scholarly journals A Systematic Mapping of Accessibility Problems Encountered on Websites and Mobile Apps: A Comparison Between Automated Tests, Manual Inspections and User Evaluations

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-171
Author(s):  
Delvani Antônio Mateus ◽  
Carlos Alberto Silva ◽  
Arthur F. B. A. De Oliveira ◽  
Heitor Costa ◽  
André Pimenta Freire
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Disabled People ◽  
Automated Evaluation ◽  
Adequate Coverage ◽  
Made In

The use of websites and mobile applications has become essential for numerous daily activities. However, not everyone can have full access to such services and content due to many websites and applications being inaccessible to people with disabilities, such as people with vision impairments. In this context, even though developers may demonstrate an effort to create more accessible content, there is limited information about the characteristics of different accessibility assessment methods applied to websites and mobile applications. Thus, the present study aimed to perform a meta-analysis of 38 types of accessibility problems on websites and mobile applications extracted from 38 studies in the literature from an initial search of 304 articles. Studies carried out automated assessments using tools, expert-based inspections and user testing involving disabled people. The results confirm other considerations made in the literature, showing that automated evaluation methods have significant limitations on an adequate coverage of accessibility problems, covering less than 40% of the types of problems found on websites and less than 20% on mobile apps. A significant percentage of problems both on mobile and web platforms were only encountered by studies involving users. Expert inspection showed a higher coverage of problems encountered by users, both on mobile apps and on websites, despite not covering all of them. Thus, the article concludes by showing a consolidation of literature data to reinforce that effective accessibility evaluations of web and mobile applications should count in expert-based inspections and user tests involving people with disabilities.

scholarly journals Impacto de las apps móviles en la actividad física: un meta-análisis (Impact of mobile apps on physical activity: A meta-analysis)

Retos ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 52-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inmaculada Aznar Díaz ◽  
María Pilar Cáceres Reche ◽  
Juan Manuel Trujillo Torres ◽  
José María Romero Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Revisión Sistemática ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Experimental Group

El uso de aplicaciones (apps) móviles en la práctica deportiva se ha convertido en algo habitual. Cada vez es más común ver a personas practicando deporte mientras utiliza su dispositivo móvil para medir su rendimiento o simplemente por el hecho de estar usando una app lúdica que requiere el desplazamiento. Por tanto, debido a la relevancia de la temática, en este estudio se propuso como objetivo analizar el efecto de las aplicaciones móviles en la actividad física a partir de la revisión de las investigaciones indexadas en las bases de datos Scopus y PubMed (2013-2018). La metodología utilizada ha sido una revisión sistemática con meta-análisis, poniendo el foco de interés concretamente en cinco variables de análisis en base a estudios previos: muestra, aplicación móvil, diseño metodológico, instrumentos de recogida de datos y principales hallazgos. La muestra se compuso por investigaciones de carácter empírico con mínimo de un grupo experimental y otro control (n = 18). Entre los resultados, se constata la variabilidad de apps utilizadas en la actividad física, así como el efecto estadísticamente significativo a favor del grupo experimental. Finalmente, los dispositivos móviles son un potente recurso para la mejora y aumento de la práctica deportiva, al mismo tiempo que se establecen nuevos componentes motivacionales para realizar deporte y sus implicaciones en la enseñanza de la educación física.Abstract. The use of mobile applications (apps) in sports has become common practice. It is increasingly common to see people practicing sports while using their mobile device to measure their performance or simply because they are using a playful app that requires movement. Therefore, due to the relevance of the subject, this study aimed to analyse the effect of mobile applications on physical activity from the review of the research indexed in the Scopus and PubMed databases (2013-2018). The methodology used was a systematic review with meta-analysis, placing the focus of interest specifically on five analysis variables based on previous studies: sample, mobile application, methodological design, data collection instruments, and main findings. The sample was composed of empirical research papers with at least one experimental group and another control (n = 18). Among the results, the variability of apps used in physical activity is verified, as well as the statistically significant effect in favour of the experimental group. Finally, mobile devices are a powerful resource for the improvement and increase of sports practice, while establishing new motivational components for sports and their implications in the teaching of physical education.

A novel approach for usability evaluation of mobile applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 437-441
Author(s):  
Junho Park ◽  
Maryam Zahabi
Keyword(s):  
Graphical User Interface ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Human Subject ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Usability Evaluation ◽  
Heuristic Evaluation ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Design Cycle ◽  
Level Model

Mobile applications (apps) have been massively developed and released in recent years. In this competitive market, the users’ adoption of the app or satisfaction greatly depends on its usability. Therefore, tech companies and app developers are looking for quick and easy approaches to evaluate the usability of their products early in the design cycle. The objective of this study was to introduce a novel approach combining the capabilities of the gesture-level model (GLM) and heuristic evaluation to assess the usability of mobile apps in early stages of the design cycle and without the need for costly and time-consuming user testing. The approach can be run on a graphical user interface and includes uncertainties regarding user skill level and distraction. Preliminary results suggested that this approach can be used for usability evaluation of mobile apps; however, its validity and generalizability to other domains need to be validated in the future with human-subject experiments.

The efficiency of Developing Mobile Applications Support Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Self-management: A Systematic Literature Review of Recent Articles, Meta-analysis and Qualitative Assessment (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Mahabadi
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Self Management

BACKGROUND Applying health technologies, such as mobile applications (apps), is considered as a means of promoting health management. This research aimed to examine the consideration of developing mobile applications (apps), support diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM-2) self-management, via investigating the outcome of original articles. OBJECTIVE (1) To indicate the extend which mobile app developers considered features and specifications defined by the health technology guidelines. (2) To identify the bottlenecks of health technology guidelines by assessing and comparing them. (3) To provide a list of evidence-based recommendations for manufacturers in order to design and develop as well as verify the health mobile apps. METHODS This research is a combination of systematic literature review and meta-analysis as well as qualitative assessment. The systematic literature review and meta-analysis included the articles published within the last six years, to indicate time-related reliability to the content, indexed on Ovid, Embase, Engendering Village, and PubMed. In order to conduct a meta-analysis, the information derived from included articles was adopted in a framework made of qualitative assessment of the well-known health technology guidelines. These guidelines were published by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), World Health Organisation (WHO), Public Health England and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). RESULTS After filtering all articles via a PRISMA flowchart, 37 articles were selected for further investigations. The results of the systematic literature review and meta-analysis indicated that almost all articles reported the significant role of apps in improving the health status of the users. Majority of studies were clinical trials conducted to measure the outcomes of interventions using a known mobile app. Technology-related limitations were having access to a smartphone and mobile markets, technology literacy, and malfunction of the systems. Combination of recommendations provided by included articles was conducting further studies with larger sample size to determine barriers and facilitators of available technologies integrated with mobile apps, aimed to provide patient-centred services, in a longer duration of the intervention implementation. On the other hand, the majority of articles did not report the use of any particular guideline. However, by comparing their findings with the results of the qualitative assessment of selected health technology guidelines, evidence-based documents were scarcely reported. Likewise, only a few numbers of articles briefly discussed cost-effectiveness. Almost none of them used an approved tool for evaluating the economic effect of mobile apps. CONCLUSIONS The majority of publications indicated lack of proper adherence to guidelines in designing and examining mobile applications, developed for supporting DM-2 self-management. Furthermore, a comparison of four included guidelines indicated insufficiencies in some perspectives such as safety of recorded information. The list of recommendations, produced by the results of included articles and highlights of included guidelines, facilitates producing standard mobile health apps by manufacturers.

Characterization of Auditory Disability and Its Relation to the Resilience

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Bibian Bibeca Bumbila García ◽  
Hernán Andrés Cedeño Cedeño ◽  
Tatiana Moreira Chica ◽  
Yaritza Rossana Parrales Ríos
Keyword(s):  
Social Integration ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Disabled People ◽  
Disabled Students ◽  
Hearing Disability ◽  
Technical University ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Made In

The objective of the work is to establish the characterization of the auditory disability and its relationship with resilience at the Technical University of Manabí. The article shows a conceptual analysis related to the inclusion and social integration of disabled students. Based on the fact that the person with disabilities grows and develops in the same way as that of people without disabilities and what usually happens is that disabled people are rejected and discriminated against based on a prefabricated and erroneous conceptualization of these people. The results associated with the application of the SV-RES test prepared by the researchers are shown (Saavedra & Villalta, 2008b). Characterization of the auditory deficit is made in the students, and the limitations that derive from it are pointed out. We analyze the particularities related to communication with students who have a hearing disability and resilience in this type of student, where some personal highlights that in this sense constitute an example of resilience. Finally, the results related to the study of the relationship between students' hearing disability and the level of resilience dimensions are shown.

Mobile Applications for Health Management of Older Adults: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Asilah Ahmad ◽  
Shahrul Azman Mohd Noah ◽  
Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin ◽  
Suzana Shahar ◽  
Noorlaili Mohd Tohit
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Personalized Feedback ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
App Store ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Google Play

BACKGROUND Currently, the use of smartphones to deliver health-related content has experienced a rapid growth, with more than 165,000 mobile health (mHealth) applications currently available in the digital marketplace such as iOS store and Google Play. Among these, there are several mobile applications (mobile apps) that offer tools for disease prevention and management among older generations. These mobile apps could potentially promote health behaviors which will reduce or delay the onset of disease. However, no review to date that has focused on the app marketplace specific for older adults and little is known regarding its evidence-based quality towards the health of older adults. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to characterize and critically appraise the content and functionality of mobile apps that focuses on health management and/or healthy lifestyle among older adults. METHODS An electronic search was conducted between May 2019 to December 2019 of the official app store for two major smartphone operating systems: iPhone operating system (iTunes App Store) and Android (Google Play Store). Stores were searched separately using predetermined search terms. Two authors screened apps based on information provided in the app description. Metadata from all included apps were abstracted into a standard assessment criteria form. Evidenced based strategies and health care expert involvement of included apps was assessed. Evidenced based strategies included: self-monitoring, goal setting, physical activity support, healthy eating support, weight and/or health assessment, personalized feedback, motivational strategies, cognitive training and social support. Two authors verified the data with reference to the apps and downloaded app themselves. RESULTS A total of 16 apps met the inclusion criteria. Six out of 16 (37.5%) apps were designed exclusively for the iOS platform while ten out of 16 (62.5%) were designed for Android platform exclusively. Physical activity component was the most common feature offered in all the apps (9/16, 56.3%) and followed by cognitive training (8/16, 50.0%). Diet/nutrition (0/16, 0%) feature, however, was not offered on all reviewed mobile apps. Of reviewed apps, 56.3% (9/16) provide education, 37.5% (6/16) provide self-monitoring features, 18.8% (3/16) provide goal setting features, 18.5% (3/16) provide personalized feedback, 6.3% (1/16) provide social support and none of the reviewed apps offers heart rate monitoring and reminder features to the users. CONCLUSIONS All reviewed mobile apps for older adults in managing health did not focused on diet/nutrition component, lack of functional components and lack of health care professional involvement in their development process. There is also a need to carry out scientific testing prior to the development of the app to ensure cost effective and its health benefits to older adults. Collaborative efforts between developers, researchers, health professionals and patients are needed in developing evidence-based, high quality mobile apps in managing health prior they are made available in the app store.

Assessment and Prediction of Privacy Concerns on Health Apps (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reham AlTamime ◽  
Vincent Marmion ◽  
Wendy Hall
Keyword(s):  
Data Sharing ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
And Control

BACKGROUND Mobile apps and IoT-enabled smartphones technologies facilitate collecting, sharing, and inferring from a vast amount of data about individuals’ location, health conditions, mobility status, and other factors. The use of such technology highlights the importance of understanding individuals’ privacy concerns to design applications that integrate their privacy expectations and requirements. OBJECTIVE This paper explores, assesses, and predicts individuals’ privacy concerns in relation to collecting and disclosing data on mobile health apps. METHODS We designed a questionnaire to identify participants’ privacy concerns pertaining to a set of 432 mobile apps’ data collection and sharing scenarios. Participants were presented with 27 scenarios that varied across three categorical factors: (1) type of data collected (e.g. health, demographic, behavioral, and location); (2) data sharing (e.g., whether it is shared, and for what purpose); and, (3) retention rate (e.g., forever, until the purpose is satisfied, unspecified, week, or year). RESULTS Our findings show that type of data, data sharing, and retention rate are all factors that affect individuals’ privacy concerns. However, specific factors such as collecting and disclosing health data to a third-party tracker play a larger role than other factors in triggering privacy concerns. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that it is possible to predict privacy concerns based on these three factors. We propose design approaches that can improve users’ awareness and control of their data on mobile applications

Mobile applications and patient education: Are currently available GERD mobile apps sufficient?

2016 ◽  
Vol 127 (8) ◽  
pp. 1775-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bobian ◽  
Aron Kandinov ◽  
Nour El-Kashlan ◽  
Peter F. Svider ◽  
Adam J. Folbe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps

scholarly journals Comparative diagnostic accuracy of EUS needles in solid pancreatic masses: a network meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 09 (06) ◽  
pp. E853-E862
Author(s):  
Samuel Han ◽  
Furqan Bhullar ◽  
Omar Alaber ◽  
Ayesha Kamal ◽  
Puanani Hopson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Pancreatic Masses ◽  
Quantitative Synthesis ◽  
Made In

Abstract Background and study aims Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue sampling is the standard of care for diagnosing solid pancreatic lesions. While many two-way comparisons between needle types have been made in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), it is unclear which size and type of needle offers the best probability of diagnosis. We therefore performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare different sized and shaped needles to rank the diagnostic performance of each needle. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases through August, 2020 for RCTs that compared the diagnostic accuracy of EUS fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsy (FNB) needles in solid pancreatic masses. Using a random-effects NMA under the frequentist framework, RCTs were analyzed to identify the best needle type and sampling technique. Performance scores (P-scores) were used to rank the different needles based on pooled diagnostic accuracy. The NMA model was used to calculate pairwise relative risk (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals. Results Review of 2577 studies yielded 29 RCTs for quantitative synthesis, comparing 13 different needle types. All 22G FNB needles had an RR > 1 compared to the reference 22G FNA (Cook) needle. The highest P-scores were seen with the 22G Medtronic FNB needle (0.9279), followed by the 22G Olympus FNB needle (0.8962) and the 22G Boston Scientific FNB needle (0.8739). Diagnostic accuracy was not significantly different between needles with or without suction. Conclusions In comparison to FNA needles, FNB needles offer the highest diagnostic performance in sampling pancreatic masses, particularly with 22G FNB needles.

Predictors to use mobile apps for monitoring COVID-19 symptoms and contact tracing: A survey among Dutch citizens. (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Maria Jansen-Kosterink ◽  
Marian Hurmuz ◽  
Marjolein den Ouden ◽  
Lex van Velsen
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Final Model ◽  
Symptom Recognition ◽  
Personal Connections

UNSTRUCTURED Background: eHealth applications have been recognized as a valuable tool to reduce COVID-19’s effective reproduction number. In this paper, we report on an online survey among Dutch citizens with the goal to identify antecedents of acceptance of a mobile application for COVID-19 symptom recognition and monitoring, and a mobile application for contact tracing. Methods: Next to the demographics, the online survey contained questions focussing on perceived health, fear of COVID-19 and intention to use. We used snowball sampling via posts on social media and personal connections. To identify antecedents of acceptance of the two mobile applications we conducted multiple linear regression analyses. Results: In total, 238 Dutch adults completed the survey. Almost 60% of the responders were female and the average age was 45.6 years (SD±17.4). For the symptom app, the final model included the predictors age, attitude towards technology and fear of COVID-19. The model had an R2 of 0.141. The final model for the tracing app included the same predictors and had an R2 of 0.156. The main reason to use both mobile applications was to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Concerns about privacy was mentioned as the main reason not to use the mobile applications. Conclusion: Age, attitude towards technology and fear of COVID-19 are important predictors of the acceptance of COVID-19 mobile applications for symptom recognition and monitoring and for contact tracing. These predictors should be taken into account during the development and implementation of these mobile applications to secure acceptance. Discussion: Age, attitude towards technology and fear of COVID-19 are important predictors of the acceptance of COVID-19 mobile applications for symptom recognition and monitoring and for contact tracing. These predictors should be taken into account during the development and implementation of these mobile applications to secure acceptance. Age, attitude towards technology and fear of COVID-19 are important predictors of the acceptance of COVID-19 mobile applications for symptom recognition and monitoring and for contact tracing. These predictors should be taken into account during the development and implementation of these mobile applications to secure acceptance.

A review of vocabulary learning applications: From the aspects of cognitive approaches, multimedia input, learning materials, and game elements

2021 ◽  
pp. 250-272
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Word Knowledge ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Feedback Systems ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
Systematic Understanding ◽  
Game Elements

In recent years, mobile applications (apps) have been increasingly used and investigated as a vocabulary learning approach. Despite the extensive use of commercial English as a Foreign Language (EFL) vocabulary learning apps in China, there is a lack of a review of these apps for a systematic understanding of the components and usefulness of app-assisted vocabulary learning. To fill this knowledge gap, this study presents a systematic review of 15 EFL vocabulary learning apps that were most downloaded in China, focusing on how these apps help students develop word knowledge. The results of this study showed that most apps enabled students to access word knowledge through translating words into their native language. Notably, word knowledge was usually presented through text-plus-image and text-plus-image-plus-audio. Most of these mobile apps provided sentence examples as vocabulary learning materials. Many of these apps were integrated with game elements, especially in interactivity or feedback systems and reward systems. Based on the review results, we have provided three recommendations to vocabulary learning app developers concerning the use of video for the input of word knowledge, the efficiency of vocabulary learning, and the integration of more game elements.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document