ABSTRACT
Topics discussed in this chapter include requirements for the engineering of new applications and use of scientific methodologies for the study of human factors-“the unique area of engineering that tailors the design of technology to people, rather than expecting people to adapt to technology,”2 (p. 1). This includes discussion of designing unobtrusive and effective
system-user interactions, design and testing of pervasive applications in geriatrics, application of usability engineering methods, and user testing issues. A range of applications where pervasive computing has begun to appear in healthcare will be used to illustrate human-centered methodological approaches to the design and evaluation of pervasive computing. This will include discussion of integration of computerized patient record systems and databases with new pervasive applications; the relation of pervasive computing to telemedicine applications; the need for integrating standards; and usability considerations in the use of mobile devices and Internet-based medical applications. We then discuss the importance of an improved understanding and consideration of human cognition and communication modalities including speech, handwriting, head-mounted displays, and combined approaches. Furthermore, we argue that principled examination of how healthcare workers interact with each other and the world around them is needed for the development of effective and useful pervasive computing applications. The chapter ends with a brief description of a human factors laboratory in development to examine the intersection between human-computer interaction and pervasive computing in healthcare.
