User-centered Methods Research Articles

The Usability and Feasibility of a Dietary Intake Self-Monitoring Application in a Population with Varying Literacy Levels.

Our aim was to study how hemodialysis patients with varying levels of literacy would use a diet and fluid intake monitoring mobile application (DIMA-P) and what would be its impact on their dietary behaviors. We developed a mobile application using user-centered methods and informed by the Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change (ITHBC). Eight hemodialysis patients were recruited to use the application to record and monitor their diet and fluid intakes for a 6-week study. Overall, the participants had low literacy, numeracy, and technical skills. We collected the data on application usage and administered usability and context-of-use questionnaires to gain insights into the participants' interaction with the application. The participants' portion estimation skills and dietary self-regulation self-efficacy were assessed using various tests. In addition, interdialytic weight gain data were collected to assess the impact of app usage on the participants' health outcomes. The application usage patterns varied, with a general trend towards frequent use (n = 5) correlating with engagement in self-monitoring. The participants gave high comprehensibility, user-friendliness, satisfaction, and usefulness ratings, suggesting that the app was well designed and the target users could easily navigate and interact with the features. While the participants improved in estimating portion sizes, the impact on measuring skills was variable. There was also an improvement in the participants' dietary self-regulation self-efficacy post-study. The interdialytic weight gain trends indicated a slight improvement in fluid and diet management. People with different literacy skills can effectively use icon-based interfaces for portion size estimation and develop personalized usage patterns to self-regulate their fluid and dietary intakes. Moreover, they can experience an enhancement in their dietary self-efficacy skills by using a mobile application aimed at providing nutritional feedback. Furthermore, this research shows that the constructs of the ITHBC are effective in promoting dietary behavior change in a population with varying literacy skills. The target users can benefit from explicitly visualizing the relationship between their health outcomes and the factors influencing those outcomes. These user ambitions could be supported by developing machine learning models. Future research should also focus on enhancing the mechanisms by which technology can further enhance each component of the ITHBC framework.

Humanzentrierter Gestaltungsprozess eines intelligenten Assistenzsystems in der manuellen Montage

Abstract This article presents a human-centered approach to developing an intelligent assembly assistance system, based on ISO 9241-210. Requirements were derived using user-centered methods, and a prototype was developed. A study evaluated the impact of error communication on users, highlighting challenges and potentials. The article demonstrates that the involvement of employees is crucial for the successful development of such systems.

Natural Language Processing For Requirement Elicitation In University Using Kmeans And Meanshift Algorithm

Data Driven Requirement Engineering (DDRE) represents a vision for a shift from the static traditional methods of doing requirements engineering to dynamic data-driven user-centered methods. Data available and the increasingly complex requirements of system software whose functions can adapt to changing needs to gain the trust of its users, an approach is needed in a continuous software engineering process. This need drives the emergence of new challenges in the discipline of requirements engineering to meet the required changes. The problem in this study was the method in data discrepancies which resulted in the needs elicitation process being hampered and in the end software development found discrepancies and could not meet the needs of stakeholders and the goals of the organization. The research objectives in this research to the process collected and integrating data from multiple sources and ensuring interoperability. Conclusion in this research is determining is the clustering algorithm help the collection data and elicitation process has a somewhat greater impact on the ratings provided by professionals for pairs that belong to the same cluster. However, the influence of POS tagging on the ratings given by professionals is relatively consistent for pairs within the same cluster and pairs in different clusters.

Evaluating the acceptability of remote cognitive remediation from the perspective of psychosis service users.

Cognitive remediation (CR) can reduce the cognitive difficulties experienced by people with psychosis. Adapting CR to be delivered remotely provides new opportunities for extending its use. However, doing so requires further evaluation of its acceptability from service users' views. We evaluate the acceptability of therapist-supported remote CR from the perspectives of service users using participatory service user-centred methods. After receiving 12 weeks of therapist-supported remote CR, service users were interviewed by a service user researcher following a semi-structured 18-question interview guide. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with themes and codes further validated by a Lived Experience Advisory Panel and member checking. The study recruited 26 participants, almost all of whom reported high acceptability of remote CR, and some suggested improvements. Four themes emerged: (1) perceived treatment benefits, (2) remote versus in-person therapy, (3) the therapist's role, and (4) how it could be better. This study used comprehensive service user involvement methods. For some participants, technology use remained a challenge and addressing these difficulties detracted from the therapy experience. These outcomes align with existing research on remote therapy, suggesting that remote CR can expand choice and improve access to treatment for psychosis service users once barriers are addressed. Future use of remote CR should consider technology training and equipment provision to facilitate therapy for service users and therapists.

Deploying persuasive technology-based model in the prevention and control of malaria in Nigeria to reduce incidence of deaths

Specifically among pregnant women and young children under the age of five, malaria is one of the major causes of illnesses and fatalities in Nigeria, and in Africa in general. According to recent research, malaria-related deaths (MRDs) have risen even though the government has implemented numerous intervention strategies to combat this deadly among Nigerians. This is a result of people not using such intervention methods to protect themselves. Further research into why people don’t comply with intervention systems effectively revealed that the interventions are passive, and sometimes complicated to adopt. Consequently, we established three quantifiable research outcomes that will allow us to assess if persuasive technology is appropriate for eradicating malaria-related deaths. We utilize participatory system design (PSD) and User-Centered methods to collect data from research. The participants provided answers to well-designed questionnaires that were used to gather information to analyze the impact of persuasive technology on the prevention and control of malaria-related deaths. The modeling of the intervention system uses the information gathered from the research survey. The Malaria Prevention and Control Support System (MPCSS), an intervention system, was developed and deployed as part of the research in three phases, and its effectiveness was assessed by an evaluation study. The study revealed that applying the suggested persuading technology-based methodology boosted ownership of mosquito nets, involvement in malaria prevention and control activities, and understanding of the risk of malaria-related mortality.

How to co-design a prototype of a clinical practice tool: a framework with practical guidance and a case study

Clinical tools for use in practice—such as medicine reconciliation charts, diagnosis support tools and track-and-trigger charts—are endemic in healthcare, but relatively little attention is given to how to optimise their...

A Design-Driven Approach to Develop Innovative Clinical Experiences in Dysphagia

Purpose: This clinical focus article presents a modified user-centered design framework in order to facilitate the role of pediatric clinicians who treat feeding/swallowing disorders in redesigning the clinical experience in order to improve outcomes. The article establishes a physiologically based design framework and presents a user-centered design tool that clinicians may utilize to view the patient interaction from a design mindset in their practice. Method: Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the clinical application of the user-centered design tool. Case 1 applies the tool to controlled flow drinking cups and includes a pilot study that explores prototype testing of a novel cup design and the resulting patient experience. Case 2 presents a unique pediatric patient and the application of the user-centered method to analyze a modified treatment experience. Conclusions: Clinicians who treat pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders can benefit from the utilization of a user-centered design approach to observe the patient experience from a design perspective. This approach provides a structure to guide individual clinicians to key insights that may lead to improved treatments. Furthermore, user-centered methods may facilitate the analysis of complex patient scenarios by clinician-led teams, which may result in novel solutions.

THE REPRESENTATION-USAGE-IMPACT (RUI) METHOD TO BETTER FRAME THE POTENTIAL SOCIAL IMPACTS OF A HIGHLY DISRUPTIVE PRODUCT—APPLICATION TO THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE

AbstractInnovative products can be highly prospective and apt to disrupt usages profoundly. They can lead to multiple long-term social impacts influencing people's way of life and behaviour. So it is necessary to anticipate them without delay. Due to high uncertainty, designers may face the problem that conventional user-centred methods, which assess design performances from today's users, are not adapted. We think sociologists can help characterise the likely social impacts of future products. So we propose an original framework called the Representation-Usage-Impact (RUI) method to stimulate sociologists' projection and capture relevant knowledge about probable social impacts. The method includes a database structure encoding the knowledge of sociologists for further use in the design process. Its goal is to help designers avoid making choices today that may be regretted in decades. We illustrate the method and its process with the design of autonomous vehicle scenarios, as it will likely bring many new usages in the future. As the method is still under construction, we present an intermediate validation step involving sociologists. The first results suggest that the method might be a safeguard for the design of disruptive products.

A Study on Fostering Innovation Through Blockchain Technology and Fintech Highlighting Next Major Frontiers on Significant Challenges and Major Opportunities Related to Financial Services Industry and Digitalization Aspects

In the recent decade, India's financial inclusion journey has been amazing, and the government of India has actively encouraged it through the Digital India Movement and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. Poverty reduction and tackling the issues of securing a stable income could be crucial in achieving an inclusive society. Information and communication technology is gradually gaining access to the unbanked people and assisting in their integration into the financial sector. Digital technologies are promoting adoption and improving the standard of living for citizens. In this research paper, discussion with respect to the progress that has been made in the field of financial inclusion so far, as well as what lies ahead and how we can use and benefit from digital technology to create a more inclusive society. As a result of digitalization, organizations are being compelled to continuously review and innovate their business models. Particularly in the area of digital innovation, the financial services industry is undergoing significant change. Fintechs (financial technology startups) are known as a driver of these shifts since they produce novel technology-based solutions with user-centered methods to fulfil rising client expectations. Experts also believe that blockchain technology, as an emergent disintermediating digital innovation, will have a significant impact on the financial services industry. Fintechs and blockchain present incumbent enterprises with not only dangers and sources of disruption, but also opportunities for collaboration and innovation. The various challenges that still stand in the way of creating an inclusive society are described in this article. The importance of cooperation and openness among all significant stakeholders is emphasized in our recommendations for addressing the pressing issues and creating an inclusive workplace

Utilizing Structural Network Positions to Diversify People Recommendations on Twitter

Social recommender systems, such as “Who to follow” on Twitter, utilize approaches that recommend friends of a friend or interest-wise similar people. Such algorithmic approaches have been criticized for resulting in filter bubbles and echo chambers, calling for diversity-enhancing recommendation strategies. Consequently, this article proposes a social diversification strategy for recommending potentially relevant people based on three structural positions in egocentric networks: dormant ties, mentions of mentions, and community membership. In addition to describing our analytical approach, we report an experiment with 39 Twitter users who evaluated 72 recommendations from each proposed network structural position altogether. The users were able to identify relevant connections from all recommendation groups. Yet, perceived familiarity had a strong effect on perceptions of relevance and willingness to follow-up on the recommendations. The proposed strategy contributes to the design of a people recommender system, which exposes users to diverse recommendations and facilitates new social ties in online social networks. In addition, we advance user-centered evaluation methods by proposing measures for subjective perceptions of people recommendations.

Design and development of a wearable system for the analysis of respiratory patterns for health monitoring in seniors

Wearable technology for non-invasive breathing monitoring has shown positive results in clinical tests for the early detection of more severe diseases. Due to the above, this project proposes to predict respiratory diseases by applying Artificial Intelligence techniques to the data obtained from the respiratory rate to identify risks to people's health through a non-invasive wearable device. User-centered methods are being used to design a prototype informed by the needs and characteristics of the users.

Maximizing the Benefits of Participatory Design for Human-Robot Interaction Research With Older Adults.

We reviewed human-robot interaction (HRI) participatory design (PD) research with older adults. The goal was to identify methods used, determine their value for design of robots with older adults, and provide guidance for best practices. Assistive robots may promote aging-in-place and quality of life for older adults. However, the robots must be designed to meet older adults' specific needs and preferences. PD and other user-centered methods may be used to engage older adults in the robot development process to accommodate their needs and preferences and to assure usability of emergent assistive robots. This targeted review of HRI PD studies with older adults draws on a detailed review of 26 articles. Our assessment focused on the HRI methods and their utility for use with older adults who have a range of needs and capabilities. Our review highlighted the importance of using mixed methods and including multiple stakeholders throughout the design process. These approaches can encourage mutual learning (to improve design by developers and to increase acceptance by users). We identified key phases used in HRI PD workshops (e.g., initial interview phase, series of focus groups phase, and presentation phase). These approaches can provide inspiration for future efforts. HRI PD strategies can support designers in developing assistive robots that meet older adults' needs, capabilities, and preferences to promote acceptance. More HRI research is needed to understand potential implications for aging-in-place. PD methods provide a promising approach.

Modeling and “smart” prototyping human-in-the-loop interactions for AmI environments

Autonomous capabilities are required in AmI environments in order to adapt systems to new environmental conditions and situations. However, keeping the human in the loop and in control of such systems is still necessary because of the diversity of systems, domains, environments, context situations, and social and legal constraints, which makes full autonomy a utopia within the short or medium term. Human-system integration introduces an important number of challenges and problems that have to be solved. On the one hand, humans should interact with systems even in those situations where their attentional, cognitive, and physical resources are limited in order to perform the interaction. On the other hand, systems must avoid overwhelming the user with unnecessary actions. Therefore, appropriate user-centered methods for AmI development should be used to help designers analyze and design human-in-the-loop interactions in AmI environments. This paper presents a user-centered design method that defines a process with a set of tools and techniques that supports the process steps in order to systematically design, prototype, and validate human-in-the-loop (HiL) solutions. The process starts with the definition of the HiL design, which defines how the system cooperates with the human. This HiL design is built using a conceptual framework that focuses on achieving human-system interactions that get human attention and avoid obtrusiveness. Then, we provide a software infrastructure to generate a prototype based on the HiL design and validate it by having end-users use a web simulator. The feedback data generated during the prototype user validation is gathered and used by a machine learning tool that infers the user’s needs and preferences. Finally, these inferences are used to automatically enhance the human-in-the-loop designs and prototypes. We have validated the proposed method through a twofold perspective: an experiment to analyze the perception of interaction designers regarding their acceptance of the design method and another experiment to evaluate the usefulness of the “smart” prototyping technique. The results obtained point out the acceptability of the proposed method by designers and the useful adaptations provided by the “smart” prototyping technique to achieve a HiL design that adapts well to users’ preferences and needs.

An Augmented Infocommunication Model for Unified Communications in Situational Contexts of Collaboration

Aim/Purpose: In this work, the authors propose an augmented model for human-centered Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) product design and evaluation, which is supported by previous theoretical work. Background: Although the goal of implementing UC&C in an organization is to promote and mediate group dynamics, increasing overall productivity and collaboration; it does not seem to provide a solution for effective communication. It is clear that there is still a lack of consideration for human communication processes in the development of such products. Methodology: This paper is sustained by existing research to propose and test the application of an augmented model capable of supporting the design, development and evaluation of UC&C services that can be driven by the human communication process. To test the application of the augmented model in UC&C service development, a proof-of-concept mobile prototype was elaborated upon and evaluated, making use of User Experience (UX) and user-centred methods and techniques. A total of nine testing sessions were carried out in an organizational communication setup and recorded with eye tracking technology. Contribution: The authors argue that UC&C services should look at the user’s (human) natural processes to improve effective infocommunication and thus enhance collaboration. Authors believe this augmented version of the model will pave the way improving the research and development of useful and practical infocommunication products, capable of truly serving users’ needs. Findings: On evaluation of the prototype, qualitative data analysis uncovered structural problems in the proposed prototype which hindered the augmented model’s elements and subsequently, the user experience. Five out of eighteen identified interaction issues are highlighted in this paper to demonstrate the proposed augmented model’s validity, applied in UC&C services evaluation. Recommendations for Practitioners: Considering and respecting the user’s natural communication processes, practitioners should be able to propose and develop innovative solutions that truly enable and empower effective organizational collaboration. UC&C functionalities should be designed, taking the augmented model’s proposed elements and their pertinence in representing the human interpersonal communication phenomena into consideration, namely: Social Presence; Immediacy of Communication; Concurrency and Synchronicity. Recommendation for Researchers: This paper intends to demonstrate that the adoption and use of UTAUT technology characteristics, in conjunction with Synchronicity proposition, can be considered as a reference for human-centric design and the evaluation of UC&C systems. Impact on Society: To highlight the need to develop further research on this important topic of human collaboration mediated by technology inside organizations. Future Research: This research focused its attention on communication functionalities. However, collaboration can potentially be affected by other services that may be included in a UC&C system, such as scheduling, meetings or task management. Future research could consider employing this augmented model to evaluate such systems or proof-of-concept prototypes.

Barriers to and Facilitators of Technology in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Self-Management: Systematic Qualitative Grounded Theory Review.

BackgroundDealing with cardiovascular disease is challenging, and people often struggle to follow rehabilitation and self-management programs. Several systematic reviews have explored quantitative evidence on the potential of digital interventions to support cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and self-management. However, although promising, evidence regarding the effectiveness and uptake of existing interventions is mixed. This paper takes a different but complementary approach, focusing on qualitative data related to people’s experiences of technology in this space.ObjectiveThrough a qualitative approach, this review aims to engage more directly with people’s experiences of technology that supports CR and self-management. The primary objective of this paper is to provide answers to the following research question: What are the primary barriers to and facilitators and trends of digital interventions to support CR and self-management? This question is addressed by synthesizing evidence from both medical and computer science literature. Given the strong evidence from the field of human-computer interaction that user-centered and iterative design methods increase the success of digital health interventions, we also assess the degree to which user-centered and iterative methods have been applied in previous work.MethodsA grounded theory literature review of articles from the following major electronic databases was conducted: ACM Digital Library, PsycINFO, Scopus, and PubMed. Papers published in the last 10 years, 2009 to 2019, were considered, and a systematic search with predefined keywords was conducted. Papers were screened against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Comparative and in-depth analysis of the extracted qualitative data was carried out through 3 levels of iterative coding and concept development.ResultsA total of 4282 articles were identified in the initial search. After screening, 61 articles remained, which were both qualitative and quantitative studies and met our inclusion criteria for technology use and health condition. Of the 61 articles, 16 qualitative articles were included in the final analysis. Key factors that acted as barriers and facilitators were background knowledge and in-the-moment understanding, personal responsibility and social connectedness, and the need to support engagement while avoiding overburdening people. Although some studies applied user-centered methods, only 6 involved users throughout the design process. There was limited evidence of studies applying iterative approaches.ConclusionsThe use of technology is acceptable to many people undergoing CR and self-management. Although background knowledge is an important facilitator, technology should also support greater ongoing and in-the-moment understanding. Connectedness is valuable, but to avoid becoming a barrier, technology must also respect and enable individual responsibility. Personalization and gamification can also act as facilitators of engagement, but care must be taken to avoid overburdening people. Further application of user-centered and iterative methods represents a significant opportunity in this space.

ACDC: A new model for the Analysis of Communication in Dyad Cooperation validated by mixed methods

This article has two objectives. First is the presentation of an updated model of conversation analysis designed and tested in a specific cooperation situation. Secondly, its validation by mixed methods combining a qualitative study based on user-centered methods and a quantitative analysis using interrater agreements. The first highlights the importance of adapting the model to the cooperation task by adding or merging typology categories. The second reveals guidelines for the use and reliability of the model based on rater skills. Interrater agreements show that an expert could use our model alone whereas novices should use pair rating for satisfactory results. • Formalization of a new model for conversation analysis during a cooperation situation. • The nature of conversational exchanges and their temporal dynamics are both represented. • Conversational exchange typology is adapted and validated by mixed methods. • Interrater agreements indicate good reliability of the model. • An expert could use our model alone whereas novices should pair rate a conversation.

A Secure Multimedia Processing through Blockchain in Smart Healthcare Systems

The rapidly growing, complex and key area of multimedia processing is medical area where the huge amount of patient?s data is disregarded. Further, medial fields used to interrelate with multimedia formats because of their daily real communication. Healthcare associations are renovating themselves into added efficient, coordinated and user-centered methods through several upcoming techniques. Though, the management of large information such as patient information, medical reports escorts to augments the human labors and security hazards. Therefore, to conquer these problems, IoT-healthcare came into existence that enhances the patients care by reducing the cost of resources in an effective way. Along with lot of IoT benefits, associations are afraid to use them because of its compromise initiated by several intruders. For benefiting their own purposes, intruders hack the patient?s online record for selling to third party for doing the researchers analysis. Further, doctors also make the money for their concession by forcing the patients to buy the medicines from their recommended firms. So as to avert these problems, Blockchain technology has been came across in healthcare systems that may keep track of every activity of the entities. The patients and other entities are recognized through bio metric methods so that even if hackers try to compromise the devices or to access the stored information; the patients may easily identify the intruders or alteration in stored record. In this paper, we have projected a secure IoT healthcare mechanism using Blockchain technique that initially identify the patients and other entities using bio metric passwords and further can analyze the modifications in their records. The proposed scheme results have been validated against traditional method by offering 88% success rate over certain parametric scenarios such as grey hole attack, falsification attack and probabilistic authentication scenarios.

Developing Design Solutions for Smart Homes Through User-Centered Scenarios.

The success of smart homes is fundamentally dependent on their adoption and use by people in the context of daily life. This study investigated ways to control and adapt the technology to fulfill user daily needs, which are the active drivers of smart housing technology adoption. A framework of smart home services was developed by focusing on the practicability of each variable from the perspective of supporting user experience. By developing scenarios based on previous studies, we identified residents’ behaviors and intentions regarding smart home technology and its use. Their issues were identified through the health problems and daily activities identified in the scenarios, and customized smart home services were developed for each resident based on technical solutions, space requirements, and design solutions. The main strength of this study is the adoption of user-centered methods to build a rich picture of the issues that affect households and the community related to the design, installation, and use of technology.

Transforming Learning Through User-Centered Design Research Methods

This paper considers how design educators can harness the evolving nature of design practice to enhance learning for design students. It sets out the reasoning for embedding user-centered design research methods in the curriculum, describes the potential of these methods to transform learning and, as a result, better prepare graduates for their future career. Project-based learning was employed to explore the potential impact of embedding user-centered design research methods in the curriculum. Two project-based case studies, conducted with undergraduate design and design and marketing students in separate UK universities, illustrate how user-centered design research methods have been applied across traditional discipline boundaries. We report on student experiences immediately, and longitudinally (12 months) after the completion of the projects. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with students on completion of the projects revealed that a more holistic understanding of the design process was developed through the use of user-insights generated as a result of engagement with these methods. While this process had caused positive tensions and recognition of the need to move beyond the self and to put themselves in other people’s shoes, the insights generated informed subsequent design activity and provided a clearer link between research and design development. After 12 months, thematic analysis of follow-up interviews revealed changes in design practices through adoption of structured user-centered methods had led to an enhanced appreciation of contextual factors and underpinned and better justified design decisions. Detailed analysis of the findings informed the development of a <i>Transforming Learning Framework</i> which articulates how the adoption of user-centered design research methods shapes students longer-term understanding of, and approaches to, design. This framework conveys how new frames of reference and critical reflection led to an enhanced design skillset and mindset and as such provides new insights that have the potential to advance understandings of pedagogic practice. Finally, the research revealed that exposure to user-centered design research methods enhanced sensitivity to, and awareness of, user needs; increased understanding of context and the breadth of issues relevant in early stages of the design process; and amplified students confidence helping better prepare them for professional practice.

Brainstorming variants to favor creative design

The design process in preventive and prospective ergonomic contexts requires creativity. However, user-centered methods are not usually aimed at supporting creative design. We therefore devised two variants of the seminal brainstorming technique to favor ideation during design activities. One variant encouraged participants to focus on the evocation of ideas, like the seminal technique, whereas the other emphasized the evocation of constraints related to the design problem. To analyze the effects of these variants on creative design, we conducted three studies: one with future designers (Study 1), one with future generalist teachers (Study 2), and one with future teachers specializing in creative activities (Study 3). Depending on the study, participants were provided with idea evocation instructions, constraint evocation instructions, or no specific instructions. Results allowed us to identify the best conditions for promoting creativity in design, depending on the individual's specialty or the complexity of the design task.