Title:	FINE-TUNING A CONTEXT-AWARE SYSTEM APPLICATION BY USING USER-CENTRED DESIGN METHODS
Author(s):	Juan Jimenez Garcia, Simone T Boerema, Hermie J Hermens, Paul Havinga
ISBN:	978-972-8939-18-2
Editors:	Katherine Blashki
Year:	2010
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Context-aware systems; user centred design methods; elderly; healthcare; total hip replacement.
Type:	Short Paper
First Page:	323
Last Page:	327
Language:	English
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Paper Abstract:	Context-Aware Systems in the home environment can provide an effective solution for supporting wellbeing and autonomy for the elderly. The definition and implementation of the system architecture for a particular assisted living healthcare application entail both technological and usability challenges. In this paper, we describe our initial experiences with various User-Centred Design methods, as they are applied in the process of fine-tuning a context-aware system architecture to improve quality of life for elderly THR patients (Total Hip Replacement). The insights resulting from this approach resulted in the identification of the key factors of THR rehabilitation at patients’ homes that should be supported by the context-aware system, thereby helping developers in an earlier phase of the development process to better understand the real situation of THR rehabilitation. We found that even with several applied methods, detailed system requirements, as timing and content of the feedback were not identified. To bridge this gap, and to further develop the application, we recommend adopting an integrated approach with Participatory Design methods through the different stages of the research process, as they offer rich complementary data, when the design process is not only for the user, but also with the user.
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