-Hsuan Tsai

Research on a Community-based Platform for Promoting Health and Physical Fitness in the Elderly Community

This study aims to assess the acceptability of a fitness testing platform (iFit) for installation in an assisted living community with the aim of promoting fitness and slowing the onset of frailty. The iFit platform develops a means of testing Bureau of Health Promotion mandated health assessment items for the elderly (including flexibility tests, grip strength tests, balance tests, and reaction time tests) and integrates wireless remote sensors in a game-like environment to capture and store subject response data, thus providing individuals in elderly care contexts with a greater awareness of their own physical condition. In this study, we specifically evaluated the users’ intention of using the iFit using a technology acceptance model (TAM). A total of 101 elderly subjects (27 males and 74 females) were recruited. A survey was conducted to measure technology acceptance, to verify that the platform could be used as intended to promote fitness among the elderly. Results indicate that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and usage attitude positively impact behavioral intention to use the platform. The iFit platform can offer user-friendly solutions for a community-based fitness care and monitoring of elderly subjects. In summary, iFit was determined by three key drivers and discussed as follows: risk factors among the frail elderly, mechanism for slowing the advance frailty, and technology acceptance and support for promoting physical fitness.

eFurniture for home-based frailty detection using artificial neural networks and wireless sensors

The purpose of this study is to integrate wireless sensor technologies and artificial neural networks to develop a system to manage personal frailty information automatically. The system consists of five parts: (1) an eScale to measure the subjects reaction time; (2) an eChair to detect slowness in movement, weakness and weight loss; (3) an ePad to measure the subjects balancing ability; (4) an eReach to measure body extension; and (5) a Home-based Information Gateway, which collects all the data and predicts the subjects frailty. Using a furniture-based measuring device to provide home-based measurement means that health checks are not confined to health institutions. We designed two experiments to obtain optimum frailty prediction model and test overall system performance: (1) We developed a three-step process to adjust different parameters to obtain an optimized neural identification network whose parameters include initialization, L.R. dec and L.R. inc. The post-process identification rate increased from 77.85% to 83.22%. (2) We used 149 cases to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of our frailty prediction algorithm. The sensitivity and specificity of this system are 79.71% and 86.25% respectively. These results show that our system is a high specificity prediction tool that can be used to assess frailty.

Sharetouch: A system to enrich social network experiences for the elderly

Abstract The Sharetouch system is designed for raising users’ participation in community events. We put three subsystems into Sharetouch: (1) community pond, (2) Waterball interactive game, and (3) multimedia sharing. Sharetouch is based on an optical touch device designed by the Joyplux Company with an infrared LED and camera. This device can support multi-touch functions within a large display area. The software of Sharetouch was developed within XNA and .NET frameworks. We project the users as fish in our community pond. Sharetouch displays all the friends as fish when the users log into the system. Therefore, the number of fish equals the number of friends of the users. This design encourages users to make more friends to increase the number of fish. Waterball is a game that combines virtual images and real objects. The concept is based on the Nintendo Wii games, as players hold controllers (real objects) to play the games (virtual images). We also apply the concept of the cloud flash drive to multimedia sharing to avoid the trouble of carrying a real flash disk. This study employed the TAM measure to measure the validity of Sharetouch in this social platform. Our findings indicated that all proposed hypotheses had a positive and significant impact on the intention of older people to interact with Sharetouch. Unlike the computer-based system, Sharetouch is created as a user-friendly interface system. Sharetouch can enrich the users’ social network experiences through its hardware and software architectures.

Perceptions of a Specific Family Communication Application among Grandparents and Grandchildren: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model.

Many studies have noted that the use of social networks sites (SNSs) can enhance social interaction among the elderly and that the motivation for the elderly to use SNSs is to keep in contact with remote friends and family or the younger generation. Memotree is designed to promote intergenerational family communication. The system incorporates the Family Tree design concept and provides family communication mechanisms based on the Family Communication Scale. In addition, the system optimizes hardware and interface use to conform to the specific needs of older and substantially younger individuals. Regarding the impact of variables on SNS with respect to the interaction of usability variables in the construction of a cross-generational communication platform, we adopted the TAM model and Chung et al.’s suggestions to promote user acceptance of the proposed Memotree system. A total of 39 grandchildren and 39 grandparents met the criteria and were included in the study. The elderly and young respondents revealed substantial willingness to use and/or satisfaction with using the Memotree system. Empirical results indicate that technology affordances and perceived ease of use have a positive impact on perceived usefulness, while perceived ease of use is affected by technology affordances. Internet self-efficacy and perceived usefulness have a positive impact on the user’s behavioral intention toward the system. In addition, this study investigated age as a moderating variable in the model. The results indicate that grandchildren have a larger significant effect on the path between perceived usefulness and behavioral intention than grandparents. This study proposes a more complete framework for investigating the user’s behavioral intention and provides a more appropriate explanation of related services for cross-generational interaction with SNS services.

Sharetouch: a multi-touch social platform for the elderly

The Sharetouch, which is a multi-touch social interaction system, aims to enable the elderly to engage the benefits of IT and enhance their social interaction among those older persons living in the community. Unlike most of the in-the-market digital devices, the Sharetouch attempts to merge the digital desktop and physical table into one, and has extra capabilities. Hence, a 52-inch large share-display system is developed for the purpose of accommodating multi-users simultaneously on a table surface shown in this paper.

The UI issues for the search engine

According to Internet World Stats and EUROPA, “use search engine” is the highest proportion of Internet individual activities. Therefore, despite functions, databases and technology update of search engine development, it should be considered the usability, operation, and user behavior. This article explore from the development process of the Web and search engines, and summarized the current search engine interface, as well as a search engine Web2.0 applications. Finally point out the user-oriented design has become the core issue, and the search engine have important relations with user interface input, output, and how to give users individual demand results automatically. In conclusion, in order to improve user efficiency and convenience, it should test the practicality and appropriate of the current search engine interface and integration of Web2.0s various functions to provide personalized search engine interface of user-oriented.

An investigation into the social network between three generations in a household: bridging the interrogational gaps between the senior and the youth

The traditional pattern of living arrangements makes the family a strong source of financial and emotional support for its members, and it connects grandparents and grandchildren in a unique bond. Unfortunately, it is reported that the number of older people living alone is rising in most countries. Although a lot of effort has been put into slowing down the social and emotional isolation experienced by the elderly, little has been done to investigate the social interaction between generations. In order to bridge intergenerational gaps between three generations of a family, this research work begins with an interview-based study to give insight into individual perspectives among those aged parents living alone and to identify their specific needs in generational connections and interactions.

Exploring Location-Based Augmented Reality Experience in Museums

Augmented reality and beacon technology have gradually attracted considerable attention as the technology has matured, and is now applied in many areas, including museums. This study uses AR and beacons to develop a new museum tour guide app and then design the content and functions of the app based on media richness theory. The tour guide app is expected to provide immediate information guiding service and various education and entertainment functions that are more interactive. Finally, the present study measured the usability of the system by a mobile-specific heuristic evaluation checklist.

Design of a Mobile Augmented Reality Application: An Example of Demonstrated Usability

Mobile augmented reality (MAR) services allow a user to interact with virtual information in the real word through the user interface (UI) of his/her mobile device. However, it is necessary to introduce augmented reality (AR)-related usability principles when developing and designing MAR services to ensure that they conform to the usability principles and provide user experiences that meet users’ expectations. On this basis, the present study designed an MAR application aimed at product marketing and providing an interactive experience based on the usability principles. In addition, experts were invited to measure the usability of the system based on a mobile-specific heuristic evaluation checklist. The results demonstrated that the MAR application designed in the present study met the system usability requirements and could provide users with a positive experience during their interactions with it.

Memotree: using online social networking to strengthen family communication

This study describes the design and development of Memotree - a basic service platform for family social interaction. Memotree features a Family Tree which displays the family relationships and links among family members, with features to encourage family interaction based on the Family Communications Scale. The system and its associated hardware are designed to be optimally accessible to family members of different generations. Finally, Heuristic Evaluation was used to evaluate Memotree usability. Test subjects affirmed the Memotree concept and provided positive feedback.