COVID Radar collects data via the postcode area, which means that a single user is part of a group of 3,000 people in the same postcode area and is not personally recognized. The added value of the app was already established. It is clear that high engagement of the app users is essential for accurate COVID-19 monitoring. The ease of use of the COVID Radar app plays a big part in this.
Search for COVID radar app
Purpose of the new Research was then to gain insight into how to improve app acceptance and ease of use and what is needed to make the app more inclusive. Think about better accessibility for low-literate people. In addition, attention was also paid to looking for improvements that would lead users to continue using the app.
For these purposes, the new research was divided into three sub-studies:
- Three group interviews were conducted with 14 citizens who were already using the app. They were asked about their user experiences and possible improvements to the app.
- Using 1,080 emails that app users have sent to the COVID-Radar project team since the app’s launch, I did a qualitative thematic analysis of the app.
- Furthermore, the possibilities for improvement in the area of app inclusiveness have been mapped. Previously, the app was rated by Pharos language experts. They also conducted four 1-on-1 test sessions with low-literate people.
Improved app, positive users
Overall, users of the COVID-19 radar app were pleased with both the design and functionality. Thanks to the new research, some opportunities for improvement have been identified. These also covered the design and content of the app.
With these results, the accessibility of the app has been further improved. Users indicated that being able to contribute to science with the app was an important factor in continuing to use the app.
“Using (daily) recordings of symptoms and behaviors, which usually took only 1 or a few minutes, they could help map the spread of the virus and possible predictions of COVID-19 hotspots,” according to research. here can be read in its entirety.
