Projects
Current Projects
The Atlanta Center for Microsystems-Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies (ACME POCT)
ACME POCT is a nationally renowned academic partnership between Emory University, Georgia Tech, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. ACME was founded in 2018 as part of the National Institutes of Health Point-of-Care Technology Research Network (POCTRN). Its mission is to foster collaboration among clinicians, technologists, and entrepreneurs to accelerate innovation and translation of microsystems-engineered technologies. HomeLab leads the human factors research for ACME and is tasked with conducting usability and accessibility evaluations, providing design assistance, and creating best practices for training materials for these technologies.
Learn more about ACME POCT here: https://www.acmepoct.org/about
Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx)
In the spring of 2020, the NIH tasked ACME POCT to divert effort and resources toward the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) ACME Test Verification Core (TVC). The RADx program was created with the aim of accelerating the innovation, development, commercialization, and implementation of COVID-19 diagnostic technologies. The HomeLab team leads the human factors arm for RADx and conducts rapid evaluations of candidate technologies. To date, the team has conducted over 150 evaluations for technologies, including in-home diagnostics to devices intended to be used in central laboratories, hospitals and clinics, and public spaces such as schools and arenas. The data collected during these various evaluations are provided to technology companies to aid in improving the design and performance of their product, and to NIH leadership to assist in determining if a technology should proceed in the program.
Learn more about RADx here: https://www.acmepoct.org/covid-19-tests/radx-program
Independent Test Assessment Program (ITAP)
In 2021, the Independent Test Assessment Program (ITAP) was created as part of the Biden administration’s push to increase access to easy-to-use over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests. ITAP is a branch off of the RADx program, mentioned above. The tests enrolled in ITAP are largely intended to be used as home tests but lack FDA approval. The data captured by the ITAP program is shared with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a streamlined Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval process and includes laboratory, clinical performance, and usability data.
HomeLab’s contributions toward this data include the results of observations of clinical studies and brief interviews with participants; expert evaluations of the test kits; analyses of healthcare worker-collected data from the clinical studies and feedback from lab personnel and healthcare workers; and a compilation of a technical report that details the results of the evaluations, recommendations for improvement, and usability scores. As of 2024, 54 diagnostics with current or former EUAs by the FDA were evaluated by the ACME POCT TVC through RADx and ITAP. Thirty-two of the 37 currently available over-the-counter tests were evaluated by our center for EUAs.
As over-the-counter tests further develop and increase capabilities, the age range in which these tests are used is also increasing. As part of the ITAP program, HomeLab is working toward developing standard practices and guidance for pediatric swabbing, including for testing children as young as six months old.
Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Technology III (RADx3)
Continued RADx funding was received in 2023 for the RADx Tech III program (RADx3) which focuses on two tracks for candidate technologies: accessible tests and high-performance tests. The former is intended to fund the development of tests that are accessible to all users while the latter focuses on tests that illustrate an improvement over the current best-in-class. Farmer sits on the steering panel for this program and advises NIH on funding decisions for project teams.
Maternal Health Challenge
The RADx3 Maternal Health Challenge was created in 2023. This challenge provided funding and support for the development of diagnostic technologies in the field of maternal health. Ten project teams, with technologies ranging from mobile apps to wearables, were funded for development and evaluation. The HomeLab team was tasked with providing ongoing human factors evaluations and support. Our feedback helped project teams refine the design and improve the usability of their technologies and ultimately helped the NIH decide which projects to fund for continued work.
In 2025, the team launched a nation-wide survey to investigate maternal attitudes and acceptance of wearable medical devices during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum periods. Post-survey collection, the team conducted focus groups and one-on-one interviews with a sampling of survey respondents. The populations covered by this effort included women’s health care providers, pregnant women, recently postpartum women, and women of reproductive age. This wealth of data will be used to better understand the attitudes and opinions of utilizing wearable health technology during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum.
Accessibility Initiative – RADx3
In the spring of 2022, a second initiative of the RADx program was created in response to the Biden administration’s push for more accessible tests for all. The accessibility initiative focuses on increasing the accessibility of existing tests for users who have no vision, users who have low vision, users with reduced fine motor control, and users who are older adults. The HomeLab team has evaluated the 15 candidate tests in this program to date.
Blood Collection Device Study
The blood collection device study was designed to identify usability considerations for patients and healthcare workers with three 510(k) FDA cleared blood collection devices through observation, questionnaires, and interviews. This study has two phases: Phase 1 includes healthy adult individuals; Phase 2 involves participants who are diagnosed as HIV positive. In this study, blood collection devices are compared to traditional blood collection methods (i.e., fingerstick, venipuncture). The blood collection via devices is being conducted by the Emory University School of Medicine clinical research coordinators (CRCs). The HomeLab team is responsible for evaluating the patient experience as well as identifying any issues or challenges throughout the administration of the protocol.
Voluntary Product Assessments Template (VPAT)
VPATs are standardized documents intended to indicate the conformance of information and communication technologies (ICT) to the Revised 508 Standards for IT accessibility. VPATs are recommended for any ICT that will be marketed to the federal government, and they provide an overview of the accessibility of a technology for other prospective buyers. HomeLab has conducted nearly 100 VPATs on both software and hardware for a variety of technologies – from enterprise-level software to voting machines to in-office or industrial-size printers, these evaluations provide actionable items needed for improved accessibility.
HIV Viral Load Monitoring Program
Previous Projects
Home Technology Study - Cognitive Empowerment Program (CEP)
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a distinct decline in thinking, affecting up to 20% of Americans over age 64. This age group is expected to double to 88.5 million by the year 2050. Georgia Tech partnered with Emory University to build the Cognitive Empowerment Program (http://ipat.gatech.edu/cep) to study and empower individuals with MCI and their care partners. The CEP Home Technology team explored the capability of home sensing technologies to drive interventions that assist individuals with MCI in achieving everyday tasks at home, while reducing burden on their care partners.
Smart Home Study
There is a booming market for home-based technologies designed to keep occupants safe, reduce household workload, and reduce energy usage. The Smart Home Study was a customer discovery to evaluate the adoption and use of an app designed to consolidate and facilitate the management of an individual’s smart home technology. Quantitative and qualitative insights were gathered regarding benefits, the manner in which the app was used, and how it integrated into the participants’ lives. A total of 28 participants completed the study, which included virtual interviews, weekly surveys, and the delivery and installation of various smart home technologies, including a thermostat, lightbulbs, and outlet plugs.
FirstNet - First Responder Network Project
In the wake of an emergency, first responders need relevant, up-to-date information about the nature of the emergency and response efforts. The First Responders team worked with FirstNet (https://firstnet.gov ) to provide these resources in a uniform manner throughout the country. FirstNet recognized that first-responders need information about nearby individuals in need of assistance and is expanding their system to accomplish this. FirstNet aimed to include the needs of individuals with disabilities and first responders in this effort.
Activity Monitor
To better understand how to support health technology acceptance and adoption, more information is needed about older adults’ attitudes and usage of such technologies. Eight participants used one of four activity monitoring technologies (Striiv, Fitbit One, Nike+ FuelBand, and MyFitnessPal.com) daily for two weeks. Participants’ initial attitudes were positive, but after using the technology for two weeks, five participants indicated they would not continue using the technology. The results suggest that efforts should focus on conveying the usefulness and personal benefits of activity monitoring technologies specific to older adults.
Aging with Mobility Impairment: Understanding Challenges in the Home
Research on aging-in-place has largely focused on how age-related limitations impact a person’s ability to live independently at home. Little attention has been paid to how aging influences the daily home activities of individuals with disability. Through an in-home interview, this study explored the home experience of aging with mobility impairment. Participants included older adults who have a mobility impairment that began prior to age 50. Specific emphasis was placed on how participants have adapted to challenges in the home (e.g., home modifications, assistive devices) and how age-related changes impact daily living activities. This research was conducted as a part of RERC TechSAge at Georgia Tech. Funded by the Department of Education (National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, H133E130037)
Behavioral Acceptance of Activity Monitors
HomeLab researchers collaborated with researchers in the Human Factors and Aging Laboratory (Georgia Tech, School of Psychology) to investigate older adults’ usage of and attitudes about two different activity tracking technologies, the Fitbit One and MyFitnessPal.com. A total of 17 HomeLab participants took part in this study. Participants used one of the two technologies for four weeks and logged their experiences in a diary. Interviews and questionnaires were conducted before and after the study to assess attitudes and experiences.
Data to Healthy Decisions (D2HD)
Nocturia, or frequent nighttime urination, can be an important indicator for other health conditions. The purpose of this study was to collect a real-world data set to support the development of analytics that yield useful information to assist practitioners in monitoring the health of individuals in their homes. A kit of minimally intrusive sensor technologies was deployed into participants’ homes to measure general activity levels, bathroom visits, bed presence and sleep patterns, and vital signs (heart and respiratory rate) while in bed.
Developing a Scoring Matrix to Evaluate Consumer Packaging Ease of Use
The goal of this project was to develop a scoring matrix for evaluating and quantifying the ease of use of consumer product packaging for older adults. Products were be evaluated as a function of frequency of use and the difficulty of various functional tasks required for use. The scoring matrix enabled the assessment of product packaging and determine the potential opportunity for improvement through redesign. The resulting scores can be used to prioritize redesign efforts.
Hydration Pilot Study
The goal of this pilot study was to 1) evaluate which methods of assessing hydration in older adults are best suited for the home environment and 2) provide consumer feedback on a sensor straw prototype that monitors fluid consumption in real-time. For five days, participants were asked to complete several daily tasks, such as keeping a food and beverage journal, wearing an activity tracker, providing a morning urine sample, and drinking all beverages using a sensor straw. Additionally, researchers conducted daily, in-home appointments to run various health and urinalysis tests. Each assessment was analyzed in terms of cost, time commitment, accuracy, ease of use, and comfort. Findings will be used to suggest the most appropriate methods for assessing hydration of older adults in the home. Additionally, participant feedback will be used to further the design of the hydration sensor straw.
In-Home Medication Dispenser
The goal of this research study was to investigate older adults’ use of and attitudes about an in-home medication dispenser for adhering to a fictional medication regimen. The research study was conducted in participants’ homes; eight HomeLab participants were enrolled. They interacted with the system daily for 2 weeks, completed questionnaires, and made daily diary entries. Overall, participants liked the system’s dependability in reminding them to take their fictional medications. Seven of the eight participants positively endorsed the system and indicated they would recommend it to a friend.
Packaging Survey
An online survey was conducted to understand the difficulties older adults have interacting with various types of consumer packaging and the methods they used to overcome or circumvent such issues. The interactions of interest included picking up and holding containers, removing caps and lids, opening bags and packets, and dispensing the contents of containers. Difficulties in reading labeling and packaging instructions were also investigated. The data from this survey will inform design efforts to improve packaging ease of use for older adults.
Prescription Refill Survey
The goal of this exploratory study was to assess older adults’ prescription medication refill behaviors. The intent was to capture the experience of refilling prescription medication in terms of how older adults remember to order refills, how they order and receive refills, and how they rate their experience. Emphasis was be placed on older adults’ awareness and use of various technologies and services to refill their prescription medications.
Remote Health Monitoring
HomeLab researchers collaborated with the GTRI Health Strategic Initiative in the spring of 2013 to pilot test a new remote health monitoring system. The technology was deployed into the homes of five participants for 30 days. They interacted with the system each day to collect weight, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure data. The purpose of this research study was to collect data associated with congestive heart failure (CHF) over time to build an algorithm that can predict future health trends for individuals with CHF.
Smart Mirror
This study investigated whether an off-the-shelf digital camera could be used to detect changes in facial features. Eight participants took photos of themselves in the morning and evening for 28 days. The results indicated that the selected digital cameras were effective in capturing sufficient data; however, inconsistent lighting affected the results of the algorithm in accurately detecting the location of facial features. Future efforts will focus on refining the algorithm to account for skin tone differences, facial orientation, and inconsistent lighting. The long-term goal is to use this information to detect potential health issues based on changes in facial appearance.
Social Media Survey
A survey was conducted to understand social media use among older adults. The majority of the questions focused on the use of Facebook, a popular social media application. The preliminary results suggest that many older adults do use Facebook and that they primarily use it to stay connected with family. As adults enter into older adulthood, maintaining social connectedness may become more difficult due to mobility limitations, chronic diseases, and other age-related issues, thus decreasing physical connectedness with friends, family, and community. For these reasons, social media may begin to play a more active role in keeping this population socially connected. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence social media use in older adults is becoming more critical.
Technology Diary
This study investigated older adults’ perceptions of technology in their everyday lives. Participants answered daily workbook questions about their experiences with technology and also kept a daily diary for 28-days. Overall, older adults were positive about technology, but they did express some concerns, such as identity theft and loss of human contact. Participants cited efficiency, making life easier, and communication as reasons why they use technology and what they liked about it. Older adults do adopt and use technologies, but the value and personal relevance must be made clear to them.
Transportation & Health Care Survey
This survey was conducted to identify general barriers to community mobility for senior adults in the Metropolitan Atlanta area, and to help identify common barriers and disparities in community mobility related to access to health care services. This study also identified general behavior patterns and trends among older adults in the Atlanta area with regard to types of transportation used and frequency of use.
Voting Accessibility Survey
As the rapidly growing population of older adults in the United States begins to experience the physical and cognitive limitations that come with age, it is important to understand how this population chooses to exercise their right to vote and to participate in civic activities. This survey investigated older adults’ experiences with the voting process during the 2012 U.S. presidential election. The majority of participants (44%) voted at the polling place on Election Day, with 25% citing their motivation as “the desire to participate in a community activity.” The results suggest that polling locations and voting systems should be designed to accommodate the older adult population.
Wearable Adherence Medication System
HomeLab researchers collaborated with the Georgia Tech Bionics Laboratory (Georgia Tech, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering) to investigate older adults’ opinions about wearable health technologies. Twelve HomeLab participants (65+) completed in-home evaluations of six wearable health devices. Three of these devices were non-functioning prototypes of the Wireless Event detection and Adherence Monitoring System (WEAMS), which is a neckwear device that would have the capability to assist with managing medications, detecting falls, and tracking activities. Three commercially available devices (Jawbone UP, BodyMedia FIT and MIO Alpha), intended to be worn around the arm or wrist, were also evaluated. Participants preferred devices that were simplistic in design, discrete, lightweight, easy to take on/off, and comfortable to wear while performing tasks. The data collected from this research study will inform the design of future wearable technologies that can help older adults maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Weight Monitoring
The purpose of this pilot research study was to establish a methodology for measuring weight change over time with HomeLab participants. Technologies were deployed into the homes of eight participants for four weeks to measure daily weight, temperature, and physical activity. The data collected will be used to build a mathematical model that can predict future weight trends for individuals.
