Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3200-5095

Date of Award

Winter 3-7-2025

Document Type

Thesis (Undergraduate)

Department

Computer Science

First Advisor

Michael Casey

Abstract

How can we design an accessible, scalable UI/UX system tailored to the cognitive, visual, and motor impairments of epileptic patients, that ensures safe and effective interactions with music therapy applications? This research explores the intersection of accessibility, user-centred design, and digital health, using an iterative design process to develop and refine the SONATA app—a clinically deployable music therapy platform.

Through two prototype iterations, usability testing, and quantitative event logging, this study compares the effectiveness of structured versus flexible navigation in improving user experience. Key findings reveal that structured navigation reduces unintended detours, while progressive disclosure techniques enhance instructional clarity. Additionally, the final app iteration integrates scientifically backed accessibility principles, ensuring a functional and inclusive platform for epileptic patients.

The SONATA app, now deployed at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), represents a blueprint for future accessible UI/UX design in digital health. These findings contribute to the broader field of human-computer interaction (HCI) and accessibility research, demonstrating how inclusive design can improve engagement, usability, and clinical research integrity.

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