<p> <b>Background</b> Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. In 2012, 29.1 million people were estimated to have the condition, with type 2 diabetes accounting for 95% of all cases [1]. It is currently one of the most costly conditions in the country [2] and forecasts as a heavier burden for the U.S. with the prevalence expected to significantly increase [3]. For those who live with the disease, it is possible to manage diabetes in order to prevent or delay the onset of complications [4]. However the self-management regimen is complex and impacts nearly every important aspect of one's life [5].</p><p> The ubiquitous nature of mobile technologies and powerful capabilities of smartphones and tablets has led to a significant increased interest in the development and use of mobile health. Diabetes management is an application area where mobile devices could enhance the quality of life for people living with chronic illnesses [6]&ndash;[8], and usability is key to the adoption of such technologies [9], [10]. Past work has evaluated the usability of diabetes management apps for Android, iOS and Blackberry smartphones [11]-[14] despite the fact that no established method to evaluate the usability of mobile apps has emerged [15]. To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the usability of diabetes management apps on iPad.</p><p> <b>Methods</b> This study introduces a novel usability survey that is designed for mHealth and specific to the iOS operating system. The survey is built on previous usability findings [11]&ndash;[14], Nielsen heuristics [16] and the Apple iOS Human Interface Guidelines [17]. The new instrument was evaluated with three evaluators assessing ten iPad apps, selected because they were the most popular diabetes management apps on the Apple AppStore. A focus group was subsequently held to gather more insight on the usability of the apps and the survey itself. Statistical analysis using R and grounded theory were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative results, respectively. </p><p> <b>Results</b> The survey identified OneTouch Reveal by LifeScan Inc. and TactioHealth by Tactic, Health Group as the most usable apps. GlucoMo by Artificial Life, Inc. and Diabetes in Check by Everyday Health, Inc. rated as the least usable apps. Setting up medication and editing blood glucose were the most problematic tasks. Some apps did not support all functions that were under review. Six main themes emerged from the focus group: the presentation of health information, aesthetic and minimalist design, flexibility and efficiency of data input, task feedback, intuitive design and app stability. These themes suggest important constructs of usability for mHealth apps.</p><p> <b>Discussion and Conclusion</b> Mobile health developers and researchers should focus on the tasks, heuristics and underlying issues that were identified as most problematic throughout the study. Additionally, research should further inquire on the potentially critical relation between the information available on app markets and the usability of apps. Several signs point to the potential of the usability survey that was developed but further adjustments and additional test iterations are warranted to validate its use as a reliable usability evaluation method.</p>

Thesis (MA (Hons.)) -- University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references, appendices and index.

<p> Systems engineering teams' value-creation for enterprises is slower than possible due to inefficiencies in communication, learning, common knowledge collaboration and leadership conduct. This dissertation outlines the surrounding people, process and technology dimensions for higher performing engineering teams. It describes a true experiment investigation of opportunities to improve communication, learning and common knowledge collaboration. </p><p> The art and practice of Systems Engineering contributes business value by orchestrating large numbers of knowledge-workers as engineering teams in the achievement of complex goals. During the creation of new systems, engineering team performance modulates business efficiencies to realize those complex goals. Higher performing engineering teams share a vision providing purpose, rely on personal knowledge convolved with collaborators knowledge to unleash potential, leverage common knowledge in their team mental models, and execute synergistically. Why do non-high performing teams exist? Culture change is hard. Humans prefer the familiar. Without Leadership and systematic enablement, teams usually do not naturally find the high performing team traits. </p><p> This research investigates a unique Information Technology based Systems Engineering Knowledge Asset (SEKA) management mechanism. The selected mechanism integrates multiple techniques for improved collaboration efficacy. The research methodology was a modified true experiment with dual-posttest only, using an A and B group for comparative controls. Research findings reflect, with 99% confidence, that SEKA represented in 3-way Multiple Informational Representations Required of Referent (MIRRoR) knowledge constructs improves systems engineering teams' consumption of a common knowledge base. </p><p> Engineering teams can consume a set of information, which generates knowledge common with their collaborators, in a shorter period. More knowledge that is common facilitates increased ability to collaborate. Increased collaboration accelerates team learning, leading to shorter systems delivery schedules, lower cost to produce and earlier actionable intelligence. Shorter delivery times increase customer satisfaction; lower costs improve profit margin potential, and earlier actionable intelligence supports "left of boom" intervention. </p>