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Analyzed
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CerQana application

CerQana logo
Overall rating:
  • 4/5
Technology:
Applications and softwareSmartphone and Tablet
Needs:
Related reviews:
  • Simplified application menu
  • Simplified call menu
  • User application main screen
  • User application menu
  • Web configuration menu
  • Definition of safety and danger areas
  • Calendar
  • Sensor status
  • Data referring to the user terminal
  • Guided Home Map
  • User application popup message
  • System schematic
  • Pictogram menu

We analyze the application near

What does it consist of:

2018

CerQana is an application for Smartphone and PC that simplifies the use of the telephone for dependent people and offers control and emergency functionalities for family members.

The application differs depending on the type of user profile, on the one hand, there is the “CerQana App” user profile, which sends information about your position and status of your device, and on the other, the profile of a relative or caregiver “CerQana Familiar ”which is alerted if the user enters a danger zone or his device is not operational.

The family member profile is exercised with greater functionalities from the “CerQana Web” portal, which is an extended version of “CerQana Familiar” and is the environment where the security and danger areas must be configured, among many other functionalities.

"CerQana web" allows managing more than one user simultaneously, and offers complete control over functionalities in the user's terminal, such as the applications that we want to be accessible to the user, the contacts in the user's agenda and has a functionality to create a reminder calendar of activities.

The user profile varies from elderly or dependent people with orientation difficulties, to young people whose parents want to be located and under parental control in the use of their terminals for security reasons.

 

Main functionalities

  • Position control with definition of safety and danger zones and related history.
  • Terminal status control
  • Personalizing phonebook, speed dial contacts and application list
  • Notifications
  • Creating appointments and routines
  • Sending messages including pictograms
  • Fall detection
  • Simplification of the graphical interface
  • Guidance and creation of routes

 

Check the cerQana website in the following link

 

Forms of Acquisition:

You can purchase the free version of the family App for Android or IOS by clicking on the following links:

NOTE: The user application is only available in its Android version.

You can access the control web portal at the following link Access the web version

 

Warranty and support

CerQana staff guarantees full support for all versions through online chat, email and telephone assistance during business hours.

You can contact nearby in the following Contact Form

 

Price range

  • The free basic plan includes the basic functionalities among which the simplified interface, the location and associated notifications stand out, although it does not allow the creation of safety and danger zones.

 

  • The normal plan with a cost of € 5,90 per month includes the use of functionalities such as home guidance, creation of routes and homes, the history of positions limited to 1 day, and the creation of safety and danger zones with a limit of 2 zones.

 

  • The Premium plan activates all the functionalities unlimitedly for € 9,90 per month.

 

  • In addition to the aforementioned plans, there is a group plan for € 9,90 per month for each registered user that allows users to manage groups of users with unlimited functionalities.

Technical verification:

The Orientatech test team has analyzed the CerQana application to verify its functionalities.

Our analysis begins with the installation of the user and family version apps on Samsung S6 and J5 terminals, the application is easily locatable in Google Playstore, its version is light and therefore the installation process did not involve complications.

In any case, the installation of the user app needs to be done by the family member or caregiver in many cases as it is not intuitive for people with cognitive impairment.

                                                                                                                    

"Installation process"

 

In the installation process it will be necessary to accept all the permissions so as not to encounter problems in certain functionalities of use.

NOTE: At this point it is important to note that the user application takes device administrator permissions.

The purpose of asking for this permission is to prevent it from being easily uninstalled. It is designed so that you can only uninstall it when you click on the deactivate button from the website. When you press this button, an automatic message is sent to the phone that deactivates that permission, closes CerQana, and deactivates it as the default launcher, returning to the usual Android state.

In any case, if you are testing the application and want to uninstall it, it is necessary to access the menu (Lock screen and security / other security settings / device administrator) and deactivate the application as administrator in said menu.

To start using the applications, it is necessary to obtain codes generated in the web portal after registering as users or entering the user account generated on the web, in this case we can use the Premium version for a 10-day trial, after that period the version it will go to Basic automatically at no cost.

                                                                                              

"Obtaining the user code on the web"

 

After registering on the web portal, we enter the code in our application and a user identifier is generated that identifies our terminal from the portal.

                                                                                                                                                   

"User log in"

 

The user application runs automatically once installed and displays a simple and easy-to-understand environment where complex functions are removed from any Android screen. In this version of the launcher, large icons prevail, giving direct access to family and emergency contacts, as well as the menu back home, a feature that shows the route to return to the usual home or other locations configured by the family member.

                                                                                  

 "User application"

 

At the bottom there is a button that allows access to the agenda that can be controlled from the web portal by the family member, similarly, another button allows access to the application menu with large icons. The list of executable applications can also be configured by family members from the web portal.

The user is restricted from uninstalling the application by traditional methods, which prevents the family member from losing control unless the family member wishes to unlink the user from the portal.

There is an emergency icon that allows you to make an immediate call to the number identified as an emergency contact and displays your keystroke both in the family terminal and the web portal, we have tested this functionality successfully on several occasions.

The application for family use has very limited functionalities compared to the web portal, in this case the application is used only to receive status messages sent by the user terminal such as: entry and exit in the secure area, calls carried out, etc ...

 

                                                                               

"Family application"

 

The application allows you to view the position of the terminal, but when we tested this functionality some errors occurred when displaying the map and we could not guarantee its operation, the application in turn allows you to define a time slot for audible notifications, except for the emergency push whose sound warning cannot be disabled. * 1

The web portal is designed as a control center for the entire system, and it is where all aspects related to its correct operation can be configured.

Among the functionalities, the constant monitoring of the battery and terminal coverage, as well as the GPS position stand out, from the portal you can also access a calendar that allows the user to remember tasks such as going to the doctor, going to school, etc ...

                                 

                                                    

"Terminal status data"

 

There is total control over the user terminal, through a menu for managing applications and contacts in the user's agenda.

                                      

 "Apps and agenda management window"

There is a fall sensor activation functionality implemented in the accelerometer of the user terminal that triggers an emergency call in the event of a fall, this functionality has been tested without much success, the CerQana developers report that they are working to integrate precision external drop sensors.

                                                                                                               

"Sensor status data"

 

Tasks and calendar

The web portal in turn allows the assignment of tasks by the family member to the user, in such a way that it activates an alarm with a programmed advance and with a map of location of the destination, this map display functionality has not been shown in a correct in the user application during our tests. *1

                                                                       

"Calendar window"

 

Management of safe and dangerous areas

As the main resource, the web portal has a detailed configuration map of safe and dangerous areas in such a way that an alert is received the moment the user enters or leaves one of these areas.

 

                                                   

"Area management window"

 

The accuracy of the location data has generated some erroneous messages in and out of areas in indoor locations, but it reaches greater accuracy once the user walks in outdoor locations. 

 

Route creation and guidance

The application allows you to select a location for a home or other point of interest and guides the user from the point where they are to the home or point of interest selected, this functionality was successfully tested, although, in one of the first tests appeared in English, it was solved for the rest of the tests, and it is a very useful feature for users with some cognitive impairment.

 

                                               

 "Routes and guided"

Messages

The message delivery system is easy and intuitive in both parts, the web version and the user application.

                                                                         

 "Sending a message on the web"

The family member or caregiver can send reminder messages that include text, voice and pictograms, which facilitates correct understanding.

The messages have confirmation that they have been read by means of a double check in the web application.

                                                                c                  

 "Read confirmation

In the case of the user application, the messages are reproduced automatically when the user has the application active. 

The messages can be read and listened to on a recurring basis by the user.

                                                                                                           

 "Message in the App"

The ARASAAC pictograms database of the Aragon government is already taken as a reference at the state level, in this case CerQana allows their inclusion in messages and icons for appointments on the calendar, which facilitates understanding for people with some type of deterioration or cognitive impairment.

                                                                                                                                     

 "Messages with images

                                                                                                              

 "Bank of pictograms"

 

Simplified calls

 

We consider that the call interface simplification function like the rest of the graphical interface simplification, is intuitive and achieves its purpose.

                                                                                                               

 "Simplified call screen"

In turn, the auto answer call functionality, which activates voice communication automatically when the user receives a call from the family member or caregiver, facilitates communication in emergency cases in which the user is not able to activate the call.

 

The attention service

 

The chat and telephone service has answered all our questions during the testing procedure.

 

Highlights

USER APP

  • The ease of use and simplicity with a very successful graphical interface, which allow understanding to users with comprehension difficulties.
  • The messaging system through text, voice and pictograms that allows correct understanding even for users with great cognitive impairment.

FAMILY APP

  • The specification and usefulness of the messages received about the activity in the user's terminal.

WEB POTAL

  • The easy-to-configure safety and danger zone definition tool.
  • The functionality for managing tasks, apps and calendar contacts that allow total control over the user's device.
  • Organized, aesthetic and complete.
  • Good customer service and resolution of doubts by phone and chat.

 

Improvement points

USER APP

  • It is recommended to resolve the error in the calendar task location sample (the map is not currently displayed, therefore it cannot be associated with a geographical position). *1
  • The drop sensor is not working effectively.
  • Some sporadic crashes and blank screens that are solved by restarting the terminal.
  • Lack of precision in the battery level display on some occasions. *4

FAMILY APP

  • It could include a battery display menu and coverage of the user terminal and other functionalities that are contemplated in the web portal.

WEB POTAL

  • Reduce or simplify the notification menu as it is somewhat annoying at times. *two

 

 

  • Design and manufacturing: 3 5 on.
    3
    This section refers to the physical aspects and details of the manufacturing of the technological product.
  • User experience: 4 5 on.
    4
    This criterion is linked to the user's assessment when relating to the technical product or application.
  • Technical benefits: 4 5 on.
    4
    Description of the quality of the technical specifications of the technological solution.
  • Accessibility: 3 5 on.
    3
    It is the degree to which people can use or access a product, technological solution or service, regardless of their technical, cognitive or physical abilities.

Social valuation:

Our volunteers Xavier and Ruben from Barcelona have carried out user tests with CerQana and have prepared a report on their user experience that we summarize in the following lines.

The registration and initial login process is simple and intuitive and did not generate any problems, the installation of the user application on Android and the familiar application on IOS was carried out without incident, although they recommend the development of a user application for Iphone terminals .

 

One of the details most valued by both is the set of functionalities that are included in the web interface, and the design that allows a clear organization of them, although they suggest some such as the possibility of accessing the user's camera with prior authorization. for greater control in an emergency.

The user application allows a simple use of the terminal by the user, and the family application, despite its more reduced functionalities compared to the web version, gathers the most important details that a family member or caregiver needs to know to monitor the user.

Notifications are perhaps the most useful and best-working aspect of this suite of apps.

 

Regarding the activation and use of the fall sensor, no fall could be detected despite being activated in the web indicator intended for this purpose.

The precision when viewing the user's location is acceptable, it is the accuracy that the mobile GPS usually shows for other applications.

Regarding the precision in reference to the safety and danger zones, the accuracy can be improved, having found a greater margin of error than expected between the streets that are considered to be inside or outside a safety or danger zone.

Differences have been found between the battery level shown on the web and the actual battery level of the terminal.

 

Home allocation works perfectly; guidance to it works well and is useful.

Creating routines and tasks is very easy. The problem is that it is difficult to access the "Done" button at the bottom of the dialog: it is difficult to make the slider appear to go down. This is a problem that occurs in almost all dialog windows.

Sending messages is easy, but it confuses the result a bit: in the user's app the message is “sung” out loud, but it is not written (which is a problem) and in the family app the message “CO_52” appears and "CO_54" which is definitely an error. * 6


Sending messages with images is thinking and does not send the message, perhaps it is because the size of the image is too large.

Regarding the configuration options on the web, the different settings options are sometimes not easy to understand, but they are well explained with the information balloons.

It is quite easy to remember everything when using the application again. The use is quite intuitive.

They understand that the loss of certain privacy of the user is justified by the help provided by this application due to its special vulnerability characteristics.

 

They would include a security question before entering the applications, which is not entered by default.

Regarding the instructions for use, they consider the tutorial is very good, it is very complete. The help with the information balloons in each functionality of the administrator's website are also quite good.

Ruben and Xavier consider the system as a good way to control and monitor the movements of a vulnerable person, in addition to simplifying communication with them.

 

The aspects that they recommend improving are:

  • The precision of the identification of the place where the user is, especially when entering and leaving the danger zones.
  • Improve the appearance of the vertical scroll bar in dialog boxes, so that it does not get in the way. *two
  • When you call the user from the Family app, the calling number is not identified, that is, only the number appears, but not the name associated with it.
  • If the family APP is closed, the iphone terminal is restarted, it is necessary to start the APP to receive notifications. *5

 

 

  • Impact and utility: 4 5 on.
    4
    It describes to what extent the functionalities of the product are useful and impact on improving the life of the user.
  • Usability and accessibility: 4 5 on.
    4
    Possibility of the device to be used, understood and taken advantage of under equal conditions for anyone.
  • Design and ergonomics: 4 5 on.
    4
    Assessment of how the design of the technological solution adapts to the person to achieve greater comfort and efficiency when using it.
  • Ease of Acquisition: 3 5 on.
    3
    It refers to the possibilities of accessing and acquiring a technological solution by the user.

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