In recent years a bewildering array of smartphone applications (“apps”) has emerged to support separated parents' communication. Post-separation parenting apps vary in cost and features; they typically comprise a messaging tool, shared calendar, expense tracker and a means to export records for legal purposes. A key challenge for separated parents and family law practitioners alike is knowing which apps or app feature(s) can work well for different family contexts, needs and budgets. The present study sought to evaluate nine popular post-separation parenting apps and their features using small-n Human–Computer Interaction methods. Mediators role-played high conflict ex-couples while completing a set of five common post-separation communication or organizational tasks. A cross-case analysis of ratings was conducted. We found that (a) many of the mediators changed their apparent enthusiasm for co-parenting apps once they had used the apps themselves; (b) all nine apps were rated somewhere between “Poor” to Fair’; and (c) features of some of the best-known apps were not rated as highly as some of the features of more recent, lesser-known apps.

中文翻译：

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流行的分居后育儿智能手机应用程序：评估

近年来，出现了一系列令人眼花缭乱的智能手机应用程序（“应用程序”）来支持分居父母的沟通。分居后育儿应用程序的成本和功能各不相同；它们通常包括消息传递工具、共享日历、费用跟踪器以及出于合法目的导出记录的方法。对于分居父母和家庭法从业者来说，一个关键挑战是了解哪些应用程序或应用程序功能可以很好地适应不同的家庭背景、需求和预算。本研究试图使用小n评估九种流行的分居后育儿应用程序及其功能。人机交互方法。调解员扮演高度冲突的前夫妻，同时完成一组五项常见的分居后沟通或组织任务。对评级进行了跨案例分析。我们发现，(a) 许多调解员在自己使用过共同育儿应用程序后，改变了对共同育儿应用程序的明显热情；(b) 所有九个应用程序的评级都在“差”到“一般”之间；(c) 一些最知名的应用程序的功能评价不如较新的、不太知名的应用程序的某些功能那么高。