User-Centered Development of Video Telephony for Servicing Mainly Older Users: Review and Evaluation of an Approach Applied for 10 Years (original) (raw)
Related papers
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 2014
Purpose: To develop a design concept for an easy-to-use videophone for people with dementia and to evaluate the design and need of such a product. Method: In this project, we have used an inclusive design approach that includes the target users in the design process. In an earlier study, the need of a videophone was examined and a requirement specification was developed. In this study, a preliminary design concept was developed. Five focus groups of people with dementia, significant others and occupational therapists working with people with dementia were formed to capture their experiences, expectations and thoughts concerning the videophone and the design concept. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach. Findings: The participants pointed out that the design of the videophone should be flexible in order to meet the needs of people with dementia, be easy-to-use and not look like assistive technology. In order to facilitate learning, the videophone should be introduced in an early stage of the disease. Conclusions: A videophone has potentials to enable videophone calls without assistance, add quality in communication and provide possibilities for monitoring. Further work will focus on developing a prototype to be empirically tested by people with dementia and significant others.
The usability of videophones for seniors and hospice providers: a brief report of two studies
Computers in Biology and Medicine, 2005
This article uses a human factors evaluation framework to assess the usability of commercially available videophone technology. One study focuses on minimally functionally impaired seniors living in an assisted living facility. The second study focuses on usability for hospice staff. Seniors found the technology easy to use and were willing to accept the equipment in their homes, especially if requested by a healthcare provider. Administrators and hospice care providers also reported that the videophones were easy to use and would be of benefit to the patients they care for. The results indicate that videophones are a promising intervention with identifiable limitations.
Applications of Paper and Interactive Prototypes in Designing Telecare Services for Older Adults
Journal of medical systems, 2016
We present the results of the user studies of the CareMe prototype telecare service for supporting older adults with remote telecare services. The CareMe solution targets older adults who are capable of living independently and outside of a dedicated medical institution or a nursing home, but require occasional medical attention, and formal or informal care. The studies were conducted between November 2013 and March 2014 and followed the participatory design approach. The research questions focused on understanding the difference in the participatory design approach when older adults use paper prototypes vs interactive prototypes, and the difference when older adults use interactive prototypes with poor interface design vs interactive prototypes with rich interface design. In total, 45 older adults living in Slovenia participated in the field trial. They were retired, 32 of whom were nursing home residents and 13 were living independently at home. The study sample's age distribu...
User-Centered Design of Tele-Homecare Products
Series in Biomedical Engineering, 2009
Tele-homecare solutions tend to be mainly technology driven innovations. This means that the needs of patients easily come in second as it comes to these developments. This chapter proposes that, instead, people's needs should be the driving force of a development, and a basic approach for need-driven product innovation is introduced. The approach is based on the notion that all people share the same universal concerns. When people become ill, their every day life may change dramatically. They are no longer able to meet with specific concerns; a need is born. In an application study, gaps in the current assortment of telehomecare products were identified by mapping the unmet concerns of ill people coming from this change in their life. The method proved to be a valuable addition to traditional methods inventorying people's needs like interviews or focus groups. In the subsequent phases of the design process, generating ideas and forming them into products, the user can be involved in many different ways. Involving the user in the design process will lead to products that are a better fit for the needs of the user.
Involving All Stakeholders in the Development of TV Applications for Elderly
2012
Abstract: The development of new digital TV systems and the design practices adopted in the development of new TV based applications often isolate elderly and disabled users. By considering them as users with special needs and not taking their problems into account during the design phase of an application, developers are creating new accessibility problems or just keeping bad old habits.
Inside a 'Digital Experiment’ - Co-producing Telecare Services for Older People
Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems, 2013
The problem of the user remains central to information systems research and practice, more so given the importance now given to user-led innovation. Telecare is a muchvaunted example of e-enabled health and social care which, over the past decade or more has received considerable policy attention and investment in Europe and beyond.
2019
With the demographic change, the percentage of older adults increases while information and communication technology (ICT) becomes ubiquitous and often indispensable. However, many older adults using ICT encounter usability problems, particularly if the ICT was not designed with them in mind. If older adults are considered, their participation is often limited to the evaluation of a finished product. Our approach called "human-centered design for aging" (HCD+), considers older adults' requirements and abilities throughout the development process, adapting established HCD-methods to accommodate the participation of older adults as experts for their own age group. This approach has been tested in a research project aiming to link older adults' life stories to historical events and appreciating their life experience. By conducting interviews, focus groups, workshops and evaluations with older adults, meta-guidelines were identified and integrated into the HCD+ approach. Following this approach, older adults can be better served by ICT, fostering their participation in society.
ICT infrastructures in the aging society
Gerontechnology, 2007
As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) penetrates dwellings worldwide, also the increasing number of older persons will become more dependent on information technology infrastructures. While ICT continues to advance quickly, the ergonomic refinement for use by older adults has lagged behind. In addition, technical problems exist, partly resulting from designers' frequent use of proprietary products having little or no interoperability with products of other vendors. Fortunately, standards are emerging to address this problem; the cellular phone appears to be evolving into the general user interface for all, including older adults, and the addition of networking to ICT will significantly enhance environments to support aging-in-place.
Older Adults’ Experiences with Technology: Learning from Their Voices
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2013
When developing technologies for older adults, it is important to have them involved in the design process to identify needs, expectations and requirements correctly and comprehensively. However, communication gaps often exist, which call for the need to have continuous relationships with the target segment. In this study, older adults who have previously participated in a home technology study are interviewed to comfortably talk about their thoughts and experiences. User comments on various technologies are analyzed in relation to various stages of technology use. This paper discusses design implications, as well as topics for future research. The study can be expected to contribute to setting strategic design goals.