Zaves: A Mobile Birdwatching App for Nature Tourism

Mexico and its biodiversity are experiencing a surge in nature tourism, particularly in birdwatching. Existing mobile applications such as Merlin and iNaturalist are not accessible to everyone. Zaves emerges as an inclusive alternative, designed under the principles of universal design to meet the needs of people with disabilities and older adults. These features include equitable and flexible use, relevant information, minimal physical effort, and an intuitive interface. The application incorporates short subtitled videos and Mexican Sign Language translations, hosted on its YouTube channel to optimize app size. Free of charge and without requiring registration, Zaves provides information on 102 aquatic and terrestrial bird species, making it the only application of its kind in Mexico. Its initial reception has been positive, with 52,000 views on YouTube. However, an evaluation is needed to identify areas for improvement and establish a dissemination program.