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International Conference on Human Centered Computing

HCC 2019: Human Centered Computing pp 252–265Cite as

Usability Testing of a Smartphone Telecare Application for Informal Caregivers

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 11956))

Abstract

Independent living of the elderly has its risks that can be decreased with the use of telecare systems. Smartphone telecare applications such as TeleStiki, are intended primarily for informal carers of independently living elders. The application is aimed at improving quality of life of both the elderly and their caregivers by reducing the caregiver burden and extending the time elders stay at home, while also increasing their safety. The aim of usability testing was to evaluate if users perceive the tested smartphone application as high in usability and user experience. The testing was also aimed at evaluating whether the use of application affects their attitude towards the use of telecare applications for informal care of their elderly relatives in general. In this study Task Completion, User Experience Questionnaire and System Usability Scale, as well as the Think-Aloud protocol has been performed. Results showed the application scores above average in usability and user experience. Findings gained in the qualitative study can be used as guidelines for future re-designs of the application and for improvement of usability in similar applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank everyone involved in the study. This study was part of the Project ICT Solutions for Active and Healthy Aging: Integrating Informal e-Care Services in Slovenia (Slovenian Research Agency, Project No. L5-7626).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

    Irena Lovrenčič Držanič, Matjaž Debevc & Ines Kožuh

  2. University of Kragujevac, Cacak, Serbia

    Vladimir Mladenović

  3. University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Vesna Dolničar, Andraž Petrovčič & Simona Hvalič Touzery

Authors
  1. Irena Lovrenčič Držanič
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  2. Vladimir Mladenović
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  3. Matjaž Debevc
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  4. Vesna Dolničar
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  5. Andraž Petrovčič
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  6. Simona Hvalič Touzery
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  7. Ines Kožuh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vladimir Mladenović .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Kragujevac, Čačak, Serbia

    Danijela Milošević

  2. South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China

    Yong Tang

  3. Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China

    Qiaohong Zu

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Držanič, I.L. et al. (2019). Usability Testing of a Smartphone Telecare Application for Informal Caregivers. In: Milošević, D., Tang, Y., Zu, Q. (eds) Human Centered Computing. HCC 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 11956. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37429-7_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37429-7_25

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-37428-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-37429-7

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