Category: Living Lab

COLABORATE participates in focus group

Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS led PortoPilot, a project which included conducting focus groups with seniors to identify their daily needs that can be tackled with digital solutions. Also, part of this study was the execution of a pilot with identified technologies to empower senior citizens and promote their well-being.

In this scope, Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS held a focus group to understand the interests of seniors and their attitudes towards technology. Our team of researchers distributed smartphones and taught them how to use some technologies, such as Whatsapp, games, YouTube and whatever they asked to learn. 10 seniors from the COLABORAR network took part of the pilot.

Our team conducted these focus groups to assess user needs, select solutions, set up the required technologies and provide support during the pilot study.

The goal was to collect and analyze data regarding seniors’ experience in using these technologies. PortoPilot ended in December of 2023.

Sneak peek at our new project

We are delighted that the PortoPilot project, coordinated by our colleague at the Human-Centred Design group, has been approved for funding in the Porto Challenges area framework.

The main objective of the PortoPilot project is to tackle loneliness of older people by training them in using new technologies. The project will comprise focus groups (group discussions) to assess participants’ needs in terms of technology interaction (main difficulties, motivation and interest) so that researchers can identify the appropriate technologies and solutions for each person. After this initial research phase, the researchers will provide each person with the technology that has been found to be most appropriate (smartphone, tablet, activity bracelet) as well as the applications that will allow the best use of that technology in between applications developed by Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS, or applications already available for free on the market. Initial training will be given to each participant (or group of participants). During the pilot period, periodic visits will be made according to the availability and needs of the participants. During these visits, any doubts that may arise will be clarified, topics related to technology will be discussed, or training sessions will be promoted on various topics related to technology use. At the end of the pilot, interviews will be conducted with the participants to collect information about their experience during the pilot and their impressions on the use of technology, advantages and difficulties. 

The pilot will take place in Porto, and users from COLABORAR will benefit from this personalised support with technology. We are looking forward to fruitful research.

Why technology research needs a network of users

A network of users is a group of people who have agreed to participate regularly in user studies. This enables researchers to have access to users who are representative of a target group of technology in development. User recruitment turns out much quicker and easier for researchers. Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS has its own network of users. Some practice Tai Chi, others prefer to play cards, some have the latest news, others remain faithful to the traditional cell phone, some take care of their grandchildren and the house and those who never miss an opportunity to travel. It is this diversity that makes our user network so special. We get different perspectives that we incorporate to create truly meaningful technology for people.

Testing sessions for algorithm development

Volunteers from the user network COLABORAR are participating in a European research project. COTIDIANA – Mobile Patient-Centred System to Improve Drug Trials and Care of Older adults with Rheumatic Diseases – is a project co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, FFG, Confédération Suisse, AAL Programme and the European Union. The project gathers a multidisciplinary research team comprising developers, UX/UI specialists, and clinical researchers.

At this phase, the study consists of using smartphones to collect motion data while participants perform walk tasks and wrist joint movements. The data that is being collected is fundamental for researchers to train sensing algorithms. When the final system is available, patients with rheumatic diseases can be assessed for physical function in ambulatory conditions. This means that the smartphone will track hand dexterity, gait and physical activity, and sociability patterns, and all these data will inform medical doctors about the disease status and evolution. This new method has some advantages over traditional assessments at medical offices. Patients can be assessed more frequently without the need to go to the hospital. Plus, the clinical information collected by the sensors in the smartphone is potentially more objective, as it reflects the status of the patient at a daily basis, which is potentially more accurate than collecting subjective information through questionnaires and punctual assessments by doctors, usually each 3 or 6 months.

Involving end users in online research surveys

COTIDIANA and Anathema projects are conducting online surveys for research related to rheumatic diseases and sexual health, respectively. We distributed the link through the panel of participants in the network COLABORAR, including older adults and partner institutions. At institutions, the directors are facilitating the participation of older adults, by spreading the word and helping the less proficient users with the access to a computer or tablet. Online surveys are fast and cost-effective. Plus, they can be completed comfortably at home.

For the COTIDIANA project, the survey aims to explore preferences and ideas of people with rheumatic diseases for a mobile app of monitoring of symptoms and self-care related to the rheumatic condition. The aim of the survey for the Anathema project is to assess a potential service, that is currently being developed, based on a mobile app that addresses sexual health for the elderly. Directors also received a link to a questionnaire designed, so that they can provide their perspectives on the app. The information collected will influence and improve the design of the prototypes.  

First longitudinal study successfully finished

The last two years were exceptionally challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to turn to remote research. At the time, researchers working in the ELAPSE project, funded by Fundação Gulbenkian,  have just started recruiting participants and conducting an initial assessment. The project went on and researchers distributed tablets and smartphones to the partner institutions in the COLABORAR network, AICOS’ own pool of research participants.

The aim of the ELAPSE project was assessing the impact of technology in combating the social isolation of the elderly. With COVID-19 control measures imposing restrictions in visits to nursing homes, the closure of day care and living centers and the avoidance of family reunions all over the country, the role of technology acquired a stronger role. Because there were many concerns with older adults’ emotional well-being, many institutions felt the urge to actively promote video calls to ensure communication with older adults’ families. Also, to relieve some of the anxiety and having less leisure activities, older adults began to engage with the platform of games developed by AICOS and installed in the tablets. Two years revolved and older adults still use the tablets daily. They play games, search for the news at Google, and use YouTube to listen to music and view some crafts tutorials. Researchers could not be happier for providing older adults technology for free and witnessing they become proficient in their use.

The unexpected turn to a fully remote study made researchers gain important insights on conducting remote research. The study was successfully finished, and its results were presented to Fundação Gulbenkian. The technical directors of institutions that participated in the study were present at the presentation session in which all reflected about the role of technology during the pandemic.

Usability tests: 3 reasons to participate

Usability tests are crucial in the process of development of applications for mobile devices or of a website. For participants, there are benefits, too. We list tour top three benefits for participants.

  • 1 – Be the first to try new technology

Participating in usability tests allows you to discover applications and websites before their availability to the public. This is so much fun!

  • 2 – Express your opinion

We all like to get heard. In a usability test, researchers ask you to tell what aspects in the app please you and the aspects that annoy you. You can be sure researchers are truly interested in knowing what you think. This is because they can fix the issues you encounter while using the app or navigating the website, so that it has more quality when it is released to the public.

  • 3 – Be part of technological innovation

Your feedback helps shape the technology of the future. You will find it very rewarding in improving solutions in the field of well-being, health, security, agriculture, retail, energy, quality of life in old age and technology for communities.

To become a user tester, you can simply register here. When a study is available, we will invite you by phone or email.

COLABORAR distributes tablets to seniors from nine institutions in order to combat social isolation

To combat the social isolation imposed by COVID-19, and in order to promote the proximity of family members and caregivers, the COLABORAR user network is distributing tablets to the elderly in some partner institutions. In total, 33 pieces of equipment should be assigned to nine institutions. The first to receive the tablets was the Monte Pedral Association.

The equipment aims, above all, to contribute to the well-being of this population group, stimulating contact and proximity to family members and also allowing for more playful moments through the use of some features such as games and activities. This COLABORAR network’s initiative comes under the ELAPSE Project, financed by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which consists of implementing a longitudinal study to assess the impact of technology in combating the social isolation of the elderly.

Three tips to better manage a living lab

Actively and continuously engaging users is essential to drive a living lab that supports research projects. When a project identifies the need for users, whether it is to conduct user research or usability tests of innovative health and well-being mobile apps, COLABORAR should promptly provide users. Often we recruit the same user multiple times, if he/she fits in the inclusion criteria. Our statistics show that each participant have participated in 2.7 activities in average since the project started in November 2011. This implies that we are able to maintain the users in the network and it is one of the biggest challenges of managing a living lab.Throughout the last 8 years we tried and enhanced some strategies. Here are some of the lessons that have helped us being able to maintain volunteers “actives”, that is, willing to be invited to take part in research.

1 – Show appreciation of the importance of their contribution to research

2 – Maintain contact

3 – Building trust

We are pretty sure these tips will help you to successfully manage a living lab.

Message from the COLABORAR team

The COLABORAR project achieved another year of strong performance in 2019, demonstrating the value of a living lab established in Porto.

The success of this year that comes to an end would not have been possible without the volunteers helping us to meet the demands of the ever-changing projects’ needs. Furthermore, people from COLABORAR inspire researchers and are privileged informers of needs, challenges and capabilities, thus strengthening our position as experts in human research, usability, testing and evidence generators on digital technology.

We wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

The COLABORAR team