ABSTRACT
Usability/iterative tests wcre planncd and are being conductcd within thc European Integratcd project OASIS which introduces an ilmovativc, ontology-drivcn, open reference architecture and system enabling and facilitating interoperability, seamless connectivity and sharing of content between different services and ontologies, in all application domains rclevant for the elderly and beyond . The OASIS System is open, modular, holistic, easy to use and standards abiding. It includes a set of novel tools for content/services connection and managcmcnt, for user interfaces creation and adaptation and for service personalization and integration. Through this new Architecture, over 1 2 different types of services arc connectcd for the bencfit of the elderly, covering user needs and wants in tcrms of Independent Living Applications (nutritional advisor, activity coach, brain and skills trainers, social communities platform, health monitoring and cnvironmental control), Autonomous Mobility (elderly-friendly transport information services,
elderly-friendly route guidance, personal mobility services, mobile devices, biometric authentication interface and multimodal dialogue mitigation) and Smart Workplaces Applications . Applications are all integrated as a unified, dynamic service batch, managed by the OASIS Service Centre and supporting all types of mobile devices (tablet PC, PDA, smartphone, automotive device, ITV, infokiosk) and all types of environments (living labs, sheltered homes, private homes, two car demonstrators, public transport, DRT, etc .) . The key aim is the empowerment, independence and productivity of the target population. The iterative tests are based on mock ups, in the four pilot sites of OASIS, in order to ensure high user involvement since the early stages of HCr concepts and modules design and development. The application of ergonomic design methodology faci litates the iterative testing procedure (Nielsen, 1 993) . Mock ups were created with appropriate software and presented as pen and paper procedure . The Brain Trainer service was tested at CERTHIHIT usability l<i.b in Thessaloniki . The brain trainer module aims at cognitive exercise and training of elder users by offering a game like experience . Specific testing plans were developed in order to accommodate the elder people identified needs and requirements . Usability was a maj or objective for the mock ups creation and it was essential to be attained prior the iterative procedure. As user friendliness and acceptability is a top priority for the project, a user centred-design approach is followed along the service and application development. Task analysis procedure facilitated the mock ups creation according to the proj ect Use Cases and the respective scenarios . Additionally, the test design was based on important considerations such as the acceptance of ergonomics standards, avoidance of complexity of tasks assigned, close observation of mental workload. The aforementioned assumptions reflect the apprehensive attitude towards end-users ' needs without removing the affect of their capacities (mental, physical, and psychological) . Mock ups will be cvaluated by 40 elderly users across sites . The OASIS main end-user group, were broken down into 3 sub-groups according to their age classification scheme. "Young" elderly (55-65 years) are users who still live a healthy and active life with minor decline . The elderly group (65-75 years) are still healthy but with a higher risk, compared to the previous group, to experience mild cognitive and physical problems. The "elder" elderly group (>75 years) arc individuals who are more likely to present health and cognitive deterioration due to aging. It is evident from the above that within the iterative tests, the specific needs of the users for the stepwise design of the provided services (e.g. in terms of functionality, UI, etc .) will be investigated in depth and beyond experts ' analysis. The evaluation process comprises questionnaires completion and focus groups sessions . In addition, during the tests, users arc recorded while carrying out certain tasks and notes arc kept by the moderators in order to track all users ' reaction and feedback. These results will be the intermediate step in the development cycle of the OASIS System and applications, aiming to be optimized before the final evaluation tests .
