The effect of systemic sclerosis on use of mobile touchscreen interfaces: Design guidelines and physio-rehabilitation

• Published in: International journal of industrial ergonomics Vol. 87; no. NA; p. 103256
• Main Authors: Brunzini, Agnese, Papetti, Alessandra, Grassetti, Francesca, Moroncini, Gianluca, Germani, Michele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Design; Guidelines; Hand impairment; Human-computer interaction; Inclusive design; Interactive computer systems; Interface design; Interfaces; Multiple sclerosis; Observational studies; Patients; Rehabilitation; Scleroderma; Systemic sclerosis; Touch screens; User interface; User-centred design; Inclusive design; Human-computer interaction; User-centred design; Interface design; Hand impairment; Systemic sclerosis
• ISSN: 0169-8141; 1872-8219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ergon.2021.103256

Disability conditions characterized by hand dysfunction are particularly relevant for the use of touchscreen technology. This work investigates the effects of hand impairment produced by systemic sclerosis (SSc) on touchscreen interaction. It aims to fulfil a dual objective: to provide guidelines to design inclusive interfaces and interaction modalities for SSc patients and to design a hand physio-rehabilitation based on a touchscreen application. Eighty patients participated in the observational study and, accordingly, eighty subjects without impairments were recruited as a control cohort. A specific touchscreen application has been designed and developed including three gestures: tap, drag and drop, and pinch-to-zoom. The work allowed identifying the interface features that significantly influence the performance and, consequently, the design rules for the physio-rehabilitation application. •Scleroderma patients find more difficult to execute basic touchscreen gestures.•Age and familiarity with touch significantly influence the performance.•Application features related to success in different gestures in scleroderma patients.•Physio-rehabilitation trial based on touchscreen application.•Pinch-to-zoom is the hardest gesture.