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The five daily prayers are an obligation of worship for Muslims in the world. Prayers have a predetermined time schedule according to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and have different schedules according to each region. As Muslims, it is obligatory to pray five times a day. However, there are a lot of start-up company which forgot about the employee need such as praying. One of them is called byPulsa Start-up company which wants anticipates delays in praying. Because of this reason, the Ceo at byPulsa need an application to remind the employee about praying. So, this company wants to improve the additional feature into its application and develop its application more less interaction and efficient. So, this research aims to develop the previous application into an application that can remind employees to pray. In this research, Kiss Principle Method and User Centered Design were used to this application to make it more efficient and usable for user. The results show that the user feels more satisfied with the application because it has prayer schedule feature based on user's position. The CSAT score from evaluation has score 80% which higher than previous application. This application can help and guide users in exploring their religion by following online studies and using features such as prayer beads, Islamic book recommendations, even Islamic podcasts. As well as the Kiss principle method used here, it functions to make it easier for users to interact with the application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) offer potential solutions for addressing mental health care gaps, but often suffer from low engagement. Text messaging is one promising medium for increasing access and sustaining user engagement with DMHIs. This paper examines the Small Steps SMS program, an 8-week, automated, adaptive text message-based intervention for depression and anxiety. We conducted an 8-week longitudinal usability test of the Small Steps SMS program, recruiting 20 participants who met criteria for major depressive disorder and/or generalized anxiety disorder. Participants used the automated intervention for 8 weeks and completed symptom severity and usability self-report surveys after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention use. Participants also completed individual interviews to provide feedback on the intervention. Participants responded to automated messages on 70 % of study days and with 85 % of participants sending responses to messages in the 8th week of use. Usability surpassed established cutoffs for software that is considered acceptable. Depression symptom severity decreased significantly over the usability test, but reductions in anxiety symptoms were not significant. Participants noted key areas for improvement including addressing message volume, aligning message scheduling to individuals' availability, and increasing the customizability of content. This study does not contain a control group. An 8-week automated interactive text messaging intervention, Small Steps SMS, demonstrates promise with regard to being a feasible, usable, and engaging method to deliver daily mental health support to individuals with symptoms of anxiety and depression. • Daily interactive SMS is acceptable for supporting affective self-management skills. • A personalized automated SMS intervention supports sustained engagement (8 weeks). • An SMS-based mental health intervention is associated with reductions in depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guiding students to library resources, and supporting users in their discovery and use, is a key role of academic librarians. Subject pages are a traditional way of asynchronously managing some of the complexity that exists, with off-the-shelf software packages often a solution. The University of Portsmouth Library (https://library.port.ac.uk/) decided to provide this support through an addition to our existing in-house content management system (CMS). This would be flexible and powerful in allowing freedom of design for Faculty Librarians within a shell that provided some similarity – and thus familiarity – between subject areas. It would also be easy to maintain technically. The Library's Web Developer, in consultation with the six Faculty Librarians and the Enquiry team lead, has built a PHP/MySQL based application which is tightly integrated to our existing web resources providing enhanced delivery mechanisms allowing for open ended content development while retaining support for legacy web pages. This allows new pages to be quickly and easily added to the system in real time, existing pages to be either edited alone, 'linked to' or copied and modified. Resource lists can be simply constructed which rely on Library metadata rather than copies of data which need updating; support material can be added whether video, slides or images; guidance can be included to help students navigate their information literacy journey. Despite a pressured summer period of lockdown and working from home due to Covid-19, the rollout of the system has been successful from the point of view of the faculty librarian construction and development, as well as in usage by our enquiries team supporting students requiring help. Student feedback has been positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between human and machine plays an important role in the design and optimization of human-machine systems. This interaction is characterized by human motion using the technical system. Especially in the field of hand and power tool applications, the motion capture should be performed under the real working condition and without influencing the user. There are already motion tracking systems that allow capturing the motion during the interaction, but there is no mobile motion capture system that allows an individual analysis of the user for biomechanical analysis in the normal work process without influencing him. Therefore, requirements for a motion capture system are derived and a system is presented that meets these requirements. This system consists of two cameras and is based on the pose estimation algorithm OpenPose. The comparison of the presented system and the state-of-the-art system Xsens is performed and based on the measured elbow angle and the wrist position. The results show a very good correspondence between the curve characteristic of the elbow angle and the wrist position of both systems. However, inexplicable values shifting at two different levels still occur, which need to be investigated further. Overall, the presented system shows great potential in terms of mobility and flexibility of the presented system with some weaknesses in the data processing and efficiency. By addressing these weaknesses, the presented system can be used in the analysis and optimization of human-machine systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper prototypes have been successful for gathering concrete, grounded user feedback. Most of these prototypes are used to elicit feedback during bounded design sessions. However, for systems that support new social practices these bounded sessions do not fully materialize the interactions the prototype supports. This paper presents a case study of a six-month paper prototype deployment that materialized collaborative interactions in care retirement community. Throughout this deployment the prototype was situated within the lives of participants, where they shaped the interactions and usage of the prototype over time. As these interactions materialized, the evoked community practice was unlike what participants envisioned during our first, more traditional paper prototyping and design sessions. This article shows how our interactive, paper prototype provided critical guidance in how realistic our imagined practice would be. • Deploying a paper prototype for months, not hours, at a time can reveal more detail. • Creative use of paper prototypes can support collaborative and social practices. • Temporal and physical space to evolve prototypes grants more accessible participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital human models offer great potential for the evaluation of physical human factors throughout all phases of product development. Unfortunately, digital human models lack a generic user-product interaction model to use them as universal and truly predictive CAE tools. In this contribution, we propose a concept for a generic and integrated interaction model based on the concept of affordances, the technology of CAD features and posture- and movement-prediction methods. Furthermore, we propose an affordance taxonomy, which shall enable a universal methodical description of interactions occurring during product use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Investigates the role and application of user experience principles in the design of healthcare games and applications. • Analyzes current user experience practices. • Makes six design recommendations for incorporating UX in healthcare games and applications. • Demonstrates recommendations through the evaluation of a game and its incorporation of UX. Abstract Games and simulations are used in healthcare for purposes including training, education, and promoting wellness. However, there is often disconnect between content creators and the healthcare providers or patients who use their products. This can result in negative experiences and perceptions. This article investigates research in user experience (UX) to examine how games and applications designed for use in healthcare are impacted by considerations such as design practices and users' attitudes. By exploring the design of healthcare games and applications through the lens of user experience, the authors analyze current practices and develop specific design recommendations to improve future game-based scenarios. These six design recommendations are then applied to an example game, Medulla, to investigate their utility in framing a real-world example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human use of land increasingly alters the structure and the functioning of the environment. To ex-ante understand and anticipate these changes there is an increased need for readily available and operational land use change models. One of these models is CLUE, which has been used in many studies all over the world. These studies brought forward operational hurdles, that hamper model application. The overall objective of this paper is to present a new version of the CLUE model, iCLUE, that helps to overcome these hurdles. We describe the technical redevelopment, conceptual innovations, several applications and success factors and critical reflections. iCLUE minimizes manual error-prone actions, enhances ease-of-use, speeds up the operational modelling process and provides data visualisations to empower users to analyse and interpret results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technology is transforming different areas, such as rehabilitation, in such a way that serious games are finding a use as an alternative in hearing therapies for children with cochlear implants, creating a motivating experience in children. As a result, the design of products oriented to children depends on the skills they have to interact, because if they have a better user experience they may have a better learning experience. Most existing methods of assessment are aimed at adults, although some have been adapted for children with special needs, including children with cochlear implants. This article presents a methodology for User Experience Assessment (UXA), that provides support for following the necessary guidelines and choosing techniques adapted to the characteristics of the child with cochlear implant. The methodology has been applied in a case study with 23 children with cochlear implants in the Institute for Blind and Deaf Children in Colombia, where different methods have been used and adapted to assess the user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic solutions for delivery tasks in urban and unstructured areas have represented a solid and considerable field of research in recent years. The aim of the proposed paper is to present the technical feasibility and usability of a robotic solution able to carry items from outdoor areas up to the user’s apartment and vice-versa. The proposed solution is based on three heterogeneous mobile platforms, working in three different environments (domestic, condominium, outdoor), able to cooperate among themselves and with other machines in the framework (i.e. the elevator of the condominium). The evaluation was performed in realistic environments involving 30 end-users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, the number of knowledge networking platforms has been rapidly increasing, in part to support data intensive and cross-disciplinary research in growing fields such as health and life sciences. To promote knowledge sharing, it is important to understand why scientists want to or hesitate to share knowledge with other research communities. We examined five determining factors (reciprocal benefit, anticipated relationship, reputation, altruism and fear of being scooped) that impact scientists' intention to share explicit and implicit knowledge and built a predictive research model. The proposed model was then evaluated using partial least squares (PLSs) method against 141 valid survey responses. The results suggested that reciprocal benefit and fear of being scooped were significant in affecting implicit and explicit knowledge sharing behavior in health and life sciences research communities. Reputation had a main effect on scientists' intention to share explicit knowledge and anticipated relationship had an effect on scientists’ intention to share implicit knowledge. However, altruism showed no main effects on knowledge sharing. We concluded by discussing strategies, derived from analyzing our survey data, to assist user experience practitioners in designing and promoting knowledge networking support in complex scientific domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prototypes are essential tools in product design processes, but are often underutilized by novice designers. To help novice designers use prototypes more effectively, we must first determine how they currently use prototypes. In this paper, we describe how novice designers conceptualized prototypes and reported using them throughout a design project, and we compare reported prototyping use to prototyping best practices. We found that some of the reported prototyping practices by novice designers, such as using inexpensive prototypes early and using prototypes to define user requirements, occurred infrequently and lacked intentionality. Participants' initial descriptions of prototypes were less sophisticated than how they later described using them, and only upon prompted reflection did participants recognize more specific benefits of using prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While scholars have studied benefits and drawbacks of prototype development, few have attempted to create a holistic framework to structure prototyping and combine insights from across technical domains. An extensive literature review of prototyping research and study of novice designers' mental models of prototyping is used to develop and validate a set of specifications for a holistic and structured prototyping framework. This work then introduces a novel framework to help structure prototyping, Prototype for X (PFX), as an alternative to traditional prototyping approaches in engineering design. Early results highlight the potential impact PFX can have on the design process and on the final design product compared to those achieved through ‘prototyping in the wild’. Future research directions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly expanding market for wearable computing devices (wearables), driven by advances in information and communication technologies (ICT), wireless access, and public acceptance of a design aesthetic, is indicative of the near limitless potential for changing the relationship of users to information context(s). As the adoption of wearable devices spreads, there are cultural and social impacts that represent both barriers and opportunities, with subsequent policy ramifications. All too often designers, technologists, and policymakers operate independently developing products that are out of sync, lack interoperability, or are hindered by well meaning, but obstructive policy. This paper proposes a futures-based, iterative policy-informed design framework for developing wearable devices that guides interdisciplinary collaborators early in the process of designing a research & development plan. This approach allows for the development of “images of the future” through which various potential implications and effects of device design in social, technological, and regulatory contexts can be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a front-end, user-centered method to prioritize unmet needs previously generated from large groups. Several hypotheses were tested: (1) Needs submitted first will be less likely to be high quality than needs submitted after a sustained period of time; (2) Semantically similar need statements will be rated as equivalent in quality; (3) Need statements will be rated as higher quality if a detailed description of the need context was available. Over 20 000 ratings for 1697 statements across three common product areas were analyzed. The results showed needs that first come to mind are not lower quality than needs that come to mind later and can inform early design phases to balance in-depth research and size of user groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic orthoses, or exoskeletons, have the potential to provide effective rehabilitation while overcoming the availability and cost constraints of therapists. However, current orthosis actuation systems use components designed for industrial applications, not specifically for interacting with humans. This can limit orthoses' capabilities and, if their users’ needs are not adequately considered, contribute to their abandonment. Here, a user centered review is presented on: requirements for orthosis actuators; the electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic actuators currently used in orthoses and their advantages and limitations; the potential of new actuator technologies, including smart materials, to actuate orthoses; and the future of orthosis actuator research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern production of high pressure die casting parts raise new challenges regarding planning, scheduling and analyzing of the underlying manufacturing process. The smart factory approach and the research and development pursuit of the fourth industrial revolution necessitate the refurbishment and upgrade of already existing manufacturing systems and the introduction of new information and communication technologies (ICT) in automation systems in order to achieve a holistic, company-wide information exchange and a pervasive traceability of product and manufacturing data. According to this approach, previous programmable logical controls (PLC), established business intelligence solutions and existing manufacturing execution systems (MES) with mutually lacking interfaces are integrated into a new ecosystem for planning, executing and analysis applications. Due to the fact that each system persists on its own user interface, the implementation has to be strongly coupled to a user centered design of innovative human machine interfaces, joined into one distributed, networked application. In this paper, an agile information processing framework for foundry purposes is presented. Every underlying application is accessible via web-based user interfaces providing control of each single system. This leads into a service orientated architecture triggering the individual underlying systems as services, which are connected using web communication technology to exchange data along a shared information model. The data storage is modular to ensure scalability and interoperability with other manufacturing departments. During the actual manufacturing process, different services like inline data mining analysis are deployed and the results are visualized in user demanded dashboards and reports. For new requirements in business intelligence and MES the developed interfaces are provided in a unique library and a content management system. The described architecture enhances the development of new information applications, accelerates the planning and execution process and is completely orientated to the demands of users, as fast planning procedures and analysis driven user interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY) player is an assistive reading tool developed for use by persons with visual impairments. Certain problems have persisted in the operating procedure and interface of DAISY players, especially for their Chinese users. Therefore, the aim of this study was to redesign the DAISY player with increased usability features for use by native Chinese speakers. First, a User Centered Design (UCD) process was employed to analyze the development of the prototype. Next, operation procedures were reorganized according to GOMS (Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection rules) methodology. Then the user interface was redesigned according to specific Universal Design (UD) principles. Following these revisions, an experiment involving four scenarios was conducted to compare the new prototype to other players, and it was tested by twelve visually impaired participants. Results indicate the prototype had the quickest operating times, the fewest number of operating errors, and the lowest mental workloads of all the compared players, significantly enhancing the prototype's usability. These findings have allowed us to generate suggestions for developing the next generation of DAISY players for people, especially for Chinese audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers report that people older than 60 years old could benefit from easier access to information by using technologies. However, they have been marginalized from the digital inclusion process. The main reason is that the development of devices and interfaces does not consider particularities that allow its use by this range of senior users. Mobile devices with touch screens have the potential to solve these problems. It is because interactions based on touch are more intuitive, regardless of age. However, the use rate of tactile devices for the elderly is considered low compared to other age groups, because they tend to use their mobile phones for relatively limited purposes. The aim of this study is, through interviews and specific tasks encourage the use of technology by those who have not demonstrated the receptive to the devices, and verify the existence of motivations to use a schedule on a tactile device. The results provide insights for developing a schedule application, and evidence that even the senescent people, who often have hesitation about mobile devices, after the conclusion of a task supported by specialists became receptive to such technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the identification of a new multimethod tool necessity, a new tool called Eyeface has been created by combining two different devices: the Eye-tracking and the Facereader. This research work analyses a new multimethod tool to evaluate the user experience perception in the conceptualisation phase within the experience design process. To this end, an experiment has been carried out analysing the correlation between the Eyeface and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Expanded Form (PANAS-X) evaluation tool. The result of this study showed a high similarity between each devicés results, and thus concluded that the Eyeface fits as a concept evaluation tool within the experience design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study evaluated the current use of commercial-off-the-shelf Clinical Information Systems (CIS) for intensive care units (ICUs) and Anesthesia Record Keeping (ARK) for operating rooms and post-anesthesia care recovery settings at three Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs). Clinicians and administrative staff use these applications at bedside workstations, in operating rooms, at nursing stations, in physician's rooms, and in other various settings. The intention of a CIS or an ARK system is to facilitate creation of electronic records of data, assessments, and procedures from multiple medical devices. The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Chief of Nursing Informatics sought to understand usage barriers and facilitators to optimize these systems in the future. Therefore, a human factors study was carried out to observe the CIS and ARK systems in use at three VAMCs in order to identify best practices and suggested improvements to currently implemented CIS and ARK systems. Methods We conducted a rapid ethnographic study of clinical end-users interacting with the CIS and ARK systems in the critical care and anesthesia care areas in each of three geographically distributed VAMCs. Two observers recorded interactions and/or interview responses from 88 CIS and ARK end-users. We coded and sorted into logical categories field notes from 69 shadowed participants. The team transcribed and combined data from key informant interviews with 19 additional participants with the observation data. We then integrated findings across observations into meaningful patterns and abstracted the data into themes, which translated directly to barriers to effective adoption and optimization of the CIS and ARK systems. Results Effective optimization of the CIS and ARK systems was impeded by: (1) integration issues with other software systems; (2) poor usability; (3) software challenges; (4) hardware challenges; (5) training concerns; (6) unclear roles and lack of coordination among stakeholders; and (7) insufficient technical support. Many of these barriers are multi-faceted and have associated sub-barriers, which are described in detail along with relevant quotes from participants. In addition, regionalized purchases of different CIS and ARK systems, as opposed to enterprise level purchases, contributed to some of the identified barriers. Facilitators to system use included (1) automation and (2) a dedicated facility-level CIS-ARK Coordinator. Conclusions We identified barriers that explain some of the challenges with the optimization of the CIS and ARK commercial systems across the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). To help address these barriers, and evolve them into facilitators, we categorized report findings as (1) interface and system-level changes that vendors or VA healthcare systems can implement; (2) implementation factors under VA control and not under VA control; and (3) factors that may be used to inform future application purchases. We outline several recommendations for improved adoption of CIS and ARK systems and further recommend that human factors engineering and usability requirements become an integral part of VA health information technology (HIT) application procurement, customization, and implementation in order to help eliminate or mitigate some of the barriers of use identified in this study. Human factors engineering methods can be utilized to apply a user-centered approach to application requirements specification, application evaluation, system integration, and application implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated unregulated drinking water in rural communities is a continuing health issue, leading many resource users to unknowingly consume water with elevated levels of harmful chemicals. Though geographic information systems (GIS) and Internet technology have been particularly useful for water resource management, to date, there exist few studies that specifically address the development of Internet-based GIS applications to increase user access to unregulated drinking water source information. Informed by an existing user centered development framework for Internet mapping, we created an Internet GIS that visualized groundwater contamination on the Navajo Nation in the southwest United States. We employed a usability focus group, expert review of content and pilot test of a prototype GIS application to gather empirical evidence on effectiveness for informing users of a significant water quality issue. Results suggested that the designed and deployed GIS application was appropriate for the target audience of environmental nongovernmental organization (ENGO) and institution of higher education (IHE) professionals. Usability testing and expert review confirmed the importance of these evaluation measures to ensure a high quality GIS prior to deployment. Use of existing Internet mapping guidelines was found to be insufficient for creating a refined GIS interface appropriate for the target audience. Additionally, we demonstrated that an existing user centered design and evaluation framework could be applied successfully to visualize water quality for unregulated groundwater wells in the rural southwest United States. Suggestions for continued research in the use of Internet GIS to inform rural residents about drinking water quality are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ongoing technical improvements in architecture design with improved features of mobile or smartphones do not automatically guarantee user acceptance, because technical and commercial aspects primarily drive the development of mobile communication systems and devices. Especially in early stages of technology development, user preferences and values are not adequately considered, which might even have a negative impact on acceptance issues. The aim of this study was the implementation of a quantified understanding of user needs in terms of values into the system design process of cell-phone processors. Moreover, we aimed for an extension of the engineering’s trade-off analysis by using conjoint analysis in order to investigate trade-offs between specific device characteristics. Finally, our aim was the evaluation of empirically based user-oriented research methods. Results of the first study revealed that battery life, speech quality, signal quality and data-transmission rate are the most important device characteristics. Results from conjoint analysis indicated a clear trade-off between battery life and the three other characteristics. Moreover, this research demonstrated that technology acceptance research benefits considerably from an interdisciplinary and multi-method approach. Besides, implementing the users’ preferences into early stages of the product development process offers several advantages concerning effectiveness as well as economic aspects of development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Advances in ubiquitous sensing and computing technologies, combined with the well developed theories in cognitive science, present major opportunities for the future Internet. We argue that the future Internet should be a usercentric and context-aware communication network, which goes far beyond today''s host-centric and store-forward Internet. In this article we propose to explicitly introduce the end-user''s context information into the future Internet framework. We, therefore, define a new functional module called the User-Context Module, and describe its architecture and key design principles. We also present two User-Context Module applications to aid gaining an understanding of its operation and impacts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

TV is a medium with high penetration rates and has been suited to deliver informal education in several aspects since years. Thus, interactive TV may play a significant role in the current Life-Long Learning challenges, provided that meaningful applications are implemented. In this research work, we have explored the added value of interactivity in digital TV, with a particular focus on Serious Games (SGs), given their growing relevance in technology-enhanced learning. We have followed an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach, in particular given the still traditional use of TV by a large audience. The approach preserves a media-driven strategy and the role of the author/director in proposing contents (storytelling), as in the TV tradition. We argue that interactive SGs may help the viewer to better contextualize/understand the video stream and go more in depth about the touched items at the end of the stream. This also enables new iTV applications, in particular to support weaker users (i.e. users that could not view the video without a help). This paper presents the results from user tests based on an interactive enhancement of a clip from the Disney’s Snow White movie, that challenged the authors in addressing a dynamic, high-value document. Qualitative and quantitative results show the potential of the system for informal education. The tests also stress the importance of good solutions (e.g., development languages, display modalities, metaphors) for synchronizing video and overlaid interactive elements. To the best of our knowledge, this research work is the first one discussing user test results about the usefulness of a class of iTV SG applications that can be instantiated serially in several different contexts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Designing a new driver support system that meets the expectations of drivers is a difficult and time-consuming process. Despite the availability of various types of design support, it has essentially remained a process in which designers are forced to make assumptions about what other people want. This paper presents a new approach for determining users’ preferences and finding the best compromise between those preferences when designing a new driver support system. Using scenarios, virtual reality simulation, and gaming principles, the new approach gives users a pro-active role in the design process. To evaluate the new approach, it was applied to the design of a lane change support system. This resulted in a hierarchy of information that is a detailed, consistent and reliable image of users’ preferences. By combining this hierarchy with a manufacturing and marketing constraint, the design specification of a lane change support system was deduced. One of the many findings was that a lane change support system should be modular and that modules for the left side should be different from modules for the right side of the vehicle. The paper concludes with reasoning why the new approach offers added value for the design of driver support systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Errors in clinical research can be costly, in terms of patient safety, data integrity, and data collection. Data inaccuracy in early subjects of a clinical study may be associated with problems in the design of the protocol, procedures, and data collection tools. High-fidelity patient simulation centers provide an ideal environment to apply human-centered design to clinical trial development. A draft of a complex clinical protocol was designed, evaluated and modified using a high-fidelity human patient simulator in the Duke University Human Simulation and Patient Safety Center. The process included walk-throughs, detailed modifications of the protocol and development of procedural aids. Training of monitors and coordinators provided an opportunity for observation of performance that was used to identify further improvements to the protocol. Evaluative steps were used to design the research protocol and procedures. Iterative modifications were made to the protocol and data collection tools. The success in use of human simulation in the preparation of a complex clinical drug trial suggests the benefits of human patient simulation extend beyond training and medical equipment evaluation. Human patient simulation can provide a context for informal expert evaluation of clinical protocol design and for formal “rehearsal” to evaluate the efficacy of procedures and support tools. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A systematic review according to the PRISMA reporting standard was performed to identify causes of use errors in mechanical ventilators described in the literature. The PubMed search resulted in the inclusion of 16 papers. The errors described were systematically analyzed with regard to their causes and categorized in an adapted cause-and-effect diagram. The causes of use errors were related to specific usability issues and to the general condition that medical staff often work with different ventilators. When many devices are used, the different user interfaces are a source of use errors, since, for example, the same ventilation modes have different names. In order to avoid the identified causes for use errors in the future, this work offers manufacturers of ventilation devices design recommendations and the possibility to include the results in their risk management. In addition, standardizing user interface content across all ventilators, as in ISO 19223, can help reduce use errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The approach to the built environment as a container of human activities has been severely outdated with a new vision that puts the user, his/her well-being and his/her experience, at the centre, shifting from the old "building as a product" to the newer "building as a service" and the newest "building as an experience" concept. Nevertheless, the sick building syndrome, mainly documented in office buildings, is a widespread problem in many public buildings and, among these, in educational facilities. In these categories we can list school and university buildings where the users are not only workers but also students, sharing anyway the same problem: an artificial environment which is not supporting their productivity in the office or learning performance in the classrooms. Carbon dioxide concentration, due to the natural human breathing process, is a diffuse parameter strongly influencing the indoor air quality and, thus, the users' wellbeing. An acceptance threshold of 1000 ppm in indoor spaces has been derived for this pollutant. Although allowed, the CO 2 concentration in indoor space shouldn't reach this threshold because in such a condition a 11–23% reduction of the users' cognitive performance has been measured and, when the level increases reaching 2500 ppm, the reported drop is dramatic (44–94%). Extensive researches set the optimal threshold at 600 ppm, a level defined as fresh air. Then, how is it possible to encompass a natural process as CO 2 production by humans? Basically with the correct ventilation rate, depending on room geometry, number of people and ventilation system (i.e. natural or mechanical or mixed). A modulating mechanical ventilation system could adapt the ventilation rate according to people density and changing indoor conditions nevertheless many existing buildings have outdated systems not providing this option. Sometimes their air handling units (AHUs) have few regulation options to control the parameters and tuning procedures during the building lifecycle are required. CO 2 concentration is convenient to measure indoor air quality because it is easily quantifiable through a sensors network. Thus, it may be adopted as an indicator to assess suitable indoor conditions to human activities and used to trigger manual or automatic procedures to preserve wellbeing thresholds. The article presents a research work depicting the integration of indoor air quality data gathered by internet of things (IoT) sensors to activate the control of the indoor conditions according to the occupancy rate in the educational building eLUX lab, located in the Smart Campus of the University of Brescia. The challenge is to directly regulate the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and define opening/closing patterns for windows to improve the indoor air quality and protect the learning performance of users in dynamic use conditions. The embraced methodology suggests the training of an artificial neural network (ANN) with the actual monitored data and to trigger the ventilation rate control through an IoT communication protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to review some work conducted in the field of user testing that aims at specifying or clarifying the test procedures and at defining and developing tools to help conduct user tests. The topics that have been selected were considered relevant for evaluating applications in the field of medical and health care informatics. These topics are: the number of participants that should take part in a user test, the test procedure, remote usability evaluation, usability testing tools, and evaluating mobile applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]