ICTs for inclusive communities in developing societies

Abstract This paper will explore the meanings and roles of information and communication technology (ICT) for communities in underserved areas, and how these discourses affect the use of available technology artefacts. Since a certain degree of "technological determinism" is still rife in the field of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D), there is a need to operationalise more inclusive, contextual and socially responsive technologies for societal development. It becomes critical in this regard for academics and practitioners to uncover the discourses and concepts that emerge from grounded research when designing, implementing and evaluating projects. Through an empirical case study in Cape Town, South Africa, the authors will explore and discuss some 'collective implications' of ICT for urban poor communities. From this study, a series of meanings around ICT was identified from discussions with community groups as performative, survival, modernity and unspoken discourses. From these, specific collective capabilities, possibilities and risks emerged and revealed the relative knowledge about material and motivational accessibility, as well as the knowledge around usage, costs, and skills

ICTs for inclusive communities in developing societies

Abstract Personal Health Records (PHRs) offer various advantages for individuals making use of these systems to document and maintain information related to their health. In addition, PHRs may play a positive role in preventative care and efforts to prevent and control non-communicable lifestyle diseases. Despite numerous benefits adoption rates are low, and little is known regarding the factors that affect adoption in the South African context. This exploratory paper highlights socio-technical factors that can affect the adoption of PHRs in the South African context. Socio-Technical Systems theory is applied as a theoretical lens to identify the social, technical, and environmental factors that can affect the adoption of PHRs. Factors that can positively contribute to, as well as negatively inhibit, the adoption of PHRs are identified

Formal usability testing - informing design

The goal of this paper is to discuss the role of usability testing in software development in South Africa. Throughout the software industry software engineers develop user interfaces (Ul) with little or no support from professional UI designers. As a consequence of this, commercial software often contains serious design errors. Producing a good computer system is not just about ensuring that both the computer and the human perform as efficiently as possible; in order to be usable it has to conform to ISO standards for usability. The results of formal usability testing can provide essential empirical information for the software design process that cannot be obtained using other usability evaluation methods

Establishing a neuropsychiatry clinic at Tygerberg hospital

CITATION: La Cock, C. et al. 1999. Establishing a neuropsychiatry clinic at Tygerberg hospital. South African Medical Journal, 89(6):653-660.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaObjective. Neuropsychiatry is a neglected subspecialty in South Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the need for neuropsychiatry clinics by evaluating a recently established unit in South Africa and testing opinions of heads of academic psychiatry departments. Design. Three separate aspects were investigated. First, a retrospective analysis of patient records from the University of Stellenbosch neuropsychiatry and neuropsychology clinic (USNNC) was undertaken. Second, interviews were conducted with the clinical staff of the clinic, and third, questionnaires were sent to all heads of psychiatry departments in South Africa. Setting. USNNC, situated at Tygerberg Hospital. Subjects. Patients attending the USNNC, clinicians of the USNNC and heads of academic psychiatry departments in South Africa. Main outcome measures. Patients were assessed by means of a standard clinical assessment procedure and a multi-axial diagnosis was made according to the criteria of the Diagnostic nod Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), 4th ed. A semi-structured interview was conducted with the USNNC clinical staff to assess their opinions regarding the clinical importance of such a specialised clinic, possibilities for training, opportunities for research and possible improvements that could be made. The staff included a psychiatrist, a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a neurologist and a nuclear physician. An adapted questionnaire was used to assess the attitudes of heads of psychiatry departments in South Africa toward neuropsychiatry. Results. Mild neurocognitive disorder was the most common DSM-IV diagnosis. Head injuries were the most common Axis III disorder. According to USNNC clinicians, a multidisciplinary neuropsychiatric clinic provides for improved diagnosis and management of these disorders, as well as providing excellent training opportunities for psychiatry registrars and students of related disciplines. Heads of departments of psychiatry in South Africa had a clear understanding of the entity of neuropsychiatry but were divided on the question of fostering neuropsychiatry as a subspecialty. Most were confident that their graduates acquire the necessary clinical skills to evaluate and treat common neuropsychiatric disorders. Conclusions. Mild cognitive impairment, often due to head trauma, is most appropriately managed within a multidisciplinary setting. Such a facility provides good training opportunities for students in various disciplines. Much-needed research on treatment outcomes and cognitive rehabilitation can be undertaken in this setting. Improved communication between psychiatry departments in South Africa should lead to a pooling of resources and the provision of a better service to neuropsychiatric patients.Publisher’s versio

ZUMA: A Platform for Smart-Home Environments

Abstract: Although electronic devices permeate the home and offer unsurpassed power and features, many impediments still exist to realizing the concept of the smart-home: configuration complexity, minimal device interoperability, difficulty of use, lack of personalization, and no integration with sensors for awareness and adaptation. We define four tenets of smart-home environment: Zero-configuration, Universality, Multi-user optimality, and Adaptability (ZUMA), and describe a platform based on a set of clean abstractions for users, content, and devices. The platform enables configuration and organization of content and networked heterogeneous devices in a smart-home environment. We validate the platform with a prototype implementation and analyze its flexibility and infrastructure requirements.

ZUMA: A Platform for Smart-Home Environments - The Case for Infrastructure

Abstract: A wide range of disconnected communication networks is emerging in the home. Each has different functions and implementation architectures. The user experience as well as the overall functionality would be vastly enhanced if these networks could collaborate in a seamless fashion. Collaboration is challenging because it requires disparate devices and components to interoperate in a user friendly, scalable and upgradeable fashion. We conjecture that such cooperation might be most efficiently assured using a supporting infrastructure. The Universal Contents Router (UCR) is introduced as an infrastructural component. The UCR moves the burden of connectivity away from the end devices to the system core. The paper spells out ZUMA, or functions that a UCR should support, discusses UCR architecture an

Establishing a neuropsychiatry clinic at Tygerberg hospital

Objective. Neuropsychiatry is a neglected subspecialty in South Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the need for neuropsychiatry clinics by evaluating a recently established unit in South Africa and testing opinions of heads of academic psychiatry departments.Design. Three separate aspects were investigated. First, a retrospective analysis of patient records from the University of Stellenbosch neuropsychiatry and  neuropsychology clinic (USNNC) was undertaken. Second, interviews were conducted with the clinical staff of the clinic, and third, questionnaires were sent to all heads of psychiatry departments in South Africa.Setting. USNNC, situated at Tygerberg Hospital.Subjects. Patients attending the USNNC clinicians of the USNNC and heads of academic psychiatry departments in South Africa.Main outcome measures. Patients were assessed by means of a standard clinical assessment procedure and a multi-axial diagnosis was made according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ofMental Disorders (DSM-IV), 4th ed. A semi-structured interview was conducted with the USNNC clinical staff to assess their opinions regarding the clinical importance of such a specialised clinic, possibilities for training, opportunities for research and possible improvements that could be made. The staff included a psychiatrist, a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a neurologist and a nuclear physician:An adapted questionnaire was used to assess the attitudes of heads of psychiatry departments in South Africa toward neuropsychiatry.Results. Mild neurocognitive disorder was the most common DSM-IV diagnosis.  Head injuries were the most common Axis III disorder. According to USNNC  clinicians, a multidisciplinary neuropsychiatric clinic provides for improved diagnosis and management of these disorders, as well as providing excellent training opportunities for psychiatry registrars and students of related disciplines. Heads of departments of psychiatry in South Africa had a clear understanding of the entity of neuropsychiatry but were divided on the question of fostering  neuropsychiatry as a subspecialty. Most were confident that their graduates acquire the necessary clinical skills to evaluate and treat common neuropsychiatric disorders.Conclusions. Mild cognitive impairment, often due to head trauma, is most appropriately managed within a multidisciplinary  setting. Such a facility provides good training opportunities for students in various disciplines. Much-needed research on  treatment outcomes and cognitive rehabilitation can be undertaken in this setting. Improved communication between psychiatry departments in South Africa should lead to a pooling of resources and the provision of a better service to neuropsychiatric patients

EISH – exercises in studying HCI

This paper reports on the outcomes of the December 2006 CONVIVIO Faculty Forum and the proposed framework and guidelines for design exercises to stimulate creativity, developed at the Forum