title: Prompting technologies: A comparison of time-based and context-aware transition-based prompting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While advancements in technology have encouraged the development of novel prompting systems to support cognitive interventions, little research has evaluated the best time to deliver prompts, which may impact the effectiveness of these interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined whether transition-based context prompting (prompting an individual during task transitions) is more effective than traditional fixed time-based prompting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 42 healthy adults who completed 12 different everyday activities, each lasting 1-7 minutes, in an experimental smart home testbed and received prompts to record the completed activities from an electronic memory notebook. Half of the participants were delivered prompts during activity transitions, while the other half received prompts every 5 minutes. Participants also completed Likert-scale ratings regarding their perceptions of the prompting system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed that participants in the transition-based context prompting condition responded to the first prompt more frequently and rated the system as more convenient, natural, and appropriate compared to participants in the time-based condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that prompting during activity transitions produces higher adherence to the first prompt and more positive perceptions of the prompting system. This is an important finding given the benefits of prompting technology and the possibility of improving cognitive interventions by using context-aware transition prompting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Kayela
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Cody
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Feuz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmitter-Edgecombe
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D017010:Reminder Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Prompting technology; assistive technology; cognitive aids; cognitive intervention