title: Design of smart home sensor visualizations for older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smart home sensor systems provide a valuable opportunity to continuously and unobtrusively monitor older adult wellness. However, the density of sensor data can be challenging to visualize, especially for an older adult consumer with distinct user needs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe the design of sensor visualizations informed by interviews with older adults. The goal of the visualizations is to present sensor activity data to an older adult consumer audience that supports both longitudinal detection of trends and on-demand display of activity details for any chosen day.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design process is grounded through participatory design with older adult interviews during a six-month pilot sensor study. Through a secondary analysis of interviews, we identified the visualization needs of older adults. We incorporated these needs with cognitive perceptual visualization guidelines and the emotional design principles of Norman to develop sensor visualizations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present a design of sensor visualization that integrate both temporal and spatial components of information. The visualization supports longitudinal detection of trends while allowing the viewer to view activity within a specific date.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriately designed visualizations for older adults not only provide insight into health and wellness, but also are a valuable resource to promote engagement within care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Thai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Blaine
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reeder
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Hilaire
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demiris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D020380:Needs Assessment
keywords: Information visualization; older adults; sensor; smart home