Development of an Online Application that Enables Older Adults to Self-assess their Driving-related Cognitive Ability

Our cognitive abilities can change as we age and these changes may reduce our ability to perform day to day activities, one of which is driving. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia have been shown to have a higher number of crashes per mile driven and are more vulnerable to injuries due to frailty. Driving cessation, however, not only curtails mobility but can cause social isolation and depression among older adults; this is especially true in countries like Canada that have relatively long driving distances and dependency on cars for transit. Driving is often synonymous with independence and hence any discussion about it requires careful consideration by physicians, family, and most importantly the drivers themselves. Motivated by the need to balance road safety and autonomy, this study aims to create and evaluate SmartDrive, which is a digital application that helps refocus the discussion about driving in a way that empowers the older adult. Developed using participatory design methods, SmartDrive is an online, self-assessment application that implements a collection of validated cognitive tasks that have been correlated with on-road driving performance namely, Trail Making Test (Part B), Porteus Mazes & Useful Field of View (subdivided attention). The objective of SmartDrive is to provide the older adult with accurate and useful feedback on their driving-related cognitive abilities in order to promote informed and safer driving decisions. The results from iterative testing of SmartDrive indicated a high acceptance of the app among older adults. The primary motivator for using the app was the need to monitor age-related cognitive decline and its effects on safe driving. Qualitative analysis of the semi-structured interviews conducted with 24 older adult drivers revealed themes that captured the preferred design features and underlying user characteristics that influenced the adoption of SmartDrive. The themes and sub-themes that were identified in this research contribute to the current usability frameworks and can be used as a guide for the development of other web-based applications that support older adults in self-assessment and periodic monitoring of different skills

The appraisal of Facebook online community: An exposition of mobile commerce in social media reviews

Peer reviewe

Transforming our World through Universal Design for Human Development

An environment, or any building product or service in it, should ideally be designed to meet the needs of all those who wish to use it. Universal Design is the design and composition of environments, products, and services so that they can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. It creates products, services and environments that meet people’s needs. In short, Universal Design is good design. This book presents the proceedings of UD2022, the 6th International Conference on Universal Design, held from 7 - 9 September 2022 in Brescia, Italy.The conference is targeted at professionals and academics interested in the theme of universal design as related to the built environment and the wellbeing of users, but also covers mobility and urban environments, knowledge, and information transfer, bringing together research knowledge and best practice from all over the world. The book contains 72 papers from 13 countries, grouped into 8 sections and covering topics including the design of inclusive natural environments and urban spaces, communities, neighborhoods and cities; housing; healthcare; mobility and transport systems; and universally- designed learning environments, work places, cultural and recreational spaces. One section is devoted to universal design and cultural heritage, which had a particular focus at this edition of the conference. The book reflects the professional and disciplinary diversity represented in the UD movement, and will be of interest to all those whose work involves inclusive design