Usability Evaluation of Alzheimer’s mHealth Applications for Caregivers

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 503-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janetta Brown ◽  
Hyung Nam Kim
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
App Development ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Healthcare Interventions ◽  
Home Based Care ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
User Centered

As the sixth leading cause of death within the United States, Alzheimer’s disease affects over 15 million caregivers administering home-based care for loved ones having this illness. The rise in advocacy for mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) to facilitate chronic disease management presents a tremendous platform for Alzheimer’s caregivers to utilize mHealth apps while administering care. Although mHealth apps serve as potential healthcare interventions, little is known regarding their usability. This study will advance knowledge on the apps’ usability and provide user-centered design guidelines for future app development. Keyword searches in Apple and Google App Stores yielded 43 Alzheimer’s apps. Card sorting then generated three levels of categories for app classification. Stratified random sampling produced a sample size of six apps selected for review. Lastly, a heuristic evaluation of the six sampled apps was conducted according to Nielsen’s ten usability heuristics. User-centered design guidelines were constructed to remedy problematic usability issues for the intended users of these apps.

scholarly journals Virtual reality-based cognitive healthcare interventions: User-centered design considerations, guidelines and framework

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebeca I. García-Betances ◽  
María Fernanda Cabrera-Umpiérrez ◽  
María Teresa Arredondo Waldmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Substantial Improvement ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
General Acceptance ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Healthcare Interventions ◽  
The One ◽  
User Centered

Design of computer-based non-pharmacological cognitive healthcare interventions for people afflicted by chronic neurodegenerative impairments must be soundly informed by and clearly centered on users’ distinctive disabilities. In this article we present a use-oriented analysis of those cognitive interventions intended for healthcare of patients with Alzheimer’s dementia and related disorders that use human-computer interaction based on virtual reality technology. The analysis identifies the most important strengths and weakness, and describes and assesses the main key opportunities and challenges inherent to the use of this type of cognitive healthcare interventions. The most critical specific usability concerns that considerably affect these interventions are described in order to be directly addressed during a user-centered design process. Significant evaluation issues that still trouble these interventions’ general acceptance are also included. On the basis of this analysis, appropriate actions are recommended to help minimize accessibility and usability issues. Finally, concrete design guidelines, and a framework with its road map are proposed to direct the design process. The proposed framework’s more outstanding features and functionalities are described in relation to user-centered design conceptualization, implementation and assessment. The use of a consistent user-centered design methodology, such as the one proposed here to tackle the main critical obstacles, could turn out to become the key that allows to achieve a substantial improvement of VR-based cognitive healthcare interventions effectiveness.

scholarly journals Can HCI Help Increase People’s Engagement in Sustainable Development? A Case Study on Energy Literacy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7543
Author(s):  
Carla Pestana ◽  
Luísa Barros ◽  
Sabrina Scuri ◽  
Mary Barreto
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Information Platform ◽  
Energy Education ◽  
Initial Results ◽  
User Centered ◽  
Education Initiatives

The adoption of energy efficiency practices and increased penetration of renewable energy sources in the power system are estimated to play a key role in the decarbonization of the energy sector, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately fight climate change. To foster energy transition, energy education initiatives should primarily target the citizens and be designed adopting a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach and HCI methodologies. This paper describes how UCD/HCI can inform the design of citizens’ energy education initiatives by presenting a case study—the development of an information platform targeting Madeiran citizens. The article describes the design process, from ideation to prototype and validation. Methods used in each phase (card sorting, semi-structured interviews, brainstorming sessions, think-aloud protocol and surveys) are described. Results of each phase and how they have informed the following steps are presented, together with a detailed description of the resulting information platform and initial results in terms of acceptance and interaction with the system. Our initial results support the hypothesis that adopting an HCI perspective can nurture the development of energy education initiatives targeting citizens, bringing a user-centered approach to the design of such initiatives.

User-Centered Label Design Guidelines for Child Restraint Systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 1399-1403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea Kramer ◽  
Shelley Kelsey ◽  
Christina Rudin-Brown ◽  
Robin Langerak ◽  
Andrea Scipione ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Design Standards ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Car Seats ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Child Restraint ◽  
User Centered

Child Restraint Systems (CRS; car seats) are designed to prevent injuries in motor vehicle collisions. CRS misuse and installation errors are common and may seriously reduce or nullify safety benefits. Poorly designed labels and instructions contribute to CRS misuse, and CRS manufacturers are not held to an evidence-based label design standard. This paper describes a user-centered design (UCD) and evaluation process for infant/child convertible (rear-facing/forward-facing) CRS installation labels. The labels focused on two primary tasks: installing a CRS into a vehicle and securing a child into the CRS. The label design concepts were based on literature identifying primary areas for CRS misuse, Human Factors and UCD principles, product warning and label design standards, and current Canadian and US motor vehicle safety standards. A follow-up study will evaluate the reduction of CRS installation errors based on the hypothesized enhanced label usability and effectiveness.

User Research to Enhance the U.S. Postal Service Website

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 810-814
Author(s):  
Mark E. Becker ◽  
Jacob R. Bevitt ◽  
Richard L. Horst
Keyword(s):  
Postal Service ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
User Research ◽  
Web Presence ◽  
Usability Tests ◽  
Content Organization ◽  
Usability Evaluation Methods ◽  
The U.S ◽  
User Centered

This paper describes user research conducted over the past three years for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), with the overall goal of improving the usability of its website, USPS.com . This research has been part of a broad user-centered design approach to website enhancement implemented by USPS. This research has involved usability tests, card sorting, tree tests, and first click analyses, and has used input from representative users, both consumers and business users, and both in-person and remotely located across the U.S. In addition to yielding specific design recommendations to improve user experiences, optimize content organization, and contribute to the design of new functionality, the present research has provided insights regarding user needs, expectations, and preferences. This initiative serves as a good example of a large organization’s transformation of its web presence by employing an incremental, user-centered approach. It highlights the breadth of usability evaluation methods available and the benefit such research can have in improving the user experience of large organizations like USPS.

scholarly journals Comparison of a User-Centered Design, Self-Management App to Existing mHealth Apps for Persons Living With HIV

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. e91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Schnall ◽  
Jocelyn Patterson Mosley ◽  
Sarah J Iribarren ◽  
Suzanne Bakken ◽  
Alex Carballo-Diéguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Management ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
User Centered

scholarly journals Untold Stories in User-Centered Design of Mobile Health: Practical Challenges and Strategies Learned From the Design and Evaluation of an App for Older Adults With Heart Failure

10.2196/17703 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e17703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Philip Cornet ◽  
Tammy Toscos ◽  
Davide Bolchini ◽  
Romisa Rohani Ghahari ◽  
Ryan Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
Practical Recommendations ◽  
Challenges And Strategies ◽  
User Centered

Background User-centered design (UCD) is a powerful framework for creating useful, easy-to-use, and satisfying mobile health (mHealth) apps. However, the literature seldom reports the practical challenges of implementing UCD, particularly in the field of mHealth. Objective This study aims to characterize the practical challenges encountered and propose strategies when implementing UCD for mHealth. Methods Our multidisciplinary team implemented a UCD process to design and evaluate a mobile app for older adults with heart failure. During and after this process, we documented the challenges the team encountered and the strategies they used or considered using to address those challenges. Results We identified 12 challenges, 3 about UCD as a whole and 9 across the UCD stages of formative research, design, and evaluation. Challenges included the timing of stakeholder involvement, overcoming designers’ assumptions, adapting methods to end users, and managing heterogeneity among stakeholders. To address these challenges, practical recommendations are provided to UCD researchers and practitioners. Conclusions UCD is a gold standard approach that is increasingly adopted for mHealth projects. Although UCD methods are well-described and easily accessible, practical challenges and strategies for implementing them are underreported. To improve the implementation of UCD for mHealth, we must tell and learn from these traditionally untold stories.

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