I recently watched an episode of the Heute-Show on the subject of digitalization in Germany. Lutz van der Horst and Fabian Köster went on a little journey through Germany and Estonia to see how far Germany is or isn’t in this area. Conclusion: There is still a very long and rocky road ahead to catch up with leading digitalization countries in the European Union, such as Estonia. The two reporters explore various authorities, visit politicians and also end consumers to show how poor network coverage is in Germany in some cases. By comparison, Estonia has 99.9% 4G network coverage. However, around 95% of official procedures in Estonia can be completed online. Only when it comes to marriage and divorce do you still have to visit the office in person. All schools in Estonia have had Internet access since 1999. This is not yet the case in Germany.
I found the episode very interesting because it showed me that when developing an app or a digital service, it is important to pay attention to the digital possibilities of a country. It can also be very exciting to look beyond national borders to see what might be possible in your own country in the future. As far as I know, Austria is in the middle of the EU in terms of digitalization. There will probably be a lot more to do in the future…
This article seek to present and overiew of the implementation of ehealth in Benin to help us see the opportunities and challenges we might face while trying to present a contextualized framework to “Designing an eHealth App for Sustainable Healthcare in Benin” that can contribute to improve community health but also support the National eHealth Strategy in Benin .
Zouléha Karimou, a 35-year-old housewife and mother of five boys, takes part in a bednet demonstration in her village of Sibongou in the health zone of Bariénou, about 500 kilometers north of Cotonou, Benin, on June 17, 2018
The implementation of eHealth in Benin Republic has been driven by the National eHealth Strategy, which aims to improve the country’s healthcare sector through the use of information and communication technology (ICT). The strategy was adopted in November 2017 and covers the period from 2018 to 2022. The key components of the strategy include the establishment of an eHealth infrastructure, strengthening human resources for health, improving access to healthcare services, enhancing healthcare quality and patient safety, and developing a legal and regulatory framework.
The situational context in Benin Republic reveals that eHealth initiatives have been implemented in the country in the past, mainly through private projects supported by NGOs, international organizations, or bilateral cooperation. However, the Ministry of Health had limited engagement in these programs, and many of them faded away due to a lack of funding and little assessment of their impact on the health system.
To institutionalize the use of digital health, the Ministry of Health assigned the Department of Information Technology and Pre-archiving to develop a national eHealth plan. Two strategic documents on the use of ICT in health have been created. However, the review in 2015 highlighted the lack of a nationwide and uniform network for the Ministry of Health, limited connectivity of health structures, and a lack of ICT infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
Despite these challenges, the government of Benin has shown strong commitment to eHealth. The national eHealth strategy includes best practices such as government commitment, a favorable institutional and legislative framework, the development of a national eHealth master plan, and engagement with health professionals and the private sector. Lessons learned from previous projects and initiatives are also being applied to the strategy’s implementation.
The national eHealth strategy aims to establish an eHealth infrastructure, enhance human resources for health, improve access to healthcare services, enhance healthcare quality and patient safety, and develop a legal and regulatory framework. The strategy includes the creation of a national health information system, the use of telemedicine, and the development of eLearning programs for healthcare worker training.
The implementation of the strategy faces various challenges, including a lack of funding, insufficient technical human resources, delays in legal and regulatory aspects, poor user confidence, limited ICT infrastructure, and low accessibility to health structures. However, the government’s commitment, favorable institutional environment, and qualified human resource pool provide a solid foundation for the strategy’s implementation.
To ensure accountability and transparency, the strategy has established a monitoring and evaluation system to track the implementation of projects and their impact on the health system. Impact indicators are being developed, and an independent team is responsible for collecting and analyzing these indicators. The strategy also emphasizes the involvement of health professionals and the private sector in the implementation process.
In Benin, the eHealth segment is expected to show positive growth and development. The revenue in the eHealth segment is projected to reach US$9.59 million by 2023. Furthermore, there is an estimated annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 18.42%, which would result in a projected market volume of US$18.85 million by 2027. User penetration in the eHealth segment is expected to be 7.77% in 2023, and it is projected to increase to 12.33% by 2027. This indicates a growing adoption of eHealth solutions by the population in Benin. The average revenue per user (ARPU) is anticipated to be US$9.40, reflecting the potential value and monetization opportunities within the eHealth market in Benin. It is worth noting that in global comparison, China is expected to generate the highest revenue in the eHealth segment, with an estimated revenue of US$23,270 million in 2023. These figures highlight the potential and growth prospects of the eHealth segment in Benin, indicating increasing adoption and revenue generation in the coming years.
In conclusion, while challenges exist, Benin Republic is committed to using eHealth to improve its healthcare system. The strategy’s implementation is supported by a favorable institutional and legislative environment, government commitment, and lessons learned from previous projects. With continued efforts and addressing the challenges, eHealth has the potential to improve healthcare access and quality in Benin Republic. The eHealth segment in Benin is poised for significant growth and offers promising opportunities for improving healthcare accessibility and enhancing overall health outcomes in the country.
Reference:
Y. A. A. Sossou, “Status of eHealth in Benin republic,” March 2023. https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/278/24571.
Also regarded as the design of the interaction between users and products, Interaction design is a multidisciplinary area that focuses on designing user-friendly goods, services, and systems. It integrates design, psychology, and technological principles to develop user interfaces that are intuitive and efficient. Interaction designers take a user-centered approach to design, which means they begin by learning about the wants, goals, and behaviors of the people who will use the product or service. They then apply this knowledge to design interfaces and interactions that are specific to the user’s wants and preferences.
Websites, mobile apps, consumer gadgets, autos, and even physical venues like museums and public transportation all benefit from interaction design. Interaction designers produce effective interfaces using a range of techniques such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing. To produce unified and polished products, they often cooperate with other design and development experts such as graphic designers, engineers, and user researchers.
As new technologies and design trends arise, the discipline of interaction design is continually evolving. To build interfaces that are both useful and appealing, interaction designers must keep up with the newest design tools, technologies, and best practices.
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs
Interaction design is a field that integrates design, psychology, and technological concepts to produce user-friendly products and services. As Steve Jobs noted, design is about more than just how something looks; it is also about how it operates. Interaction designers utilize a user-centered design approach to create interfaces that are intuitive and efficient for users. This implies that they begin by gaining an understanding of the objectives, goals, and behaviors of the people who will be using the product or service, and then utilize that information to build interfaces that are personalized to the user’s wants and preferences. In other words, design the experiences people want next.
“Design is not just about aesthetics, it’s about problem-solving” – Jared Spool
“Design should never say, ‘Look at me.’ It should always say, ‘Look at this'” – David Craib
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs
“Design is not just an aesthetic decision, it’s a strategic decision” – Marty Neumeier
“Design is not a thing you do, it’s a thing you are” – Paul Rand
“Design is thinking made visible” -Saul Bass
“Design is not for philosophy, it’s for life” – Issey Miyake
These statements underline the importance of design is about more than simply the visual, as well as functionality, and issue resolution, as well as a strategic and comprehensive approach to the design process. Interaction design is an ever-changing subject, and interaction designers must keep up with the newest design tools, technologies, and best practices in order to develop interfaces that are both useful and beautiful.
As the world becomes increasingly digitalized, it is more important than ever to consider how our design choices can impact the environment. Interaction design has a lot of potentials to help create a sustainable future, through things like increasing efficiency and reducing waste. For example, designing user interfaces that are easy to use and understand can help reduce the need for paper instructions or disposable packaging. And by making products and services more efficient, we can help conserve resources and reduce emissions.
There are lots of small ways that interaction designers can make a big difference in creating a sustainable future. So let us commit to using our skills for good and make the world a better place! Interaction design is a powerful tool to help create a sustainable future. The way information is presented, and the tone of the message can be used to influence people’s decisions. For example, if an environmental organization were to simply tell people to stop using plastic, they would likely not be taken seriously. However, if they were to explain the long-term effects of plastic pollution and why it is crucial to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics, their message may be more persuasive. By understanding how different tones can affect people’s attitudes and behavior, designers can create experiences that inspire positive action.
In addition to tonality, interaction design can also use visuals and animations to help make a message more impactful. For instance, designers could create visuals that illustrate the effects of climate change or show what steps people can take to reduce their carbon footprint. In this way, interactive designs can help make complex topics easier for people to understand and provide them with tangible actions they can take to contribute towards a sustainable future.
Finally, interaction design can be used as an opportunity for collaboration between businesses and individuals. Designers could create platforms that allow companies to connect with local communities in order to promote sustainable practices or develop interactive tools that allow individuals to track their own sustainability efforts over time. By providing users with a platform where they can work together towards a common goal, designers have the potential to create powerful experiences that unite people around environmental initiatives.
Overall, interaction design has the potential to play a key role in creating a sustainable future by influencing tonality, using visuals and animations, and fostering collaboration between businesses and individuals. With thoughtful design approaches, designers have the power to inspire positive action towards environmental initiatives and ultimately shape the future of our planet – one design at a time! As we look to the future of our planet, it is clear that we need to find new ways to create a more sustainable society. One way that interaction designers can help is by using our skills and expertise to create solutions that are environmentally friendly.
For my first talk with Mr. Fabry we mainly talked about the topic of designing a digital tool as an aid before and during therapy agains depression. This is clearly an interaction design project and could be very interesting. Still, I have a passion project of designing more instrumental and lovable outerwear for winter. This is a project I know I want to execute at some point, but to me it does not scream interaction design. We still took the time to talk about it for five minutes, but that was not enough to decide what to do research on for a whole semester and if it would make sense in our field. Therefore I present both here as a way to process what I would prefer to do this semester.
Topic option 1 – Designing a digital tool for assistance before and during therapy against depression
Depression is one of the leading health struggles in the world. Even though there are good ways to effectively treat this condition for many cases, people with depression often find them self in a vacuum waiting for treatment. How can we make this waiting time more manageable and less likely to create worse mental struggles? Can a digital tool help a depressed person start their treatment before they receive traditional therapy? What does the tool need to consist of to be effective and manageable for someone who is already struggling to be productive in their everyday life? These are the questions I want to answer in this project.
Many people who experience depression also experience extreme waiting times before they are able to get the help that they need. There is clearly a gap between the demand and the supply of traditional therapy. For example, WHO has created a Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) to aid countries to increase services for people with mental […] disorders from non-specialist in mental health. I want to research if we can also help and train loved ones to better help their family member, partner or friend who struggle with depression before they get professional help.
There are many recognized methods depressed people can use as part of their journey to a healthier mind. To get started with these methods is often one of the first thing a therapist will help the patient with to make their life more manageable to deal with quite quickly. If a digital tool was successful in teaching people with depression about these methods this would have a dual positiv effect: the waiting time before therapy would be less destructive and more manageable, and the patient would already have startet their treatment when they arrive at their first therapy session. This could result in a more effective start of therapy, thereby shorter treatments and less waiting time for the next patient.
In this research there will be multiple answers that need answering:
Does this type of tool already exist and why is it not more successful?
What methods could/should or should not be used by a patient without professional supervision?
How should a digital tool present these methods to make them accessible and manageable for a depressed person to deal with?
How do other digital tools used for observation/follow-ups of other groups by professionals and non-professionals work? For example in relationships between athlete-trainer, patient-doctor or parent-teacher.
Can this type of digital tool also be used during therapy or will it interfere with the therapist?
It is estimated by WHO that 5% of adults suffer from depression at any point globally. In some countries the number is even higher. Between 6% and 12% of the population is depressed at any point. There every sixth person is expected to experience depression in their lifetime. The tool would therefore be very impactful if it creates just a slight net positive.
Topic 2 – Designing outerwear for a more pleasurable experience in winter commuting
As the winter creeps upon us, so does the conversations about how horrible it is with all the layers and all the clothing we need to put on. Going to, being on and walking from a bus can leave you sweaty yet cold. If you have a car, would you be more likely to drive in the winter because of this uncomfortableness? Do you buy a new clothes every year in hopes of finding slightly less uncomfortable outerwear? I want to research how our winter clothing affects us and our decisions to find out whether or not I should put effort in making a perfect outerwear clothing line or if this would just be yet another empty promise in the name of the environment and wellness.
There are indications that uncomfortable clothing can lead to temporary increased stress and blood pressure (American Heart Association) and clothing we associate with smart people can lead us to solve difficult tasks better (Social Psychological and Personality Science). Personally I have both experienced and heard about others experiences of clumpy, ugly, wrongly tempered clothing when the colder weather comes. I can’t help but wonder how this makes ut feel and if our outerwear could help us make better decisions for ourselves and the environment.
In this research it will be relevant to explore:
What do we already know about psychology and clothing/fashion? Does our clothing affect or mood or behavior?
How do people experience their own outerwear? Are there some similarities between the clothing items that are experienced as successful/comfortable or the ones that are not?
What characteristics is needed for someone to buy an item vs. to keep them and repair/perceive/love them for a long time?
This publication aims solely to find an answer to the question of how can interaction design contribute to #sustainability, in an attempt to show on one hand some of the hidden faces of new technologies and on the other hand our share of responsibility as actors and users of digital tools and services in the drought and disasters we are currently experiencing, but also to promote some design approach that can ensure sustainability in the use of new technologies. We believe that design plays an important role in the development of products and services we use every day. “Design is a complex endeavor, covering many disciplines. Engineers create bridges and dams, as well as electronic circuits and new materials.” wrote Donald Norman in his book The Design of Everyday Things.
So, what is Interaction Design and how could it help in designing sustainable solutions? Interaction Design“is the design of interactive products and services” in which the focus of the designer extends beyond the item under development to include how users will interact with it. Thus, a close examination of users’ needs, limitations, and contexts, among other things, enables designers to tailor the output to meet specific demands. It is also useful when creating physical products, as it explores how a user might interact with them.
For instance, everyone who uses the internet and new technologies should be aware that they are two-edged swords. Climate change is more than just a scourge caused by deforestation, the use of chemical fertilizers, and the use of fossil fuels. Let me assure you that the #digital industry is not an immaterial industry. New technologies have a direct negative impact on the #environment, even if we don’t see it. According to studies, #digitalization emits far more CO2 and consumes far more fossil energy than we realize. A smartphone, for example, consumes 80 times more energy than a car (see illustration below). Recently, youths in Switzerland have expressed concern about data centers’ use of electricity, particularly during the energy crisis, and have begun to inquire about the measures the government will propose to reduce the digital footprint of the data consumed.
llustration-by-chad-hagen
The objective of interaction design is to develop products that help users achieve their goals as effectively as feasible. It is a set of “techniques and tools” that enable designers to address actual issues, which has a variety of advantages. If we want to effectively gain benefit from various advantages that Interaction design principles offer, we have to encourage decision-making at each stage of the design process that will lessen adverse effects on the environment and the health of the inhabitants without sacrificing the bottom line should be made possible by combining a sustainability concept with a “design philosophy”. It is a comprehensive, integrated strategy that promotes “negotiation and trade-offs”.
Humans can now communicate more easily as a result of technological advancements. But what are we willing to give up for those advantages? The sustainable design aims to reduce negative environmental and health impacts. Technology has streamlined our lives and improved our comprehension of the world. The key focus is that we are building not just for ourselves or for our immediate needs, but also for the future. This suggests once more that interaction design’s main goal ought to be sustainability. However, the term “sustainability” nowadays is quite ambiguous. To align with our topic, we will emphasize that designing for sustainability also entails designers, specifically interaction designers, taking an approach in product development processes that will provide better user experiences while not compromising on social, environmental, and ecological issues. Furthermore, Eli Blevis, professor of Informatics in Human-centered Computer Interaction Design at the Luddy School of informatics, computing, and engineering at Indiana University, Bloomington wrote a paper entitled Sustainable Interaction Design: Invention & Disposal, Renewal & Reuse where he went further in describing the concepts of sustainable Interaction design. Blevis provided us with a clear image of what sustainability should entail by emphasizing the interplay between people and nature from a more behavioral perspective. According to him, “The focus is primarily on environmental sustainability and the link between interactive technologies and the use of resources, both from the point of view of how interactive technologies can be used to promote more sustainable behaviors and—with more emphasis here—from the point of view of how sustainability can be applied as a critical lens to the design of interactive systems, themselves”.
Interaction design may contribute to sustainability by providing interfaces that make it simple for users to conserve energy. Designing systems that provide feedback on energy usage, creating incentives for energy-saving behaviors, and making it simple for users to modify settings that affect energy consumption are all examples of this.
Another critical part of interaction design for a sustainable future is the development of longer-lasting products and services. This can include creating systems that are easily upgraded and repaired, as well as mechanisms for recycling and reuse. This not only reduces waste but also helps to conserve resources.
In addition to encouraging ecological sustainability, interaction design can also help to promote social sustainability. This includes creating technologies that are accessible and inclusive to everyone, regardless of ability, age, or background. As well as considering the impact on underprivileged communities and striving to develop technologies that aid and empower them.
Overall, interaction design has a significant impact on the development of technology and society. Interaction designers can contribute to a more sustainable future for all by addressing the ecological and social consequences of their designs.
