Co-designed collaborative digital platform for early childhood development: an innovative web and mobile application for practitioners and guardians

Abstract

Introduction: The UPDEIT EU-funded project addresses the need for improved digital solutions in Early Childhood Development and Intervention (ECDI) by offering a more collaborative platform than existing applications. Its contribution lies in the design and development of a progressive web application (PWA) that can be used either as a web platform or a mobile application, facilitating real-time collaboration between practitioners (i.e., developmental specialists) and guardians. Methodology: Using a co-creation approach, the research team first collected qualitative data to identify user needs for offering the required ECDI features, focusing on providing collaborative features and dual-platform accessibility. These insights guided the iterative development of the web platform and PWA, which were evaluated via the quantitative User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). Results: Findings indicate that the platform performs strongly in stimulation, attractiveness, and dependability, underscoring its potential to engage and support users effectively. However, perspicuity and efficiency emerged as areas requiring further refinement to improve user experience and functionality. Discussion: By developing a PWA, UPDEIT advances collaborative ECDI practices and sets a precedent for future digital health interventions. The outcomes of this work provide actionable guidelines for enhancing collaboration, accessibility and inclusive design in early intervention services.