Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Sabrina Ehrenfort, Graduate Student Dr. Scott Ferguson, Faculty Riley Dienna, Junior Barbara Cazzolli, Graduate Student Toni Butler, Graduate Student, Danielle Norris, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Sabrina Ehrenfort
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Barbara Chaparro
Abstract
Respiratory muscle training (RMT) has gained increasing attention for its potential benefits in both athletic performance and clinical applications. RMT involves targeted exercises to strengthen the respiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm, improving measures such as maximal inspiratory pressure and peak flow. The PowerBreathe K5 device is a widely used RMT tool; however, the usability of its accompanying software, BreatheLink, remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated the user experience of BreatheLink among first-time users through a structured usability assessment. Participants completed key tasks, including account creation, test and training sessions, and data visualization. Usability feedback was collected through task performance measures, post-task interviews, and post-study surveys. Findings indicate that while BreatheLink provides valuable training and testing insights, users faced challenges related to interface intuitiveness, navigation efficiency, and data interpretation. The study highlights critical usability concerns, suggesting improvements to enhance user experience and optimize training outcomes. Addressing these issues could improve software and device usability, ultimately broadening accessibility for the general population
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Evaluating the Usability of Respiratory Muscle Training Software: Insights for Guiding New Users
Respiratory muscle training (RMT) has gained increasing attention for its potential benefits in both athletic performance and clinical applications. RMT involves targeted exercises to strengthen the respiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm, improving measures such as maximal inspiratory pressure and peak flow. The PowerBreathe K5 device is a widely used RMT tool; however, the usability of its accompanying software, BreatheLink, remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated the user experience of BreatheLink among first-time users through a structured usability assessment. Participants completed key tasks, including account creation, test and training sessions, and data visualization. Usability feedback was collected through task performance measures, post-task interviews, and post-study surveys. Findings indicate that while BreatheLink provides valuable training and testing insights, users faced challenges related to interface intuitiveness, navigation efficiency, and data interpretation. The study highlights critical usability concerns, suggesting improvements to enhance user experience and optimize training outcomes. Addressing these issues could improve software and device usability, ultimately broadening accessibility for the general population