Project ReviewProject Review

Senior Citizens Personal Mobile Senior Citizens Personal Mobile AssistantAssistant

Team Number 8Team Number 8

Gauri Tikekar (7749)Gauri Tikekar (7749)

Madhuri Murlikrishnan (0719)Madhuri Murlikrishnan (0719)

Siddharth Adelkar (6271)Siddharth Adelkar (6271)

(On Campus Students)(On Campus Students)

Project IntroductionProject IntroductionIdea:Idea:Personal assistant application for senior citizens to help them in their activities on a PDA phone.

Motivation behind this Idea: behind this Idea: Applications we see today are developed majorly for the younger generation Mouse and keyboard inputs are difficult for elderly people to use. We need devices and applications which are simpler to use in their day to day life.

Uniqueness:Uniqueness: People are working on incorporating features in GUI for computers Targeted at the benefit of the older people Developing something on a small device for such people is a challenge.

Why this System: We propose to design this system that serves the daily needs of the senior citizens Help them better organize their important activities

System RequirementsSystem Requirements Emergency SendingEmergency Sending:: Facility of calling the Emergency Facility of calling the Emergency

services in at most two strokes and a confirmationservices in at most two strokes and a confirmation

Draft Messages:Draft Messages: These messages shall be delivered to the These messages shall be delivered to the concerned person(s) on the other end. concerned person(s) on the other end.

Recording SystemRecording System:: This is used for composing the messages This is used for composing the messages that will be delivered on relevant key press.that will be delivered on relevant key press.

GPS Facility:GPS Facility: This will add the location or address of the user This will add the location or address of the user and inform of this to the emergency service as well as and inform of this to the emergency service as well as emergency contacts (as mentioned by the user).emergency contacts (as mentioned by the user).

Input Mechanisms:Input Mechanisms: We provide three input methods which are We provide three input methods which are Speech Recognition, Handwriting Recognition and easy to use Speech Recognition, Handwriting Recognition and easy to use Onscreen Keyboard.Onscreen Keyboard.

Reminders:Reminders: The system provides three kinds of reminders, The system provides three kinds of reminders, namely Appointment Reminders, Medicine reminders and Event namely Appointment Reminders, Medicine reminders and Event reminders.reminders.

Navigation MapNavigation Map

Navigation MapNavigation Map

User Analysis Discussion

User Profile:

Psychological Characteristics: The cognitive style is verbal/analytical. The Attitude is low/neutral as the system is new and users

have less knowledge The motivation high / moderate as the system is useful for day

to day activities.

Knowledge and Experience: Computer skills, reading skills and task experience may vary

from low to high Their system experience would be Novice as they are new

users of this system. Native Language is assumed to be English or the user should

know English.

User Analysis Discussion

Job and Task Characteristics: The frequency of use is moderate in the beginning but will grow

with familiarity The task importance is high since the system handles

emergency situations The job category for this system would be for personal use The user requires no primary training (or may be only manual)

Physical Characteristics: The system is mainly for users above 45 years of age,

irrespective of the gender. The user of the system may or may not have poor eyesight /

colorblindness. The system handedness is Ambidextrous.

User Analysis DiscussionDialogue Styles: Dialogue Styles Implemented:1. Menu: Very simple menus in form of a list of buttons on a

touch screen.

2. Fill in forms: All configurations like message composing, reminders entry etc. are done by filling simple forms with at most 5 fields.

3. Question and Answering: Our system has no or very little

interaction with the users with respect to questioning for information.

4. Natural Language: Our system most definitely provides Natural language processing in form of text or voice as the users are not necessarily computer literates.

5. Direct Manipulation: This helps our system interface to be compatible to users that are lacking in training and system/application experience.

User Analysis DiscussionDialogue Styles NOT Implemented:

1. 1. Command Language:Requires positive attitude, high motivation, moderate/high typing skills and high system/task experience. Our users may be computer (PDA) illiterate in the worst case scenario. Thus, they cannot have positive attitude as they are unaware of the system. Their motivation will not be low as this system will be very useful for them. Their typing skills may not be high for the reasons such as aging They have no or very low system or task experience. Hence, command language is not used as a dialog style for our system.

2. Function Keys: Requires the user to have high system and technical experience. Our main aim of the system is to reduce the complexity and make it user friendly. Thus usage of function keys does not serve our goal, and hence its not implemented

User Analysis User Analysis DiscussionDiscussion

Task AnalysisTask Analysis

Context Free Diagram

User Analysis DiscussionUser Analysis Discussion

1st Level DFD for 1.0 (Emergency Configuration)

User Analysis DiscussionUser Analysis Discussion

2nd Level DFD for 1.1(Configure Emergency Contact Details)

User Analysis DiscussionUser Analysis Discussion

2nd Level DFD for 1.2 (Emergency Messages Configuration)

User Analysis DiscussionUser Analysis Discussion

1st Level DFD for 2.0(Reminders Configuration)

User Analysis DiscussionUser Analysis Discussion

2nd Level DFD for 3.0 (Sending Messages to concern contacts)

User Analysis DiscussionUser Analysis DiscussionUser Environment and I/O Devices:User Environment and I/O Devices:

User environmental conditions: The system is useful in mobile environments eg. when the person is out and alone. Thus we make use of PDA as the device on which we will develop our system.

I/O Devices: Our system has three kinds of input methods. They are the following:

Handwriting Recognition: This helps the users who do not have typing skills to interact with the system conveniently.

Voice Recognition: This helps the user to interact, record emergency messages and avoid typing.

Onscreen Keyboard: We plan to design a special keyboard having minimal keys and T9 on/off facility.

Touch Screen: This input device provided by the PDA, will perform the functions of navigation , analogous to a mouse on a desktop computer.

Style GuideStyle Guide White Background.White Background. Button Sizes: 160 X 40 and 80 X 40 pixelsButton Sizes: 160 X 40 and 80 X 40 pixels

Larger in size and legible.Larger in size and legible.Touch Screen Buttons.Touch Screen Buttons.

Colors: Used Category wise for consistency.Colors: Used Category wise for consistency.Messages, Events, Home, Relatives.Messages, Events, Home, Relatives.Medicine, Doctor, Pharmacy, Medicine, Doctor, Pharmacy,

Emergency.Emergency.Exit, Save, Next, Back.Exit, Save, Next, Back.Appointments, Phone Book.Appointments, Phone Book.

All choices “keyboard”, “pen” etc in pink or light All choices “keyboard”, “pen” etc in pink or light blue color.blue color.

Style GuideStyle Guide

Colors are propagated to show navigation.Colors are propagated to show navigation. Icons: Synchronization of picture and text Icons: Synchronization of picture and text

on button. on button.

Easy to remember the functionality.Easy to remember the functionality. Icons are propagated to show navigation.Icons are propagated to show navigation.

Mobile Assistant Mobile Assistant ScreensScreens

Desktop Icons

Clock Icon: An Alarm Clock Icon suitable for Reminders.

An Envelope and a Message Inside, a suitable icon forMessages.

An Ambulance is a good icon for Emergency.

Mobile Assistant ScreensMobile Assistant Screens

Emergency Configuration

Message Draft Icon depicts a Recording facility as well as Writing.

Phone Book is an obvious icon

Mobile Assistant ScreensMobile Assistant Screens

Message Drafts

Yellow Color for Buttons – Consistent with “Message Draft”.

Message Draft icon propagated.

Mobile Assistant ScreensMobile Assistant Screens

New Message Entry

New Message StepsNew Message Steps

Choose the contacts to whom the message Choose the contacts to whom the message will be sent.will be sent.

Emergency Message Checkbox : At a time Emergency Message Checkbox : At a time the system can have only two such the system can have only two such emergency messages. Rest will only be emergency messages. Rest will only be future drafts.future drafts.

Drafted messages will be linked with the Drafted messages will be linked with the current user’s location using GPS while current user’s location using GPS while actually sending the message.actually sending the message.

Mobile Assistant ScreensMobile Assistant Screens

Reminder Configuration

Appointments Icon – Calendar.

Events Icon – Celebration.

Medicine Icon – Medical Plus.

Mobile Assistant ScreensMobile Assistant Screens

Green Color –Green Color –

Consistent with Consistent with Appointment.Appointment.

Appointment Appointment Icon Propagated.Icon Propagated.

Appointment Reminders Configuration

Mobile Assistant Screens Mobile Assistant Screens

New Appointment Entry

Mobile Assistant ScreensMobile Assistant Screens Calendar icon near Date and Time fields to Calendar icon near Date and Time fields to

select date and time. (No typing)select date and time. (No typing) Two Types of Reminders Setting available –Two Types of Reminders Setting available –

Template (Detailed one)Template (Detailed one) Simple TextSimple Text

Doctor’s Information: Name, Hospital, Office Doctor’s Information: Name, Hospital, Office Hrs, Address.Hrs, Address.

Doctor’s entry is one time in system. Stored Doctor’s entry is one time in system. Stored for future use.for future use.

When Simple Text selected, directly fourth When Simple Text selected, directly fourth step screen opened.step screen opened.

““Link to doctor “ checkbox visible only while Link to doctor “ checkbox visible only while “simple text”.“simple text”.

Mobile Assistant ScreensMobile Assistant Screens

New Appointment Entry

Mobile Assistant ScreensMobile Assistant Screens

Sending Emergency Icons

Screens not Included Screens not Included HereHere

Edit/Delete functionality.Edit/Delete functionality. Phone Book Details.Phone Book Details. Event, Medicine Reminders Config. Details.Event, Medicine Reminders Config. Details. Confirmation, Acknowledgement and Confirmation, Acknowledgement and

Reminder Alarms.Reminder Alarms.

CommentsComments Challenge to work on a PDA especially for Challenge to work on a PDA especially for

this application meant for old people.this application meant for old people. Tool Used: Embedded Visual Basic 3.0Tool Used: Embedded Visual Basic 3.0 Provides a Pocket PC emulator and allows to Provides a Pocket PC emulator and allows to

create a project on it.create a project on it. Good for prototype design.Good for prototype design. Your Suggestions for improvement are Your Suggestions for improvement are

welcome.welcome. Rest of semester plan – Rest of semester plan –

Better onscreen keyboard design.Better onscreen keyboard design.

Developing a working model of the system.Developing a working model of the system.

ReferencesReferences Nielsen Norman, “Web Usability for Senior Citizens: Nielsen Norman, “Web Usability for Senior Citizens:

46 Design Guidelines Based on Usability Studies with 46 Design Guidelines Based on Usability Studies with People Age 65 and Older”, People Age 65 and Older”, http://www.nngroup.com/reports/seniors http://www.nngroup.com/reports/seniors

Brian Kritzstein, “PDAs: Appropriate For Every Age Brian Kritzstein, “PDAs: Appropriate For Every Age Level”, Level”, http://www.pdaed.com/vertical/features/Age.xml http://www.pdaed.com/vertical/features/Age.xml

For Embedded Visual BasicFor Embedded Visual Basic

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyIhttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=F663BF48-31EE-4CBE-AAC5-0AFFD5FB27DD&displaylD=F663BF48-31EE-4CBE-AAC5-0AFFD5FB27DD&displaylang=enang=en

Icons chosen from www.iconolog.orgIcons chosen from www.iconolog.org