Capturing and revisiting ideas in the design process: A longitudinal technology probe study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the design process innovations that enabled the successful delivery of a hybrid, mass-timber high-rise building in Canada, the Brock Commons Tallwood House at the University of British Columbia. It is one of a set of papers examining the project, including companion papers that describe innovations used during the mass timber construction process and the impact of these innovations on construction performance. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method, longitudinal case study approach was used in this research project to investigate and document the Tallwood House project over a three-year period. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques were used. Graduate student researchers were embedded within the project team to observe meetings and decision-making and to conduct periodic interviews. Findings The research highlights a case of a balanced triple-helix system that provided a context for the successful “clustering” of product and process innovation, which were developed and implemented to flow throughout the project’s lifecycle and across its supply chain to provide benefits at each stage. Four significant process-based innovations were implemented at the design phase of the building project to support radical product innovation: an integrated design process, virtual design and construction, designing for manufacturing and assembling and a rigorous quality control and quality assurance process. The product innovations developed through these process innovations were the structural system and the prefabricated envelope system. The context of innovation was seen to allow this “clustering,” which is believed to be a key condition of success and enabled the efficient and successful delivery of the project. Generally, the approach was successful; however, some factors including the number of stakeholders and good-faith collaboration may limit the replicability of these strategies. Originality/value This paper presents an in-depth investigation into the instantiation of an innovation system, identified as a balanced triple-helix system, which enabled and facilitated the design and decision-making process for a radical product innovation. Moreover, this paper describes the deployment of a “cluster” of process innovations that flowed throughout the project’s lifecycle and across the project supply chain. This was seen as a key factor in ensuring the successful delivery of the project.

Human factors (HF) considerations, integrated early in design of production assembly systems, can improve both worker health and business performance. A longitudinal case study using an action research style collaboration between researchers and a large electronics manufacturer was the platform for this investigation. The findings show “how” HF, previously outside engineering with HF specialists (HFS) performing reactive injury assessments, increasingly became integrated into each stage of the design process with HF adapted tools, enforceable targets, sign-off, and most HF work focused on proactive design alongside engineers. An operations research tool (cognitive mapping) was used to identify the HF perceptions of Senior Directors and link these to their strategic goals. As a result, HF specialists changed their focus from injury risk to reducing fatigue and improving worker performance and assembly quality. Several industrial engineering tools were also adapted for HF (eg. HF failure mode effects analysis, HF design-for-assembly) and used to quantitatively communicate HF concerns, drive continuous improvement, visibly demonstrate change, and lead to benchmarking. Qualitative data analyzed with a grounded theory methodology resulted in six constructs in the final “Design for Human Factors” theory. The theory propositions state that when: 1. HFS acclimate to the engineering process, language and tools; and 2. strategically align HF to the design and business goals, then HF becomes perceived as a means to improve business performance. This results in 3. HFS being pulled onto the engineering team, which increases HF application and engineers’ awareness of HF, and 4. Management hold engineers accountable for HF targets. Being on the engineering team leads to 5. Engineering tools adapted to include HF targets, and in combination results in 6. HF becoming embedded in the design process. Senior directors reported that increased HF application has improved the design of more recent assembly lines and made it easier for operators. The theory contributes an explanation about how HF can be integrated into design processes to inform researchers and practitioners and improve proactive HF application. Recommendations include increased education for HFS in engineering, and more collaborative research to develop tools that quantify and link worker performance to business metrics.

The ‘design for human factors’ grounded theory explains ‘how’ human factors (HF) went from a reactive, after-injury programme in safety, to being proactively integrated into each step of the production design process. In this longitudinal case study collaboration with engineers and HF Specialists in a large electronics manufacturer, qualitative data (e.g. meetings, interviews, observations and reflections) were analysed using a grounded theory methodology. The central tenet in the theory is that when HF Specialists acclimated to the engineering process, language and tools, and strategically aligned HF to the design and business goals of the organisation, HF became a means to improve business performance. This led to engineers ‘pulling’ HF Specialists onto their team. HF targets were adopted into engineering tools to communicate HF concerns quantitatively, drive continuous improvement, visibly demonstrate change and lead to benchmarking. Senior management held engineers accountable for HF as a key performance indicator, thus integrating HF into the production design process. Practitioner Summary: Research and practice lack explanations about how HF can be integrated early in design of production systems. This three-year case study and the theory derived demonstrate how ergonomists changed their focus to align with design and business goals to integrate HF into the design process.

This chapter collects a variety of feedback control design methods, including eigenstructure assignment, robust and optimal control as well as a linear parameter-varying design concept and fixed-order optimization approaches to feedback control design. The design process and results are presented for the investigated ACFA 2020 blended wing body (BWB) aircraft configuration. Both, longitudinal and lateral motion is addressed, and each design method’s specific advantages are discussed and exploited, leading to high-performance combined control laws to address many design goals successfully. After a general introduction to feedback control design for aircraft, a section on robust eigenstructure assignment as an extension to pole placement is contained. The first control design methodology presented is a DK-iteration design for lateral control. In the following section, a convex synthesis for longitudinal control is presented. Longitudinal control synthesis by a linear parameter-varying design method is treated in another section. The final section collects low-order longitudinal and lateral designs obtained with a fixed-order structured optimization approach.KeywordsFeedback Control DesignConvex SynthesisEigenstructure AssignmentControl LawPhugoid Mode (PM)These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Innovative HealthTech teams develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in contexts where ethical expectations and organizational priorities must be balanced under severe resource constraints. While Responsible AI practices are expected to guide the design and evaluation of such systems, they frequently remain abstract or poorly aligned with the operational realities of early-stage innovation. At the ecosystem level, this misalignment disproportionately affects disadvantaged projects and founders, therefore limiting the diversity of problem-areas under consideration, solutions, stakeholder perspectives, and population datasets represented in AI-enabled healthcare systems. Visualization provides a practical mechanism for supporting decision-making across the AI lifecycle. When developed via a rigorous and collaborative design process, structured on domain knowledge and designed around real-world constraints, visual interfaces can operate as effective sociotechnical governance artifacts enabling responsible decision-making. Grounded in innovation-oriented Human-Centered Computing methodologies, we synthesize insights from a series of design studies conducted via a longitudinal visualization research program, a case study centered on governance dashboard design in a translational setting, and a survey of a cohort of early-stage HealthTech startups. Based on these findings, we articulate design process implications for governance-oriented visualization systems: co-creation with stakeholders, alignment with organizational maturity and context, and support for heterogeneous roles and tasks among others. This work contributes actionable guidance for designing Responsible AI governance dashboards that support decision-making and accountability in early-stage health innovation, and suggests that ecosystem-level coordination can enable more scalable and diverse AI innovation in healthcare.

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) within intelligent systems plays a critical role in shaping user experience, particularly through effective design, usability, and accessibility. This narrative review aims to synthesize current research trends and challenges in designing inclusive and adaptive HCI environments. Literature was gathered from Scopus and Google Scholar using keywords such as "Human-Computer Interaction," "Intelligent Systems," "Usability," "Accessibility," and "User-Centered Design." Articles were selected based on inclusion criteria focusing on recent, peer-reviewed studies that explore empirical, review, and case-based methodologies. The results highlight that effective user interface design is rooted in multimodal, emotionally aware, and cognitively efficient interactions. AI-enhanced features and adaptive layouts contribute to a more intuitive experience, particularly in healthcare and smart vehicle environments. Usability assessments, including the System Usability Scale and A/B testing, further validate user engagement and system effectiveness. Accessibility remains a crucial yet underrepresented theme, with a significant disparity in inclusive design for vulnerable populations. Notably, best practices from countries with strong accessibility policies underscore the importance of integrating users with disabilities into the design process. The discussion points to systemic factors—such as regulatory frameworks, digital literacy, and funding priorities—as both barriers and enablers of progress. To bridge existing gaps, the study recommends further longitudinal, cross-cultural, and inclusive research. Strengthening digital education and accessibility policies is key to enhancing user-centered innovation in intelligent systems.

Girls and women remain underrepresented among students and within the workforce of STEM. Minority women still make up a very small percentage of those receiving degrees and jobs in computing fields, with African American women representing only 3% of computing professions. Changing this statistic is even more critical in urban areas that consist of both low-income neighborhoods and employer demand for computer science expertise, such as in this study. STEM + Computational Thinking (STEM+C) is an exploratory study, guided by socio-cultural theory, of approximately fifteen grade four and five minority girls in an after-school program of combined science and computational thinking skills. The lessons follow the engineering design process. Our longitudinal study spans two school years of 60-minute sessions, twice-weekly for ten weeks, with both qualitative (primarily) and quantitative methods. The goal is to inspire, motivate and bolster minority girls STEM+C abilities and perceptions. During initial observations and interviews the girls were hesitant to speak and share. We knew the girls were afraid to walk home alone, elevated by the shootings reported in the daily news. We wondered if fear influenced their cognition and engagement. The team decided to create an intervention to mitigate fear. We adjusted the instructional and data collection methods to better capture student voice, provide more opportunities for real-time discourse and interactive behavior. One major addition was a design process exercise called "Works/Doesn't Work" where students were encouraged to discuss successes and failures in their projects as table groups to the whole class. By this process, the experience of failing in an objective was normalized and students could focus on problem-solving and sharing results. Through this process, the need to "preform" was lessened and students could engage in more creative aspects of the lessons, which was regularly their favorite part of the process. We also provided regular opportunities for the girls to discuss STEM careers with women of color in STEM careers, easing their comfort-level speaking and sharing. Our preliminary survey results, interviews and observations indicate the girls engaged better as the class progressed and changed. These method changes and creation of community appeared to mitigate fear of failure, improving engagement and the understanding of the lessons. The girls were competitive, excited to speak and share. Dramatically, the program was halted by a "life-impacting disaster," the coVid19 virus. During the months that followed, we designed our solution to the dramatic loss of a situated socio-cultural safe place. We produced weekly lesson videos of the research team science teacher explaining the design process for the lesson, with virtual reviews by a familiar classroom aide, and weekly group discussions with the research team. At first, the girls did not watch the videos, were difficult to reach, and absent for the weekly reviews. When they did come, they turned off their videos and muted their sound. Our study is about how the venue and methodology before, during and after the pandemic, influence engineering design process utilization, science cognition, computational thinking skills, fear of failure, and the girls' agency.

In the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, parents need to be familiar with health literacy by applying clean and healthy living habits to their family members, especially those with early childhood. This study aims to explain parents' perceptions of health literacy for a clean and healthy behavior in their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The method used in this study is a cross-sectional study involving 22 men and 62 female respondents. Respondent requirements were used in data analysis to determine parents' perceptions of health literacy and the efforts they have made to practice clean and healthy lifestyle in their children. The research findings show that knowing the health awareness of parents has an impact on a child's balanced lifestyle. Based on six measures of clean and healthy behavior for children, three indicators were determined in the category of discipline and high discipline: using clean water, using the toilet, and doing physical activity. The act of washing children's hands with soap indicators has a high discipline score and the use of masks in children has low discipline. If the use of masks is not disciplined by parents, exposure to COVID-19 in early childhood can be disrupted.
 Keywords: Early Childhood, Parental health literacy, Clean and healthy behaviors

This chapter provides an overview of the methodologies used in work design research through the analysis of scientific articles published in top-tier journals between 2012 and 2023. We then critically discuss the use of experimental and longitudinal research designs and how they have been used to advance insights into work design. Further, we provide an overview of work design assessment methodologies using self-reports and beyond (e.g., observations, tracking data). This section is followed by a discussion of using biomarkers and cognitive assessments to further understand the impact and underlying processes of work design. Last, we put forth methodological recommendations to tackle vital research inquiries in the future. As workplaces continue to adapt to dynamic and uncertain environments, this chapter emphasizes methodologies that are well-equipped to analyze such developments and thereby facilitates the exploration of the upcoming critical research questions within the domain of work design.

Leaders in anesthesiology are promoting increased involvement of anesthesiologists in perioperative medicine (POM). Academic leaders are calling for a corresponding increase in resident and medical student education in this evolving medical discipline. Formalized POM programs are new to most academic anesthesiology programs, and very little has been written about development of these programs for anesthesiology residents or medical students. We describe the creation of a longitudinal medical student clerkship in POM using established curriculum design methods with minimal capital resources. This is a descriptive account of the process of clerkship design. It includes a qualitative analysis of participants' satisfaction with the novel clerkship. Design and implementation of a new, advanced medical student clerkship in POM using no additional capital resources was successful. Medical students indicated appreciation for the unique longitudinal design. Students also demonstrated understanding of the expanding role of anesthesiology in perioperative care of patients, a primary goal of the educational process. The principles of the American Society of Anesthesiology's Perioperative Surgical Home can be taught systematically and successfully to advanced medical students with little additional expenditure of departmental resources.

In the field of assistive technology, large scale user studies are hindered by the fact that potential participants are geographically sparse and longitudinal studies are often time consuming. In this contribution, we rely on remote usage data to perform large scale and long duration behavior analysis on users of iMove, a mobile app that supports the orientation of people with visual impairments. Exploratory analysis highlights popular functions, common configuration settings, and usage patterns among iMove users. The study shows stark differences between users accessing the app through VoiceOver and other users, who tend to use the app more scarcely and sporadically.Analysis through clustering of VoiceOver iMove user interactions discovers four distinct user groups: 1) users interested in surrounding points of interest, 2) users keeping the app active for long sessions while in movement, 3) users interacting in short bursts to inquire about current location, and 4) users querying in bursts about surrounding points of interest and addresses. Our analysis provides insights into iMove's user base and can inform decisions for tailoring the app to diverse user groups, developing future improvements of the software, or guiding the design process of similar assistive tools.

A Review of: Cho, Y., Coward, C., Lackner, J., Windleharth, T. W., & Lee, J. H. (2023). The use of an escape room as an immersive learning environment for building resilience to misinformation. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 57(2), 524-538. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006231208027 Objective – To evaluate the efficacy of game-based learning as a tool to teach misinformation recognition strategies, with an additional focus on cognitive bias, emotion, and attitudes related to misinformation. The authors also explore librarians’ responses to the use of the game as library educational programming to identify strengths and areas of concern in the game design process. Design – Mixed-methods user study combining participant survey data with inductive and deductive coding of qualitative data extracted from video recordings and open-ended questions. Setting – Washington State public libraries, primarily city and suburban locations. Subjects – 80 public library patrons and 6 public librarians in gameplay; 50 patrons additionally completed the optional survey. Methods – For this exploratory study, authors designed a misinformation escape room game based on interviews with librarians, college student input, and escape room developer collaboration. The authors recruited and trained public librarians to host the game and facilitate follow-up discussions, then recruited 80 participants via communication channels chosen by the public librarians, including newsletters, websites, and social media. The game was run 17 times across six locations. Game participation and discussions were recorded and transcribed. Following the game, participants were asked to complete a survey that included quantitative and qualitative responses, and librarians participated in a focus group after completing all of their game sessions. Researchers then coded the responses with both predefined and emergent codes. Main Results – Researchers found that participants were exposed to new misinformation techniques during the game, especially deepfake images and videos. Participants stated in the follow-up discussion that the use of misinformation created a sense of vulnerability, and they reflected on their individual responsibility regarding the spread of misinformation, including that once misinformation is shared, it cannot truly be unshared. As a result of the game, many participants highlighted the need for greater caution and critical thinking when engaging with information. Participants appreciated that the game was both fun and cooperative while affirming that it improved their awareness of misinformation techniques. Conclusion – The combination of immersive experience, collaborative play, and the post-game discussion led to better awareness of modern misinformation techniques and a willingness to reflect on the experience of engaging in misinformation. The post-game debrief is particularly important as it allows participants to form connections between the game and real-world misinformation experiences. Further research could pursue more conclusive evidence regarding patterns in misinformation experiences, or a longitudinal study could explore the game’s long-term effects on participants’ attitudes and behaviors.

This chapter aims to offer a user-centred methodological framework to guide the design and evaluation of Brain-Computer Interface videogames. This framework is based on the contributions of ergonomics to ensure these games are well suited for their users (i.e., players). It provides methods, criteria and metrics to complete the different phases required by ae human-centred design process. This aims to understand the context of use, specify the user needs and evaluate the solutions in order to define design choices. Several ergonomic methods (e.g., interviews, longitudinal studies, user based testing), objective metrics (e.g., task success, number of errors) and subjective metrics (e.g., mark assigned to an item) are suggested to define and measure the usefulness, usability, acceptability, hedonic qualities, appealingness, emotions related to user experience, immersion and presence to be respected. The benefits and contributions of the user centred framework for the ergonomic design of these Brain-Computer Interface Videogames are discussed.

BackgroundThe use of smartphones and interest in mobile health (mHealth) has grown in recent years with physical activity apps demonstrating potential to facilitate behavior change. However, there remains limited understanding of what specifically motivates children to engage meaningfully with these tools.ObjectiveThis qualitative formative study aimed to determine children’s perceptions of a bespoke physical activity mHealth app (Bestlife; Dubbit). It sought to explore the app’s appeal, functionality, and potential to support behavior change among children aged 8‐13 years.MethodsA total of 68 Young Citizen Scientists (YCSs) aged 8‐13 years were recruited from 5 schools (3 primary and 2 secondary) in Bradford, United Kingdom, through purposive sampling as part of a whole-system physical activity program (Join Us: Move. Play; JU:MP). Recruitment procedures were school-led, incorporating consented whole-class involvement at primary level and teacher-nominated groups at secondary level. YCSs were asked to download and explore the Bestlife app 1‐2 weeks before the school-based research session, completing a booklet to capture their experiences and those of their families. A total of 13 focus groups were conducted across 5 schools to explore children’s views in depth. The focus groups were designed to investigate children’s perceptions of the app. Qualitative data were analyzed inductively and deductively: An initial inductive analysis identified emerging themes, which were then mapped onto a framework of feasibility, usability, acceptability, and behavior change.ResultsA total of 68 children (60 from primary schools and 8 from secondary schools) participated in the study. The study identified key factors influencing the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and behavior change potential of the Bestlife app among children. Feasibility was hindered by the parental email requirement during registration, which limited autonomy for older children. Acceptability was driven by gamified features, proportional rewards, and avatar customization, though participants requested more personalization to promote cultural inclusion and dynamic updates, linked to seasonal themes. Usability findings showed the interface was intuitive, with features promoting social interaction and competition enhancing engagement. However, younger users experienced navigational challenges, underscoring the need for clearer guidance. The app effectively incorporated behavior change techniques, including goal-setting, self-monitoring, and social collaboration, but required adjustments, such as reducing the frequency of emotional tracking prompts.ConclusionsThe Bestlife app shows potential as an mHealth intervention for promoting physical activity in children. Enhancing cultural representation, simplifying onboarding processes, and refining engagement strategies could strengthen both uptake and sustained use. These findings highlight the importance of integrating user feedback into the iterative design process to optimize digital health tools for young populations. Further longitudinal research is recommended to evaluate longer-term engagement with the app, its impact on physical activity levels, and behavior change sustainability.

BackgroundDespite evidence that regular physical activity (PA) among older adults confers numerous health and functional benefits, PA participation rates are low. Using commercially available wearable PA monitors (PAMs) is one way to augment PA promotion efforts. However, while expert recommendations exist for the specific information needed at the beginning of PAM ownership and the general ongoing need for structures that support as-needed technical troubleshooting, information is lacking about the type, frequency, and modes of assistance needed during initial and long-term ownership.ObjectiveThis paper describes problems reported and technical assistance received by older adults who used PAMs during the 18 months they participated in a community-based PA trial: Ready Steady 3.0 (RS3).MethodsThis was an ad-hoc longitudinal analysis of process variables representing technical problems reported and assistance received by 113 RS3 study participants in the 18 months after their orientation to PAMs. Variables included date of contact, problem(s) reported, mode of technical assistance, and whether the equipment was replaced. The descriptive analysis included frequencies and incidence rates of distinct contacts, types of problems, and technical assistance modes.ResultsOn average, participants were aged 77 (SD 5.2) years. Most identified as female (n=87, 77%), reported experience using smartphones (n=92, 81.4%), and used the PAM between 2 and 18 months. Eighty-two participants (72.6%) reported between 1 to 9 problems with using PAMs, resulting in a total of 150 technical assistance contacts with a mean of 1.3 (SD 1.3) contacts. The incidence rate of new, distinct contacts for technical assistance was 99 per 100 persons per year from 2018 to 2021. The most common problems were wearing the PAM (n=43, 28.7%), reading its display (n=23, 15.3%), logging into its app (n=20, 13.3%), charging it (n=18, 12%), and synchronizing it to the app (n=16, 10.7%). The modalities of technical assistance were in person (n=53, 35.3%), by telephone (n=51, 34%), by email (n=25, 16.7%), and by postal mail (n=21, 14%).ConclusionsIn general, the results of this study show that after receiving orientation to PAMs, problems such as uncomfortable wristbands, difficulty using the PAM or its related app, and obtaining or interpreting relevant personal data were occasionally reported by participants in RS3. Trained staff helped participants troubleshoot and solve these technical problems primarily in person or by phone. Results also underscore the importance of involving older adults in the design, usability testing, and supportive material development processes to prevent technical problems for the initial and ongoing use of PAMs. Clinicians and researchers should further assess technical assistance needed by older adults, accounting for variations in PAM models and wear time, while investigating additional assistance strategies, such as proactive support, short GIF videos, and video calls.