title: Exploring the usability of a videophone mock-up for persons with dementia and their significant others.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persons with dementia might have considerable difficulties in using an ordinary telephone. Being able to use the telephone can be very important in order to maintain their social network, getting stimulation and for reaching help when needed. Therefore, persons with dementia might need an easy-to-use videophone to prevent social isolation and to feel safe and independent. This study reports the evaluation of the usability of a touch-screen videophone mock-up for persons with dementia and their significant others.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four persons with dementia and their significant others tested the videophone mock-up at a living laboratory. In order to gain knowledge of the participants' with dementia ability to use their own computers and telephones, interviews and observations were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the participants had a very positive attitude towards the videophone. The participants with dementia perceived that it was useful, enjoyable and easy to use, although they initially had difficulties in understanding how to handle some functions, thus indicating that the design needs to be further developed to be more intuitive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the videophone has the potential to enable telephone calls without assistance and add quality in communication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden. inga-lill.boman@ds.se.
authors.forename: Inga-Lill
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Starkhammar
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nygård
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000639:trends*; D013689:Telephone / Q000639:trends*
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