Inclusively designing IDA: effectively communicating falls risk to stakeholders

Although gait/balance analysis methods have proven effective for assessing falls risk (FR), they are mostly confined to the laboratory and rely on expensive specialist equipment. Recent sensor technologies have made it possible to capture FR data accurately; however, no exploration has been done on how to effectively communicate these data to seniors in both healthcare and free-living settings. We describe IDA (Insole Device for Assessment of Falls Risk), comprising a relatively inexpensive insole and prototype application that provides feedback to stakeholders. To explore what level of FR data should best be communicated to different stakeholders, we conducted workshops with 26 seniors and interviewed 7 healthcare workers in the UK. We highlight stakeholder preferences on viewing FR data to foster greater understanding of outcomes and enhance communication between stakeholders. Finally, we identify opportunities for design on enhancing understanding of gait/balance outcomes; these have potential applications in other areas of physical rehabilitation.