Vera Stara1, Richard Harte2, Mirko Di Rosa1, Liam Glynn3, Monica Casey3, Patrick Hayes3, Lorena Rossi1, Anat Mirelman4, Paul M A Baker5, Leo R Quinlan6, Gearóid ÓLaighin2. 1. Istituto Nazionale di Riposo e Cura per Anziani (INRCA). 2. Electrical & Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering & Informatics, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Human Movement Laboratory, CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland. 3. General Practice, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland. 4. Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre (TASMC), Tel-Aviv, Israel. 5. Center for Advanced Communications Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States. 6. Physiology, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland; Human Movement Laboratory, CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices, NUI Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: leo.quinlan@nuigalway.ie.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: User-centred design (UCD) is a process whereby the end-user is placed at the centre of the design process. The WIISEL (Wireless Insole for Independent and Safe Elderly Living) system is designed to monitor fall risk and to detect falls, and consists of a pair of instrumented insoles and a smartphone app. The system was designed using a three-phase UCD process carried out in Ireland, which incorporated the input of Irish end-users and multidisciplinary experts throughout. OBJECTIVE: In this paper we report the results of a usability and user experience (UX) assessment of the WIISEL system in multiple countries and thus establish whether the UCD process carried out in Ireland produced positive usability and UX results outside of Ireland. METHODS: 15 older adults across three centres (Ireland, Italy and Israel) were recruited for a three-day trial of the system in their home. Usability and UX data were captured using observations, interviews and usability questionnaires. RESULTS: The system was satisfactory in terms of the usability and UX feedback from the participants in all three countries. There was no statistically significant difference in the usability scores for the three countries tested, with the exception of comfort. CONCLUSIONS: A connected health system designed using a UCD process in a single country resulted in positive usability and UX for users in other European countries.
BACKGROUND: User-centred design (UCD) is a process whereby the end-user is placed at the centre of the design process. The WIISEL (Wireless Insole for Independent and Safe Elderly Living) system is designed to monitor fall risk and to detect falls, and consists of a pair of instrumented insoles and a smartphone app. The system was designed using a three-phase UCD process carried out in Ireland, which incorporated the input of Irish end-users and multidisciplinary experts throughout. OBJECTIVE: In this paper we report the results of a usability and user experience (UX) assessment of the WIISEL system in multiple countries and thus establish whether the UCD process carried out in Ireland produced positive usability and UX results outside of Ireland. METHODS: 15 older adults across three centres (Ireland, Italy and Israel) were recruited for a three-day trial of the system in their home. Usability and UX data were captured using observations, interviews and usability questionnaires. RESULTS: The system was satisfactory in terms of the usability and UX feedback from the participants in all three countries. There was no statistically significant difference in the usability scores for the three countries tested, with the exception of comfort. CONCLUSIONS: A connected health system designed using a UCD process in a single country resulted in positive usability and UX for users in other European countries.