Article

Smart Speaker Usability by Military Service Members with mTBI and PTSD

This paper describes the research protocol and results from exploratory usability testing of Amazon Echo and Google Home, voice-activated smart speakers, by military service members with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Usability testing of emerging technology by people with disabilities is critical to gain insight into accessibility of the product design as well as to identify use cases and opportunities the product may offer as an assistive technology. This study was conducted with 12 U.S. military veterans and service members with mTBI and PTSD, all of whom were receiving comprehensive rehabilitation services in the SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Devices were installed in the temporary residences provided to the participants during their participation in the SHARE program. Participants tested each device for 2 weeks and completed electronic diary entries about their experience. Following study completion participants completed a summative interview about their experience which detailed preferences and usability challenges and identified opportunities for development of in-home smart home speaker assistive technology solutions for this population.

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