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Introduction: Currently studies indicate the need to incorporate the user`s perspective in the testing of new assistive technologies. The objective of this paper is to test a baropodometric insole prototype for monitoring and treatment weight-bearing asymmetry, according to the Participatory Design. Methods: We used a qualitative case study approach during the testing phase of the baropodometric insole prototype. The focus group approach addressed topics related to the experience and accessibility of the potential user in conjunction with professionals, researchers, and physiotherapy students. Facilitators, barriers, and requirements for the device were collected through audio recordings of the discussions during and after prototype testing. Results: Key steps in the prototype testing process were divided into (1) Test of the prototype according to the Participatory Design, divided into Who, When, How, and Why the potential user was involved in the study; and (2) Facilitators, barriers and requirements to improve the prototype. Conclusions: The baropodometric insole prototype can be seen as a promising device for monitoring and treating weight-bearing asymmetry.

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An implementation proposal that seeks to globalize the scope of the sustainable technologies developed in the University laboratories is presented. This approach uses the generation of triple-impact projects placing people at the center of technological development to bring technical and scientific knowledge into a service design oriented to global sustainable solutions. This research is an approach to what a hub for scientific research, technological implementation, and human needs would look like by designing common environments in which to interact and expand knowledge in an iterated way through the experience of all the actors involved in technological implementation. As a control case, a new technology developed at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, consisting of using sustainable materials as tubular reactor fillers for water treatment was chosen. Based on data obtained within the framework of a University extension project, in which the water quality diagnosis for human consumption was carried out and cross-examined with the mathematical analysis of sorption, design parameters of the reactor, participatory design, and open source concepts application, different virtual environments were generated with distinct objectives: i) open design environment: publishing and mapping of installed sorption reactors, reactor model plans, and useful information related to drinking water quality (aimed at contributors of the open source design environment); ii) platform for academic actors linking: connecting data between prototyping lab for participatory design of sorption reactors (aimed at university research users); iii) information disclosure page: space where the implemented technology impact is displayed and shows options to contact researchers and request a reactor design diagnosis for another community (aimed at beneficiary users). A technological service designed to link the University with the community was proposed, by resolving one of the main gaps related to the possibility for communities to access public financing for self-managed improvement projects, increasing the appropriation of the adopted technology and democratizing public investment, making it sustainable over time.

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The high prevalence of mental health problems among university students poses a challenge when developing effective interventions, with digital technologies emerging as a potential resource to address this problem. The inclusion of student input in the design and development of such interventions is critical to improving their impact. This study contributed to the initial phase of a research project that aims to adapt and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an early intervention for anxiety and depression based on digital technologies for university students. Three participatory workshops were conducted with 13 university students in Chile to inquire about the features and content that a mental health mobile app should include to meet their needs and preferences. The workshop transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The results of this study highlight the value of modifications such as the personalisation of some features of the app. The students recommended incorporating topics related to university life and the possibility of contacting a mental health professional, as well as the inclusion of peer interaction or other forms of support.

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BACKGROUND: The need for participative approaches in design is a key concern for Ergonomics. There exists a vast array of philosophies and techniques which may come under the heading of participation, but several of these methods are indeed not really participatory in the real sense of the concept. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to reveal the elements that allow an ergonomic simulation approach to be applied as a design process method centered on the work perspective and anchored on the participation concept. METHODS: This study is centered on the subsequent analysis of a case study: the design of an Onshore Collaborative Center (OCC), in the context of Integrated Operations (IO) of the oil industry. The simulation sessions were filmed and recorded, and a logbook of the progress of the design process was produced daily in order to preserve the memory of the case. RESULTS: The main result of the research highlights that simulation is a method capable of presenting work as an important factor in the transformation of the project, as well as in technical choices, in addition to opening space for different participants and their various perspectives. However, for it to be an effective method of participation, there is the need for a "back and forth" process between work analysis and simulation during the ergonomic simulation approach. CONCLUSION: This study showed which elements support the construction of ergonomic simulation as a method capable of structuring the participation in design process. For this, the simulation must be based on work analysis and articulate the knowledge of different actors for decision-making to allow for new developments while promoting the vision of work as an important decision variable in the design process.

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PURPOSE: The literature review presents a conceptual participatory design through accessibility technology solutions, considering the design experience to be an essential factor in communication processes. Technologies must assess a wide range of disabilities based on characterisations that helps daily activities. This work includes collaboration concepts to assist in the development of accessible technology. Collaborative design requires the fostering of communication between actors involved in the design process. METHODS: This work implemented with a protocol of guidelines developed by a group of experts in disability research. The relevant literature is included and assessed based on three categories: accessibility, assistive technologies, and participatory design. RESULTS: A knowledge gap can be identified: the development of assistive technology processes should enhance the voice of participants and consider their ideas, desires and needs. CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary communication is necessary to identify problems and propose solutions, and it is essential that people with disabilities collaborate with experts from a range of disciplines to identify problem-solving patterns.Implications for rehabilitationA participatory design can develop a holistic understanding of the participant's motivation and rehabilitation needs. This has provided a grounded basis to offer information about the assistive technology design.A participatory work provides information about the technology design which may finally result in a better understanding of rehabilitation, other types of home-based healthcare or the gamification for rehabilitation.The rehabilitation professionals can explore requirements of a customised technology for users, which allows to transfer knowledge about disabilities and skills in rehabilitation to people with disabilities, their families and communities.The notion of a research problem in rehabilitation can be re-evaluated through a participatory design process that attempts to capture the subjective experiences of persons with disability.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to transition our user-centered research and design activities in the emergency medical domain of trauma resuscitation from in-person settings to online environments. This transition required that we replicate the in-person interactions remotely while maintaining the critical social connection and the exchange of ideas with medical providers. In this paper, we describe how we designed and conducted four user-centered design activities from our homes: participatory design workshops, near-live simulation sessions, usability evaluation sessions, and interviews and design walkthroughs. We discuss the differences we observed in our interactions with participants in remote sessions, as well as the differences in the interactions among the research team members. From this experience, we draw several lessons and outline the best practices for remotely conducting user-centered design activities that have been traditionally held in person.

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BACKGROUND: The use of electronic health records (EHR) is related to the improvement of service quality and care coordination. The design of this platform generally focuses on the individual use of the system and does not integrate the specific needs of workers to provide support for collaborative activities. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated how activity ergonomics (AE) contributed to improve the design of an EHR that supports the collaborative mental health care of children and youth. METHODS: This qualitative study, based on the theoretical framework of AE, used individual and group interviews and document analysis as research procedures. The data collection occurred between March and September 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. RESULTS: The study highlighted the following points: the characteristics that marked the different perceptions of workers regarding the use of a communication tool for collaborative care; the problems related to spreadsheet usability; and the desirable attributes that should be considered in the conception of a new EHR. CONCLUSIONS: The research indicated that AE favors improving the design of an EHR by incorporating the work dimension into the project.

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La ingeniería en rehabilitación tiene entre sus objetivos principales el desarrollo de soluciones que mejoren la calidad de vida de las personas con discapacidad, las cuales, si son desarrolladas a través de metodologías de investigación y diseño participativo, pueden presentar ventajas significativas como productos que dan mejor respuesta a las necesidades de la comunidad, mayor aceptación de los resultados por parte de la misma y el hallazgo de fuentes y nichos potenciales de innovación. Adicionalmente, dichas metodologías permiten que los beneficios para esta población no se asocien solamente a los resultados o productos generados, sino que complementariamente se logren desde los mismos procesos investigativos a través de la inclusión y participación auténticas, generando un mayor impacto social. Este artículo propone un enfoque metodológico para el desarrollo de productos de habilitación y rehabilitación en el cual convergen las tendencias de investigación participativa, el diseño y la voz de la comunidad que pide ser copartícipe en los proyectos, en unión a las estrategias para la apropiación social del conocimiento. Adicionalmente se exponen ejemplos, barreras y dificultades, retos y recomendaciones para llevar a cabo una investigación según el enfoque participativo. Las reflexiones planteadas pueden además ser aplicadas a otras áreas del saber.

One of the main goals of rehabilitation engineering is improving the quality of life of people with disabilities through developing solutions for their specific needs. When participatory methodologies for research and design are applied, the resulting solutions show advantages such as products that better address the needs of the community, solutions that are better accepted by the community, and the identification of potential sources and niches for innovation. In addition, participatory methodologies provide benefits that are not only associated with the generated results and products but with the processes themselves. When research processes are inclusive and promote authentic participation a higher social impact can be obtained. This paper proposes a methodological approach for the development of habilitation and rehabilitation products that allows the convergence of participatory research tendencies, design tendencies and the voice of the community that claims for co-participation. This approach also incorporates strategies for the social appropriation of knowledge. Examples, barriers, difficulties, challenges and recommendations for conducting research with a focus on participation are also presented. The reflections herein presented may also be applied to other fields.

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Three traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients achieved a significant increase in level of function in a short period of time using a Computer-Based Cognitive Prosthesis (CBCP). A CBCP is a compensatory strategy which applies computer science concepts to brain injury rehabilitation. One-of-a-kind software is designed to assist the brain injury survivor in performing functional activities. New techniques of rehabilitation are also applied. Research subjects were between one and five years post injury. Patients were able to make substantial contributions to the design of their prosthetic software. Increases in level of functioning were seen both in everyday activities targeted for the intervention, as well as generalized increase on neurobehavioral and psychological dimensions.