to 100 years old, Masako Wakamiya stressed that the elderly need to start learning again. She believes that finance and IT are particularly important.

“In June, I gave a keynote speech at a discussion on ageing and financial inclusion in Tokyo, linked to a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. It was said that teaching seniors financial literacy could reduce the rate of dementia among the elderly.”

"It may be difficult to trade stocks over the Internet, but I have proposed setting up an investment fund for the elderly. Each elderly person can invest 500,000 yen (about $4,600) in this fund, and the money can be used to invest in young people who want to start a business. The investment may fail, but it is better than falling into the hands of telecom fraudsters who pretend to be the elderly's son or grandson."

"If 100 people invest, the fund will raise 50 million yen. A young entrepreneur can invite investors to visit his/her company, so that the elderly can understand the company they invested in, and the relationship between the young entrepreneur and the elderly investors can be further strengthened."

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Figure 3: Masako Wakamiya and entrepreneurs

"I think it's important for older people to keep up with the times, society, science and IT. We shouldn't just say 'we don't use smartphones because it's hard'. We should tell young developers why we don't use smartphones. They want to hear our opinions."

Masako Wakamiya has an artificial intelligence (AI) speaker in her home, and she makes full use of it.

“I think AI speakers can help the elderly. Once the initial setup is done, we can still use it even if we are bedridden.”

“What we need are features that can support people from an AI perspective, such as a feature that notifies users that the government has issued an evacuation order due to heavy rain. Or, if you have chest pain, a feature that can call 119 (Japan’s emergency number) would be useful.”

In terms of IT education for the elderly, Wakamiya said IT has created many new possibilities, such as improving the skills of elderly carpenters, but she also warned that there may be misunderstandings among the elderly when it comes to understanding and using technology.

"In Japan, millions of people work in the construction industry, but many of the workers who can repair a roof blown off by a typhoon are already elderly. So it's important to pass on their expertise to the younger generation. But if they can learn IT themselves, they can also improve their own capabilities."

“They can use drones to deliver materials to the roof or use an endoscope to see the inside of a wall. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy the benefits of digital technology compared to those who have passed away and never knew the digital world.”

“But while statistics may show that half of people over 70 have a smartphone, they may leave it in their bag at home or forget to charge it. Statistics become meaningless unless we consider how smartphones are actually used. Instructions are hard to understand because they are written by experts.”

“For older people, the chat app Line is not at all the kind of communication tool that makes family members and close friends feel comfortable, like being in a ‘living room’. In contrast, the wider network is Ginza or Harajuku in Tokyo. Many strangers come and go here. I am writing a book, which will be published soon, which will explain why, but it may make some experts angry.”

Masako Wakamiya also teaches Excel art, a drawing software that creates designs using Excel. She said she found it interesting to use computers to show the elderly what they can do. When she went to Estonia, she found that it attracted both young and old.

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Figure 4: Masako Wakamiya uses software to teach Estonian children how to make paper fans

“When I was in Estonia, I held a workshop for elderly women and children to make round fans using Excel art in order to reach out to the locals. When they said goodbye, the children waved their fans and said, ‘Goodbye, dear grandma.’ I burst into tears.”

"Last year, I was invited to the Japanese Emperor and Empress' autumn garden party. I wore a long gown and carried a handbag designed using Excel art, with flashing LED lights on it. Her Majesty the Queen said, 'Oh, it's flashing,' and she also said to me, 'Please stay healthy.'"

Year after year, Wakamiya says her goal remains the same: “I want to be creative.”

“Creativity is the most quintessential human activity, something that AI and animals cannot do. An elementary school teacher once said: ‘Many adults who are now achieving extraordinary success were problem children when they were in elementary school, and the good students at that time became mediocre.’ We live in such an era.”

“I’m 84 now and I feel wiser than ever.”