22,864 research outputs found
Health Figures: An Open Source JavaScript Library for Health Data Visualization
The way we look at data has a great impact on how we can understand it,
particularly when the data is related to health and wellness. Due to the
increased use of self-tracking devices and the ongoing shift towards preventive
medicine, better understanding of our health data is an important part of
improving the general welfare of the citizens. Electronic Health Records,
self-tracking devices and mobile applications provide a rich variety of data
but it often becomes difficult to understand. We implemented the hFigures
library inspired on the hGraph visualization with additional improvements. The
purpose of the library is to provide a visual representation of the evolution
of health measurements in a complete and useful manner. We researched the
usefulness and usability of the library by building an application for health
data visualization in a health coaching program. We performed a user evaluation
with Heuristic Evaluation, Controlled User Testing and Usability
Questionnaires. In the Heuristics Evaluation the average response was 6.3 out
of 7 points and the Cognitive Walkthrough done by usability experts indicated
no design or mismatch errors. In the CSUQ usability test the system obtained an
average score of 6.13 out of 7, and in the ASQ usability test the overall
satisfaction score was 6.64 out of 7. We developed hFigures, an open source
library for visualizing a complete, accurate and normalized graphical
representation of health data. The idea is based on the concept of the hGraph
but it provides additional key features, including a comparison of multiple
health measurements over time. We conducted a usability evaluation of the
library as a key component of an application for health and wellness
monitoring. The results indicate that the data visualization library was
helpful in assisting users in understanding health data and its evolution over
time.Comment: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 16.1 (2016
Information and communication technology solutions for outdoor navigation in dementia
INTRODUCTION:
Information and communication technology (ICT) is potentially mature enough to empower outdoor and social activities in dementia. However, actual ICT-based devices have limited functionality and impact, mainly limited to safety. What is an ideal operational framework to enhance this field to support outdoor and social activities?
METHODS:
Review of literature and cross-disciplinary expert discussion.
RESULTS:
A situation-aware ICT requires a flexible fine-tuning by stakeholders of system usability and complexity of function, and of user safety and autonomy. It should operate by artificial intelligence/machine learning and should reflect harmonized stakeholder values, social context, and user residual cognitive functions. ICT services should be proposed at the prodromal stage of dementia and should be carefully validated within the life space of users in terms of quality of life, social activities, and costs.
DISCUSSION:
The operational framework has the potential to produce ICT and services with high clinical impact but requires substantial investment
How a Diverse Research Ecosystem Has Generated New Rehabilitation Technologies: Review of NIDILRR’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers
Over 50 million United States citizens (1 in 6 people in the US) have a developmental, acquired, or degenerative disability. The average US citizen can expect to live 20% of his or her life with a disability. Rehabilitation technologies play a major role in improving the quality of life for people with a disability, yet widespread and highly challenging needs remain. Within the US, a major effort aimed at the creation and evaluation of rehabilitation technology has been the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) sponsored by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. As envisioned at their conception by a panel of the National Academy of Science in 1970, these centers were intended to take a “total approach to rehabilitation”, combining medicine, engineering, and related science, to improve the quality of life of individuals with a disability. Here, we review the scope, achievements, and ongoing projects of an unbiased sample of 19 currently active or recently terminated RERCs. Specifically, for each center, we briefly explain the needs it targets, summarize key historical advances, identify emerging innovations, and consider future directions. Our assessment from this review is that the RERC program indeed involves a multidisciplinary approach, with 36 professional fields involved, although 70% of research and development staff are in engineering fields, 23% in clinical fields, and only 7% in basic science fields; significantly, 11% of the professional staff have a disability related to their research. We observe that the RERC program has substantially diversified the scope of its work since the 1970’s, addressing more types of disabilities using more technologies, and, in particular, often now focusing on information technologies. RERC work also now often views users as integrated into an interdependent society through technologies that both people with and without disabilities co-use (such as the internet, wireless communication, and architecture). In addition, RERC research has evolved to view users as able at improving outcomes through learning, exercise, and plasticity (rather than being static), which can be optimally timed. We provide examples of rehabilitation technology innovation produced by the RERCs that illustrate this increasingly diversifying scope and evolving perspective. We conclude by discussing growth opportunities and possible future directions of the RERC program
The ABCD of usability testing
We introduce a methodology for tracking and auditing feedback, errors and suggestions for software packages. This short paper describes how we innovate on the evaluation mechanism, introducing an (Antecedent, Barrier, Consequence and Development) ABCD form, embedded within an eParticipation platform to enable end users to easily report on any usability issues. This methodology will be utilised to improve the STEP cloud eParticipation platform (part of the current STEP Horizon2020 project http://step4youth.eu. The platform is currently being piloted in real life contexts, with the participation of public authorities that are integrating the eParticipation platform into their regular decision-making practices. The project is involving young people, through engagement and motivation strategies and giving them a voice in Environmental decision making at the local level. The pilot evaluation aims to demonstrate how open engagement needs to be embedded within public sector processes and the usability methodology reported here will help to identify the key barriers for wide scale deployment of the platform
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The role of user requirements research in medical device development
Aims and Objectives: This research aims to suggest a concise framework to help in the better
conceptualisation and integration of users in the medical device development (MDD) process. The
current economic, political and social climate concerning the matter of healthcare delivery has
resulted in the emergence of numerous users and user groups for whom the healthcare system has not
previously catered for. These users have created ambiguity for the designers and manufacturers of
medical devices as the boundaries between their needs and requirements have blurred, outdating
current methods of MDD to meet consumer needs.
Research Design and Methodology: The research methodology begins primarily with conducting a
literature search on the theories relating to user requirements and medical device development. The
paper outlines these findings through initially describing users and user involvement and relating
them to medical devices. The cross-disciplinary nature of healthcare influenced the investigation into
multiple disciplines including; IT, Ergonomics – particularly participatory research, Psychology and
Design. These disciplines expose various methods and processes, which are useful to user
requirements research. These methods were analysed for their compatibility, and then used to
construct a conceptual framework for user involvement in MDD.
Results: The research insinuates the true significance of user involvement and hence resulted in the
formation of a conceptual framework to aid user involvement in the MDD process. The framework is
produced by the amalgamation of relevant methods examined across the disciplines, in a
complimentary fashion.
Conclusion: The originality of this research lies in its use of a multidisciplinary approach. Previous
research claiming multi-methods has dealt with combining two disciplines or methods at a time i.e.
Computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) with participatory research (Scandurra et al, 2008)
for the needs analysis of healthcare professionals only. Collaboration across disciplines has also been
investigated (Johnson et al, 2005), but this was for the purpose of redesign rather than initial designs.
This framework can help medical device designers to fully access all user requirements through more
extensive collaboration right at the start. It reduces the risk of high costs involved in device rejection,
usually associated with belated recognition of user needs in the design cycle
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