Design Approaches for Creating Person-Centered, Context Sensitive, and Sustainable Assistive Technology with the Global South

Velarde, Minerva Rivas; Hurst, Samia; Chavarria, Mario Andrés; Schönenberger, Klaus; Mugeere, Anthony

doi:10.1093/oso/9780198846413.003.0013

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…Design of AT should be focusing on enhancing the user’s agency, bodily integrity, and capabilities, and not trying to “fix disabled bodies”. Evidence collected suggests that assistive technology has focused on functional deficiency solely, namely impairment rather than in enhancing wellbeing for its users [6, 57]. The latter seems to be the prevalent approach today as users are for the most part not meaningfully included in the design and development and only call to test a final product that aims to provide a ‘solution’.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, UCD adoption is believed to lead to better products [4]. However, there is limited evidence regarding the implementation of these approaches or if their results are having the intended impact across their target populations, particularly regarding AT [5–6]. This study aims to assess the application of ISO 9241-210 human-centred design principles in the allegedly “user-centred designed” assistive technology developments for persons with Visual Impairments (VI).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the implementation of user-centred design standards on assistive technology for persons with visual impairments: A systematic review

Ortiz-Escobar

Chavarria

Schönenberger

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Despite scientific and technological advances in the field of assistive technology (AT) for people with visual impairment (VI), technological designs are frequently based on a poor understanding of the physical and social context of use, resulting in devices that are less than optimal for their intended beneficiaries. To resolve this situation, user-centred approaches in the development process of AT have been widely adopted in recent years. However, there is a lack of systematization on the application of this approach. This systematic review registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022307466), assesses the application of the ISO 9241-210 human-centred design principles in allegedly “user-centred designed” AT developments for persons with VI. The results point to a wide variation of the depth of understanding of user needs, a poor characterization of the application of the User Centred Design (UCD) approach in the initial design phases or in the early prototyping, and a vague description of user feedback and device iteration. Among the principles set out in ISO 9241-210, the application of 5.6: "the design team includes multidisciplinary skills and perspectives" is the one for which the least evidence is found. The results show there is not enough evidence to fully assess the impact of UCD in 1. promoting innovation regarding AT products and practices, and 2. Judging if AT produced following such standards is leading to better user access, wellbeing outcomes and satisfaction. To address this gap it is necessary to, first, generate better implementation of UCD in AT development and second, to strengthen evidence regarding the implementation and outcomes of using UCD for AT. To better engage with the realities of persons with VI, we propose capacity building across development teams regarding UCD, its principles and components; better planning for UCD implementation; and cross-fertilization across engineering disciplines and social and clinical science.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the implementation of user-centred design standards on assistive technology for persons with visual impairments: A systematic review

Ortiz-Escobar

Chavarria

Schönenberger

et al. 2023

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Design of AT should be focusing on enhancing the user's agency, bodily integrity, and capabilities, and not trying to “fix disabled bodies”. Evidence collected suggests that assistive technology has focused on functional deficiency solely, namely impairment rather than in enhancing wellbeing for its users ( 6 , 53 ). The latter seems to be the prevalent approach today as users are for the most part not meaningfully included in the design and development and only call to test a final product that aims to provide a “solution”.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, UCD adoption is believed to lead to better products ( 4 ). However, there is limited evidence regarding the implementation of these approaches or if their results are having the intended impact across their target populations, particularly regarding AT ( 5 , 6 ). This study aims to assess the application of ISO 9241-210 human-centred design principles in the allegedly “user-centred designed” assistive technology developments for persons with Visual Impairments (VI).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the implementation of user-centred design standards on assistive technology for persons with visual impairments: a systematic review

Ortiz-Escobar,

Chavarria,

Schönenberger

et al. 2023

Front. Rehabil. Sci.

Self Cite

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Despite scientific and technological advances in the field of assistive technology (AT) for people with visual impairment (VI), technological designs are frequently based on a poor understanding of the physical and social context of use, resulting in devices that are less than optimal for their intended beneficiaries. To resolve this situation, user-centred approaches in the development process of AT have been widely adopted in recent years. However, there is a lack of systematization on the application of this approach. This systematic review registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022307466), assesses the application of the ISO 9241-210 human-centred design principles in allegedly “user-centred designed” AT developments for persons with VI (see Supplementary PROSPERO Protocol). The results point to a wide variation of the depth of understanding of user needs, a poor characterization of the application of the User Centred Design (UCD) approach in the initial design phases or in the early prototyping, and a vague description of user feedback and device iteration. Among the principles set out in ISO 9241-210, the application of 5.6: “the design team includes multidisciplinary skills and perspectives” is the one for which the least evidence is found. The results show there is not enough evidence to fully assess the impact of UCD in (1) promoting innovation regarding AT products and practices, and (2) Judging if AT produced following such standards is leading to better user access, wellbeing outcomes and satisfaction. To address this gap it is necessary to, first, generate better implementation of UCD in AT development and second, to strengthen evidence regarding the implementation and outcomes of using UCD for AT. To better engage with the realities of persons with VI, we propose capacity building across development teams regarding UCD, its principles and components; better planning for UCD implementation; and cross-fertilization across engineering disciplines and social and clinical science.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=307466 PROSPERO (CRD42022307466).

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Understanding of the Role of Context in the Experience of Disability and Assistive Technology: New Framework for AT (Preprint)

Rivas Velarde,

Chavarria Varon,

Schönenberger

et al. 2024

Preprint

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UNSTRUCTURED The immediate context in which a person lives shapes their experience of impairment and disability. Assistive technology (AT) tools are the interface between impairment and context. This article presents a new framework for the design of assistive technology. It provides a theoretical exploration of the relationship between context, assistive technology and impairment. For this, first, we examine the theoretical challenges raised by the interface AT and impairments, considering dominant conceptual models of disability. Then, we analysed the role of context in the design, distribution and use of AT. Our framework addresses the current disconnect between the population the technology aims to serve and the innovation ecosystem. Disability is very diverse, and persons with diverse impairments benefit from different technology. Because of this diversity, we focus on visual impairment. We conclude this article by laying out a new framework for the design of AT that addresses the role of the context in which a person lives and aims to enable personal freedom in it. We do it by using the lenses of the capabilities approach. Our framework goes beyond the classical approach of only looking at AT as a tool for task performance. We argue that AT becomes a conversion tool that enables disabled persons to reach full social participation, addressing the variety of social and environmental contexts in which persons with disabilities live. Finally, we provide recommendations for future research.

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Design Approaches for Creating Person-Centered, Context Sensitive, and Sustainable Assistive Technology with the Global South

Cited by 3 publications

References 28 publications

Assessing the implementation of user-centred design standards on assistive technology for persons with visual impairments: A systematic review

Assessing the implementation of user-centred design standards on assistive technology for persons with visual impairments: A systematic review

Assessing the implementation of user-centred design standards on assistive technology for persons with visual impairments: a systematic review

Understanding of the Role of Context in the Experience of Disability and Assistive Technology: New Framework for AT (Preprint)

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