BACKGROUND: Prospective memory difficulties are one of the most common deficits following acquired brain injury. The application of smartphones as a compensatory aid to these difficulties has shown promising results. This study looked to investigate these benefits further. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate whether receipt of reminder prompts through ones smartphone improved completion of pre-planned tasks, in addition to whether it also had secondary implications for participant's wellbeing, confidence, independent functioning, and whether it had any impact on caregiver strain levels. METHOD: This study used an ABAB case series design with mild to moderate acquired brain injury. Task completion rates were monitored across four phases (prompts vs. no prompts). Quantitative questionnaires were administered pre, post and at three months follow up to assess coping with memory difficulties. A qualitative questionnaire explored the perceived impact of the smartphone reminders on everyday functioning, in addition to a 3 month follow up measure assessing attrition rates in smartphone use. RESULTS: Visual inspection analysis suggested greater task completion when reminders were provided. The quantitative questionnaires showed increased use of a Smartphone as reminder device post intervention and at follow up. A basic thematic analysis highlighted a perception that the smartphone system increased task completion, confidence in coping with memory demands, supported emotional wellbeing and reduced dependence on others. As a memory aid it was also less stigmatising and promoted dignity. The three month follow up questionnaire highlighted that all participants continued to use their smartphone as a memory aid. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a smartphone as a memory compensation aid may improve completion of pre-set tasks. Secondary benefits may include increased confidence in coping with memory demands, reduced dependence on others for help, and reduced anxiety or frustration around forgetting.

Overweight and obese children have increased risks for multiple preventable diseases and conditions which can impair their physiological health and significantly increases the overall cost of their healthcare. Free mobile applications and technology for weight loss, dietary tracking, and physical activity may be quite useful for monitoring nutritional intake and exercise to facilitate weight loss. If so, nurses are well positioned to recommend such tools as part of their efforts to prevent childhood obesity and help children and parents better manage childhood obesity when it is present. However, there are no guidelines that nurses can use to determine what applications or technologies are most beneficial to children and their parents. The purpose of this project is to develop such guidelines based on a review of the scientific literature published in the last 5 years. Articles regarding healthy-lifestyle promoting mobile applications and technological approaches to health and fitness interventions were identified by searching articles indexed by CINAHL, Psychinfo, Medline, ERIC, IEEE Xplore, and Academic Search Premier. Identified articles were assessed using Melnyk’s hierarchy of evidence and organized into tables so that implications for research and suggestions for practice could be made.

Over the last decade, extensive research efforts have been placed on performance evaluation and the benefits of innovative CV applications. Findings indicate that CV technology can effectively mitigate the safety, mobility, and environmental challenges experienced on transportation networks. Most of research evaluated CV technology through simulation studies. However, a field study provides a more ideal method of assessing CV technology effectiveness. Therefore, a field study to obtain the actual effectiveness of CV technology was warranted, to validate previous findings, and to add to the body of knowledge surrounding this topic. This thesis presents both a field study and simulation evaluation of the effectiveness of CV smartphone technology on a 1.1 mile segment of State Road 121, containing five intersections, in Gainesville, Florida. Field observations were conducted using a CV application, developed by Connected Signals, Inc., that uses a smartphone application, called EnLighten, to communicate intersection information to driver’s smartphone, which serves as a vehicle on-board unit. Traffic operation and safety performance was evaluated using start-up lost time, discharge distribution model, and speed harmonization. Findings show that the CV smartphone technology improved intersection performance with a reduction in start-up lost time of approximately 86%. Additionally, driving safety improved with a reduction in speed variability by nearly 61% between vehicles in a specific lane for a 100% CV penetration rate. Cost analyses of deploying CV smartphone technology indicate that implementation may result in an average total economic cost savings associated with crashes of nearly $6.8 million at the study site, and approximately $5.6 billion statewide. Findings of the simulation evaluation revealed that the CV technology improved performance of intersections operating at a Level of Service (LOS) B or better, compared to lower operating levels. Operational performance improved at intersections operating at a LOS C with a 30% to 60% CV penetration rate.

Smartphone technology can be integrated in mathematics education, since most learners immerse in this technology. Teachers should be facilitators of confined learning in traditional classrooms, including digital facilitators. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of integrating smartphone technology on Grade 10 learners’ achievement in algebra. The study focused on two Grade 10 classes from different township schools in the Gauteng Province. The study was conducted during the first term of 2016. A quasi-quantitative experimental research design was used. Smartphones were integrated in algebra teaching and learning, using the Microsoft Math online application: https://www.math.microsoft.com. Despite challenges encountered during the study, the results indicated a positive impact on learners’ achievements in algebra, amongst experimental group learners. A need exists for future research in integrating smartphone technology in mathematics education. / Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematics Education)