CS5760 - HCI Usability Testing

Scientist's Application Idea

Exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) is emerging as an effective training option to increase muscle size and strength in healthy, clinical, and athletic populations. This modality involves exercising with a tourniquet (i.e., pressurized cuff or elastic band) applied to the upper portion of a limb, which serves to partially limit blood flow going to the working muscles (arterial) and returning to the heart (venous). The main advantages that BFR exercise has over traditional training are 1) increases in muscle size and strength can be achieved using low exercise intensities, and 2) these adaptations can be stimulated using both resistance (i.e., lifting light weights) and aerobic (i.e., walking) exercise. Accordingly, BFR offers an alternative option for improving muscle size and strength in populations such as the elderly and those with orthopedic limitations or various diseased states to whom higher intensity exercise may be difficult or contraindicated. Despite its growing use in sport and rehabilitation settings, implementation of BFR remains challenging for practitioners. There are no standardized protocols or guides available for conducting medical screening of potential candidates, selecting an appropriate training technology for performing BFR, or determining safe and effective tourniquet pressures to utilize. This app is intended to guide exercise professionals (i.e., physical therapists, personal trainers, coaches) through the steps of implementing BFR with their patients/clients. Specifically, the app will 1) conduct medical screening to determine the relative safety of performing BFR, 2) give recommendations for appropriate training technologies to utilize, and 3) determine the proper amount of tourniquet pressure to apply during exercise. An additional feature may include providing BFR exercise prescriptions for both resistance and aerobic exercise. Collectively, this app will help to enhance access to BFR and ensure that safe and effective practices are utilized in sport and rehabilitation settings.

Research Topic: HCI in Autonomous Vehicles

I will be looking to explore the Human-Computer Interaction factors in modern autonomous vehicles, adressing electric vehicles in more depth. As vehicles are transitioning to a minimalistic and digital interface approach, it is becoming critical to ensure that we understand what this change entails. HCI in autonomous vehicles becomes even more important as we consider how these vehicles interact with humans on the roads using their self-driving features. As my Master's Reading and Research topic focused on Electric Vehicles and Sustainability, this would be an ideal extension of my prior findings.

Evaluation Assignment 2: User Goal Document

Evaluation Assignment 4: Design Support Documents

Developers' Assignment: Cognitive Walkthrough

Evaluation Assignment 5: Heuristic Evaluation

Topic Assignment 2: Topic Paper

Topic Assignment 3: Topic Slides

Topic Assignment 4: Presentation

Evaluation Assignment 7: Usability Test Plan

Evaluation Assignment 10: Preliminary Usability Test Results Presentation

Evaluation Assignment 11: Usability Test Report