Mobile Applications Research Articles

Currency Detection Application for Visually Impaired People

This introduces an image-processing-based mobile application that recognizes currency denominations and is sensitive to voice feedback, assisting visually impaired people. This research bridges a quite broad gap in the available assistive technology, as it is relatively fast and robust in providing a currency-handling solution

Novel Multicomponent Digital Care Assistant and Support Program for People After Stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Evidence is increasing for digital health programs targeting the secondary prevention of stroke. We aimed to determine the feasibility of the novel Care Assistant and support Program for people after Stroke (CAPS) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) by combining person-centred goal setting and risk-factor monitoring through a web-based clinician portal, SMS messages, a mobile application (app), and a wearable device. We conducted a 12-week mixed-methods, open-label feasibility study. Participants (6 months–3 years after stroke or TIA, access to the internet via a smartphone/tablet) were recruited via the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry. Participants set one or two secondary prevention goals with a researcher and provided access and training in technology use. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, usability, acceptability, and satisfaction. Secondary outcomes included goal attainment, health outcomes, and program costs. Following 600 invitations, 58 responded, 34/36 (94%) eligible participants commenced the program (one withdrawal; 97% retention), and 10 were interviewed. Participants (27% female, 33% TIA) generally rated the usability of the mobile application as ‘Good’ to ‘Excellent’ (System Usability Scale). Most (94%) agreed the program helped with engagement in health self-monitoring. Overall, 52 goals were set, predominantly regarding exercise (21/52), which were the most frequently achieved (9/21). At 12 weeks, participants reported significant improvements (p < 0.05) in self-efficacy (Cohen’s d = 0.40), cardiovascular health (d = 0.71), and the mental health domain of the PROMIS GH (d = 0.63). CAPS was acceptable, with good retention and engagement of participants. Evaluation of this program in a randomised controlled trial is warranted.

Natural Language Processing for Electronic Health Record Optimization in Android Applications

This paper aims to demonstrate the development of an Android application designed to improve healthcare data management using Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies. It develops an Android application that enables healthcare professionals to access patient records anytime, enhancing decision-making. The system uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to extract patient data from documents, simplifying data entry for diagnoses and treatments. It also incorporates Quick Response (QR) code generation for accurate data retrieval. By leveraging NLP, the mobile application will enhance efficiency, accessibility, and accuracy in healthcare, particularly benefiting developing countries where digital health records are uncommon..

Enhancing accessibility: Development and usability testing of mobile application mitigating sexual harassment for visually impaired masseurs

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the development and usability of the Visually Impaired Masseur Assistance Application (VIMAA) designed to respond to signs of danger or instances of sexual harassment experienced by Visually Impaired Masseurs (VIMs). It harmonizes Rapid Application Development (RAD) method and qualitative in-depth interviews. RAD was implemented with emphasis on four core stages: requirement identification, design workshop, construction, and implementation, while Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted utilizing thematic analysis for usability testing. Functionality testing also verifies the effectiveness of VIMAA features while requesting help, notification, and feedback. Pre-test identified four themes, including traumatic experiences and the need for protection. Post-test revealed themes such as ease of requesting assistance and switching to speech mode. VIMs perceive that VIMAA as user-friendly, practical, and acceptable. The requesting help, notification, and feedback features also work well. This study presents the effectiveness of VIMAA in establishing a framework that is accessible by a diverse spectrum of VIMs. The insights derived from this research also furnish valuable perspectives on the preferences of users reliant on mobile applications designed for VIMs, thus providing significant impetus for future research and development endeavors in this domain.

The Dobrometr aApplication as a Tool for Quantifying the Economic Value of Volunteering

Individuals and companies alike make considerable efforts in various charitable activities such as volunteering. This sector is also supported to some extent by the state. Organised volunteering is costly and companies struggle with reporting its value. Nevertheless, reporting and quantifying volunteer activities can help organisations to differentiate. The most telling value in this context is the evaluation of the impact of volunteering, but this is usually very analytical, time-consuming and costly. Quantifying volunteering is made feasible by a concept known as the value of volunteering. It does not capture the benefits of volunteering, but quantifies one dimension of the overall value of volunteering, volunteering time. To quantify the economic value of volunteering, the Dobrometr application was developed in cooperation between the Hestia centre for volunteering and the College of Polytechnics Jihlava, Czech Republic. The aim of this paper is to present the application and explain its use in determining the economic value of volunteering through the proposed method, thus facilitating its calculation. From the given date, number of hours, and type of activity related to the category, the value of volunteering is calculated. The collected data on the value of volunteering is further used to support the management of individual volunteer organisations. Information and communication technologies are used in the implementation of the application, which includes both a web application and a mobile application. By describing some of the features of the application, the paper further discusses its deployment. The application was developed within the project "Czechia Counts on Volunteering" (a TA CR project). The creation of the application was supported by in-depth research of both theoretical sources and organisations working with volunteers across the society. The aim was to create not only the conditions for organisations in practice to calculate the value of volunteering, but also a solid framework for interpreting these results.

Computer-assisted Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mobile Apps for Depression and Anxiety: Evidence-based Digital Tools for Clinical Practice

Purpose of Review: Provider shortages and other barriers to traditional mental health care have led to the development of technology-based services designed to enhance access and improve the efficiency and convenience of treatment. We reviewed research on computer-assisted cognitive behavior therapy (CCBT) and mobile mental health applications to assess the effectiveness of these methods of delivering or augmenting treatment, evaluating patient and provider uptake, and making recommendations on the clinical use of these tools in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Results: Research on CCBT has found solid evidence for efficacy when the use of a therapeutic computer program is supported by a clinician or other helping professional. Lower levels of efficacy have been found when CCBT is used as a stand-alone treatment. Current CCBT programs have many desirable features; however, few of the current programs incorporate services such as artificial intelligence that have the potential to help improve communication with patients. An increasing number of mobile apps have been created that claim to be useful for depression and/or anxiety, yet caution is warranted before using most due to limited research on effectiveness, low retention rates, and other issues like safety concerns. Summary: Growth in the development of CCBT and mental health applications for depression/anxiety has provided several tools that could enhance treatment delivery. A large number of randomized, controlled trials have documented the effectiveness of CCBT, while research on mobile apps has been much less robust. The advantages and disadvantages of these digital technologies are identified, and recommendations are made for clinical use.

Vision Aid: Developing An Assistive Mobile Application for Visually Impaired Indivuals

Vision Aid is a cutting edge smartphone software that combines several assistive technologies into a unified platform to help visually impaired individuals. Integrating Computer Vision algorithms this project makes use of Bing Maps API for Step by Step navigation, Tesseract OCR for text recognition, YOLO (You Only Look Once) for real time object detection and CLIP (Contrastive Language-Image Pre training) for scene description. It offers voice commands, audio feedback for a more improved day to day life hence improving self-confidence while empowering independence to the users. This journal provides a thorough description of Vision Aid the development process, methodology, evaluation results and shows the potential for future improvements with a goal to advance mobile accessibility for visually impaired individuals

Feasibility of recruiting young adults with low socioeconomic status for formative evaluation of a smoking cessation mobile intervention.

Participant recruitment is critical to the success of smoking cessation trials. However, recruitment feasibility studies for inclusion and exclusion criteria commonly used in smoking cessation research remain scarce. We assessed the feasibility of recruiting potential research volunteers (PRVs) under two sets of inclusion criteria to inform eligibility requirements for a smoking cessation mobile intervention trial. We invited PRVs nationwide to participate in qualitative evaluation of a smoking cessation mobile application. To be eligible under Criteria I, participants were aged 18-29 years, neither four-year college graduates nor enrollees, exclusive cigarette smokers, willing to quit within 30 days, and not using cessation aids. Criteria II expanded eligibility to those using cigarettes and non-combustible tobacco products (e.g. e-cigarettes) and willing to quit within 6 months. We calculated recruitment yields and associated costs. Of 10533 PRVs screened for eligibility, 48 were enrolled. Only 54 (0.5%) participants qualified under Criteria I and 164 (1.6%) under Criteria II. Age ineligibility was the top reason for exclusion (66.7%), whereas lifetime smoking, quit timeframe, and other tobacco product use contributed to ineligibility rates ranging from 46.5% to 65.3%. Enrolled participants were equally split by sex and roughly reflected the racial/ethnic composition of the United States. American Indians, who have the highest smoking prevalence, were <5% of enrolled participants. Recruitment costs averaged $106 per PRV. Eligibility requirements used in cessation trials were restrictive for recruitment efforts. Relaxing inclusion criteria will reflect current tobacco use patterns and facilitate the timely completion of trials within budgetary thresholds.

Assessment of online pharmacy applications in India by employing the mobile application rating scale

IntroductionOver the past few years, the technology powering mobile devices such as smartphones has made significant progress. Furthermore, the healthcare industry is always progressing and actively embracing the latest technological advancements to achieve the highest level of efficiency. With the rising prevalence of smartphones and internet connection, customers are benefiting from reduced prices, convenient home delivery, and effortless accessibility through online pharmacies. Internet-based pharmacies facilitate the internet-based transaction of health-related products, such as drugs, dietary supplements, and various other wellbeing products.Objective of studyThe study assessed digital pharmacy applications in India using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) on Android and iOS devices, aiming to evaluate their quality.MethodsAn investigation examined the digital pharmacy applications in India that were accessible via the Android Market and App Store. The applications were assessed by two researchers using the MARS questionnaire, a tool that evaluates 23 variables categorized into five domains: Engagement, Functionality, Aesthetics, Information, and Subjective Quality. The grading system spanned from one to five for every category.ResultsA Google Play Store and App Store investigation revealed 40 online pharmacy apps in India, with 13 rejected. Seven were non-English language-related apps and seven were not downloaded. Thirteen were chosen and evaluated using the MARS Scale. The MARS demonstrated significant positive associations across its components, namely Engagement, Functionality, Aesthetics, and Information. Specifically, greater levels of user functionality were shown to be indicative of superior app aesthetics and engagement. The mean rating of the 13 apps fell between the range of 3.11 to 4.32 on a 5-point scale.ConclusionThis is the first study to utilize the MARS scale to assess the efficacy of online pharmacy applications in India. This research enhanced the functionality and quality of various online pharmacy applications utilized in India.

Analisis Penggunaan Teknologi Digital dalam Berkomunikasi Driver Tour Guide untuk Meningkatkan Pengalaman Wisatawan

This study aims to analyze the use of digital technology in communication between driver tour guides and tourists in Bali, as well as its impact on the tourist experience. This research employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative approach was conducted through a survey of tourists using driver tour guide services in Bali, while the qualitative approach was conducted through in-depth interviews with driver tour guides. Quantitative data were analyzed using correlation analysis and the F-test, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques.The results indicate that the use of digital technologies, such as mobile applications and chatbots, significantly improves the quality of communication and tourist satisfaction. Correlation analysis shows a very strong relationship between the use of digital technology by drivers and tourist satisfaction (correlation coefficient R = 0.911). The F-test indicates that the effect of digital technology use on tourist satisfaction is significant (F-value = 61.814; p &lt; 0.05). Qualitative findings also reveal that digital technology facilitates more accurate and faster information, thereby enhancing the overall tourist experience.This research provides significant contributions to the development of theory and practice in the tourism field and offers practical recommendations for enhancing tourism services through digital technology.

Enhancing daily oral PrEP adherence with digital communications: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) stands as an effective tool in preventing HIV transmission among individuals at risk of HIV infection. However, the effectiveness of daily oral PrEP is contingent on the adherence of its users, which can pose a challenge for many individuals. Various studies have explored different interventions aimed at bolstering PrEP adherence. One recurring type of intervention revolves around digital communication (e.g., SMS, mobile applications) to send reminders for PrEP usage. The objective of our systematic review and meta-analysis is to address the following research question: What is the effectiveness of digital communication interventions in enhancing daily oral PrEP adherence among individuals at a heightened risk of HIV infection? This paper presents our study protocol. We will conduct searches across four health-related databases: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. We will also explore other sources, including clinical trials registries and grey literature. Our search will be restricted to original randomized controlled trials published in English, French, and Spanish conducted since 2012, when PrEP was approved, to today. To ensure rigor, three reviewers will perform the systematic review and meta-analysis. This systematic review will adhere to the guidelines outlined in the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Our primary outcome of interest is proper daily oral PrEP adherence, which we will measure using association metrics (e.g., odds ratios). This review will offer insights into the effectiveness of utilizing digital communication methods to assist individuals at risk of HIV in improving their PrEP adherence. International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) number CRD42023471269.

Digital Transformation in Community Radio: Extending the Reach of Social Inclusion Efforts at Mathare FM, Nairobi, Kenya

This study explores the potential of Mathare FM, a community radio station in Nairobi’s Mathare slum, to enhance social inclusion through digital transformation. The main objectives were to assess how digital platforms can expand Mathare FM’s role in promoting social inclusion and to explore the perceptions of listeners and staff regarding the integration of these tools. Purposive sampling method was employed to select participants who could provide relevant insights regarding the station's social inclusion impact for Mathare residents. Grounded in Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory, this research analyses the benefits of incorporating social media, mobile applications, and online streaming into the station’s operations. Data collected from the questionnaires were analysed using SPSS to perform descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. A descriptive research approach was used, combining questionnaires and interviews with a sample size of 400 members. Findings indicate that Mathare FM plays a significant role in promoting social inclusion, with 53% of respondents reporting high satisfaction with the station's community engagement efforts. Notably, 76% of respondents believe that digital platforms would facilitate greater engagement for marginalized groups, and 73% expressed a willingness to integrate these tools with traditional broadcasting. The study recommends developing a comprehensive digital strategy, enhancing social media engagement, and leveraging mobile applications to increase accessibility and interaction within the community.

Parking Assistant with the Simulation of Application

Smart Parking can be used for any city. It aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban transportation systems by using technology to manage parking systems. This article provides an overview of the different components of smart parking systems. The increasing vehicular population in urban areas has led to significant challenges related to parking management, exacerbating traffic congestion, environmental impact, and user dissatisfaction. The app facilitates real- time information on available parking spaces, reservation capabilities, and payment integration, thereby enhancing user experience and operational efficiency. We summarize the methodologies applied in developing the app, which include sensor integration for dynamic parking space monitoring and mobile application development for user interaction. The article concludes with a consideration of the future of smart parking and its role in the overall development of smart cities. In conclusion, the findings serve as a basis for future advancements in intelligent parking systems, ensuring improved service delivery for urban commuters.

Prepared, Protected, EmPowered (P3): Primary Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Using a Social Networking, Gamification, and Coaching App to Promote Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Adherence for Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Youth Living in the United States.

The population-level reductions in HIV incidence attributed to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have not been fully realized among sexual, gender, and racial/ethnic minority youth. P3 (Prepared, Protected, emPowered) is a comprehensive mobile application (app) intervention developed to support PrEP adherence through gamification, medication tracking, and social engagement. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 246 young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and young transgender women who have sex with men (YTWMSM) currently on or planning to begin PrEP. Participants were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to: standard of care (SOC), P3 app (P3), or P3 app plus in-app adherence coaching (P3+). Adherence was measured at 3- and 6- months post enrollment by emtricitabine-triphosphate (FTC-TP) and tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels in dried blood spots consistent with PrEP use > 4 days/week. The primary outcome was the difference in the proportion adherent comparing P3/P3+ to SOC. P3/P3+ was associated with a higher proportion adherent compared to SOC for both outcome measures. At 3 months, the estimated increase in the proportion adherent was 0.13 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.27, p: 0.05) and 0.12 (95% CI: -0.03, 0.26, p: 0.11) for TFV-DP and FTC-TP, respectively. Estimated adherence was higher, but not statistically different, in P3+ compared to P3, for both TFV-DP and FTC-TP. Receipt of P3 (P3 or P3+) is associated with an increase in PrEP adherence among YMSM and YTWSM at 3 months. Additional analyses to discern the role of app usage and sociodemographic and behavioral factors on intervention effects are warranted.

Abstract 4139192: Remote monitoring platform improves communication and clinical decision making for pediatric interstage healthcare team members

Background: Asynchronous remote patient monitoring (RPM) is increasingly common in healthcare models for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). Using a downloadable mobile application with a software platform like CHAMP App ® allows parents to proactively engage in data entry, providing pediatric healthcare teams (HCT) timely information without relying solely on parent messaging or calls. Research Question: How does the use of RPM impact family communication and clinical decision-making experiences for HCTs? Goals: To identify the HCT’s experience through a secondary review of the CHAMP Cardiac Repository, using parent-entered interstage data from home for infants with CHD. Methods: This retrospective multi-institution cohort (Table 1) spanned from 5/2019-8/2023, collecting HCTs feedback via Likert responses (Table 2) about experiences with infant monitoring endpoint, which were analyzed in SPSS. Results: Response rates of 75.8% (493/650) were achieved across 10 pediatric cardiac care centers. HCTs reported improved communication (4.5 + .77) and clinical decision-making with video reviews (4.47 + .79). Parents' data engagement averaged 268 + 195.3 total points (oxygen saturation, weights, and/or videos) per infant. Higher engagement correlated with better HCT communication (p &lt;.001) and decision-making (p &lt;.0001), both with small effect sizes. Improved clinical decision-making was noted in families who used study-provided iPads for video recordings (mean score 4.63 ± 0.84) compared to those using personal devices (mean score 4.42 ± 0.734, p = .03), with 69.2% using personal devices. Conclusions: In this modern cohort, families engaged well with data entry through a remote monitoring platform, and HCTs reported significant improvements in communication with families for their child’s data from home and clinical decision-making after reviewing videos. Future research should explore barriers to mobile data engagement and assess HCT preferences for video review.

Enhancing Athletes Anti-doping Education Through Mobile Applications: A Review of Current Strategies and Emerging Technologies

Anti-doping education is crucial for ensuring fairness and integrity in sports. The WADA implemented the ADeL certification program to provide comprehensive antidoping education for athletes. Mobile applications offer a user-friendly and accessible medium for delivering anti-doping education. ADOs employ various strategies to educate athletes, including developing educational materials, conducting workshops, partnering with schools and sports organizations, using technology, targeting high-risk groups, promoting a clean sports culture, and providing support services. Research has shown that anti-doping education is effective in increasing athletes’ knowledge and awareness of doping, and in decreasing doping intentions among adolescent athletes. ADOs are exploring new approaches to anti-doping education such as the use of virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Mobile applications are powerful tools for anti-doping education because they can reach a wider audience, provide personalized learning experiences, and foster clean sports culture. Keywords: anti-doping education, athletes, mobile applications, anti-doping education and learning (ADeL) certification program, WADA, clean sports

Machine Learning for Mental Health: Applications, Challenges, and the Clinician's Role.

This review aims to evaluate the current psychiatric applications and limitations of machine learning (ML), defined as techniques used to train algorithms to improve performance at a task based on data. The review emphasizes the clinician's role in ensuring equitable and effective patient care and seeks to inform mental health providers about the importance of clinician involvement in these technologies. ML in psychiatry has advanced through electronic health record integration, disease phenotyping, and remote monitoring through mobile applications. However, these applications face challenges related to health equity, privacy, translation to practice, and validation. Clinicians play crucial roles in ensuring data quality, mitigating biases, promoting algorithm transparency, guiding clinical implementation, and advocating for ethical and patient-centered use of ML tools. Clinicians are essential in addressing the challenges of ML, ensuring its ethical application, and promoting equitable care, thus improving the effectiveness of ML in practice.

Enhancing University Japanese Language Education through New Media Strategies and Impacts

With the rapid development of information technology, new media technology has gradually become an indispensable part of modern education, especially in the field of language teaching has shown great potential. This paper aims to explore the application of new media strategies in college Japanese teaching and its impact on teaching results. First of all, through the overview of the definition of new media and its advantages in the field of education, the unique position of new media in Japanese teaching is clarified. Secondly, the article introduces several new media tools and technologies in detail, such as online course resources, social platforms and mobile learning applications, and their specific application cases in actual teaching. In addition, this study evaluated the change of students' learning behavior and the improvement of Japanese teaching quality before and after new media intervention through quantitative analysis. In view of the problems that may be encountered in practice, such as technical obstacles and teacher training needs, the paper puts forward the corresponding solutions. Finally, the research results show that the rational use of new media can effectively stimulate students' interest in learning, enhance classroom interaction, and significantly improve the teaching effect. This paper not only summarizes the existing research results, but also provides direction and inspiration for further exploration of the application of new media in Japanese teaching in the future.

Advancements in Clinical Practice: A Comprehensive Review of Emerging Trends in Medical Development

This review article explores the latest advancements in clinical practice, focusing on emerging trends that are transforming healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Key developments discussed include telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, personalized and precision medicine, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in diagnostics, robotics and automation in surgery, as well as mobile health applications and wearable devices. Each of these advancements has the potential to enhance the accessibility, accuracy, and efficiency of clinical care. However, these innovations also introduce challenges, such as concerns about data privacy, ethical considerations surrounding AI, and the need for updated regulatory frameworks. The review highlights how these trends contribute to improved patient engagement, cost efficiency, and overall healthcare quality. By examining both the benefits and challenges associated with these developments, this article underscores the importance of innovation in driving the future of clinical practice. Recommendations for future research and policy are also provided to support the continued evolution of healthcare practices.

ReportFishDisease: a GPS-enabled mobile application for supporting e-governance in aquatic animal disease management through systematic disease reporting and surveillance

ReportFishDisease: a GPS-enabled mobile application for supporting e-governance in aquatic animal disease management through systematic disease reporting and surveillance