The role of Design and digital media as the basis for conceiving complementary digital means to aid the treatment and support of individuals with cognitive disabilities

This research’s goal is to demonstrate the contribution that digital media can have in supporting individuals with cognitive impairment, namely in the access to sensory therapies and clinical followup. The study is being developed for the Portuguese context, where this type of therapy is available mainly through Snoezelen rooms. These therapy rooms are mainly located in large urban centers and their supply is far below demand. In the last two years, this situation was significantly worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced an even greater limitation to these rooms. This study arises then with the goal of answering to this difficulty of accessing sensory therapies, through the creation of an online solution that works as an alternative and complementary resource. This paper focuses on this research’s first phase, in which was conducted the identification and analysis of the problem;the literature review on the role of design for inclusion;the analysis of the digital solutions currently available in the market;and the presentation of the first studies of the prototype that is being developed. The results obtained with this study’s first phase show that there is currently no online solution that answers, in a relevant way, to the needs of this community;and that Design, through its methodologies, may offer a contribution to the construction of an interface solution that favours inclusion. © 2021 Association for Computing Machinery.

Relevant, or irrelevant, external factors in panic buying

In view of panic buying prevalence across countries during the COVID 19 pandemic, this study explores the external factors that may influence consumer engagement or disengagement with this buying behaviour and how they are related. Two studies were undertaken to achieve this research aim. The first was to explore these factors through a scale development processes. Three factors were revealed including (1) intervention and support from the government to combat and manage the pandemic, (2) intervention and support from businesses to prevent stockpiling or panic buying, and (3) influence of different categories of social groups, namely, family and relatives, peers and friends, acquaintance and non-acquainted social-media group. The second study collected data from five countries (Australia, India, China, Vietnam and Indonesia) to understand the relationship between these factors and panic buying engagement or disengagement. The rationale for the country choices has been provided in this manuscript. The results show that interventions and support from government and businesses influenced panic buying engagement, whereas social groups did not. Implications of these findings are highlighted for the relevant stakeholders. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd