Young Mi Choi

Approaches for Evaluating the Usability of Assistive Technology Product Prototypes

ABSTRACT User input is an important component to help guide designers in producing a more usable product. Evaluation of prototypes is one method of obtaining this input, but methods for evaluating assistive technology prototypes during design have not been adequately described or evaluated. This project aimed to compare different methods of evaluating prototypes to determine which hold promise as aids to designing new assistive technology products. Eight teams were recruited to independently design a working prototype of an assistive device. Twenty potential users were recruited to evaluate each of the devices by using the device to perform a task, completing an evaluation survey, answering a single overall opinion question, and by ranking the devices. The results indicate that a short evaluation survey may be a useful tool to help designers engage users during the design process.

Potential barriers in adoption of a medication compliance neckwear by elderly population

This paper presents results of a study to understand potential barriers of geriatric population with chronic illnesses towards adoption of a wireless wearable medication compliance system in the form of a neckwear. The neck being a critical part of the body can serve as a good source to collect a range of health related information on an individual. The primary research question we investigate here is this: for individuals with chronic illnesses especially amongst the elderly population how willing are they to adopt a neckwear system if it can monitor and mitigate health complications? Elderly patients deal with constant prescription changes over time and this further degrades medication compliance and thereby complicates an already wavering health status. A semi-structured interview was conducted to better understand medication adherence, regimen and issues encountered using reminder devices with the goal of informing the design of a new compliance monitoring system. Results show that preserving health is one of the primary concerns of people living with chronic illnesses therefore there is a promising potential for seamless adoption of a neckwear medication compliance system with additional capabilities to monitor general health status.

Managing Input during Assistive Technology Product Design

Many different sources of input are available to assistive technology innovators during the course of designing products. However, there is little information on which ones may be most effective or how they may be efficiently utilized within the design process. The aim of this project was to compare how three types of input—from simulation tools, professional therapists, and end users—affect the final design when they are provided during the course of the design process. Eight design teams were recruited to independently design a working prototype of an assistive device while receiving a particular type of input. Twenty potential users were recruited to evaluate each of the devices with respect to effectiveness and satisfaction. The results indicate that in some cases each type of input can have a positive effect on end user evaluation. Issues related to how input may be affected by design concept selection, stakeholder recruitment, and timely delivery of input are discussed.

Study on the Design Characteristics of Head Mounted Displays (HMD) for Use in Guided Repair and Maintenance

Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) are believed to be extremely useful in industrial applications. However, few studies have discussed the impact of different design characteristics of head mounted displays on task performance. This study aims to find out how different display positions of Head Mounted Displays may affect the performance of workers performing guided repair and maintenance tasks. A set of car maintenance and repair tasks will be performed with the guidance of HMD technologies with 3 different display locations: above eye, eye-centered and below eye, and the traditional paper manual. Time and errors will be measured and discussed, so as the implications of human factors. Designers and engineers may leverage the findings to develop next-generation HMDs that improve the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction for workers.

Building a Consumer Network to Engage Users with Disabilities

Involving end users is critical when designing assistive devices or conducting research on disability. Identifying and recruiting users willing to take part in these activities can be a difficult and time consuming task for designers and researchers who want information from a targeted group. Study samples which can be generalized to the larger population are important to both as well. To help address some of these issues, the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) at the Georgia Institute of Technology created the CATEA Consumer Network (CCN). The CCN is a network of older adults and people with disabilities whose members test new prototypes, products and services in order to improve them through focus groups, field-testing and surveys (www.catea.org/ccn/ccn.php).

Design and Fabricate Neckwear to Improve the Elderly Patients’ Medical Compliance

According to the estimation of the US National Council for Patient Information and Education, there is millions of prescription written each year, but only half of them are correctly followed by patients. Non-compliance with medicine prescription will result in higher medical cost, more hospitalizations, more complicated pill dosage, and even a threat to life. In order to improve elderly people’s medical compliance, a new approach that utilizes microelectronics technology in wearable neckwear has been proposed. The sensors in the neckwear are able to detect whether the user has actually taken the pill and which pills the user has taken. During the design iteration, elderly participants’ medication related behavioral data and their opinions towards the neckwear reminder concept were first gathered by interviews. The result has demonstrated that wearable neckwear seemed to be a potential solution to improve elderly people’s medication compliance. Then a set of physical (non-functional) prototypes was created based on the initial survey input. Usability testing was conducted in order to measure elderly people’s preferences in relation to shape, comfort, desirability, ease of use and other factors. This paper documented the development of this prototype and focused on the design challenges that have been encountered, and how the problems have been solved.

Older Adults' Perceptions of a Neckwear Health Technology

Many gerotechnology devices are intended to help older adults improve health self-management and maintain independence. By including older adults throughout the design process, health technologies can be designed to meet their unique needs and preferences. This study investigated older adults’ perceptions of prototypes for a Wireless Event detection and Adherence Monitoring System (WEAMS). The WEAMS is a neckwear technology that would have the capability to assist with managing medication, tracking activity levels, and detecting falls. Twelve older adults (Mage = 77.7; SD = 7.13; 9 female, 3 male) completed in-home interviews on wearable health technologies and evaluated three non-functioning WEAMS prototypes on various aspects of ease of use, comfort, and desirability. Participants preferred prototypes with discrete design features and that were easy to put on and take off. Open-ended participant comments revealed a strong preference for the system to blend in with the user’s attire and not draw unwanted attention. Moreover, this study found perceived need to be an important factor in older adults’ acceptance of the WEAMS. Findings from this study will guide the design of the WEAMS neckwear and future wearable health technologies.

A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Design in Education Applied to Medical Problems

The goal of this paper is to outline the successful application of a multidisciplinary approach to the design of a piece of laboratory equipment to be used in the field. Commercial design projects commonly involve multi-disciplinary teams that include designers, engineers, marketing professionals as well as experts from other disciplines. Accordingly, it is important that design instruction adequately prepare students for this professional reality. They must be cognizant of the goals and concerns that team members from other backgrounds may have and understand how best to interact with them to optimize outcome. The results of a design project within a multidisciplinary studio class are discussed.

Challenges to Teaching Empathy in Design

This paper will discuss some of the challenges of teaching students to build empathy and learning how to utilize it within a design project. It will discuss challenges encountered within two college level classes: an industrial design studio and in a class on human factors and ergonomics. Two project examples will be presented for the studio, a universal design project and a project to design an assistive device. An example of an empathy activity used in the lecture based human factors class is presented.

Advanced patient transfer assist device with intuitive interaction control

This research aims to improve patient transfers by developing a new type of advanced robotic assist device. It has multiple actuated degrees of freedom and a powered steerable base to maximize maneuverability around obstacles. An intuitive interface and control strategy allows the caregiver to simply push on the machine in the direction of desired patient motion. The control integrates measurements of both force and proximity to mitigate any potential large collision forces and provides operators information about obstacles with a form of haptic feedback. Electro-hydraulic pump controlled actuation provides high force density for the actuation. Nineteen participants performed tests to compare transfer operations (transferring a 250-lb mannequin between a wheelchair, chair, bed, and floor) and interaction control of a prototype device with a commercially available patient lift. The testing included a time study of the transfer operations and subjective rating of device performance. The results show that operators perform transfer tasks significantly faster and rate performance higher using the prototype patient transfer assist device than with a current market patient lift. With further development, features of the new patient lift can help facilitate patient transfers that are safer, easier, and more efficient for caregivers.