JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Behavioral intervention studies often lack sufficiently sensitive and frequent measurements to observe an effect. Remote passive sensing offers a highly sensitive, continuous, and ecologically-valid method of assessment that increases the ability to detect change in daily activities and function of those being monitored. To be most effectively deployed into research studies, applications of remote assessment technology must be designed with the end user in mind. User-centered design is especially important in clinical trials where the needs and characteristics of participants and the research staff need to be uniquely considered to ensure the feasibility and acceptability of the study. This paper describes user-centered design issues in remote passive sensing that commonly arise among older adult participants–including those living with dementia–as well as strategies taken to overcome them. Using exemplars from the NIA-funded Roybal Center ORCASTRAIT, as well as other experimental and observational research studies conducted in community settings, this paper brings together our collective experiences with studies using remote passive sensing technology that incorporate a user-centered design approach. Although passive sensing eliminates some common user-centered design issues that arise with higher-touch technology, issues such as usability, trust and aesthetic acceptability still need to be addressed for behavioral interventions using passive sensing technology to be potent and implementable.