User-Centered Design in Defining and Developing Health and Well-Being ICT Solutions

Abstract

Implementing emerging technologies is a complex task which requires time, precision, and organization. The definition of a logical structure for classifying and organizing complex information during the design process of a technological solution provides flexibility while the process becomes more prescriptive. One of the most used methods in the ICT field is the user-centered design methodology (UCD). UCD methodology situates the final user as the cornerstone of the research and development process since the success or failure of a technological solution will depend on users’ acceptance. The following chapter presents experiences, best practices and lessons learned applying UCD methodology in different European projects from several years of work conducted at LifeSTech group from UPM, in areas such as: chronic diseases management, accessibility, and cognitive rehabilitation. Specifically, the chapter explains how the UCD methodology was applied during the different stages of the design and development process for different domains and use cases.