[Massachusetts-NFB] FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] Blind Adults Needed for Research Study on Use of Apple Watch and Apple Health/Apple Fitness

Wed Nov 1 20:06:55 UTC 2023

Fitness

The below research participant solicitation is being provided for informational purposes only. The National Federation of the Blind has no involvement in this research, but we believe that it may contribute to our research mission.

Voice Assistant Use on Apple Watch: Enhancing Experiences for Blind Users

*	Principal Investigator Name and Title: Soyoung Choi, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor
*	Department and Institution: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
*	Contact Information:  <mailto:soyoung at illinois.edu> soyoung at illinois.edu

We are conducting a survey (11 Questions) to understand how blind people utilize the Apple Watch and Apple Health/Apple Fitness, in managing physical activity, exercise, sleep, and related functions. Your feedback will guide us in creating a more accessible smartphone app that leverages natural voice commands to enhance the physical activity and exercise experience for blind persons. Your participation is vital to the development and success of this initiative.

We are inviting participants for our survey based on the following criteria:

1.	Age: Must be 18 years or older
2.	Diagnosis: Must have a confirmed diagnosis of either:

*         Severe visual impairment: This includes individuals who may have some light perception but cannot clearly see shapes, movements, or recognize people and objects even with corrective lenses.

*         Total blindness without light perception: This includes individuals who cannot perceive any form of light or visual stimuli.      

3.	Experience: Must be a current user of the Apple Watch and actively utilize apps like Apple Health/Apple Fitness to monitor physical activity, exercise, sleep, and similar activities.

Please note: Individuals with mild or moderate visual impairment are not eligible for this survey. If you can navigate daily tasks without significant visual aids or assistance owing to residual vision, you are not eligible for this survey.

If you are willing to participate in this survey, please provide your consent by agreeing to the online consent form, the text of which is provided below. 

*Online survey link

https://illinoisaces.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_brrAtBrxeSQLzzU

[Consent Form]

In the survey, there will be eight multiple-choice questions and three open-ended questions for text entry. For this online survey study, we intend to enroll a maximum of 100 participants. The risks associated with this study are minimal. Nonetheless, to safeguard the information accumulated, the research team will implement stringent protective measures. Identifiable data will be stored exclusively on a server, both encrypted and password-protected, administered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The assembled information will serve the principal purpose of informing the development and dissemination of a novel healthcare system for individuals with visual impairments.

This endeavor seeks not only to contribute valuable insights into the experiences and needs of those with low vision and blindness concerning physical activity but also to innovate solutions that can substantially improve their health and well-being. By participating, you will be playing a crucial role in the advancement of inclusive health technology solutions and contributing to the betterment of lives for low-vision and blind individuals.

What procedures are involved?

As an eligible participant, you will have the opportunity to complete a 30-minute online survey. The participants who complete the online survey will be entered into a raffle for $30 (50 winners out of 100 participants). Your decision whether or not to participate will not affect your current or future dealings with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw at any time without affecting that relationship.

Will my study-related information be kept confidential?

Faculty, staff, students, and others with permission or authority to see your study information will maintain its confidentiality to the extent permitted and required by laws and university policies. The names or personal identifiers of participants will not be published or presented. Identifiable data collected from you will be stored in the research team’s data repository for the future research. However, if you want to withdraw your identifiable data, you can request the data removal at any time by contacting the PI. Then, the PI will abolish your data immediately.

Will I be reimbursed for any expenses or paid for my participation in this research?

The participants who complete the online survey will be entered into a raffle for $30 (50 winners out of 100 participants). 

Can I withdraw or be removed from the study?

If you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw your consent and discontinue participation at any time. Your participation in this research is voluntary. Your decision whether or not to participate, or to withdraw after beginning participation, will not affect your current or future dealings with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

How might the information collected in this study be shared in the future?

We will keep the information we collect about you during this research study for study recordkeeping and for potential use in future research projects.  If the study data contain information that directly identifies participants: Your information (e.g., email address) that can directly identify you will be stored securely and separately from the rest of the research information we collect from you. Identifiable data from this study may be shared with the research community, with journals in which study results are published, and with databases and data repositories used for research. We will remove or code any personal information that could directly identify you before the study data are shared. Despite these measures, we cannot guarantee the anonymity of your personal data. The PI would like to retain your contact information to contact you for future research participation.  This information will not be shared with other researchers but will only be retained for potential interest in research with this PI.  We will ask for your consent to do so at the end of this form. You can be in this current research study without agreeing to future research use of your identifiable information. The results of this study could be shared in articles and presentations but will not include any information that identifies you unless you give permission for use of information that identifies you in articles and presentations.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

If you have questions about this project, you may contact Soyoung Choi at 217-402-4128 or soyoung at illinois.edu <mailto:soyoung at illinois.edu> . If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this study or any concerns or complaints, please contact the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Office for the Protection of Research Subjects at 217-333-2670 or via email at irb at illinois.edu <mailto:irb at illinois.edu> .

What are my rights as a research subject?

If you have any questions about your rights as a research subject, including concerns, complaints, or to offer input, you may call the Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS) at 217-333-2670 or e-mail OPRS at irb at illinois.edu <mailto:irb at illinois.edu> . 

Lou Ann Blake, J.D.

Director of Research Programs, Blindness Initiatives

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

410-659-9314, extension 2221 |  <mailto:lblake at nfb.org> lblake at nfb.org 

 <https://nfb.org/> 

                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>      <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>      <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. 

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