In the first semester I was able to get an insight into how epilepsy first aid could be supported by technology. To take things further, I would like to start with a brief reflection on how the findings and recommendations of this research can be further processed for a real-world prototype and what the next steps might be.
Thoughts on research journey
After taking some time to reflect, I began to doubt how my previous research could lead to a meaningful contribution, since this topic is very focused on a specific use case (emergency) for a specific disease pattern (epilepsy), and there seem to be some promising solutions already out there.
To come to a conclusion, I see three options on how to proceed:
- Option 1: Continue with my topic and start prototyping ideas. This would mean no more research than usual.
- Option 2: Stay close to my previous research, but eventually choose a different use case or project approach. If necessary, look for similar areas where my research knowledge can be applied. In case of a change of direction, this could mean additional research.
- Option 3: Completely change the topic. This would mean the highest amount of (new) research needed and could possibly lead to time constraints.
Weighing the options, a path between options 1 and 2 seems to make the most sense: The first step would be to recall my research findings (pain points, recommendations, etc.).
Next, I should try to evaluate how existing solutions align with what I have learned about the pain points of the target audience and the recommendations of the experts (option 1) to see if there is room for improvement or if a custom concept is even needed.
At the same time, I should be open to following other project ideas if the room for a serious contribution is too small or non-existent (option 2).
Given that this research phase is focused on prototyping, it is of course important to gain more insight into users and stakeholders.
Project approaches to follow
During my previous research, I found expert advice on areas of possible projects1. These include:
- Ad Hoc First Aid Care Collaboration with the Public
- Semi-Ad Hoc Care Collaboration During Transportation
- Finding a Person in Charge & Care Information Sharing When Utilizing Public Transportation
- Seizure Monitoring & Information Sharing While Driving
- Prior Education for Secondary Caregivers at Workplace/School
- Information & Responsibility Diffusion
- Facilitating Education & Stigma Reduction Strategies
Where to start
After a second look at what I’ve found out, I want to start evaluating existing solutions for „Ad Hoc First Aid Collaboration with the Public“, which according to the experts is the area that is most in demand. At the same time, it has my greatest interest.
Resources
- Aehong Min, Wendy Miller, Luis M. Rocha, Katy Börner, Rion Brattig Correia, and Patrick C. Shih. 2021. Just In Time: Challenges and Opportunities of First Aid Care Information Sharing for Supporting Epileptic Seizure Response. Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact. 5, CSCW1, Article 113 (April 2021), 24 pages. https: //doi.org/10.1145/3449187 ↩︎
