Understanding user product interaction: a study on home medical devices for the elderly


Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mimarlık Fakültesi, Endüstriyel Tasarım Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2021

Tezin Dili: İngilizce

Öğrenci: ZEYNEP CANSU İNAL

Danışman: Naz Ayşe Güzide Z. Börekçi

Özet:

In the field of healthcare, advancements in technology lead to a migration from hospitals to nonclinical settings. This alteration can be seen in both basic monitoring systems and complicated treatment systems. Concurrently, these technological developments increase the quality and existence of life. The aging population displays these enhancements supplied by the advanced medical devices of today’s world. Before this giant leap, medical devices used to be designed and manufactured for only the professionals in the area. Today, patients as end-users are a consideration in these processes as well, with the introduction of home medical devices. These fast paced advancements in medical devices also force the elderly to adapt, although limitations on cognitive and physical abilities may cause an obstacle. Thus, it generates a working space for a design field study upon home medical device usage of the elderly. This study aims to comprehend the elderly’s experiences and concerns on their usage of home medical devices and gain insights for the design process. The thesis is formed in two phases. In the first phase, a literature review regarding home medical devices and the elderly were analyzed. The second phase includes interviews and observations conducted with the elderly who use home medical devices. The thesis concludes with the presentation of the findings focusing on difficulties and conveniences experienced during the usage home medical devices.