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b. Test

Version 3.2 by Mark Neerincx on 2023/03/26 16:49

1. Introduction

<include a short summary of the claims to be tested, i.e., the effects of the functions in a specfic use case>

<nothing on prototype yet, we really need to get that going, but assuming this information>

In the section a. Prototype two versions of the robot were presented, one with voice functionality and one without. 

The main claims we are looking to test with this testing procedure are related to the functionality and usability of the robot.

The participants will be other students taking the course. The participants will be placed in the shoes of a PwD and be tasked with completing several basic actions with the robot while impaired in several known ways to simulate the difficulties of a PwD. 

After the experiment, the participants will fill out a survey and be asked some more open ended questions with the purpose of understanding how the interaction with the robot went, and whether they have anything that they find concerning regarding the possible use of the system and its functions in a real life setting. 

On top of this, a short questionnaire will be sent to several care homes throughout the Netherlands in hopes to get a general idea whether the caretakers at the facilities think that the system would be a good fit for the proposed use case.

2. Method

The prototypes are evaluated in a simulated manner, with participants pretending to be PwDs and conducting in-person experiments.

2.1 Participants

All students in CS4235 Socio-Cognitive Engineering (2022-2023) in TU Delft are invited to test the robot. In the end, X students are presented. 

2.2 Experimental design

<Here we can do between or within, doesn't really matter, depends on the number of people we evaluate on honestly because less people means that between subject results will be much more varied and therefore more stupid, not that they will make any sense anyway>

2.3 Tasks

In the user test, the following tasks were asked of the participants:

Reminders for activities

  • Add a reminder that a relative will pay a visit tomorrow with the format as "sb. will come at 10 am on Friday". Set the reminder to remind you 10 min before that.

  • Add a reminder USING A VOICE COMMAND that today at 2 pm will have a general health checkup.

  • Check the reminders you have added for today and tomorrow.

Personal profile

  • Add relatives as a contact in the "profile" section.

Memory games

  • Go to the Games section and check what is included there.

    <this might not be part of the experiment as it might not get implemented in time)

Medicine reminders

(for professional caregivers, write it just in case)

  • In the section “My Health”, add a medicine reminder to take the medicine Donepezil, 1 time per day at 9 PM before going to bed.

  • Check medicines that have been added.

  • Delete medicines that have been added.

About dementia

  • Go to the About dementia section and check the information provided.

  • Click on the different chapters and have a look at them.

General tasks

  • Turn on the robot.

2.4 Measures

Quantitative measures are used in a user evaluation.  If a respondent had a minimum total score of 60% or more, he or she was considered to be satisfied with the application.

2.5 Procedure

The procedure was conducted as follows:

  1. Welcome participants and give an introduction.
  2. Get them to sign a consent form.
  3. Prepare them to pretend to be a person with dementia. *
  4. Have interaction with the robot and complete the tasks.
  5. Complete a questionnaire.
  6. Have a short interview with selected participants. (if possible, 2 participants)

* Several fingers taped together (to simulate PwD's inability to control movements flexibly);

   Wearing very dirty glasses (simulates blurred vision and degraded perception);

   Wearing headphones that broadcast murmurs (simulating hearing degradation and the noisy environment).

2.6 Material

  1. Consent form. To protect the privacy of participants and ensure the evaluation process goes smoothly, we will ask participants to sign a consent form, indicating they are willing to take part in the evaluation and the data gathered from the experiment will be analyzed by researchers.
  2. Pepper robot. <not sure how to elaborate on this>

3. Results

4. Discussion

5. Conclusions