Innovative Mobile Application Research Articles

Development of mobile application through design-based research

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the development and testing of an innovative mobile application using design-based research. Design/methodology/approach This paper reports on the process of transformation of existing printed course material into digitized content through design-based research where design, research and practice were concurrently applied through several iterations of the mobile application. For this transformation, one session each from BSc in Nursing, Bachelor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences was selected. In the first phase of the design-based research, the main research question was formulated. In the second phase, a mobile learning application (OUSL MLearn) was designed and developed to address the research question. In the third phase, this application was evaluated by five groups of stakeholders: content experts to validate the content; educational technologists to check the alignment of technical and pedagogical features; novice users to check the overall effectiveness of the application; developer to develop the application, to check the ease of usage; and researchers to identify the impact of this innovation. These stakeholders were closely involved throughout the whole process which lasted over a period of four months. At the end of this development phase, the results were reflected upon and used for further enrichment. Findings It was observed that the developed mobile application was accessible, appealing and pedagogically constructive for users. However, optimization, development time, technical and organizational issues, workload of academics and production costs were identified as major challenges. Research limitations/implications This study was based on the findings of a small sample of potential users. Practical implications The findings have implications for designing culturally adaptive interactive mobile applications. Originality/value This study will benefit practitioners to design culturally sensitive mobile learning courses and researchers to conduct design-based research.

Abstract 3264: Evaluating heart-hate variability, salivary cortisol and physical activity as predictors of cancer-related fatigue recovery in breast-cancer survivors over a 12 week period by use of a smartphone application

Abstract Introduction Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most prevalent and debilitating problems in breast cancer survivors (BCS) that can persist many years beyond successful cancer treatment. Parasympathetic nervous system activity (measured via heart-rate variability; HRV), cortisol dysregulation and decreased physical activity are plausible, but understudied contributors to CRF. Repeated daily measurements of CRF and tracking daily physical activity over a 12-week period should give more information regarding temporal patterns of CRF among BCS. Objective The purpose of this study is 1) to investigate patterns of CRF in fatigued BCS over time; 2) to assess HRV, salivary cortisol and level of physical activity as predictors of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in BCS over a 12-week period; and 3) to explore whether a smartphone application intervention results in increased daily physical activity, as well as improved HRV, salivary cortisol and CRF in BCS relative to healthy female controls over a 12 week period. Methods A total of 30 fatigued breast cancer survivors (FACIT-F score ≤ 34) and 30 aged-matched female controls will be randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Both groups will receive a smartphone application tracking daily physical activity. While the intervention group will receive this application with feedback regarding their daily physical activity, the control groups will receive the application without feedback. Behavioral data will be collected by means of GPS and Wi-Fi for localization, and accelerometer, barometer, magnetometer and gyroscope for activity recognition. HRV and salivary cortisol will be collected at rest, as well as during and after a significant stressor (Trier Social Stress Test). Fatigue will be measured by the FACIT-F Scale, which will be completed at baseline (T1), 4 weeks (T2) and 12 weeks (T3). Group differences will be tested by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and intervention effects will be analyzed using mixed models with repeated measurements. Hypotheses We hypothesize that HRV, cortisol dysregulation and level of physical activity at baseline can predict CRF-recovery over a 12-week period. The smartphone application will be associated with improved physical activity in the BCS intervention group and that changes of physiological correlates of CRF can be observed (i.e., HRV and salivary cortisol). Conclusion This study will examine associations between HRV, salivary cortisol, physical activity and CRF in BCS over time. The results of this study may provide insight into factors that contribute to the development, persistence and/or consequences of CRF by use of an innovative mobile application. Citation Format: Annina Julia Seiler, Vanessa Klaas, Gerhard Tröster, Kyle W. Murdock, Diana A. Chirinos, Luz M. Garcini, Christopher P. Fagundes. Evaluating heart-hate variability, salivary cortisol and physical activity as predictors of cancer-related fatigue recovery in breast-cancer survivors over a 12 week period by use of a smartphone application [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3264. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3264

Work-based learning as a catalyst for sustainability: a review and prospects

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the continuing dearth of scholarship about the role of work-based learning in education for sustainable development, and particularly the urgent demands of climate literacy. It is proposed that forms of work-based learning can act as catalysts for wider cultural change, towards embedding climate literacy in higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws data from action research to present a case study of a Climate Change Project conducted through a work-based learning module at a mid-sized university in the UK.FindingsContrary to the predominantly fragmented and disciplinary bounded approaches to sustainability and climate literacy, the case study demonstrates how a form of work-based learning can create a unifying vision for action, and do so across multiple disciplinary, professional service, and identity boundaries. In addition, the project-generated indicators of cultural change including extensive faculty-level climate change resources, creative ideas for an innovative mobile application, and new infrastructural arrangements to further develop practice and research in climate change.Practical implicationsThis paper provides an illustrative example of how a pan-faculty work-based learning module can act as a catalyst for change at a higher education institution.Originality/valueThis paper is a contemporary call for action to stimulate and expedite climate literacy in higher education, and is the first to propose that certain forms of work-based learning curricula can be a route to combating highly bounded and fragmented approaches, towards a unified and boundary-crossing approach.

An innovative mobile application to assess collaborative practice.

An innovative mobile application to assess collaborative practice.

Innovative mobile application to identify narcotic and controlled pills in Saudi Arabia

Background: With the rapid increase of smartphone usage worldwide for health care and fitness, developing applications for identify different types of medicines are deemed necessary. Pills are difficult to be identified, especially if they are without their package or prescription. Objective: The objectives of the study were to design and develop a mobile application for identifying unrecognized narcotic and controlled pills. Methods: For initial designing, we used the drawing features in Microsoft Office software. For development, we began developing an innovative, novel iOS and Android application. To accomplish this stage, the application features an array of possible identification characteristics. This application has been developed by image processor using compatible application; as the application has been loaded with all the opioid pills pictures that are available in Saudi Arabia along with their details to identify these pills. Results: We successfully developed a new and innovative mobile application to identify narcotic and controlled pills called “controlled and narcotic pill identifier (CNPI)”. With this newly CNPI application, the target user is able to identify the pills simply by taking pictures of medication pills from both sides and/or answering a couple of questions about the pills such as shape, color, and imprint. The initial testing proved feasibility, acceptability, and practicability of the application. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first mobile application developed for rapidly identifying the narcotic and controlled pills in different settings which is useful for clinicians and patients, as well as government officials.

Use of Mobile Technology to Monitor Pain and Reduce Outpatient, Emergency Department (ED), and Hospital Visits for Sickle Cell Pain Crisis

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic illness associated with frequent medical complications and hospitalizations. Importantly, approximately ninety percent of hospitalizations are for pain events, and 30-day re-hospitalization rates are alarmingly high. Factors influencing the high rates are poorly understood; however, close follow-up and continued titration of pain medications have been shown to decrease re-hospitalization rates. Mobile technology has become an increasingly integral part of health care management. We have recently developed SMART (Sickle cell Mobile Application to Record symptoms via Technology) to assist with documentation of pain and interventions. We propose using this current mobile technology as a tool for both patients and providers to monitorand manage symptoms and health interventions. We hypothesize that this technology will lead to an increase in follow up, a significant decrease in readmission rates, as well as overall disease burden.Methods: We randomized SCD patients who presented to the day hospital for pain control to either standard of care or an iPad with SMART. Patients were enrolled upon discharge from the day hospital and expected to return for a visit at 12 and 30 days after hospitalization. They were followed for a total of 30 days to determine re-utilization rates. Re-utilization was defined as a return for pain management to the day hospital, emergency department (ED), or admission to the hospital. Patients with more than 10 acute care visits in the past 12 months or who were on chronic transfusions were excluded.Standard of care (SOC) included a review of instructions, discharge medications, upcoming appointments and phone numbers for contact. SMART was programmed with the patient's scheduled medications, upcoming appointments and allowed patients and the medical team to communicate via text. Patients were provided a reminder through the app to record their symptoms and interventions (medication or non-pharmacologic) twice daily. The medical team reviewed symptoms recorded by patients at least once daily and texted patients who were indicating significant changes in pain.Results: We enrolled 19 SCD patients and randomized 10 to SMART and 9 to SOC (52% male, mean age 31.2 ± 6.6 years). Patients using SMART were more likely to return for their scheduled follow-up visit at 12 days (80% vs. 33%) and 30 days (80% vs. 44%). Thirty-day re-utilization of care was lower for patients using SMART compared to patients receiving SOC (20% vs. 77%, see Table 1). Furthermore, re-utilization for patients using SMART was limited to 2 visits to the day hospital, which occurred 10 and 24 days post discharge. This is in contrast to 8 visits to the ED and 3 to the day hospital among 7 of the 9 patients receiving SOC, with re-utilization occurring a median of 2 days post discharge (range 1-23).Of the patients using SMART, one patient did not make any entries into the application, while the other 9 patients made almost 1 entry per day for 30 days (median entries 28.9, range 5-107). The medical team texted all patients with SMART (range 2-19 times over 30 days); 60% returned texts to the medical team (range 2-11 times over 30 days). Interestingly, the two patients with SMART who returned within 30 days to the day hospital for further pain treatment had not returned any texts to the medical team.Conclusion: Our pilot study used an innovative mobile application to improve care for SCD patients who were discharged following day hospital treatment for pain crisis. Patients using SMART were more likely to return for their scheduled follow-up appointments. In addition, 30-day re-utilization of care was much higher for patients receiving SOC than SMART and was similar to previously observed institutional re-utilization rates. In contrast, only 20% of patients given SMART returned for re-utilization of care within 30 days, and they were the patients who did not use the texts for communication. We plan to expand the use of SMART to improve decision-making by medical providers through access to symptoms recorded by patients following discharge and, ultimately, to decrease re-utilization of care. [Display omitted] DisclosuresJonassaint:Sicklesoft: Other: officer of Sicklesoft. Shah:Novartis: Speakers Bureau.

Consumers Attitude Towards Location-Based Advertising: An Exploratory Study

A location-based service application is a recent innovative mobile application to travel industry. The adoption and use of this application by the consumers’ raised concerns on permission-based information to divulge. This study examined location-based advertising, a new and innovative location-based mobile marketing strategy available to business. The study conducted an interview using a focus group. It found that consumers attitude towards location-based advertising still an issue due to permission-based authority. The implications for the study and future research were discussed. The paper is structured into an introduction, literature, discussion, and conclusion.

The “Container-Cloud” Architecture and Scene Perception in IoE Era

This paper introduces a new innovative mobile application architecture called Container-Cloud, which could be probably an inevitable trend in complex cloud, connected devices and network ecosystem in IoE(Internet of Everything) era. The significance of C-C is comparably to Java for web, and android for mobile. There are some innovations in platform operations, in service operations, in developing and in use. The Container-Cloud architecture can solve those application silo, enable applications developed, debugged and deployed transparently in cloud, allows mobile applications to be generated on demand, and be migrated and scheduled automatically among cloud, and creates an opportunity for implementation of context-aware application in cloud. The paper also gives some context-aware application examples based on C-C support in IoE era.

Rationale and study protocol for the Nursing Home Compare Plus (NHCPlus) randomized controlled trial: A personalized decision aid for patients transitioning from the hospital to a skilled-nursing facility

BackgroundAnnually more than 3million people are admitted to one of the 15,965 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in the United States, with 90% of admissions occurring from a hospital. Although the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes several internet-based report cards, including one for nursing homes (Nursing Home Compare, NHC), they are not widely used. This is due, in part, to the complexity of the information available and the fact that the choice of nursing homes is typically made while in the hospital without access to the web-based NHC. We developed Nursing Home Compare Plus (NHCPlus) to address these limitations and to improve the decision-making process. Methods/designThis paper describes the design and rationale of a two-arm randomized controlled trial designed to test the effectiveness of NHCPlus compared to usual care only, in a sample of patients being discharged from the hospital to an SNF (N=229). Assessments were conducted within 24h prior to patient discharge and 30-days post discharge. Primary outcomes to be examined included the use of NHC, increased choice of nursing homes with better reported outcomes, and increased distance between patient/family residence and nursing home. Secondary outcomes included satisfaction with the decision to go to a nursing home, confidence in the choice of nursing home, and reduced hospital length of stay. DiscussionNHCPlus is an innovative mobile application designed to allow patients to personalize their choice of nursing homes to meet their medical needs and preferences. The application to other quality report cards is discussed.

Turning Leaf: Eco-visualization for Mobile User Engagement

Abstract Awareness of environment trends and global warming is widespread, but personal knowledge of energy consumption is not provided in real-time or in an actionable manner to individual consumers. Using recent work in eco-visualization, an innovative mobile application has been developed, depicted with a turning leaf. The illustration of individual energy use in a mobile hand held device is designed to improve awareness while encouraging personal conservation. Additional user motivation may be present, with the turning leaf symbolizing turning over a new leaf or encouraging positive social behaviors. The mobile application is illustrated, with an analysis of the motivation and behavior which would be expected from energy-aware users.

AEGIS App: Wildfire Information Management for Windows Phone Devices

Abstract Novel technological advances in mobile devices and applications can be exploited in wildfire confrontation, enabling end-users to easily conduct several everyday tasks, such as access to data and information, sharing of intelligence and coordination of personnel and vehicles. This work describes an innovative mobile application for wildfire information management that operates on Windows Phone devices and acts as a complementary tool to the web-based version of the AEGIS platform for wildfire prevention and management. Several tasks can be accomplished from the AEGIS App, such as routing, spatial search for closest facilities and firefighting support infrastructures, access to weather data and visualization of fire management data (water sources, gas refill stations, evacuation sites etc.). An innovative feature of AEGIS App is the support of these tasks by a digital assistant for artificial intelligence named Cortana (developed by Microsoft for Windows Phone devices), that allows information utilization through voice commands. The application is to be used by firefighting personnel in Greece and is potentially expected to contribute towards a more sophisticated transferring of information and knowledge between wildfire confrontation operation centers and firefighting units in the field.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SQL SERVER BASED ON SQLITE ENGINE ON ANDROID PLATFORM

Android is an open source software assemble of an operating system, middleware and key applications for mobile devices introduced by Google capable of running multiple application programs. It is a complete operating environment based upon the Linux V2.6 kernel. Initially, the deployment target for Android was the mobile-phone arena such as smart phones and low-cost flip-phone devices. Android platform is produced to make new and innovative mobile application program for the developers to make full use of all functions connected to handset internet. As a complete mobile platform, Android provides universal set of powerful Operation System, Comprehensive Library Set, abundant Multimedia User Interface and Phone Application. The data storage burden is eased because the Android platform includes the popular open source SQLite database. SQLite is a software library that implements a SQL engine. It has been used with great success as on-disk file format: allows the developer to handle data in a simple way, but also have the use of database features (such as undo, redo, etc.). In embedded device environment, in which there is low-concurrency and there are little or medium size datasets, SQLite is the right choice. Purposed system gives the Databases created will be accessible by name to any class not only in the application, but also outside the application.

Teaching software engineering through the use of mobile application development

Mobile computing is on the brink of becoming the most widely used form of computing. In the October-November 2012 of The Economist [4] it was reported that [b]y 2017 the volume of mobile data traffic will be 21 times greater than it was in 2011. Smartphones and tablets will increase subscriptions for mobile-broadband to approximately 5 billion. With this predicted increase in users and devices, it is essential that students majoring in computer science today be prepared for the future. If not, they will be left behind. Practical software engineering requires experience in developing applications that have significant complexity and reality. Developing applications for mobile devices provides the opportunity to meet both of these requirements while introducing undergraduate and graduate students to topics and skills that can contribute to their employability. This paper describes the efforts being conducted to teach advanced software engineering concepts at Jackson State University through the use of its Innovative Mobile Application Development (iMAD) Laboratory. Topics discussed in this paper are applicable to all persons interested in establishing a similar lab and introducing students to software engineering for mobile application development.

Applications of wireless research to real industrial problems. Applications of mobile computing and communication

In its Wireless Initiative, the Information Networking Institute deliberately seeks out innovative wireless and mobile application areas in the expectation that hands-on experience with real applications will keep all research work grounded in reality. Since the beginning of the Initiative three applications have been pursued, each incorporating the concepts of one or more researchers, and each addressing an acute problem for a customer organization. The three applications are: The FRIEND System-an application to provide distributed wireless access to different levels of emergency response personnel. These personnel may be first responders (police, fire, emergency medical), field dispatchers, or dispatched personnel. The Health-link System-an application for home health care support. The application initially targets the processes of agency referral and management of regularly scheduled visits by home health care nurses. Later versions will support management of emergency situations. The AMEFS System-an innovative maintenance system for Daimler-Benz (AEG Transportation Systems Inc. Maintenance and Engineering Feedback System-AMEFS) which includes making vehicles able to diagnose and report their operating conditions and a model technician support system. The system will not only simplify access to corporate-wide maintenance knowledge but also feed the technician's experience back into the maintenance system.