Prototypes of User Interfaces for Mobile Applications for Patients with Diabetes

Behavioral Theory-Based Framework for Prediabetes Self-Care System-Design Perspectives and Validation Results

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition that can lead to many life-threatening diseases. Prediabetes is defined as a state in which blood glucose levels are elevated but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. This stage can be reversible with appropriate lifestyle and dietary modifications. Existing solutions are mostly developed to deal with T2D instead of preventing it in the first place. In this study, we propose a framework to aid in the development of self-care systems to prevent T2D, which integrates behavioral change theories and techniques and offers features, such as goal setting, activity planning, and health monitoring. We then assessed the feasibility of a prediabetes self-care system designed based on the proposed framework. Quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted in evaluating i-PreventDiabetes, a prototype. Numerous aspects of the prototype were evaluated, including (1) its effectiveness in assisting individuals with prediabetes in improving their health management behaviors, (2) its effect on users’ attitudes toward diabetes prevention, (3) users’ motivation levels, (4) user acceptability of the system, and (5) user experience. Users viewed i-PreventDiabetes positively and experienced a positive change in their attitude toward their health. Diabetes prevention systems, such as i-PreventDiabetes, have the potential to increase self-care behaviors among individuals with prediabetes, enabling them to manage their lifestyle and nutrition more effectively to avert a variety of potentially fatal conditions.

Smartphone-based colorimetric detection systems for glucose monitoring in the diagnosis and management of diabetes

Diabetes is a group of metabolic conditions resulting in high blood sugar levels over prolonged periods that affects hundreds of millions of patients worldwide. Measuring glucose concentration enables patient-specific insulin therapy, and is essential to reduce the severity of the disease, potential complications, and related mortalities. Recent advances and developments in smartphone-based colorimetric glucose detection systems are discussed in this review. The importance of glucose monitoring, data collection, transfer, and analysis, via non-invasive/invasive methods is highlighted. The review also presents various approaches using 3D-printed materials, screen-printed electrodes, polymer templates, designs allowing multiple glucose analysis, bioanalytes and/or nanostructures for glucose detection. The positive effects of advances in improving the performance of smartphone-based platforms are introduced along with future directions and trends in the application of emerging technologies in smartphone-based diagnostics.

Novel Interaction Cost Analysis Applied to Bank Charges Calculator

This paper presents an online calculator for bank charges, motivated by information asymmetry in the market for payment accounts. The calculator provides users with a personalized list of the most suitable bank accounts based on required services and monthly fee criteria. This paper outlines the conceptual foundation, workflows, and matrix of the data for the underlying logic of the calculator, as well as the design of the user interface. The proposed calculator was validated by performing an interaction cost analysis. This paper presents a novel methodology for conducting this analysis, including rules for expressing interactions in graphs for the objective evaluation of the usability of the user interface. Scenarios were defined and analyzed with the intended goal of choosing the best bank account. The interaction cost analysis then confirmed the differences in cost between traditional approaches (interacting with various web interfaces) and using a specialized online service (the calculator). The consistency of the layout and navigation contributed significantly to the final results being in favor of the proposed bank charges calculator. These conclusions are applicable not just within the selected market, but also in many others that are prone to problems arising from price information asymmetry.