Participatory Design Techniques Research Articles

TIDAL: exploring the potential of data physicalization-based interactive environment on runners' motivation

Representing fitness-related data physically can better help people gain awareness and reflect on their physical activity behavior. However, there has been limited research conducted on the impact of physicalizing personal data in a public context, particularly regarding its effect on motivations for physical activity. Augmenting the physical environment with interactive technology holds great promise in facilitating outdoor physical activity. To explore the design space of data physicalization-based interactive environments, we created TIDAL, a design concept that provides physical rewards in the form of tiles on the road to acknowledge runners’ goal achievements. We created a video prototype as a probe to gather insights through semi-structured interviews with six recreational runners to evaluate TIDAL. The co-constructing stories method, a participatory design technique, was employed during these interviews to facilitate qualitative evaluation. The results of our study showed that TIDAL has the potential to increase runners’ motivation. We reported the key insights derived from participants’ feedback and co-constructed stories and discussed the broader implications of our work.

Co-production of a structured integrated post pulmonary embolism care model (Attend-PE)

Abstract Background More than half of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) develop persistent functional limitation and experience lower quality of life (1). To mitigate long-term complications, the European Society of Cardiology clinical guidelines on PE management recommends an integrated model for patient care after PE. However, there is currently no consensus on what such an optimal follow-up strategy should include, and high-quality evidence to provide guidance is lacking (1,2). Purpose To describe the co-production of a structured model for PE follow-up. Methods This study is part of the project - A structured Integrated post PE care model (Attend-PE) aimed at developing and testing the effectiveness of a structured, integrated and patient-centred follow-up care model for patients with PE in Denmark. The co-production of the Attend-PE model was conducted from October 2021 till June 2022, featuring user-centred and participatory design techniques. This methodology was combined with a structural stepwise approach based on Intervention Mapping, to ensure the developed model was founded on evidence and theory (3). Results In accordance with the Intervention Mapping protocol, a national panel of stakeholders was formed, and a needs assessment was conducted. The needs assessment comprised a mapping of PE follow-up at all main sites treating PE in Denmark (18 hospitals), based on a co-design process with patients and health care professionals inspired by the patient journey method. To supplement this, a literature search was conducted to identify further knowledge concerning the follow-up care needs and preferences of patients with PE, as well as the optimal clinical management of PE follow-up. Based on this, the overall goal and performance objectives of a structured follow-up care model were formulated, laying the foundation for co-production workshops. In two full-day workshops, patient representatives and healthcare professionals, as well as experts in the field of PE, developed the components, scope, and sequence of the Attend-PE model. Subsequently, the structure and organization of the follow-up model were refined during online workshops, and a working group produced patient education material. The Attend-PE model (Figure 1), outlines a systematic strategy for post-PE in-hospital follow-up, involving patient education, the content and frequency of individual follow-up consultations, and the application of patient reported outcome measures to actively assess physical and psychological well-being. This model supports an individualized post-hospitalization follow-up care plan tailored to the patient's specific needs. Conclusion(s) The co-production process was successful in developing a structured follow-up model for patients with PE which was based on patients’ needs and preferences, as well as the clinical experience and perspectives of healthcare providers, and was in line with current clinical guidelines.Attend-PE model

Buttons, Devices, and Adults: How Preschool Children Designed an IoT Programming Tool

Abstract Preschool children may interact with the Internet of Things (IoT) devices and program the behavior of these products. However, not much is known about the children’s ideas for a software programming tool. This research aimed at investigating how children aged from 4 to 6 years perceive the programming of IoT devices and, from practice with them, build a prototype of a programming environment for them. To this end, three Participatory Design techniques were adapted and applied to (and with) 30 children. A final prototype was built and its usability was assessed with the participation of six children. Photos and videos collected during the empirical assessment were later analysed using the Content Analysis Method. During the design, children relied on buttons and explicitly represented the IoT devices and adults in the user interfaces. They also adopted a top-down approach to programming IoT devices. Lessons learned for the design of these solutions are discussed.

Designing healthy public spaces: A participatory approach through immersive virtual reality

Abstract. Participatory design approaches are increasingly used to involve citizens in the decision-making processes to actively address their preferences. Participatory design techniques dealing with urban issues often depend on digitally produced still-images. However, still-images lack immersion and explanation, which can negatively influence non-experts’ understanding of the implications of different design decisions. Use of still-images also reduce active participation of non-experts in the design process of their environments. To address these shortcomings, the Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) application ‘CoHeSIVE’ is developed and tested for designing healthy public spaces. It includes an innovative methodology to incorporate intuitive design decisions based on inflicted adjustments in a simulated environment. The application automatically generates new design scenarios by combining different pre-composed design elements based on people’s selection. This is done to understand and discuss preferences of individuals and groups for new, not yet existing scenarios. Results from a pilot test, concerning the redesign of a plaza, indicated that participants can interpret and design urban forms through the application. Furthermore, participants felt that the interface and features were easy and useful to alter the base scenario into a new design scenario by selecting preferred elements. These results show the capability of the application to initiate a conversation between citizens and designers towards meaningful design outcomes. A set of guidelines for implementing the instrument for urban research is suggested in order to standardize its use and allow the application to be a base for methodological improvements to be further developed regarding multi-user support and as serious game instrument.

A banking app for people with brain injuries: Co-designed by a person with aphasia and a speech and language therapist

We describe the process where a stroke survivor, his wife, and a speech language pathologist participated together to design and implement a new piece of software to help patients with brain injury recover skills needed to manage their finances. Each person provided a different perspective that led to a successful collaboration. The stroke survivor, a computer scientist, has experience with aphasia apps that he used in therapy. His wife, also a computer scientist, has experience with participatory design techniques and agile software development methodologies. The SLP understands the requirements needed for software to be useful for patients in a clinical setting. Together the team created an app that is currently being used in two rehab centers.

Design and usability evaluation of a mobile-based-self-management application for caregivers of children with severe burns.

Paediatric burns are a major public health issue because of long-term physical, psychological and social consequences and the high cost of treatment. The aim of this study was to design and evaluate a mobile-based self-management application for caregivers of children with severe burns. A participatory design technique was employed to develop the Burn application, which included three main phases: the determination of application requirements, the design and evaluation of the low-fidelity prototype, and the design and evaluation of the high-fidelity prototypes. In the first phase, application requirements were determined via validated paper questionnaires using the Delphi technique. In the second step, a low-fidelity prototype was prepared using conceptual models and evaluated through a focus group with specialists. Seven specialists reviewed the application and evaluated how this prototype meets functional requirements and objectives. The third phase was performed in three stages. First, the high-fidelity prototype was designed and developed by the JAVA programming language. Second, a cognitive walk-through was carried out to show how users can interact with the mobile application and how it works. Third, this program was installed on the mobile phones of 28 caregivers of burned children, eight IT experts, and two general surgeries, and the prototype's usability was evaluated. In the present study, most caregivers of children with burns stated that after discharge, they face problems regarding infection control and wound care (4.07) and how to perform physical activity (4.12). User registration, educational materials, caregiver-clinician communication, chat box, and appointment booking, safe login were the most important characteristic of the Burn application. Mean usability evaluation scores were in the range of 7.92 ± 0.238 to 8.10± 0.103, which is considered at a "good" level. From the Burn program design experience, it can be concluded that co-design with health care specialists can significantly support and meet the specialists' and patients' needs and ensure the program's usefulness. In addition, application evaluation by users involved and not involved in the application design process can help enhance usability.

Engaging People Living with Dementia in The Design Process

This study explores how the integration of inclusive design, participatory design (PD), collaborative design, and generative design has led to new methods and tools for involving the elderly in the design process. particularly the elderly with dementia. Dementia is one of the many health issues that become more common among the elderly (though the exact risk factors vary depending on factors like diet, exercise, and genetics). There are approximately 55 million dementia patients globally, with the majority (58%) residing in low- and middle-income nations. Annually, 7.7 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed, and the number of people with dementia is projected to increase to 75,6 million by 2030 and nearly triple to 135.5 million by 2050. In Egypt, there are approximately 600,000 dementia patients, 60% of whom have Alzheimer's, and it is anticipated that by 2030, there will be 1,200,000 dementia patients. Till this day, People living with dementia are still subjected to significant stigmatization. As a result of their exclusion from research and design processes, the majority of newer technologies, products, and services either disregard the needs of older people with dementia or lean more towards the preferences of carers, resulting in designs that are inappropriate or inaccessible to the target population. However, we are currently confronted with significant environmental, social, and cultural obstacles. To be effective, design innovations must be accessible to all stakeholders. We can only use design to solve today's problems by thinking collectively and acting inclusively. By establishing inclusive design as the backbone of the design process and integrating participatory design (PD) techniques, as well as collaborative co-design and generative design research, we are able to better meet the needs of those who will be directly impacted by the final product. People from a wide range of fields need to be brought into the design process. ‘All people are creative and can participate in co-design if they are provided with relevant tools and the appropriate settings for their use.’ Liz Sanders Dementia seniors' inclusion and participation in research and development must therefore be carefully considered. (Specifically for the first three stages of the disease or communicative patients. Therefore, the following research problem arose:• Research Questions: 1-Is it possible for older people who are living with dementia to engage in the design process? 2-How can the role and insights of an industrial designer be utilised to include and involve older people with dementia in research and development, especially in the first three stages of the disease or for patients who are still able to communicate?. Research Significance: The significance of the study lies in the need to allow dementia patients to participate in various stages of the industrial design process while refocusing design efforts on meeting their needs and requirements rather than those expressed on their behalf by others. This prompted industrial designers to create more effective solutions for this elderly population by employing inclusive and co-design strategies. Permitting people with dementia to participate fully in the design process. Research Objectives: The aim of this research is shed light on the application of generative design tools in the context of industrial design processes involving people with dementia. Research Methodology: The research follows the descriptive method by using the investigative method, then the analytical method by gathering and sorting information, and then the deductive method. Research Results & Recommendations:1-It is recommended to use a mix of participatory design (PD) methods, co-design approaches, and generative design techniques to tackle complex design problems that might come up when collaborating with older people who have dementia. 2- The industrial designer must first think about the goal of the ongoing design process and then choose the tools that will facilitate people's thinking and talking about their experiences. 3- Industrial Designers must consider research ethics, safety, and tailoring toolkits to the specific requirements of the design process, as well as selecting materials to cater to participants' (PWD) preferences and providing explanations of how to use the TOOLS

Design and Evaluation of an Authoring Platform for Therapeutic Digital Games

Abstract Therapeutic digital games aim to support rehabilitation treatments and help patients understand, motivate and persist in therapeutic practices. Although there are several therapeutic digital games available, their development highly depends on the involvement of computer science professionals. This paper’s contribution is about how RUFUS was designed as a platform to provide EUP (End-User Programming) for healthcare professionals. This platform enables these professionals to author digital games aiming at performing therapeutic activities with their patients and/or caregivers. The platform has a web interface for game authoring, currently composed of three different game mechanics, as well as the possibility of viewing interaction reports. It also encompasses a mobile app that displays the games created for patients. Participatory design techniques were used during the design and evaluation of the three games to engage different stakeholders and also empower healthcare providers. A preliminary evaluation of the RUFUS point to an easy-to-use design solution, but which still needs further testing to ensure intuitiveness for users who have no experience with games or with authoring interfaces.

FORTAGONO: A Model for the Technological Mediation of the Teaching and Learning Processes

The role of technology in society is not passive. Little by little, technology has changed the way we communicate, express, and conduct ourselves in our daily lives. In the case of education, this has led to a transformation of the educational experience of teachers and students. However, not all are equally prepared to take advantage of it. To explore ways to contribute to the mitigation of this problem, inspired by participatory design techniques, we conducted a series of activities with teachers and students. After a qualitative analysis of the results, a model for the successful technological mediation of the teaching and learning processes emerged, which we call FORTAGONO. In this document we present this model and its evolution. We also discuss its benefits and limitations, and talk about our future work to develop a framework of use.

Designing eHealth Tutorials with and for Older Adults

AbstractOlder adults may be excluded from using digital health technologies due to limited eHealth literacy. Research is much needed to decrease disparities in eHealth literacy and increase the inclusiveness of such technologies. Integrating the preferences and expertise of older adults is key to age‐appropriate design of eHealth tutorials. This study explores how participatory design (PD) techniques can be adapted to include older adults in the design of an eHealth tutorial. We worked with 9 older adults (aged 64 and 82) as co‐designers and conducted PD sessions over 11 weeks in a senior center's computer lab. Using thematic analysis, we identified 7 themes around the design of eHealth tutorials for older adults. We also identified successes and challenges in PD with older adults, along with benefits of partnering with senior centers. Our findings have implications for both the design of eHealth tutorials for older adults and for PD with older adults.

Identifying Youths’ Spheres of Influence through Participatory Design

When designing learning environments and curricula for diverse populations, it is beneficial to connect with learners’ cultural knowledge, and the related interests, they bring to the learning context. To aid in the design and development of a computing curriculum and identify these areas of personal and cultural connection, we conducted a series of participatory design sessions. The goal of these sessions was to collect ideas around ways to make the instructional materials reflect the interests and voices of the learners. In this paper, we examine how the use of participatory design techniques can advance our understanding of the domains influencing today’s youth. Specifically, we examine the ideas generated by youth during these sessions as a means to understand what influences them and their ideas of cultural relevancy. In this work, we identify the resources children draw on across design activities and organize them to extend the <em>Spheres of Influence</em> framework (L. Archer et al., 2014). We identify seven spheres to attend to when designing for learning: Home and Family, School and Work, Hobbies and Leisure, Media, Interests, Peers, and Identity.

Co-creation applied to public policy: a case study on collaborative policies for the platform economy in the city of Barcelona

ABSTRACT This paper addresses how far co-creation methodologies can be applied to policy-making innovation in the platform economy. The driving question is how co-creation collaboration-based policy-making can increase diversity and strengthen the participation of actors. The analysis is based on a three-year case study on the platform economy in Barcelona, describing how co-creation dynamics contributed to the participatory definition of local public policies and agenda. The methodology is based on participatory design techniques, involving participant observation and content analysis. Results indicate that co-creation can increase participation diversity aligning academic, economic, and social viewpoints in policy innovation from a quadruple helix perspective. In addition, collaboration schemes assist in engaging a wide diversity of participants in the policy ideation process which, in this case, resulted in 87 new policy measures, with contributions from more than 300 people of different backgrounds and perspectives. The case study demonstrates the value of a cycle of collaboration going beyond mere symbolic engagement or citizen support to public policy-making. It further shows the importance of combining co-creation with methods of action research, strategic planning and knowledge management, as well as with face-to-face interactions and online channels.

Exploring the use of participatory design in game design: a Brazilian perspective

This paper reviews the current body of literature on participatory design (PD) for game design, including participatory design elements, participatory design in education, and the current challenges that game designers and developers encountered. This paper also contains the findings of a survey among game designers in Brazil (N=29) concerning their use of participatory design techniques during the design process in their studios. The survey results show that playtesting is the most common technique that they utilise in order to improve player experience. Several of the respondents admitted that they have considered player participation during other stages of game development. This paper is concluded with a critical overview of the role of participatory design in game design and potential uses for games for learning. The literature and survey-based findings in this paper may be of benefit to game design scholars and designers who are intent on critically analysing the use of participatory design in the game design process.

Illustrating school-to-work transition through drawings: An exploratory study with a sample of South African students

Orientation: Unemployment is a matter of great concern within the South African context.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of students who are in preparation to enter the labour market, to generate data about students’ experiences of being unemployed and to explore the usefulness of diagrams as a data generation tool in exploring such experiences.Motivation for the study: There is need to understand transition experiences of unemployed youths in South Africa and the basis for making interventions.Research approach/design and method: A qualitative research approach utilising a participatory research design technique was used.Main findings: Three main drawings are illustrated that express students’ concern regarding this transition. These drawings heighten the focus on (1) individual evaluation of students as they make the transition, (2) evaluation of the university enrolment experience and (3) students’ concern about their future, albeit the high unemployment rate in South Africa.Managerial/practical implications: Through the reflections from the drawings, suggestions are made to assist researchers, career counsellors and students.Contribution/value-addition: This article contributes to the literature on the use and need of using the visual methodology as a part of data generation, especially when working with vulnerable students.

Multimodal methodological approach for participatory design of Full-Body Interaction Learning Environments

Over the past years an increasing number of digital learning environments based on Full-Body Interaction have been developed. Research in this field is often based on Designer-Driven approaches and is only recently employing Participatory Design techniques. However, these participatory approaches have reported relevant challenges related to including users in the design of spatial and bodily qualities of interaction. These shortcomings require extending research methods to effectively focus on embodied resources in the essential design and evaluation processes. To address this issue, we propose a methodological approach that combines multimodal analysis with Participatory Design techniques to include embodied resources in the participatory design processes for Full-Body Interaction. The proposed approach is applied to the iterative design of two Full-Body Interaction Learning Environments. Through the analysis of the outcomes of these case studies, we discuss the affordances multimodal analysis can offer to inform and guide the design process for embodied interaction.

Virtual training environments for major incident response planning in UK gas infrastructure

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate a virtual training environment for testing UK gas pipeline emergency response plans.Design/methodology/approachInterviews, observations and desk research were used to identify current methods for testing plans. A virtual training environment was developed and evaluated with industry experts by using participatory design techniques. Key themes relating to both the current methods for testing plans and for a virtual training environment were identified using thematic analysis.FindingsImproved training performance, remote participation and evidence of decision testing are benefits a virtual training environment can bring to current practice. It is suggested that a virtual training environment can enhance, rather than replace, the current process of testing emergency response plans.Research limitations/implicationsAnalysis of the virtual training environment being used to test plans in a live context would give further ecological validity to the findings. A study of the prototype used to test plans for incidents involving sectors outside the gas industry would further validate the findings.Originality/valueThe application of a virtual training environment to facilitate testing plans and the decision-making processes for major incidents involving high-pressure gas pipelines and storage sites is yet to be documented. This paper contributes to the literature by documenting the decision-making process and evaluation of a virtual training environment for testing plans in this context.

Participatory Design in Emerging Civic Engagement Initiatives in the New Public Sector

In this study, we address the role of Participatory Design (PD) in emerging public sector governance forms and, more specifically, civic engagement and we-government initiatives. We achieve this by first providing a research overview of the development of PD approaches since they originated in the 1970s, identifying different PD generations and associated concepts, contexts, and challenges, and then relating them to current public sector trends. Next, we link the overview to a practical example by presenting a case of applying PD to a civic engagement project that takes place in the Swedish emergency response system. Our example findings sustain previously identified needs to return to broad change processes and balance this with ICT re-configuration and structuration of the collaborative processes, the related stakeholders, and their needs, this time in a context where work tasks and responsibilities are not yet defined, known or experienced among stakeholders. We then suggest methodological ways to handle this by (1) applying an interdisciplinary PD approach, (2) replacing the traditional design group with a combination of various qualitative methods and PD techniques, e.g., focus groups, modified scenario-based future workshops, exercises, and after-action-reviews, and (3) support PD activities with context-specific frameworks. We argue that applying PD concepts to the governance forms that are emerging in resource-constrained public sector organizations poses a number of challenges, many of them relating directly to the unknown character of the work setting and the practical difficulties of involving civil citizens as end-users. However, if they are addressed and handled adequately, making civic engagement initiatives work processes and ICT support to work smoothly, this can contribute to a re-politicization of PD in terms of space, action, and the empowerment of citizens both by enhancing their skills and by having them represented in design activities.

Construcción de comunidades colaborativas desde el diseño y el emprendimiento endógeno

                                                                Rev.esc.adm.neg&#x0D; Este artículo visibiliza algunos de los resultados de un proyecto que buscó indagar por el desarrollo de comunidades colaborativas aplicando técnicas del diseño participativo; permitiendo la emergencia de emprendimientos sociales desde la resignificación de lo que implica emprender en comunidades locales, tomando recursos del diseño, el arte y los diálogos generativos. Este documento se centra en los aportes del diseño endógeno, es decir, el diseño que nace desde la misma comunidad y que facilita la construcción de lazos fuertes y colaborativos entre los artesanos, resignificando el emprendimiento, haciendo especial énfasis en los recursos propios de la comunidad, para la identificación de caminos posibles y el fortalecimiento de sus lazos relacionales. La metodología de la investigación se basó en la investigación-acción participativa, lo que permitió intervenir la comunidad y desde la hermenéutica comprensiva, comprender las maneras en que el diseño y el emprendimiento han favorecido el desarrollo de la misma.

Optimisation and validation of a remote monitoring system (Onco-TreC) for home-based management of oral anticancer therapies: an Italian multicentre feasibility study

IntroductionDespite the growing number of oral agents available for cancer treatment, their efficacy may be reduced due to the lack of adherence, inappropriate adverse event self-management and arbitrary dose adjustment....

User-centered design improves the usability of drug-drug interaction alerts: Experimental comparison of interfaces

Clinical Decision Support Systems can alert health professionals about drug interactions when they prescribe medications. The Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires in Argentina developed an electronic health record with drug-drug interaction alerts, using traditional software engineering techniques and requirements. Despite enhancing the drug-drug interaction knowledge database, the alert override rate of this system was very high. We redesigned the alert system using user-centered design (UCD) and participatory design techniques to enhance the drug-drug interaction alert interface. This paper describes the methodology of our UCD. We used crossover method with realistic, clinical vignettes to compare usability of the standard and new software versions in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction. Our study showed that, compared to the traditional alert system, the UCD alert system was more efficient (alerts faster resolution), more effective (tasks completed with fewer errors), and more satisfying. These results indicate that UCD techniques that follow ISO 9241-210 can generate more usable alerts than traditional design.