A user centred approach to supporting people with cognitive dysfunction Prof. Alan Newell, MBE, FRSE, School of Computing University of Dundee Scotland.

Research at Dundee University Newell, A.F, Gregor P, Alm N. (2006). HCI for older and disabled people in the Queen Mother Research Centre at Dundee University. CHI 2006 HCI Overview. Wednesday 26 th 16.30

Models of disability Medical Model –Clinical setting –“Curing the sick” Social Model –Domestic (& day care) settings –Supporting the person

User Sensitive Inclusive Design Variety & lack of representative users Exact characteristics of users needed Conflicts of interest between groups Communication with users a challenge Ethical issues

Novel approaches Users as members of the design team Social gatherings of users & designers Attending day centres as volunteer Use of Theatre –Newell, A., Morgan, M., Carmichael, A., Gregor P. (2006) Theatre as an intermediary between users and HCI designers. CHI 2006 Experience Report. Tuesday 25 th 11.30

Variability of users Design for dynamic diversity

Older users Fit older people Frail older people with disabilities Disabled People who have grown old Multi minor impairments

Cognitive Overload Everyone –Fighter pilot, young executive, old people –Time pressures, drugs Ordinary & Extra-Ordinary Human Computer Interaction Support cognitive capacity or Reduce cognitive load.

Other aspects affecting cognitive performance Attention Reduced other abilities: –visio-spacial –Hearing –Verbal –Language and vocabulary –Of coping with complexity

Aesthetics Disabled people and people with cognitive dysfunction do not necessarily have little or no aesthetic sense !

Influence of graphic artists

Evaluation Medical methods –Large “n”, –matched control groups –double blind Traditional HCI –Large “n”, –Carefully controlled, –Generic/representative results

New evaluation techniques Appropriate to our research Valid within our context Do not disadvantage potentially useful systems Efficacy can be justified Desperately needed !

Novel approaches needed Variability of users Dynamic nature of cognitive functioning Multiple minor disabilities Aesthetics Evaluation Techniques Looking forward to the rest of the workshop.