User-centered Design Research Articles

Optimizing Sustainable Urban Mobility: Integration Of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Into Smart Buildings

The integration of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure into smart buildings is a crucial step toward enhancing sustainable urban mobility. This paper explores the benefits, challenges, strategies, and best practices associated with this integration, with a focus on optimizing EV charging accessibility and promoting a cleaner transportation ecosystem. Traditional vehicles powered by fossil fuels contribute significantly to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. EVs offer reduced emissions, lower operating costs, and potential energy independence through renewable sources, making them a promising solution for urban mobility challenges. Despite these advantages, the widespread adoption of EVs faces hurdles, particularly regarding charging infrastructure availability and accessibility in urban areas. Range anxiety among EV users due to insufficient charging stations is a significant concern hindering the transition to electric transportation. The paper emphasizes strategic placement of charging stations, integration with renewable energy sources like solar panels, and utilization of smart grid technologies to optimize EV charging operations. Case studies such as Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai and Googleplex showcase successful implementations, demonstrating scalability, user-centric design, and seamless integration with building management systems. Key challenges such as funding constraints, technical interoperability, and grid integration are addressed, proposing solutions like innovative financing models, standardization efforts, and advanced grid management technologies. By addressing these challenges and implementing sustainable solutions, the integration of EV charging infrastructure into smart buildings can significantly contribute to reducing environmental impact, promoting cleaner transportation options, and fostering a more sustainable and resilient urban environment

A collaborator-engaged approach to tailoring strategies for implementing systematic health-related social needs assessment: Results from a cross-center study.

166 Background: Health-related social needs (HRSNs) exacerbate inequities in cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality. To improve health equity, policymakers recommend systematic HRSN screening in oncology clinics. In preliminary studies, we found low rates (<10%) of HRSN screening in oncology. Building upon these findings and transdisciplinary expertise across four Implementation Science Centers in Cancer Control (ISC3), in the current study, we engaged oncology care teams in tailoring site-specific strategies to implement HRSN screening. Methods: Centers varied in collaborator engagement methods, including Context-Driven Co-Design (CD2), which aims to harmonize the intervention (i.e., HRSN screening), context (e.g., oncology clinic), and implementation strategies. First, site leads conducted semi-structured interviews with 8-10 care team members and clinic observations to identify current HRSN assessment processes and opportunities and barriers to systematic HRSN screening. Second, site leads engaged collaborators in one-on-one interviews or, when using CD2, in 3-4 iterative co-design workshops in which they used context assessment data and user-centered design activities (e.g., storyboarding) to prioritize contextual factors, identify necessary adaptations to HRSN screening, and co-design implementation strategies to address salient barriers. Centers met monthly to share knowledge and troubleshoot. Results: Most Centers’ oncology clinics had established informal HRSN screening approaches. Across Centers, collaborators (e.g., providers, nurses, medical assistants, patients) identified similar opportunities (e.g., desire for a standardized approach to HRSN screening; well-functioning clinical teams and physical space). Common challenges included limited familiarity with HRSN screening and documentation tools; lack of standardized screening protocol; and limited awareness of HRSN screening’s purpose. Implementation strategies included pencil-and-paper screening tools; clinic signage regarding HRSN screening’s purpose; training and creation of standardized screening protocol; and a centralized resource for responding to HRSN with adjustment, assistance, alignment, and/or advocacy. Conclusions: Four ISC3 Centers developed multicomponent implementation plans tailored to their oncology clinic. Centers’ varied approaches and timelines presented challenges and opportunities for cross-Center learning. Oncology clinics exhibited substantial overlap in opportunities and challenges in HRSN screening. Much of CD2’s benefits were related to its collaborator-driven approach to implementation strategy development. Next steps include deploying implementation plans and assessing their impact on equitable reach and adoption of HRSN screening and response to identified needs.

Development of MyREADY Transition BBD Mobile App, a Health Intervention Technology Platform, to Improve Care Transition for Youth With Brain-Based Disabilities: User-Centered Design Approach.

Transition from pediatric to adult health care varies and is resource intensive. Patient-centered health information technology (HIT) interventions are increasingly being developed in partnership with patients. This study aims to develop an internet-based mobile app intervention for patients with brain-based disabilities to improve transition in care readiness. The app was designed for patients aged 15 to 17 years with brain-based disabilities having the ability to use a mobile app. A multidisciplinary team, an industry partner, and a patient and family advisory council was assembled. We hypothesized that existing tools could be migrated into the app to address education, empowerment, and navigation. We used cognitive learning theory to support chapters targeting transition in care skill sets. We used the agile iterative methodology to engage stakeholders. We developed a novel MyREADY Transition HIT platform. An electronic mentor supported cognitive learning with messaging, quizzes, rewards, and videos. We used gaming to guide navigation through a fictitious health care city. Adapting existing tools was achieved by the patient and family advisory council requesting personalization. Our iterative design required time-consuming back-end technology management. Developing the platform took 24 months instead of our grant-approved 12 months, impacting the onset of the planned trial within the allotted budget. A novel patient-centered HIT platform to improve health care transition was successfully developed in partnership with patients and industry. Careful resource management was needed to achieve timely delivery of the end product, flagging the cautious planning required to deliver HIT tools in time for the much-needed trials informing their clinical application. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03852550; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03852550.

A novel smartphone application for bladder cancer management (BCM App): Design, development, and usability evaluation

BACKGROUND: Providing clinical guidelines to clinicians using innovative technologies seems practical and useful. This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate a smartphone application to assist urologists in managing bladder cancer (BCM App). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in three phases, following the user-centered design model, at the urology clinic of Khorshid Hospital (Isfahan, Iran) in 2021. Components and functionalities for BCM App were specified in three focus group sessions with urologists and urology residents using clinical guidelines. Adopting the Delphi technique, the participants completed a questionnaire addressing issues including educating and informing clinicians, performing clinical calculations, representing graphical information, and recording patient information. A conceptual model for the app was designed, and the final product was developed. The usability of the BCM App was evaluated using the think-aloud technique by usability experts and end-users. RESULTS: The app’s components were categorized into three groups: Patient evaluation, disease staging and management, and patient follow-up. The app’s main components included “bladder cancer classification,” “disease grading and staging,” “management based on the disease stages,” “principles of intravesical treatment,” and “classifying follow-ups by disease stages.” Moreover, the most prominent app’s functionalities were “using staging and grading table,” “using American Urological Association risk stratification,” “calculating disease stages,” “calculating patient’s follow-up,” and “recording patient information.” The usability evaluation results revealed that the BCM App was at a “highly acceptable” level. CONCLUSION: To design and develop a smartphone app for managing bladder cancer, the involvement of urologists is crucial. Apart from assisting urologists in effectively managing bladder cancer, the proposed app has the potential to enhance residents’ knowledge and streamline their access to evidence.

User-Centered Design Strategies for Age-Friendly Mobile News Apps

With the increasing elderly population, catering to the digital news needs of the elderly has become increasingly crucial. This study employs factor analysis to explore the requirements and challenges of elderly individuals when using mobile news applications, aiming to provide strategies and directions for age-friendly design of mobile news applications. The research first summarizes a series of key factors that influence elderly users when using mobile news applications, categorizing them into three primary factors: usability and navigation, visual presentation and readability, and interaction and touch controls. Further entropy weight analysis reveals that the usability and navigation factor holds the highest priority for improvement, followed by visual presentation and readability, and lastly, interaction and touch controls. Based on these findings, we propose a series of age-friendly design strategies, including rational interface layout, clear text and images, and user-friendly interaction controls. These strategies not only enhance the digital news experience for elderly users but also offer valuable guidance and innovation for the field of mobile application design.

Development, usability, and preliminary efficacy of a virtual reality experience to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in children: pilot randomized controlled trial.

Virtual reality (VR) shows promise for supporting behavior change in children. This study used user-centered design to translate key tenets of behavioral health interventions into VR for children aged 6-12 years and their caregivers and examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the VR experience in a pilot parallel, two-group randomized controlled trial (RCT). The VR experience incorporates psychoeducational content from evidence-based behavioral health interventions using voiceover and an interactive go-kart game related to the concepts of "food as fuel" and nutrition guidelines. Study 1 involved usability testing with n=5 child-caregiver dyads, which informed technical and content refinements to the experience. Study 2 involved children aged 6-12 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥85th percentile for age and sex who were comfortable speaking English and their caregivers with BMI ≥25 kg/m2. After participants completed baseline assessments in lab on eating-related behavioral cognitions and behaviors, participants were randomly assigned to the 10-minute VR experience or a control condition (i.e., nutrition education video and mobile phone food game), and were unblinded to condition. Child and caregivers completed assessments immediately post-intervention (eating-related behavioral cognitions) and at 2-week follow-up (behaviors, caregiver readiness to change). The objectives were to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the VR experience, and examine the preliminary efficacy of VR compared to the control condition on the primary outcomes of child behavioral cognitions and behaviors. Non-parametric tests examined differences in change scores across conditions as well as overall and within-group changes in outcomes. Twenty-seven child-caregiver dyads (14 in VR, 13 in control) were enrolled (child mean age =10.4 years; 14 girls). Caregivers reported good usability and excellent immersion in the virtual environment. Children reported significantly greater acceptability of VR compared to control (P=0.02). Child self-efficacy for healthy eating, self-efficacy for physical activity, attitudes toward healthy eating, and behavioral intentions for healthy eating increased from pre- to post-test in both conditions. From baseline to 2-week follow-up, all children reported greater weekly vegetable servings and more active days in the past week. Children in the VR condition had greater change in attitudes towards healthy eating from pre- to post-test compared to children in the control condition [effect size r=0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.72]. Readiness to help child change significantly increased for caregivers in the VR condition from pre- to 2-week follow-up, but did not change for caregivers in the control condition. No adverse events were reported. A VR program to promote healthy eating among children shows high feasibility and acceptability, and high potential for improving child and caregiver behavioral cognitions in this pilot RCT. Future work should examine the impact of repeated exposure to the experience over time, and examine long-term effects. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04845568.

Our Data, Our Solutions: A Participatory Approach for Enhancing Privacy in Wearable Activity Tracker Third-Party Apps

Wearable activity trackers (WATs) have recently gained worldwide popularity, with over a billion devices collecting a range of personal data. To receive additional services, users commonly share this data with third-party applications (TPAs). However, this practice poses potential privacy risks. Privacy-enhancing technologies have been developed to address these concerns, but they often lack user-centered design, and therefore, are less likely to be directly related to users' concerns and to be widely adopted. This study takes a participatory design approach involving N=26 experienced WAT users who share data with TPAs. Through a series of design sessions, participants conceptualized 19 solutions, from which we identified seven different design features. We further analyze and discuss how these features can be combined to assist users in managing their data sharing with TPAs and, therefore, enhancing their privacy. Finally, we selected the three most promising features, namely partial sharing, reminder, and revocation assistance, and conducted an online survey with N=201 WAT users to better understand the potential effectiveness and usability of these features. This work makes an important contribution by offering user-centered solutions and valuable insights for integrating privacy-enhancing technologies into the WAT ecosystem.

Development and evaluation of a novel force myography (FMG) based human-machine interface for transradial prosthetics: A comparative study with electromyography (EMG) techniques

Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) must bridge human skills with machine control, notably in active prosthesis. Electromyography (EMG) is the most popular prosthesis actuation method. However, researchers need new HMIs for active prosthesis development. This research introduces Forcemyography (FMG) based HMI using force- sensitive resistors (FSRs) to capture myoelectric data. A particularly constructed case with two integral parts—an internal and an exterior component—is FMG. This FMG enclosure adapts effortlessly to the user's limb and shape for best performance and comfort. FMG and sEMG were compared in the experimental evaluation. Stability, forecast accuracy, hair and sweat resistance, wearability, and cost-effectiveness were examined. FMG signals outperformed sEMG signals in this comprehensive examination. FMG outperformed sEMG in stability and prediction accuracy. FMG produced outstanding results right from capture without post-processing, a unique advantage. The specialised enclosure protected FSRs from outside interference and delivered precise signals. The Forcemyography (FMG)-based HMI is a breakthrough in active prosthesis technology. Its versatility, consistent signal acquisition, and user-centric design promise improved human-machine interactions. FMG leads the way to smooth, intuitive, and efficient humanmachine interface.

Implementation of Waterfall Model and User-Centered Design Integration

User-Centered Design (UCD) is a crucial approach in software development to ensure that the resulting product is user-friendly. However, the implementation of UCD within the software development lifecycle is still rarely discussed. This study aims to examine whether UCD can be integrated into the Waterfall model through the development of a web-based application. The integration process involves applying UCD during the requirements identification phase, followed by the other phases such as analysis, design, implementation, testing, and deployment. The research methods used include observation and interviews with the project implementers of the application development. The findings indicate that integrating UCD into the Waterfall model presents certain challenges, particularly due to the high risk of failure when the development phases do not allow returning to the initial phase that includes the UCD process. The interface evaluation conducted within the UCD process is proven to be crucial for the project's success.

PERANCANGAN UI/UX PADA APLIKASI WISATA LOMBOK MENGGUNAKAN METODE USER CENTERED DESIGN

This study investigates the application of User-Centered Design (UCD) principles in the design UI/UX for the mobile tourism application, 'Wisata Lombok.' The research aims to demonstrate how UCD can significantly improve user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) in context-specific applications. The methodology employed a multi-phase approach, including user research, persona development, iterative design. Data was collected through interviews with local and tourists, online surveys with Lombok residents, and on-site observations. This information guided the creation of user personas and informed the application's feature set and design decisions. Key findings reveal that incorporating local cultural elements into the UI design enhanced user engagement. The implementation of features like maps and cultural event calendars. Usability testing was carried out using an online questionnaire using the UEQ method. The UEQ contains 26 questions which structured in the form of a semantic differential, where each word consists of two terms expressing opposite meanings. The form was distributed to 35 respondents. All of the 35 respondents, 16 identified as male and 19 as female. The age distribution indicates that 29 respondents are within the 18-35 years old range, while 6 respondents are within the 35-56 years old. The UEQ result shows that the perspicuity and efficiency scale has the highest values, 2.29 and 1.96, falling within the “Excellent” range, indicating that the respondents didn't find any difficulties in operating the user interface. The attractiveness, dependability, and novelty scale fall within the “above average” value, indicating that the user interface was based on respondent needs. The stimulation scale has the least value 0.44 which fall within “bad” value , which means that the respondents was bored cause the user interface only has a few features.

사회 문화적 변화의 관점에서 본 1950년대 미국 주방 디자인과 여성의 라이프스타일에 대한 연구

This study delves into the social context and cultural changes of 1950s America to explore the interaction between women’s lifestyles and modern kitchen design. Through literature review, visual material analysis, and case studies, the study examines how adjustments in lifestyle affect women’s design needs in three aspects: physiological, functional, and psychological. Kitchen design has shifted from closed to open layouts to facilitate communication and interaction among family members. Storage solutions have become increasingly functional and personalized, offering housewives a more convenient user experience. Meanwhile, advancements in kitchen technology have reduced labor demands and improved comfort. By analyzing iconic designs such as Future Kitchens, Youngstown Cabinet Design, and Cornell Kitchens, the study explores how these designs responded to changes in women’s lifestyles. The findings reveal a mutually constraining yet facilitating relationship between women’s lifestyles and the development of kitchen design in the context of socio-cultural change, offering new perspectives and ideas for user-centered modern kitchen design.

MS Pattern Explorer: interactive visual exploration of temporal activity patterns for multiple sclerosis.

This article describes the design and evaluation of MS Pattern Explorer, a novel visual tool that uses interactive machine learning to analyze fitness wearables' data. Applied to a clinical study of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the tool addresses key challenges: managing activity signals, accelerating insight generation, and rapidly contextualizing identified patterns. By analyzing sensor measurements, it aims to enhance understanding of MS symptomatology and improve the broader problem of clinical exploratory sensor data analysis. Following a user-centered design approach, we learned that clinicians have 3 priorities for generating insights for the Barka-MS study data: exploration and search for, and contextualization of, sequences and patterns in patient sleep and activity. We compute meaningful sequences for patients using clustering and proximity search, displaying these with an interactive visual interface composed of coordinated views. Our evaluation posed both closed and open-ended tasks to participants, utilizing a scoring system to gauge the tool's usability, and effectiveness in supporting insight generation across 15 clinicians, data scientists, and non-experts. We present MS Pattern Explorer, a visual analytics system that helps clinicians better address complex data-centric challenges by facilitating the understanding of activity patterns. It enables innovative analysis that leads to rapid insight generation and contextualization of temporal activity data, both within and between patients of a cohort. Our evaluation results indicate consistent performance across participant groups and effective support for insight generation in MS patient fitness tracker data. Our implementation offers broad applicability in clinical research, allowing for potential expansion into cohort-wide comparisons or studies of other chronic conditions. MS Pattern Explorer successfully reduces the signal overload clinicians currently experience with activity data, introducing novel opportunities for data exploration, sense-making, and hypothesis generation.

Artificial Intelligence-Powered Technologies For Independent Living Among Older Adults: A Review

Abstract Background The ageing populations in Ireland and around the world has led to an increased focus on technologies that support independent living for older adults. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising solution, with various AI-powered technologies being proposed to assist their daily lives. This review aims to synthesize the findings of studies exploring AI-powered technologies for independent living among older adults. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using relevant databases, including PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. The search terms included “artificial intelligence” and “independent living”. Studies published between 2009 and 2023 that investigated AI-powered technologies for independent living among older adults were included in the analysis. Results The included studies investigated various AI-powered technologies including tablets, wearable devices like smartwatches, web portals for carers, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, user-centered design considerations, the integration of AI with sociology and healthcare, smart home technology, and ambient information systems. The pooled results indicated that AI-powered technologies can improve independent living outcomes for older adults. Benefits included real-time monitoring and health deterioration recognition, fall detection, personalised care, cognitive assistance and reduced isolation. User-centered design approaches and the integration of AI with sociology and healthcare were also found to be essential factors in the successful implementation of these technologies. Conclusion This analysis provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of AI-powered technologies in promoting independent living among older adults. IoT solutions and smart home technology appear to be particularly promising. However, the successful implementation of these technologies requires a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating user-centered design and the integration of AI with sociology and healthcare. Further research is needed to explore the long-term impact of AI-powered technologies on the well-being and autonomy of older adults.

Design Approaches for Developing Quality Checklists in Healthcare Organizations: A Scoping Review.

Quality checklists have demonstrated benefits in healthcare and other high-reliability organizations, but there remains a gap in the understanding of design approaches and levels of stakeholder engagement in the development of these quality checklists. This scoping review aims to synthesize the current knowledge base regarding the use of various design approaches for developing quality checklists in healthcare. Secondary objectives are to explore theoretical frameworks, design principles, stakeholder involvement and engagement, and characteristics of the design methods used for developing quality checklists. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews 2020 checklist. Seven databases (PubMed, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, and IEEE Xplore) were searched for studies using a comprehensive search strategy developed in collaboration with a health sciences librarian. Search terms included "checklist" and "user-centered design" and their related terms. The IAP2 Spectrum of Participation Framework was used to categorize studies by level of stakeholder engagement during data extraction. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Twenty-three distinct design methods were identified that were predominantly non-collaborative in nature (e.g., interviews, surveys, and other methods that involved only one researcher and one participant at a given time). Analysis of the levels of stakeholder engagement revealed a gap in studies that empowered their stakeholders in the quality checklist design process. Highly effective, clear, and standardized methodology are needed for the design of quality checklists. Future work needs to explore how stakeholders can be empowered in the design process, and how different levels of stakeholder engagement might impact implementation outcomes.

ANALYSIS AND SYSTEMATIZATION OF SOFTWARE INTERFACE DEVELOPMENT METHODS

The goal of this research is to analyze and systematize the methods used in software interface (SI) development, as well as to identify the optimal approaches and technologies for creating intuitive and user-friendly interfaces. In today's world, software interfaces play a crucial role in facilitating user interaction with software products, making their effective design essential. This study examines various SI design methodologies, including both classical and modern approaches, such as user-centered design (UCD), prototyping, usability testing, and adaptive design. Additionally, it explores principles of user interaction, including cognitive aspects and models of information perception, which contribute to the creation of more efficient and user-friendly interfaces.Special attention is given to contemporary technologies and tools, such as frameworks and libraries for interface development, as well as automation methods and the use of artificial intelligence in the SI design process. The research includes an analysis of successful SI implementations across various industries and reviews the latest trends in interface design. The findings are aimed at providing recommendations for selecting the most appropriate methods and technologies for SI development, depending on the project's specific requirements and the needs of end users.The key conclusions of this study may be valuable to software developers, user experience specialists, and interface designers in improving the quality of user interactions with software products. This work can also serve as a foundation for further research in the field of user interface development and optimization, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and practice in this area.

An automated CAD-to-XR framework based on generative AI and Shrinkwrap modelling for a User-Centred design approach

CAD-to-XR is the workflow to generate interactive Photorealistic Virtual Prototypes (iPVPs) for Extended Reality (XR) apps from Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models. This process entails modelling, texturing, and XR programming. In the literature, no automatic CAD-to-XR frameworks simultaneously manage CAD simplification and texturing. There are no examples of their adoption for User-Centered Design (UCD). Moreover, such CAD-to-XR workflows do not seize the potentialities of generative algorithms to produce synthetic images (textures). The paper presents a framework for implementing the CAD-to-XR workflow. The solution consists of a module for texture generation based on Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). The generated texture is then managed by another module (based on Shrinkwrap modelling) to develop the iPVP by simplifying the 3D model and UV mapping the generated texture. The geometric and material data is integrated into a graphic engine, which allows for programming an interactive experience with the iPVP in XR. The CAD-to-XR framework was validated on two components (rifle stock and forend) of a sporting rifle. The solution can automate the texturing process of different product versions in shorter times (compared to a manual procedure). After each product revision, it avoids tedious and manual activities required to generate a new iPVP. The image quality metrics highlight that images are generated in a “realistic” manner (the perceived quality of generated textures is highly comparable to real images). The quality of the iPVPs, generated through the proposed framework and visualised by users through a mixed reality head-mounted display, is equivalent to traditionally designed prototypes.

Impact of Teachers’ Psychological Well-Being on Usability of Systematic Guidance for Constructing Achievement Test Items

Assessment in education is crucial for revealing student achievement potential and motivating learners. Teacher-made tests, a common assessment tool, must be well-designed and aligned with learning objectives to measure student performance effectively. The Systematic Guidance System (SiPantik) was developed to assist teachers in constructing quality test items. This study evaluates SiPantik's usability and its impact on teachers' psychological well-being. Using the USE Questionnaire, the study investigates how the system's ease of use, usefulness, and satisfaction reduce stress and enhance teachers' sense of competence and control. The findings indicate that SiPantik is perceived as a supportive and efficient tool that positively influences psychological well-being by reducing administrative burdens and making the teaching process more enjoyable. The study underscores the importance of user-centric design in educational tools, as the usability and satisfaction provided by SiPantik are closely linked to improved job satisfaction, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. The positive impact of SiPantik highlights the broader benefits of well-designed systems in fostering a supportive and productive educational environment.

Decision Support Systems adoption in pesticide management

This paper presents the findings from a survey on factors influencing the adoption of agricultural Decision Support Systems (DSS). Our study focuses on examining the influence of behavioural, socioeconomic and farm specific characteristics on DSS adoption. Using two structural equation models, we investigate how these factors influence the willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to adopt. Our analysis reveals nuanced insights into the user and farm-specific factors that influence the decision-making process of DSS adoption and WTP. Notably, farm size significantly influences both adoption and WTP, with larger farms more likely to adopt and exhibit higher WTP. To promote adoption, it is important to adapt promotion strategies, with a focus on productivity benefits for large-scale farms and addressing price barriers for smaller ones. Additionally, the main crop type grown impacts WTP and adoption, with arable crop farmers exhibit a lower WTP but more likely to adopt, especially in large-scale operations. Conversely, small-scale arable farmers exhibit higher WTP but lower adoption rates due to scale constraints. Farmer characteristics such as experience and attitudes also play a crucial role, with experienced users and those perceiving productivity improvements due to DSS showing higher WTP. In addition, adoption is also influenced by ease of use and pricing, underpinning the importance of user-friendly designs and clear cost justifications. DSSs with user-centric designs and clear cost justifications can enhance adoption rates.

User-Centered Design of a Smart Refrigerator Integrating Kansei Engineering Principles

User-Centered Design of a Smart Refrigerator Integrating Kansei Engineering Principles

Designing A Blockchain-Empowered Telehealth Artifact for Decentralized Identity Management and Trustworthy Communication: Interdisciplinary Approach.

Telehealth played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to function as an essential component of health care. Existing platforms cannot ensure privacy and prevent cyberattacks. The main objectives of this study are to understand existing cybersecurity issues in identity management and trustworthy communication processes in telehealth platforms and to design a software architecture integrated with blockchain to improve security and trustworthiness with acceptable performance. We improved personal information security in existing telehealth platforms by adopting an innovative interdisciplinary approach combining design science, social science, and computer science in the health care domain, with prototype implementation. We used the design science research methodology to implement our overall design. We innovated over existing telehealth platforms with blockchain integration that improves health care delivery services in terms of security, privacy, and efficiency. We adopted a user-centric design approach and started with user requirement collection, followed by system functionality development. Overall system implementation facilitates user requirements, thus promoting user behavior for the adoption of the telehealth platform with decentralized identity management and an access control mechanism. Our investigation identified key challenges to identity management and trustworthy communication processes in telehealth platforms used in the current health care domain. By adopting distributed ledger technology, we proposed a decentralized telehealth platform to support identity management and a trustworthy communication process. Our design and prototype implementation using a smart contract-driven telehealth platform to provide decentralized identity management and trustworthy communication with token-based access control addressed several security challenges. This was substantiated by testing with 10,000 simulated transactions across 5 peers in the Rahasak blockchain network. The proposed design provides resistance to common attacks while maintaining a linear time overhead, demonstrating improved security and efficiency in telehealth services. We evaluated the performance in terms of transaction throughput, smart contract execution time, and block generation time. To create a block with 10,000 transactions, it takes 8 seconds on average, which is an acceptable overhead for blockchain-based applications. We identified technical limitations in current telehealth platforms. We presented several design innovations using blockchain to prototype a system. We also presented the implementation details of a unique distributed architecture for a trustworthy communication system. We illustrated how this design can overcome privacy, security, and scalability limitations. Moreover, we illustrated how improving these factors sets the stage for improving and standardizing the application and for the wide adoption of blockchain-enabled telehealth platforms.