‘People in Movement’ activates with creative technology
01-11-2021
‘‘Three research groups come together within the research theme People in Movement,’ says Van der Bie. “Nutrition, exercise and creative technology. We work together in various research projects, aimed at getting and keeping people moving, or getting people to eat healthy. Technology is an important part. By using it, we can often organize care more effectively. That doesn't mean less personal. Think video calling. Some therapists suddenly had much more contact with patients during the corona pandemic, for example because their travel time was reduced.'
SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
Joey van der Bie started in 2004 with a higher vocational education in Computer Science in Rotterdam and specialized in interaction design. ‘Normally you follow that specialise in the Communication & Multimedia Design (CMD) programme,’ he laughs. He then followed a master's degree in Media Technology at Leiden University. ‘So I was trained as a creative, scientific researcher. During my master's I experimented with sensor technology and applications for people with a visual impairment.'
'In 2009 I built an application that could scan and read letters. The technology was already there, but it was not yet used. I designed an app for the smartphone. In doing so, I explored in advance what users needed. Unfortunately, I made a classic mistake: I built the application for an Android phone, only to find out afterwards that people didn't use the app because they had an iPhone. I had not sufficiently asked for one need.'
After his education, Van der Bie taught at the Haagse Hogeschool in the CMD course. Since 2013 he has been working as a lecturer-researcher at the Digital Life lectorate of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA).
TRANSLATE INFORMATION
Van der Bie is clear about the importance of technology in supporting health. ‘It facilitates sustainable behavioural changes. But then you have to gear the technology very well to the target group. A generic exercise app, there are several of them. But an exercise app for the elderly or aimed at a bodybuilder who trains daily is a completely different story. The interaction of the persons with the app is completely different. While they may perform the same exercises. We also develop a lot of technology for users who have difficulty with the Dutch language. For example, they need images much more than language. The exercises from the physiotherapist or the dietary advice from the dietician may be the same, but the way in which you communicate information varies enormously.'
FROM RESEARCH TO IMPLEMENTATION
In the MIB research theme, Van der Bie alternates between coordinating and executive functions. 'I help write research proposals, coordinate research and conduct a small part of the research myself.' The most important projects he is currently working on are Modular Online Platform, SO-NUTS and E-ToP.
'I have a coordinating role in the development of the Modular Online Platform. I agree with the practitioners and users what needs they have. I discuss with the programmers which functionalities they are going to build. Our software can be used by researchers in various projects in the future to develop new apps. Developing software is an expensive process. Researchers can elaborate endlessly on this software. Developers can work on more projects at once. After all, they don't have to get to know new software.'
Van der Bie has an executive and coordinating role in the SO-NUTS and E-ToP projects. ‘We are developing an app for both projects, tailored to the users. In the first project, these are people who are retiring. We want to support them in developing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The app for this group is linked to the Modular Online Platform. Within E-ToP we are developing an information portal for parents of premature children. We want to provide them with the right information, so that they can guide their child properly and are not dependent on care providers every step of the way.'
MORE USEFUL THAN LAB STUDIES
'Optimizing the technology for a specific target group remains a challenge time and time again. Each target group has different needs. In addition, as researchers we must learn to speak each other's language and not use too much jargon. When my colleagues from other specialties talk about a program, they mean a procedure. In our jargon it is an application.'
The connection between research and practice is the most important for Van der Bie. ‘Only in practice do you discover what people need. That is more useful than a lab study, where you develop a prototype that no one is waiting for. In addition, I am always focused on making care more effective, without this leading to impersonal guidance. I started conducting applied scientific research because it helps people in practice. That makes my work fascinating, meaningful and useful.'
Source: website 'Centre of Expertise Urban Vitality