This research provides a new perspective on usability and user experience in computer delivered rehabilitation for post-stroke aphasia. Eye tracking technology will provide a novel insight into user engagement with a computer programme. This will enhance our understanding of user experience in combination with user feedback. A user feedback tool will be developed in conjunction with people with aphasia as a mechanism for people with aphasia to facilitate feedback on their experience of self-administered aphasia rehabilitation. Their voices are often overlooked in research because of their communication difficulties. These findings combined with clinicians’ views on using technology in rehabilitation will provide a holistic overview of usability in computer delivered aphasia rehabilitation. This mixed methods study, which combines exploratory and convergent parallel designs, will grow the evidence base on efficacy, usability and economic evaluation of computer delivered aphasia rehabilitation. A case series experimental two phase cross over treatment design – comparing a self-administered aphasia software rehabilitation programme, targeting auditory language comprehension, with a self-administered sham computer programme not targeting language – will be utilised. This multiple baseline design will include pre and post testing at both ends of phase 1 and phase 2 and random allocation to phase. Data collected from the user feedback tool, language and cognitive assessments and eye tracking methodology will be analysed to provide answers on efficacy, usability and cost effectiveness. This research will influence decision makers at policy and service provider level. It brings forth the voices of people with aphasia who are often excluded from policy planning by the nature of their language difficulties. This is timely research, with the rapid growth in available technologies and increasing demands for services among an ageing population. The user perspective must not be overlooked.
