Development and testing of the inTouch video link for people with dementia: design approach and practical challenges

This paper describes the development and home testing of the inTouch system, a video link designed specifically for people with dementia to use. Iterative, user centered design of four user interaction models was carried out at a day centre. A touchscreen with a telephone handset model was chosen as the most usable interface for a range of people with dementia. This model was developed into a fully working prototype and tested in two home trials, linking two households together over domestic broadband connections. The recruitment of participants for home testing proved to be a significant challenge with no single reason being given for declining or not continuing. Two in-home evaluations of the system were carried out; the system was perceived as easy to use and participants could see the potential benefits, such as being reassured about each other’s wellbeing, and enjoyed engaging visually. The poor reliability of existing broadband connections in the homes was a significant limitation to gathering data within the trials. We have successfully applied user centered design principles to the development of a home video link for people living with dementia and their carers. Developers need to consider practical issues around recruitment and broadband infrastructure when carrying out real world evaluations of ICT systems.