title: Usability of a new electronic assistive device for community-dwelling persons with mild dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a newly developed integrated digital prosthetic, the COGKNOW Day Navigator (CDN), to support persons with mild dementia in their daily lives, with memory, social contacts, daily activities and safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  A user participatory method was applied in the development process, which consisted of three iterative 1-year cycles with field tests in Amsterdam, Belfast and Luleå. In the successive cycles 16, 14 and 12 persons with dementia and their carers participated. Data on usability were collected by means of interviews, observations, questionnaires, logging and diaries. The CDN prototype consists of a touch screen, a mobile device, sensors and actuators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The evaluation showed that persons with dementia and carers valued the CDN overall as user-friendly and useful. Conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the system in daily life were limited due to insufficient duration of the testing period caused by delays in development and some instability of the final prototype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the suggested adaptations, the CDN is expected to be a useful tool for supporting community-dwelling persons with mild dementia and their carers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry/Nursing Home Medicine, EMGO+ Institute, Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. fj.meiland@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Franka J M
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Meiland
authors.forename: Ans I E
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bouman
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sävenstedt
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bentvelzen
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Maurice D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mulvenna
authors.forename: Chris D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.forename: Ferial
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moelaert
authors.forename: Marike E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hettinga
authors.forename: Johan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: Rose-Marie
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dröes
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D003704:Dementia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004581:Electronics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012656:Self-Help Devices