Prompting technologies: A comparison of time-based and context-aware transition-based prompting

Abstract

BACKGROUND While advancements in technology have encouraged the development of novel prompting systems to support cognitive interventions, little research has evaluated the best time to deliver prompts, which may impact the effectiveness of these interventions. OBJECTIVE This study examined whether transition-based context prompting (prompting an individual during task transitions) is more effective than traditional fixed time-based prompting. METHODS Participants were 42 healthy adults who completed 12 different everyday activities, each lasting 1–7 minutes, in an experimental smart home testbed and received prompts to record the completed activities from an electronic memory notebook. Half of the participants were delivered prompts during activity transitions, while the other half received prompts every 5 minutes. Participants also completed Likert-scale ratings regarding their perceptions of the prompting system. RESULTS Results revealed that participants in the transition-based context prompting condition responded to the first prompt more frequently and rated the system as more convenient, natural, and appropriate compared to participants in the time-based condition. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that prompting during activity transitions produces higher adherence to the first prompt and more positive perceptions of the prompting system. This is an important finding given the benefits of prompting technology and the possibility of improving cognitive interventions by using context-aware transition prompting.

Technologies for Monitoring Lifestyle Habits Related to Brain Health: A Systematic Review

“…Two studies [34,42] (13.33%) focused on medium monitoring, based on smartphones, wearables, and sensors. The remaining two studies [38,43] (13.33%) did not use any kind of monitoring systems, and relied instead on baseline and post-intervention assessments.…”

“…Figure 4 shows the distribution of studies according to the type of intervention. Six of the studies [29,33,36,38,40,43] (40%) did not carry out any kind of intervention. Static interventions were conducted in five of the studies [31,34,35,41,42] (33.33%).…”

“…Six of the included studies (42.86%) used mobile phones as a technological solution. They are used on their own in three studies (21.43%) [31,32,43] or in combination with wearables in two studies (14.29%) [34,42] or web applications in only one study (7.14%) [37]. For example, Wirth et al [31] used mobile phones to report monitoring data via telephone.…”

“…We can find a mobile phone application in one study [31], a web application in another [35], and a smart TV application in a third [40]. Cognitive activity is measured with computer tasks in one study [33], and with a mobile phone in another [43]. Finally, for monitoring of life purpose, in which we have included CBT and habits management studies, there has been the greatest number of different technological solutions tried: One of the studies used a web application [30], another used mobile phones [32], the third used mobile phones and wearable devices [42], the fourth used a web application and a mobile phone application [37], and the last one used a computer game [41].…”

Subjective cognitive complaints and objective memory performance influence prompt preference for instrumental activities of daily living

“…More complex machine learning algorithm systems attempt to adjust for this by using sensors and other technologies to learn and track an individual’s behavior 10,12,13 . These systems can prompt users at appropriate times (e.g., when they are not engaged in other activities) and when necessary 17–19 (e.g., when user leaves the stove on). For example, Pollack et al, developed a machine-learning prompting system, called Autominder 19 .…”