There are few interface design guidelines for handheld devices used by adults sixty years and older. Yet, this growing user group would benefit from the portability offered by such technology in promoting health management and social interaction. In this paper, we describe a usability framework for conducting studies on the use of a PocketPC by older adult caregivers. The usability framework provides a basis for conducting studies taking into account the user profile of an older adult, environment factors, usability quality factors, and technology objectives
GlobalUBid.com is a B2B (business-to-business) e-commerce company offering excess and obsolete inventory to online customers. GlobalUBid is rapidly expanding into the global online marketplace; but recently, its Web site crashed due to a denial-of-service (DOS) attack. A lack of security awareness at an organizational level has left GlobalUBid’s online system vulnerable to internal and external attacks. Though informal security policies are in place, many employees are not aware of them nor are they enforced on a regular basis. Unsecured aspects of the physical workplace make the organization vulnerable to disgruntled employees, hackers, and unscrupulous competition. GlobalUBid has hired URSecure consultants to conduct a security assessment in uncovering internal and external vulnerabilities. URSecure has made recommendations for improved security, though the organization must develop most of the implementation details. GlobalUBid management recognizes the need for improved security, though there is a concern about the financial implications of implementing a security plan.
We report here the development and initial test of a novel system for the virtual support of in-home family caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients. Based upon information and communications technology, the system includes 1) a pocket computer for reminders, monitoring of events and behaviors, and information support; and 2) an integrated web page which updates automatically with information from the pocket computer. Local and remote family and friends can track the in-home activities through the weblog and provide virtual support to the caregiver. Through a series of interviews and laboratory tests we have developed and refined the proprietary interface which maximizes the usability of the pocket computer by older adults. The considerations that shaped the interface are presented, and the appearance and operation are described. When implemented, this system will facilitate aging in place for both caregiver and patient while also enhancing direct and virtual interactions with family and friends.
Telemedicine is broadly defined as the use of information and communications technology to provide medical information and services (Perednia & Allen, 1995). Telemedicine offers an unprecedented means of bringing healthcare to anyone regardless of geographic remoteness. It promotes the use of ICT for healthcare when physical distance separates the provider from the patient (Institute of Medicine, 1996). In addition, it provides for real-time feedback, thus eliminating the waiting time associated with a traditional healthcare visit. Telemedicine has been pursued for over three decades as researchers, healthcare providers, and clinicians search for a way to reach patients living in remote and isolated areas (Norris, 2001). Early implementation of telemedicine made use of the telephone in order for healthcare providers and patients to interact. Over time, fax machines were introduced along with interactive multimedia, thus supporting teleconferencing among participants. Unfortunately, many of the early telemedicine projects did not survive because of high costs and insurmountable barriers associated with the use of technology. Telemedicine has been resurrected during the last decade as a means to help rural healthcare facilities. Advances in information and communications technology have initiated partnerships between rural healthcare facilities and larger ones. The Internet in particular has changed the way in which medical consultations can be provided (Coiera, 1997). Personal computers (PCs) and supporting peripherals, acting as clients, can be linked to medical databases residing virtually in any geographic space. Multimedia data types, video, audio, text, imaging, and graphics promote the rapid diagnosis and treatment of casualties and diseases. Request access from your librarian to read this chapter's full text.
The Web offers older adult users immediate access to health resources that might not otherwise be available. Older adult users, however, may encounter Web barriers associated with normal aging and lower education. The National Institute on Aging Web guidelines were used to assess the usability of 125 Web sites offering health resources. Performance, translation, and reading complexity were also assessed. Results showed that many of the sampled sites were not senior-friendly. Only 12% of the sites offered a Spanish version, many containing nontranslated text. Approximately a third of sampled sites required a college education to comprehend extracted health information.
An insight into the effective use of database technology through models, case studies and reports. An emphasis is placed on organizational and management issues detailing lessons learned and best practices.
From the Book:
Often, those of us that practice Cleanroom are asked, What is Cleanroom? Cleanroom Software Engineering is a set of techniques and practices for the specification, development and certification of software-intensive systems. It is based on the work of the late Harlan D. Mills, one of the world's foremost computer scientists and an early pioneer of what we now call engineering. Dr. Mills made a practice of success in software development at IBM where he achieved IBM's highest technical designation, Fellow. He did so by applying engineering rigor to the software development process.
Dr. Mills' Cleanroom method is based on the principles that: 1) programs are rules for mathematical functions; 2) software testing is sampling. The former principle allows specifications for software to be written in precise functional notation and provides mechanisms to prove that a developed program correctly implements its specification. The latter principle allows testing to be conducted as a scientific experiment, providing quantitative measures about the software being developed and also maintaining a framework for statistical process control.
Dr. Mills' work has evolved into a set of techniques called Cleanroom Software Engineering. It is comprised of the following techniques, which are described in detail in Idea Group Publishing's Cleanroom Software Engineering Practices: Formal specification and design of intended behavior; Incremental development process model.; Stepwise refinement of specifications to code; Correctness verification of developed code; Statistical certification of compiled software products.
Sections of Cleanroom Software Engineering Practices are focused on organizational issues for the effective implementation of Cleanroom techniques. These concepts are primarily an outgrowth of experiences with large-scale projects that were distributed across many sites. The concepts on process improvement, information management and team-based development provide a foundation upon which Cleanroom techniques can be introduced in an organization.
The authors discussed Cleanroom Software Engineering techniques and their use in industry. Both of them have had years of experience using Cleanroom technology and had been writing about Cleanroom mostly from a researcher's perspective. This was typical. There were many excellent articles on the theoretical aspects of Cleanroom, but in a practical sense Cleanroom has been a well-kept secret. The Cleanroom method has been used successfully on projects of various sizes and levels of complexity but success stories of its use have focused on a particular aspect or on final results but while providing few details on its actual implementation.
The authors decided that it was time to collaborate with other practitioners in order to develop a comprehensive set of guidelines for the implementation of Cleanroom. The objective of Cleanroom Software Engineering Practices is to bring together concepts, lessons learned and best practices resulting from Cleanroom projects with which the authors participated in the past several years.
