journal article·2026-01-13Open access

User Experience Enhancement of a Gamified Speech Therapy Program Using the Double Diamond Design Framework

Sujin Kim, Eunjin Kwon, Jaesun Yu, Younggeun Choi, Myoung-Hwan Ko, Yun-ju Jo, Hyun-Gi Kim, Heecheon You

Applied Sciences· Volume 16· Issue 2

Abstract

The global rise in childhood speech disorders highlights the need for accessible and engaging home-based rehabilitation tools. This study applied the Double Diamond design framework to enhance the user experience (UX) of Smart Speech, a gamified functional speech therapy program. Using heuristic evaluation, expert interviews, and benchmarking, six core UX problem areas were identified, including insufficient guidance, low personalized motivation, limited feedback, and accessibility issues. Through an iterative ideation process, 78 UX improvement concepts were generated, encompassing motivational reinforcement (e.g., praise stickers and character interaction), automated training guidance, enhanced feedback mechanisms, and error-prevention features. A usability evaluation with 20 participants, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and parents, showed significant improvements across key dimensions, with increases of 1.1 to 2.6 points on a 7-point scale. These findings demonstrate that systematic UX design can substantially improve engagement, usability, and the potential therapeutic utility of home-based speech therapy systems.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Digital Mental Health Interventions · Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility · Language Development and Disorders

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea

Hidden Figures Inc., Seoul 04799, Republic of Korea

School of Contents Convergence Design, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Republic of Korea

Department of Industrial and Safety Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44610, Republic of Korea

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Republic of Korea

Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University—Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Republic of Korea

Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea

Funding

the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology · the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Resources · the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation · Chonbuk National University Hospital

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