Month: December 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on what has been a good and productive year for the HTO (Human-Technology-Organization) research group.

A Year of Ideas and Impact

This year, we published around 40 blog posts, each highlighting different aspects of our research, collaborations, and reflections. From exploring the intersection of AI and work environments to celebrating milestones like conferences and thesis defenses, our blog has been a window into the exciting journey of the HTO group in 2024.

One publication examined why patients choose to engage with their health records—or not. Alongside a review of IT tools for informal caregivers, these studies underline the real-world impact of our research, tackling challenges that resonate with people’s everyday lives.

We also celebrated a significant milestone: on September 13th, Shweta Premanandan defended her PhD thesis, Care for Caregivers: Designing IT Applications for Informal Caregivers. This achievement marked the culmination of years of dedication and a substantial contribution to the field.

Connecting and Growing Through Events

A highlight of the year was hosting NordiCHI 2024 in Uppsala, bringing together over 300 participants from across the globe. With the theme “Live – Uniting HCI for a Hyperlocal World,” this event showcased the best of human-computer interaction research and practice.

We also presented at the AHFE conference in Nice, shared findings at Gilla Jobbet in Malmö, and hosted workshops like Design Methods in Connected Health. These events allowed us to exchange ideas, forge new partnerships, and spotlight the work of our talented team.

A Creative and Collaborative Spirit

Beyond conferences and publications, we embraced opportunities to foster innovation and reflection. Karin van den Driesche’s Biomimicry for HCI workshops inspired fresh perspectives on design by exploring lessons from nature. Meanwhile, the Krusenberg Writing Retreat gave us a space to focus on research in a peaceful, inspiring environment.

We have also worked with a strategic vision for the group which resulted in HTO’s Long Term Goal:

“To cultivate a supportive and inclusive research environment that prioritizes its members’ well-being and professional development while advancing innovative, interdisciplinary research. Through collaboration, education, and outreach, we aim to generate impactful knowledge that addresses societal challenges and inspires the next generation of scholars and practitioners.”

Looking Ahead

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re glad to continue building on this momentum, tackling challenges and making meaningful contributions to the world of human-centered technology. More specifically we will organise a seminar series on writing funding applications, and launch a Scientific writing club seminar related to establishing good writings habits and skills. We will also continue with HTO lunches and other social activities.

To everyone who has read, collaborated, or supported us this year—thank you! Let’s keep the conversation going.

✨ Stay connected by following our blog, and let us know your thoughts on the year that was.

#HTOResearch #Reflections2024 #HCI #DigitalHealth #Innovation

As the year winds down and we find ourselves in the week before the Christmas holidays, it’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed. Many of us might be reflecting on the year gone by, caught up in thoughts of goals we didn’t quite meet or projects that remain unfinished. But pause for a moment and ask yourself—what if you’ve already done your very best? What if the sum of your efforts this year is more than enough?
Take a trip back through your calendar, revisit your old to-do lists, and reflect on your accomplishments from 2024. Big or small, each step you’ve taken contributes to the bigger picture of growth and progress. Maybe it’s a breakthrough in your research, the collaboration that sparked new ideas, the challenges you overcame, or the support you offered to colleagues. These are all achievements worth celebrating.
We often underestimate how much we contribute, not only in terms of measurable outcomes but also through the dedication, creativity, and resilience we bring to our work. So, as you wrap up the year, take a moment to acknowledge your efforts and be proud of what you’ve achieved. You deserve it!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Magdalena R Stadin, PhD

On November 5th, the TARA Project held its second reference group meeting online via Microsoft Teams. The meeting brought together participants from across the aviation industry to share updates and exchange ideas about the project’s progress.

For those unfamiliar, the TARA Project is a three-year collaboration between Uppsala University and TYA, funded by AFA Insurance. It focuses on exploring how automation, digital tools, and AI can be introduced into aviation while ensuring a safe and healthy work environment. The ultimate goal is to create practical methods that the industry can use when adopting new technologies.

Key Topics Discussed

The meeting agenda covered several important areas:

1. Stakeholder Study
   The team shared insights from interviews with various stakeholders about the challenges and opportunities of implementing new technologies in airport operations. Discussions highlighted the importance of balancing safety, efficiency, and collaboration to ensure that these changes benefit everyone involved.
2. Ground Staff Study
   Updates on this study focused on how new tools and systems are shaping the daily work of ground-handling staff. While new technologies can improve processes, they also come with challenges that need to be addressed to support workers effectively.
3. Encouraging Participation in Surveys
   With an upcoming survey as part of the project, participants shared strategies for increasing response rates. Engaging with the industry and making the process straightforward for participants were some key takeaways.
4. Looking at Global Trends
   The group explored trends in aviation technology and discussed what they might mean for the industry, from automation to sustainability. These conversations emphasized the importance of preparing for the future while keeping workplace well-being a top priority.

What’s Next?

This meeting showcased the value of open dialogue and collaboration in tackling the challenges of technology adoption in aviation. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the TARA Project aims to create tools and methods that ensure both safe and efficient integration of new technologies.

A big thank you to everyone who joined and contributed to these important discussions. We’re excited to keep building on this work and seeing where it takes us!

As Västra Götalandsregionen (VGR) embarks on the ambitious Millennium EHR project, it’s crucial to draw lessons from past large-scale implementations. A study by Morten Hertzum, Gunnar Ellingsen, and Åsa Cajander provides invaluable insights into the challenges and outcomes of introducing the Epic electronic health record (EHR) system in Denmark and Finland. This study holds significant relevance for VGR’s journey, especially given the concerns raised about Millennium’s implementation, as highlighted in this interview.

The Nordic Experience with Epic

The study focuses on two large-scale Epic implementations:

• Denmark: The system went live in 2016–2017 across 12 hospitals serving 2.6 million citizens.
• Finland: Starting in 2018, Epic was rolled out in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region, integrating healthcare and social care for 1.7 million people.

Despite extensive preparation, both implementations faced persistent challenges, including usability issues, productivity dips, and unmet expectations. Five years post-implementation, 32% of Danish users remained dissatisfied, while only 9.3% of Finnish physicians felt the system improved care quality.

Key Takeaways for the Millennium Implementation

1. Unmet Expectations: Both Danish and Finnish projects suffered from a gap between high pre-implementation hopes and post-implementation realities. The study emphasizes the importance of realistic goal-setting and proactive issue resolution.
2. Usability Matters: Poor interface design, unclear terminology, and excessive clicks plagued users, leading to frustration. These issues were often exacerbated by attempts to fit a U.S.-centric system into a Nordic healthcare model.
3. Long-Term Adaptation: Initial productivity dips lasted longer than anticipated, and resolving system issues required years, not months. Planning for extended adaptation is critical.
4. Workload Redistribution: Shifting documentation tasks to physicians without adequate support led to dissatisfaction. Any similar changes in Millennium need careful consideration.
5. Localized Customization: Balancing regional standardization with local needs is complex. Both Denmark and Finland struggled to find the right mix, leading to discontent among users.

The study underscores the importance of learning from past implementations to avoid repeating mistakes. These large implementation project must prioritize usability, realistic planning, and user-centered design to succeed where others have struggled. Transparent communication and adaptive strategies will be vital in navigating the complexities of a project of this scale.

For a deeper dive into the study, the full analysis is available in the International Journal of Medical Informatics.