User centered design of an emergency support solution for horseback riders

Abstract

As horseback riding has become increasingly popular, and is such a dangerous sport, there is a need for an emergency support solution for horseback riders that can help themget the assistance they require in time. In order to design such a solution, firstly, the design aspects that should be considered for implementation were identified through a user research performed on expert horseback riders. The user research proved that there is a need for such a solution and highlighted the importance of involving potential users in the design process of an emergency support solution. From the feedback that was obtained, it was decided that the system should be composed of an assistance assessment and request stand-alone smart-wristband, a management mobile application, and a clip-on GPS tracker. Then, a user flow diagram to illustrate the interaction flow that the system should follow to meet the principles of universal design was created. Through the user flow diagram, the importance of considering the universal design principles and the human factors when designing safe interactions was revealed. Finally, digital and interactive prototypes for the smart-wristband and the mobile application were developed. The prototypes were developed through two iterations. The design of the first iteration focused on meeting the user requirements identified as part of the first research question, whereas the second focused on meeting the principles of universal design. Both iterations were evaluated through user tests on expert horseback riders. The feedback obtained from the evaluation of the first iteration was used to improve the design and create the second iteration prototypes.