Advisor:

Dr. Stephen Sprigle, Advisor (Georgia Tech, Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering)

Committee:

Dr. Sharon Sonenblum (Georgia Tech, Mechanical Engineering)

Dr. Thomas Ploetz (Georgia Tech, College of Computing)

System Design of an Activity Tracker to Encourage Behavioral Change among Those at Risk of Pressure Ulcers

Electronic activity trackers are a common means by which to affect behavioral change. Whether they are aimed at physical fitness, patient compliance, or any other outcome, these activity trackers often aim to promote good behaviors and/or reduce harmful ones through the use of electronic monitoring devices. With the proliferation of mobile and ubiquitous computing in recent years, these systems have become more common than ever. The Wheelchair In-Seat Activity Tracker (WiSAT) is a system that began primarily as a research tool to monitor and track pressure ulcer prevention behaviors. This system relies upon data collected directly from sensors embedded in a wheelchair user’s cushion to identify when the user redistributes pressure from their buttocks or thigh. More recently, efforts have begun to transform the system into a consumer product. This objective was accomplished through the technical architecture of the app subsystem, systems integration between the subsystems, and the design and evaluation of the user-interface. This thesis describes the design and development process involved in converting WiSAT into a consumer activity tracker aimed at encouraging pressure ulcer prevention.