Summary
Introduction: This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on “Using Data from Ambient Assisted Living and Smart Homes in Electronic Health
Records“.
Objectives: Our objectives were to: 1) characterize older adult participants’ perceived usefulness
of in-home sensor data and 2) develop novel visual displays for sensor data from Ambient
Assisted Living environments that can become part of electronic health records.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with community-dwelling older adult participants
during three and six-month visits. We engaged participants in two design iterations
by soliciting feedback about display types and visual displays of simulated data related
to a fall scenario. Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify themes related
to perceived usefulness of sensor data.
Results: Thematic analysis identified three themes: perceived usefulness of sensor data for
managing health; factors that affect perceived usefulness of sensor data and; perceived
usefulness of visual displays. Visual displays were cited as potentially useful for
family members and health care providers. Three novel visual displays were created
based on interview results, design guidelines derived from prior AAL research, and
principles of graphic design theory.
Conclusions: Participants identified potential uses of personal activity data for monitoring health
status and capturing early signs of illness. One area for future research is to determine
how visual displays of AAL data might be utilized to connect family members and health
care providers through shared understanding of activity levels versus a more simplified
view of self-management. Connecting informal and formal caregiving networks may facilitate
better communication between older adults, family members and health care providers
for shared decision-making.
Keywords
Older adults - smart homes - consumer health information - independent living - visual
display design - sensor data
