Suchergebnisse

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to depict the field trial to evaluate the usability and usefulness of an Interactive TV platform that aims to promote the info-inclusion and quality of life of Portuguese older adults by delivering informative content about public and social services.


Design/methodology/approach
The present paper reports the process of a field trial conducted to test an iTV platform's usability and user experience along with 21 senior users. A high-fidelity prototype was tested with potential users for two weeks to collect data in a "real life" background to gather valuable information to refine the solution according to the target public needs.


Findings
The results revealed positive usability levels and overall satisfaction of the users in interacting with the system, yet not stopping them from giving their inputs and feedback. The informative videos sent to the platform were considered adequate, the remote control was simple and caused no problems, the video library and the splash screen were both positively reviewed.


Originality/value
This original research offers insights on how valuable is making field trial in the development of an innovative technology regarding this target population. Also, it was possible to understand that older adults want to be informed. Despite this, most of the time, they are unable to find the information efficiently. These results also supported the usefulness of the +TV4E platform.

In the last decades almost all countries face the increasing of elderly population [1]. Given these recent changes, there have been appearing a several number of gerontechnologies to enhance seniors' quality of life. In this context and despite the strong investment from the Governments to disseminate services like distance help or provision of medical information, the level of success is still very low. Possibly this failure is due to the fact that most of these approaches requires the user to search for the information (a "pull-oriented" activity from the user's perspective) rather than a "push-oriented" where the user receives the information. Television (TV) is one of the privileged resources to reach the general population, but it is an even more powerful way to achieve older people, limited to their home or in institutional context, due to the fact that almost all seniors are familiar with a TV set. Elderly are commonly in a disadvantaged position, for not knowing how to access public and social services they can benefit from (e.g. medication discounts, medical appointments, etc.). Regarding this, it is being developed an iTV platform (+TV4E) which aims to disseminate information about public and social services for seniors, by interrupting the visualization of linear TV content with audio-visual content about these services. In order to broadcast the information that elderly viewer most need and want to receive, it will defined a set of user profiles. The profiles' definition will be achieved throughout a set of selection phases, and the first phase involves the definition of the individuals that will be able to interact with the +TV4E. In this paper is presented a set of criteria for the first filtration of users who can benefit from this type of iTV services and the respective services that they can be interested in receive information about

As the demographic transition occurs in a global scale, dealing with the consequences of population ageing has emerged as a critical task to modern societies. This has led government entities to pay more and more attention to seniors' concerns, limitations and needs. A deep understand of old citizens, especially those unfamiliar with Internet and smartphone technologies, is also a challenge in order to enable them to fully benefit of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). In the light of this issue, personalization and user-centred approaches involving older adults in all development stages may be the key for higher levels of user engagement with such ICT solutions as the interactive television (iTV) platform reported in this paper (+TV4E). The +TV4E is an on-going research project conducted at University of Aveiro, Portugal, based on a social inclusion approach, aiming to take benefit from the television viewing dynamics of senior viewers, by interweaving short and personalized adverts related to public and social services alongside regular broadcast contents. The platform is being designed with a user-centred approach featuring the integration of assistive technologies and multiple multimedia communication channels. In this paper, a system architecture to deliver the informative contents is stated and a discussion of the potential social impacts of providing such platform is presented.

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a process to evaluate the usability and usefulness of a high-fidelity prototype of the +TV4E platform (removed for blind review), an iTV service which aims to promote the info-inclusion and quality of life of Portuguese seniors by delivering informative contents about public and social services.


Design/methodology/approach
The research presented in this study is qualitative and uses an inclusive and participatory co-design process involving seniors to evaluate usability of an iTV service with support of the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) tool and a questionnaire survey. The participants were 11 individuals, over 65 years enrolled in an adult day care center in Aveiro city, Portugal (removed for blind review).


Findings
Findings from this study allowed to assess some key aspects in the +TV4E platform implementation that should be addressed in its final version. Using the PSSUQ tool as well as a questionnaire survey confirmed the relevance of this platform to meet seniors' informational needs.


Originality/value
This original research offers insights on how valuable is including potential users in the development and test phases of an innovative technology which intends to offer more adequate tools to improve seniors' info-inclusion and quality of life. Also, it is possible to understand what should be considered when evaluating a prototype intended to be used by seniors.

Related to the population ageing that most of the countries are witnessing, several new challenges emerged in areas such as health and social care. Often, governments and entities does not have human, physical and infrastructural means available or in sufficient number to support all citizens' needs. This trend requires different approaches to address their related problems. In this context, several technologies have recently emerged and have been explored as an important ally to cope with seniors' needs. Interactive television (iTV) infrastructure have a lot of potential to deliver adapted solutions to seniors, although it is essential that such products are designed and developed with inputs from potential end users. The application of a participatory design approach is a key factor to assure high levels of final products' adoption. In line with this, the present paper describes the process of data collection that aims to analyse the audio-visual elements that compose a set of videos that will be transmitted by an iTV platform and that intents to deliver informative contents about social and public services to Portuguese elders. The results will provide guidelines for the development of similar products that address older people's needs.

ABSTRACT Purpose: The objective of this research is to understand the actions undertaken by Franchisee Associations (FAs). We aimed to: 1. identify the role played by FAs regarding their relationship with franchisors; 2. understand conflict procedures alongside with franchisors (by means of FAs); and 3. identify FA's abilities to play a relevant governance role in franchisee-franchisor relationships. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: This research complements the researches of Dandridge and Falbe (1994), Cochet and Ehrmann (2007), Lawrence and Kaufmann (2010, 2012), bringing up other perspectives regarding practices in managing relationships, and governance methods proposed by the FA, which are aspects not deeply analyzed in other FA studies. Key methodological aspects: Qualitative research with multiple case studies involving data triangulation. The sample of this study comprised the franchise chain Skill Idiomas, and the interviews involved four Directors, six Franchisees and the Skill franchisor Executive. Summary of key results: There is a strong sense of trust only among some of the network members, as well as a partial cooperation among them. With reference to the governance, one may point out that the rules and the penalties that compose their policies are well known and applied. The influence of the leaders that form the association's board of directors and the voting process in FAs is a determining factor for the resolution of conflicts. Key considerations/conclusions: The lack of trust represented by the other part of the association board and the franchisees indicate that most part of the involved actors does not trust the network of the association. The influence of leaders that compose the membership of the Board was a determining factor in conflict resolution. The way of governance exercised by the FA is applied for all members when rules are infringed.

El fútbol adaptado para personas con discapacidad visual ha experimentado un crecimiento significativo desde la década de los años ochenta, tanto a nivel internacional como nacional. Por la naturaleza de este deporte, los jugadores reciben asistencia auditiva para orientarse dentro del campo de juego. El objetivo del estudio es desarrollar dispositivos sonoros para asistir a personas con discapacidad visual en sus entrenamientos de fútbol. Los jugadores contarán con un pulsante en su mano que, al presionarlo, activará unos altavoces situados en la portería, emitiendo un sonido para que el jugador pueda identificar la ubicación de los tres postes. El tipo de investigación es aplicada de corte longitudinal-exploratoria con un enfoque cualitativo. La evaluación del dispositivo se realizó en dos etapas: primero, pruebas individuales con un representante de cada equipo (Club Vulcano y ANVIZSUC), y luego, un partido demostrativo entre ambos equipos. Seis deportistas participaron en la encuesta posterior al partido. Los datos fueron analizados y el resultado obtenido fue que los dispositivos de asistencia incrementan la autonomía de las personas con discapacidad visual en la práctica de fútbol adaptado.