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Assistive Technology (AT) Usability and Adoption: Future Drivers

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Design of Assistive Technology for Ageing Populations

Part of the book series: Intelligent Systems Reference Library ((ISRL,volume 167))

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate the importance of usability in the development, adoption and effectiveness of assistive technologies (AT). Usability engineering as well as related approaches, including human factors, inclusive design and acceptability are explained. The importance of considering device usability is highlighted through examples of adverse events that have resulted from issues associated with medical device design. The chapter goes on to introduce key medical device regulatory frameworks and standards. These have been produced to guide developers of medical devices (including applicable assistive technology) to improve user acceptance, device usability and safety. Usability engineering methods are listed with examples given of how these have been applied in the development of assistive technology devices within the Devices for Dignity portfolio of projects.

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Acknowledgements

Drs McCarthy and Moody are Theme Leads for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Devices for Dignity MedTech and In vitro Diagnostic Co-operative (MIC). The work of the Devices for Dignity MIC is funded by the National Institute for Health Research. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Engineering, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK

    Avril D. McCarthy

  2. Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Coventry University, Coventry, UK

    Louise Moody

  3. NIHR Devices for Dignity MedTech Co-Operative, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK

    Avril D. McCarthy & Louise Moody

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  1. Avril D. McCarthy
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  2. Louise Moody
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Correspondence to Avril D. McCarthy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Coventry University, Coventry, UK

    Andree Woodcock

  2. Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Coventry University, Coventry, UK

    Louise Moody

  3. School of Art and Design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA

    Deana McDonagh

  4. Elizabeth Grove Surgery, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Ajita Jain

  5. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Centre for Artificial Intelligence, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Lakhmi C. Jain

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McCarthy, A.D., Moody, L. (2020). Assistive Technology (AT) Usability and Adoption: Future Drivers. In: Woodcock, A., Moody, L., McDonagh, D., Jain, A., Jain, L. (eds) Design of Assistive Technology for Ageing Populations. Intelligent Systems Reference Library, vol 167. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26292-1_6

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