Smart Device Apps Research Articles

AdaptUI: A Framework for the development of Adaptive User Interfaces in Smart Product-Service Systems

AbstractSmart Product–Service Systems (S-PSS) represent an innovative business model that integrates intelligent products with advanced digital capabilities and corresponding e-services. The user experience (UX) within an S-PSS is heavily influenced by the customization of services and customer empowerment. However, conventional UX analysis primarily focuses on the design stage and may not adequately respond to the evolving user needs during the usage stage and how to exploit the data surrounding the use of S-PSS. To overcome these limitations, this article introduces a practical framework for developing Adaptive User Interfaces within S-PSS. This framework integrates ontologies and Context-aware recommendation systems, with user interactions serving as the primary data source, facilitating the development of adaptive user interfaces. One of the main contributions of this work lies on the integration of various components to achieve the creation of Adaptive User Interfaces for digital services. A case study of a smart device app is presented, to demonstrate the practical implementation of the framework, with a hands-on development approach, considering technological aspects and utilizing appropriate tools. The results of the evaluation of the recommendation engine show that using a context-aware approach improves the precision of recommendations. Furthermore, pragmatic aspects of UX, such as usefulness and system efficiency, are evaluated with participants with an overall positive impact on the use of the smart device.

Associations of smart device apps with and without a perceived self-efficacy component in a physical activity context with BMI.

Smart device apps can be used to promote physical activity, decrease sedentariness, or increase self-efficacy to get active in college students, possibly reducing their obesity risk. This study assessed associations of college students' smart device use with body mass index (BMI), expecting associations between physical activity parameters and self-efficacy with BMI, moderated by app type. In an online survey, app data of a week from student's devices, weight, height, physical activity, and self-efficacy to get active were collected from 120 students. Apps were categorized "physical activity," "physical activity with a self-efficacy component," or "unrelated." Use time of physical activity apps is not associated with BMI, while self-efficacy app time show negative and unrelated app time positive associations. Self-efficacy may be an important component in app design for obesity risk reduction of college students. Test economy was low, which is why future studies need to concentrate on better data extraction methods.

증강현실(AR) 음악활동에 나타난 유아의 경험

Objectives This study aims to examine children’s experiences in augmented reality(AR) music activities and the values in early childhood education through exploring five-year-old children’s responses by AR music with smart device apps. Methods A total of 20 five-year-old children and a teacher are participated in this study. The researcher observed the participating children’s music activities twice a week for three months in the kindergarten. Data collection included recorded videos of children’s music activities, filed note for observation, interviews with teacher. The following findings were drawn by analyzing recorded materials and inductively categorizing the contents of collected materials. Results First, children showed curiosity in the process of experiencing augmented reality (AR) music and smart devices, and experienced augmented reality (AR) music with characters and sounds. Second, it was found that children experienced music with various senses and perceived it aesthetically through AR music; that is, they were meeting AR while simultaneously feeling music with sight, hearing, and body. Third, children were expanding into another world of convergence through music, connecting augmented reality with reality. Conclusions These results were able to explore the meaning of the experience when the child meets AR music. This study is to put its value in that it can be used as basic data to present desirable direction of education to young children living in the digital age.

Saudi parents’ privacy concerns about their children’s smart device applications

In this paper, we investigate Saudi parents’ privacy concerns regarding their children’s smart device applications (apps). To this end, we conducted a survey and analysed 119 responses. Our results show that Saudi parents expressed a high level of concern regarding their children’s privacy when using smart device apps. However, they expressed higher concerns about apps’ content than privacy issues such as apps’ requests to access sensitive data. Furthermore, parents’ concerns are not in line with most of the children’s installed apps, which contain apps inappropriate for their age, require parental guidance, and request access to sensitive data such as location. We also discuss several aspects of Saudi parents’ practices and concerns compared to those reported by Western (mainly from the UK) and Chinese parents in previous reports. We found interesting patterns and established new relationships. For example, Saudi and Chinese children have a higher level of autonomy in installing apps on their devices than Western children who mostly request apps installation from their parents. However, there are more Saudi parents who end up uninstalling apps from their children’s devices due to privacy concerns than Western parents. This suggests that parents’ involvement in installing children’s apps is related to a reduced number of uninstallation incidents, which are mostly negatively received by children. Furthermore, Saudi and Western parents show higher levels of privacy concerns than Chinese parents. Finally, we tested 14 privacy practices and concerns against high versus low socioeconomic classes (parents’ education, technical background, and income) to find whether there are significant differences between high and low classes (we denote these differences by “digital divide”). Out of 42 tests (14 properties × 3 classes) we found significant differences between high and low classes in 7 tests only. While this is a positive trend overall, it is important to work on bridging these gaps. The results of this paper provide key findings to identify areas of improvement and recommendations, especially for Saudis, which can be used by parents, developers, researchers, regulators, and policy makers.

Can Technology Abate the Experience of Social Isolation for Those Affected by Dementia?

BackgroundThe widespread social isolation measures recently utilized to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to older adults may have exuded unexpected consequences. Social isolation among older adults is a risk factor for poor health outcomes. Innovative solutions to balancing public safety and health maintenance for those with dementia and their caregivers are needed.MethodsA sample of N = 82 dementia caregivers participated in a web-based survey to investigate their perceptions on (1) changes in personal mental health due to isolation from their loved one, and (2) the perceived need for use of smart mobile device app use in these situations.ResultsThe majority of our sample (87%) reported experiencing negative mental health outcomes beyond those experienced in typical situations. Furthermore, over 70% of caregivers were concerned with the care their loved on received during social isolation. Finally, 67% reported perceived need to use SMD apps in these times of social isolation.ConclusionOur findings provide preliminary insight into troubling consequences occurring when individuals with dementia are socially isolated from their caregivers. An inverse relationship between SMD app use and poor mental health points to the potential for communication technology to lessen the negative impacts of social isolation, when it becomes necessary to public safety.

Development of a Home-based Fetal Electrocardiogram (ECG) Monitoring System.

We develop a novel wearable fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) monitoring system consisting of an abdominal patch that communicates with a smart device. The system has two main components: the fetal patch and the monitoring app. The fetal patch has electronics and recording electrodes fabricated on a hybrid flexible-rigid platform while the Android app is developed for a wide range of applications. The patch collects the abdominal ECG (aECG) signals that are sent to the smart device app via secure Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication. The app software connects to a cloud server where processing and extraction algorithms are executed for real-time fECG extraction and fetal heartrate (fHR) calculation from the collected raw data. We have validated the algorithms and real-time data recordings on pregnant subjects yielding promising results. Our system has the potential to transform the currently used fetal monitoring system to an effective distanced and telematernity care.

Telemedical applications in ophthalmology in times of COVID-19

HintergrundWährend der COVID-19-Pandemie war die augenärztliche Versorgung teilweise eingeschränkt.FragestellungEs wird ein Überblick über bereits verfügbare oder noch in Entwicklung befindliche teleophthalmologische Anwendungen zur besseren Versorgung während der Pandemie gegeben.Material und MethodeEs erfolgten die Auswertung aktueller wissenschaftlicher Publikationen, die Analyse von frei erhältlichen Screeninganwendungen in App-Stores mobiler Endgeräte sowie telemetrischer Medizinprodukte für Monitoringanwendungen und die Diskussion der Ansprüche an eine ophthalmologische Videosprechstunde.ErgebnisseDas gesteigerte Interesse an teleophthalmologischen Anwendungen spiegelt sich in einem deutlichen Anstieg von Publikationen zum Thema wider. Frei erhältliche Anwendungen für Smartphones und Tablets sind in der Regel nicht validiert und weisen teils starke Abweichungen von etablierten Standardtests auf. Telemedizinische Medizinprodukte zum Home-Monitoring bei chronischen Anwendungen bergen großes Potenzial, müssen sich aber erst im klinischen Alltag durchsetzen.SchlussfolgerungenEs besteht ein hoher Bedarf an systematischer Analyse, Weiterentwicklung und Validierung von telemedizinischen Anwendungen und Medizinprodukten für die Ophthalmologie, um das Potenzial der Telemedizin gewinnbringend zu nutzen und in einer ophthalmologischen Videosprechstunde zu bündeln.

Performance of first pacemaker to use smart device app for remote monitoring.

BackgroundHigh adherence to remote monitoring (RM) in pacemaker (PM) patients improves outcomes; however, adherence remains suboptimal. Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) technology in newer-generation PMs enables communication directly with patient-owned smart devices using an app without a bedside console.ObjectiveTo evaluate the success rate of scheduled RM transmissions using the app compared to other RM methods.MethodsThe BlueSync Field Evaluation was a prospective, international cohort evaluation, measuring the success rate of scheduled RM transmissions using a BLE PM or cardiac resynchronization therapy PM coupled with the MyCareLink Heart app. App transmission success was compared to 3 historical “control” groups from the Medtronic de-identified CareLink database: (1) PM patients with manual communication using a wand with a bedside console (PM manual transmission), (2) PM patients with wireless automatic communication with the bedside console (PM wireless); (3) defibrillator patients with similar automatic communication (defibrillator wireless).ResultsAmong 245 patients enrolled (age 64.8±15.6 years, 58.4% men), 953 transmissions were scheduled through 12 months, of which 902 (94.6%) were successfully completed. In comparison, transmission success rates were 56.3% for PM manual transmission patients, 77.0% for PM wireless patients, and 87.1% for defibrillator wireless patients. Transmission success with the app was superior across matched cohorts based on age, sex, and device type (single vs dual vs triple chamber).ConclusionThe success rate of scheduled RM transmissions was higher among patients using the smart device app compared to patients using traditional RM using bedside consoles. This novel technology may improve patient engagement and adherence to RM.

Use of Simulation to Measure the Effects of Just-in-Time Information to Prevent Nursing Medication Errors: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Medication administration error (MAE) is the improper dispensing of medication. It is a significant contributor to the occurrence of medical errors. A novel systems thinking approach using a pediatric simulation and student nurses were used to evaluate the benefit of applying just-in-time information (JITI) to reduce medication errors. Just-in-time information applies highly focused information delivered when needed. A smart device app was developed to provide JITI medication administration information. The effect JITI had on MAE occurrence was assessed via a controlled study. The study population included 38 teams having 2 to 3 senior nursing students on each team. The teams were separated into a control and 2 intervention groups to complete a medication administration simulation. The intervention groups (100%, N = 10) that made significant use of the JITI app demonstrated improved performance for medication administration over the control group. Familiarity with the app was pivotal to how frequently it was used and to the success of the groups in administering medications. Although those with access to the app having limited training successfully executed the simulation 27.3% (n = 11) of the time, those with extended training had a success rate of 77.8% (n = 9). Providing JITI significantly reduced the occurrence of MAEs for these student nurses. Familiarity with the app, including extended training opportunities, contributed significantly to student success.

Smartphone apps on burns first aid: A review of the advice

AimsMany websites giving first aid advice are disappointingly inaccurate and at times dangerous in regard to burn injuries. With more patients relying on their smart phones to obtain online information the aim of this study was to compare first aid applications (apps) burn advice against those guidelines set by the British Burns Association (BBA). MethodA content analysis of all freely available English written first aid apps from Google Play and the Apple Store was performed. The information was compared against BBA guidance which was split into 12 domains and scored appropriately. Results61 of the 103 first aid apps included in the study, had information on the treatment of burn injuries. The mean score for all apps was 3.3 out of 12. 85% of apps postulated the need to cool the burn. However, only 11% of apps stipulated the need for 20min of cooling, while 3% suggested the burn can be cooled up to 3h post injury. Disappointingly even apps produced by reputable first aid charities scored poorly. ConclusionBurns first aid is documented as being poorly given in the community. With easy access to the internet and specifically smart device apps, more needs to be done to improve burn first aid information online.

P577Early experience with the first pacemakers to directly connect with smart devices for remote monitoring

Abstract Background Remote monitoring is associated with improved patient outcomes; however, adoption and adherence to remote monitoring via home-based consoles remains suboptimal. BlueSync technology in new generation pacemaker and CRT-P models enables the implanted device to communicate directly with patient-owned, Bluetooth-equipped smartphones/tablets and an app (MyCareLink Heart). The app can automatically retrieve information from the cardiac device and transmit the data to the remote network, eliminating the need for traditional remote monitoring consoles. Objectives To characterize the communication process between implanted pacemakers and smart device remote monitoring apps by assessing the success of prescheduled remote transmissions in the first month of follow-up. Additionally, to assess the feedback of both patients and clinicians about the process of device pairing. Methods Enrollment in the BlueSync Field Evaluation began in April 2018 and was completed November 2018. Follow-up is ongoing. Prior to enrollment in the evaluation, patients completed the device pairing process with the app using their own compatible smartphone or tablet. Patient and clinician questionnaires were completed at the time of the device pairing process. After enrollment, successful completion of scheduled transmissions occurring in the first month were analyzed. Results Preliminary data includes 241 enrolled patients with mean age of 64.7±15.5 yrs (min 20, max 90 yrs), who completed device pairing between their implanted device and their smart device app. Of enrolled patients, 79% felt that the device paring was easy to do, 85% were satisfied with the amount of time it took to complete it, and 93% felt that they would be comfortable using the app. Clinicians reported that 67% of the device pairings took less than 20 minutes and 78% felt patients would be able to use the app independently. At the time of analysis 174 patients had at least one scheduled transmission within the first month, and collectively had a total of 322 scheduled transmissions. Out of these, 309 (96%, 95% CI: 93%-98%) were successfully completed. MyCareLink Heart App Conclusions Initial experience with the world's first app based remote monitoring system for Bluetooth enabled pacemakers demonstrated success to scheduled transmissions in the first month across a wide range of patient ages. Patients and clinicians reported high satisfaction with this novel technology. Acknowledgement/Funding Medtronic PLC

Has strategic planning made a difference to amphibian conservation research in South Africa?

Background: Conservation relies on the strategic use of resources because monies for conservation action are limited, especially in developing countries. South Africa’s Frog Atlas project established a baseline for the country’s amphibian data and threat levels in 2004, and in 2009 a prioritisation exercise developed a strategy for conservation research.Objectives: In this article, we assess this strategy for conservation research.Method: We conducted a quantitative and qualitative assessment of research undertaken since the strategy was developed.Results: The strategy has produced a lasting impact on taxonomy, ecological studies, monitoring and capacity building. Publications in all areas have increased, but particularly in conservation ecology. Other indicators are increases in the numbers of locality records for target taxa, species descriptions and postgraduate degrees with amphibians as the principal topic. We document important milestones for South African amphibian conservation, including the first Biodiversity Management Plan for Species (BMP-S) for Hyperolius pickersgilli, a smart device app that uploads locality data to an open access database, 15 years of monitoring data and new amphibian identification books for adults and children. The Red List Index calculated for South African amphibians shows that the country’s species are becoming more threatened (a 1% reduction in 10 years), but a hindcasting exercise suggests that most of the damage was already done by 1990. We provide a checklist for 131 amphibian species in South Africa, of which 82 species are endemic.Conclusion: A strategy for conservation research was found to greatly augment the focus of research on South African frogs. A new strategy should focus on fewer taxa over meaningful time spans.

A monitoring system to provide feedback on student physical activity during physical education lessons.

School-based physical education (PE) provides opportunities to accumulate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), but many students are insufficiently active during PE lessons. Providing teachers with feedback regarding their students' physical activity may increase the effectiveness of PE for achieving MVPA goals, but existing physical activity monitoring technologies have limitations in class environments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a system capable of providing feedback on PE lesson MVPA. Equations for translating step counts to %MVPA were derived from measures in 492 students who concurrently wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ (ActiGraph) and Yamax pedometer (Yamax) during a PE lesson. To enhance feedback availability during PE lessons, we then developed a bespoke monitoring system using wireless tri-axial pedometers (HMM) and a smart device app. After developing and testing the monitoring system, we assessed its validity and reliability in 100 students during a PE lesson. There was a strong correlation of 0.896 between step counts and accelerometer-determined %MVPA and quantile regression equations showed good validity for translating step counts to %MVPA with a mean absolute difference of 5.3 (95% CI, 4.4-6.2). The physical activity monitoring system was effective at providing %MVPA during PE lessons with a mean difference of 1.6±7.1 compared with accelerometer-determined %MVPA (7% difference between the two measurement methods). Teachers and students can use a smart device app and wireless pedometers to conveniently obtain feedback during PE lessons. Future studies should determine whether such technologies help teachers to increase physical activity during PE lessons.

Use of mobile health applications for health-promoting behavior among individuals with chronic medical conditions.

BackgroundChronic medical conditions (CCs) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Strategies to control CCs include targeting unhealthy behaviors, often through the use of patient empowerment tools, such as mobile health (mHealth) technology. However, no conclusive evidence exists that mHealth applications (apps) are effective among individuals with CCs for chronic disease self-management.MethodsWe used data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 1, 2017). A sample of 1864 non-institutionalized US adults (≥18 years) who had a smartphone and/or a tablet computer and at least one CC was analyzed. Using multivariable logistic regressions, we assessed predisposing, enabling, and need predictors of three health-promoting behaviors (HPBs): tracking progress on a health-related goal, making a health-related decision, and health-related discussions with a care provider among smart device and mHealth apps owners.ResultsCompared to those without mHealth apps, individuals with mHealth apps had significantly higher odds of using their smart devices to track progress on a health-related goal (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.66–13.50, P < .001), to make a health-related decision (aOR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.16–2.71, P < .01) and in health-related discussions with care providers (aOR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.26–3.19, P < .01). Other significant factors of at least one type of HPB among smart device and mHealth apps users were age, gender, education, occupational status, having a regular provider, and self-rated general health.ConclusionmHealth apps are associated with increased rates of HPB among individuals with CCs. However, certain groups, like older adults, are most affected by a digital divide where they have lower access to mHealth apps and thus are not able to take advantage of these tools. Rigorous randomized clinical trials among various segments of the population and different health conditions are needed to establish the effectiveness of these mHealth apps. Healthcare providers should encourage validated mHealth apps for patients with CCs.

How do Smart Device Apps for Diabetes Self-Management correspond with Theoretical Indicators of Empowerment? An Analysis of App Features-CORRIGENDUM.

How do Smart Device Apps for Diabetes Self-Management correspond with Theoretical Indicators of Empowerment? An Analysis of App Features-CORRIGENDUM.

How Do Smart Device Apps for Diabetes Self-Management Correspond with Theoretical Indicators of Empowerment? An Analysis of App Features.

Smart device apps for diabetes have the potential to support patients in their daily disease management. However, uncertainty exists regarding their suitability for empowering patients to improve self-management behaviors. This paper addresses a general research gap regarding theoretically based examinations of empowerment in diabetes research, by examining how diabetes app features correspond with conceptual indicators of empowerment. We examined features of 121 apps for diabetes self-management available in Singapore, with the second highest proportion of diabetes among developed nations, for psychological empowerment (feeling of empowerment) and for behavioral empowerment (social support). Diabetes apps studied offered a narrow range of features, with limited feature-sets corresponding to indicators of empowerment. Customization as a strategy to improve perceived relevance of diabetes self-management as an indicator of psychological empowerment was especially limited. Moreover, there was a lack of features supporting patients' communication with healthcare professionals and within their private social networks. Mobile apps for diabetes self-management failed to provide relevant features for empowering patients. Specific practical recommendations target improved adoption, sustained usage, and effectiveness of diabetes self-management apps.

Demonstrating the Learning, Use, and Efficacy of Smart Device Apps for Brain Injury Survivors

To evaluate whether brain injury survivors have the cognitive ability to learn how to use the ReachMyGoals (RMG) app.

Abstract: Revolutionizing Remote Monitoring of Free Flaps with Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Smart Devices

PURPOSE: The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate an innovative method for remote free flap monitoring using laser Doppler flowmetry and smart devices. INTRODUCTION: Newer generation of free flap monitoring device using tissue oximetry offers web-based capability for transmission of recordings to the smart phone. However, remote monitoring capability does not currently exist for the Perimed laser Doppler (Perimed AB, Järfälla, Sweden) when used without connection to a computer. Using an existing tablet and a free app (application), the smart device can be converted into a Wi-Fi camera, which can be placed adjacent to the laser Doppler monitor to allow instant, real-time monitoring remotely. Multiple apps are currently available which can convert a smart phone or tablet (e.g. iPad) into a remote camera, which can then be linked to the provider’s smartphone over the internet. METHODS: We present our preliminary experience with this smart device app to a well-established modality, laser Doppler flowmetry,1,2 for monitoring free flaps. We employed the AtHome app from the app store which converted a used iPad into a camera and multiple smart phones into independent viewers. No patient identifier was transmitted with this remote monitoring set-up. RESULTS: We monitored 9 head and neck free flaps, each for 4–6 days remotely with near 100% reliability. We had minor mechanical issues: capturing angle of smart device getting displaced; device getting knocked off the table; and charge cord dislodging. Auto-lock needs to be turned off on the capturing smart device. On one occasion, the camera app needed restarting due to automatic software update. These glitches were each corrected by a phone call to the nurse or by the provider in person. For one flap, nursing over-sedated the patient leading to profound hypotension. The steady decline in the laser Doppler reading witnessed by the surgeon remotely allowed him the opportunity to rapidly return to the ICU to resuscitate the patient, thus avoiding anastomotic thrombosis from hypoperfusion. CONCLUSION: Remote monitoring of the laser Doppler readings by multiple providers on the team for all 9 flaps was successful for the duration of 4–6 days. The ability to remotely look at your patient’s laser Doppler numbers (or recordings from any monitoring modality) in real-time can be provided by a simple, inexpensive, and reliable adaptation of smart device and app technology. Reference Citations: 1. Bellamy JL, Mundinger GS, Flores JM, et al. Do adjunctive flap-monitoring technologies impact clinical decision making? An analysis of microsurgeon preferences and behavior by body region. Plast Reconstr Surg 135:883, 2015. 2. Yuen JC, Feng Z. Monitoring free flaps using the laser Doppler flowmeter: five-year experience. Plast Reconstr Surg 105:55, 2000.

Study protocol for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-Sitting and ExacerbAtions Trial (COPD-SEAT): a randomised controlled feasibility trial of a home-based self-monitoring sedentary behaviour intervention

IntroductionAn acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) marks a critical life event, which can lower patient quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. Patients with COPD...

A robust smart device app assisting medical diagnosis

A Medical Decision Making System (MDMS) has recently been implemented as an app (lication) for Android-based Mobile “Smart” Devices (AMSDs). Feed Forward Artificial Neural Networks (fANNs) is a major element of this MDMS that has been extensively tested in the field of Pulmonary Diseases (PDs). This MDMS fANNs have been taught by using real world patients’ clinical data on a powerful Personal Computer; the MDMS modular structure and its fANNs’ weights were then ported to AMSDs to be used as a part of wide-range applications software. The Android was chosen as the devices’ Operating System (OS), due to its Linux kernel, touchscreen features, and open standards architecture.