Unsupervised Digital Cognitive and Functional Assessment and Training: Is There a Potential Impact of The Lack of...

Advances in technology allow for the possibility of digital delivery of cognitive and functional assessment and training. There are two broad classes of digital strategies: those that were initially developed for digital delivery and those that were migrated from earlier traditional paper and pencil assessments. There has also been considerable research on supervised vs unsupervised assessment and training. Concurrent digital developments, such as artificial intelligence (AI), have enabled the rapid generation of parallel assessment forms and the translation of assessment materials for international use, suggesting the possibility of worldwide, widely accessible deployment. Translation does not ensure validation, and many assessment instruments have been translated but not normed or validated post-translation. In this review, we examine the current state of digital assessment and training efforts, using examples from widely deployed in-person assessments that have undergone translation and digital migration, and comparing them with digital strategies that were never delivered on paper or in person. Comments are provided on the utility of unsupervised performance and its implications for individuals self- administering digital assessments or training programs. There are several areas that require careful thought to deliver digital strategies remotely that are accessible and personalized, including psychometric integrity, linguistic validity, the social support provided by an in-person human tester, and whether that support can be quantified and supplemented with digital alternatives.