HCI and mHealth Wearable Tech: A Multidisciplinary Research Challenge

This paper explores the challenges of HCI work within multidisciplinary research projects across health sciences, social sciences, and engineering, through discussion of a specific case study research project focused on supporting under-resourced pregnant women. Capturing the perspectives of community-based health care workers (N=14) using wearable technology for servicing pregnant women provided insight into considerations for technology for this specific population. Methods of inquiry included design and development of a prototype wearable and mobile system as well as self-report via a survey detailing their experience with the system and how it can possibly benefit their duties of monitoring their pregnant patients. The process outcomes of this work, however, provide broader insight into the challenges of conducting this kind of interdisciplinary work that remain despite decades of effort and financial investment to support interdisciplinary research, particularly in health informatics and interactive technologies for health.