bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Localizing Graphical User Interfaces for Right-to-Left Languages: A Practical Study
Authors: Anvari Sam , Woods Paul
Published: June 2024

Globalization technology has made localization a critical aspect of software development. Localizing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for Right-to-Left (RTL) languages, such as Arabic and Hebrew, requires unique considerations and design approaches compared to Left-to-Right (LTR) languages. As the global market for RTL-speaking users continues to grow, organizations must focus on developing culturally and linguistically appropriate GUIs. In this study, we focused on the localization of the GUI for RTL languages. We aimed to identify the challenges associated with localizing UIs for RTL languages for organizations interested in this area. One of the main challenges we encountered during the project was the need for more standardization for RTL UI design in general. Although both Apple and Google offer style guides for Arabic language localization, we found that these guides needed to address the complexities of RTL design fully. The user experience design presented several issues that required us to make alternative decisions in the RTL design.Contrary to popular belief, changing the design from LTR to RTL is more complex than mirroring elements in the design. The physical reach of the user can be affected, and cultural values and design preferences should be an integral part of the design decision-making process. For example, hierarchy is conveyed differently in RTL languages than in LTR languages, requiring a unique approach to UI design. Our study also found that RTL languages (Arabic) have unique typographical considerations, such as text direction and word wrapping, which can significantly impact the user experience. To address these considerations, we had to make several modifications to the UI, including adjusting the placement of elements, adjusting the size and spacing of text, and incorporating appropriate text direction. Organizations must consider cultural values and design preferences in their design decision-making process when localizing GUIs for other languages.In conclusion, our study provides a practical overview of the challenges and considerations associated with localizing GUIs for RTL languages. We identified several key areas, including cultural values and design preferences, typographical considerations, and RTL-compliant GUI components, that organizations must consider when localizing their software for RTL languages. Our findings are valuable for organizations looking to expand their reach into RTL-speaking markets and provide a unique and culturally appropriate user experience for their customers. The global market's value for RTL-speaking users continues to grow, making it more important than ever for organizations to focus on developing culturally and linguistically appropriate GUIs.
Initial Education for CRCs with Different Background Knowledge: Case study of a company supporting clinical trials in Fukuoka, Japan
Authors: Sugai Etsuko , Ito Yasunobu
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this paper is to examine the curriculum requirements for the development of clinical research coordinators (CRCs). In particular, the purpose of this paper is to examine and clarify what kind of effect their prior knowledge and skills had in acquiring the basic knowledge and skills of CRCs when they landed this profession. Clinical trials on human subjects are trials to test the efficacy and safety of drug candidates (hereafter referred to as investigational drugs). CRCs come from a variety of backgrounds, including licensed nurses, licensed laboratory technicians, and non-medically qualified personnel. Companies must provide initial and ongoing education to CRCs to ensure they become an asset in the company. However, there is no uniform training curriculum in the industry to date, as each company is providing its own training to CRCs. In this study, we conducted in-depth interviews with six CRCs at Company F in Fukuoka, Japan, including three new CRCs (one CRC a certified laboratory technician, one CRC a certified nurse and one CRC without a medical license). In addition, CRCs’ work practices were conducted by participant observation to examine what kind of initial education is needed for CRCs with different backgrounds, in line with the qualitative data.
Visualising Transformation Strategies for Navigating Organisational Change Dynamics: A Case Study of Resource Management in a Japanese Corporation
Authors: Takahashi Natsumi , Hashimoto Takashi , Javed Amna , Kohda Youji
Published: June 2024

Diversity management is an important topic in today’s business world perspective of human resource management; however, it is difficult to align diversity management with the bottom line because it requires investments, contributions, and resources that do not return to the bottom line in the short term. In addition, the lack of a clear method for evaluating effectiveness makes it difficult to make preliminary estimates and decisions regarding strategy implementation. Currently, diversity, quality, and inclusion (DEI) research is being conducted worldwide, and a few drastic solutions have been proposed. This study focuses on the implementation of DEI promotion strategies in companies and explores methods to explain the impact of such strategies in the field. This study provides a way to explain the value of strategies such as DEI, for which quantitative evaluation methods have not yet been established to activate organizational transformation projects in the workplace. It also provides tools to support middle managers who implement strategies in their organisations.
History Lives On: Interdisciplinary Design to Uplift Rural Communities
Authors: Smith David , Bird Gorham
Published: June 2024

Starting as a partnership between Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald in 1914, a grassroots movement to educate black children grew into over 5000 school buildings throughout the segregated deep south of the United States by 1932. Today, less than 600 of these “Rosenwald School” structures remain nationally, and most are in a state of great decay. These schools represent the education of a new generation of African American thinkers and are considered by economists to have created the African American middle class. This paper will explore the methodologies used to curate, design, and fabricate an exhibit, “History Lives On—Preserving Alabama’s Rosenwald Schools,” aimed at increasing public engagement and awareness of the history of the school building program. The exhibition project serves to educate the public and bring history to life by illustrating the inequities that existed in the educational system of the Jim Crow South.
Mycography and Biodesign Pedagogy: Concepts and Methods for Creating Living Posters
Authors: Ward Devon
Published: June 2024

This paper presents the outcomes from one design studio taught in the School of Industrial and Graphic Design at Auburn University. Students were introduced to the field of biodesign, a relatively nascent field that combines design and biology. Biodesign is a broad domain with practices that range from discursive to utilitarian and whose outcomes may be material or conceptual. This studio focused on the creation of a biodesign project that was material and discursive. In other words, students used living microorganisms to create images that promote reflection and discussion. Students began by learning an experimental image-making process, referred to here as mycography, which uses microorganisms from the fungi kingdom in lieu of ink or photo paper. Similar to darkroom photography, mycography may use light to create an image from a negative. Next, students were asked to create living images that expressed their relationship with the natural environment. Their design organism was Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is more commonly known as brewer's yeast or baker's yeast. After numerous initial tests, they created living posters that were 30 cm x 40 cm (12 in x 16 in). Unsurprisingly, in a time of ubiquitous ecological disruption, their posters expressed concern about our changing climate. The living posters that students created acted as a call-to-action and conveyed a sense of urgency about environmental degradation. At the same time, using a living organism as a design material provided a vital learning analogy for students: the images created with brewer's yeast resisted complete control and mimicked our relationship with the natural world. Through hands-on making with another organism, students gained a greater sense of agency while also recognizing the impact that design can have on other organisms.
Curricular Development in Industrial Design: An Initial Dive into Understanding
Authors: Feld Adam
Published: June 2024

The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) lists 36 industrial design programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Each program is reviewed on a 10-year +/- schedule which can be daunting for some programs considering the speed of advance in the profession and the difficulty/refusal in more experienced faculty to keep current. When reviewed, each school must demonstrate “Essential Competencies, Experiences, and Opportunities” to be NASAD accredited as a school for Industrial Design. However, the list, A-K, has a wide range of necessary competencies, experiences, and opportunities providing each program the academic freedom to teach what they think is necessary in preparing students to practice industrial design. This can be fueled by the local industry, professional and academic backgrounds of the faculty, the mission of the university and specific program, and/or the student population. In addition, NASAD states that all faculty “must be represented and taught primarily by instructors with appropriate industrial design education and professional experience.” Appropriate industrial design education does not, necessarily, mean appropriate educational preparedness when teaching industrial design. Most preparedness comes from experience but experience comes slowly with many advances and setbacks along the way. Just like parameters in an assignment, structure in an Industrial Design Curriculum (IDC) provides educators, new and experienced, the ability to focus on content, thereby, providing opportunity for developing assignments that can support and foster creativity in their students. This paper will reflect upon the exploration of a program undergoing a, roughly, thirty-year curricular review.
Unraveling Factors of Decision Fatigue in Customization Services
Authors: Furuhashi Yugo , Yang Wonseok
Published: June 2024

In the context of product purchases, Customization Services refer to the ability of customers to modify specifications, such as appearance, performance, and configuration, according to their preferences and needs. The commerce sector has also undergone digitalization with the use of tools such as 3D models on websites and apps. This trend extends across various fields, from everyday items to the automotive industry, where Customization Services are gaining considerable attention. A distinctive feature of Customization Services is the capability of users to create a product tailored to their preferences using an extensive array of options. However, a multitude of choices can be a source of stress owing to information overload, leading to indecision during services usage. Therefore, this research aims to investigate whether the way information is presented to users during the customization process influences smooth decision-making and consequently affects Purchase Intention. Initially interviews were conducted to identify factors hindering user choices in the product creation process. These findings suggest that the current User Interface (UI) might contribute to user indecision by presenting only information about the product being created, without facilitating comparisons. Additionally, specific elements that users wished to present during the product creation process were identified. Subsequently, UI samples were created based on the obtained elements and measurements of Decision Fatigue and Purchase Intention were conducted. These results confirmed that providing users with information that enables product comparisons can alleviate decision-making obstacles. Furthermore, Individual Differences in personal experiences and interests related to sneaker purchases were closely associated with the effectiveness of information presentation. This research contributes as a pioneering research endeavour to the increasing landscape of product Customization Services. It aims to help users efficiently discover and make decisions regarding their preferences for more user-friendly services.
The Influence of Microcopy on User Decision-Making
Authors: Muto Momoka , Yang Wonseok
Published: June 2024

Microcopy is gaining attention in UI design for the purpose of improving user Conversion Rate (CVR). It is particularly used to help users make choices during processes such as membership registration and online purchases. A preliminary survey on the use of the service suggests that when users are given a choice of equivalent values, the reasons for their decision are vague and they have little awareness when making a choice. Therefore, we considered that the strengths of it could be used to help users make choices. In this research, we classified it expression patterns into four types: "Signal type" that conveys immediate benefits, "Benefit type" that conveys fundamental benefits, "Support type" that removes uncertainty, and "Unbenefit type" that dares to incite anxiety. CVRs for these same scenes and their impressions were investigated. The results of the experiment showed that the "Signal Type" and "Benefit Type" encouraged users to make a choice without making them feel uncomfortable, while the "Support Type" and "Unbenefit Type" gave users a sense of distrust and may induce a choice different from their original intention. We also investigated the semantic understanding of Microcopy when there is a relationship between the task the user wants to perform and the action the service side wants to prompt, and when there is no relationship. The results revealed that there were differences in semantic understanding depending on whether there was or was not a relationship between the user's task and the task. These results support the objective of this research, which is the psychological impact of Microcopy patterns on users' choice behavior.
Consideration of the Problem of Digital Divide in the Development of ICT
Authors: Otsuka Jun , Yang Wonseok
Published: June 2024

The rapid changes in the living environment caused by technological development have created a divergence between the ability of humans to use technology and the technology being used, creating a Digital Divide. In particular, everyone needs equal access to public services such as healthcare and public administration. Liu (2018) states that the Digital Divide cannot be completely eliminated in the information and communication sector due to the rapid transition of technology, and that it is important to take measures that are sustainable. Since further digitization is expected in public services in the future, it is necessary to take sustainable measures against the Digital Divide. This research will survey the literature on the Digital Divide among the elderly. First, we selected articles, reports, and websites, including those related to public services, based on the following criteria: "the article must describe the factors or measures that cause the Digital Divide," "the content must be related to the elderly," and "the article must have been published between 1995 and 2023. Next, the factors causing the Digital Divide were categorized, and the essential factors of the Digital Divide and the overall situation were overviewed. Finally, in order to clarify whether there is a relationship between devices and the Digital Divide, we further narrowed down the literature on devices and classified them again. The results indicate that in order to address the Digital Divide in a sustainable manner, it is important to address factors that occur regardless of the device, such as low digital self-efficacy and lack of mental models when handling digital information, rather than to apply countermeasures to all the factors. In particular, factors related to mental and internal aspects, which are often difficult to see, have not been clarified in detail, and are expected to provide clues for sustainable countermeasures.
Sentiment Analysis of Self-Driving Cars Using Text Mining
Authors: Kim Donghwan
Published: June 2024

This study aims to predict future changes brought about by self-driving cars and find ways to respond to user experience (UX) through sentimental analysis of consumers' perceptions of self-driving cars. In particular, this study conducted sentiment analysis through monitoring and analysis of text information using user-generated content (UGC). Through this, the plan is to identify customer needs (Voice of Customers) and use it as a basis for future autonomous vehicle interior development.
Exploring the Relationship between Form Features and Price Perception
Authors: Wu Feichen , Li Hanbing , Ho Chunheng
Published: June 2024

Price is undeniably a critical factor that shapes consumers' decisions when navigating the intricate landscape of purchasing. Within the realm of consumer behavior, studies have shed light on a fascinating phenomenon: consumers tend to assess the internal cues of a product, particularly its form, when gauging product quality during the purchasing process. Only when form falls short as a judgment criterion do they turn to external cues, such as price. This leads to an intriguing inference — the form of a product significantly influences its perceived price. In light of this, our study is committed to delving deeply into the complex interplay between form features and the perception of price, with the aim of pinpointing specific design elements that enhance consumer perceived price. To focus on the interaction between form features and the perception of price, we eliminate the potential impact of color and material. Thus, this study selects glass perfume bottles with relatively simple colors and materials as the research objects. The study adopts a two-stage experimental approach conducted in the form of focus groups. In the first stage, five high-involvement consumers with over 25 perfume purchasing experiences discussed together to choose seven bottles that are unanimously considered high-priced perfume bottle samples. In the second stage, five expert designers with over 15 years of design experience are invited to extract the design features from the samples selected in the previous stage. The results of this study indicate that specific design features contribute to people's perception of higher prices. Examples of such features include the simulated diamond surface cut, an overall aspect ratio close to 16:9, small and delicate decorations, and clearly demarcated lines between the cap and body. The findings thereby provide valuable insights for designers and strategic recommendations for businesses in terms of pricing strategies.
Study on the shape design of off-road vehicle combined with double diamond model
Authors: Wang Huajie , Jin Zhang , Tan Xikai
Published: June 2024

In order to improve the design quality of car form and guide the designers to grasp the direction of car form design more accurately, this paper researches the process of car form design. Taking the double diamond model design process as the research carrier, firstly, the user's perceptual imagination is studied, and the correlation matrix between the user's perceptual imagination and the product form characteristics is established by combining the evaluation construction theory. Secondly, the correlation matrix was integrated into the double diamond model design process, forming an effective combination of user perceptual needs and the designer's design process. In order to prove the effectiveness of the method, it was implemented in the Sport Utility Vehicle form design project led by the author. We find that the method can effectively combine the user's perceptual needs with the designer's creative process and the evaluation process of the program, providing more scientific guidance for the creativity and evaluation of Sport Utility Vehicle, which is of great significance for improving the quality of vehicle form design. In addition, the Sport Utility Vehicle designed under the guidance of the optimized design process, as the main models of the enterprise, have gained high evaluation from users and also brought the enterprise rich profit returns.
Change and Configuration Management as a Foundation for a new Digital Enterprise Education
Authors: Camba Jorge , Anderson Joseph
Published: June 2024

The principles of change and configuration management are foundational pillars for the operational excellence of any industrial enterprise, impacting every facet of its processes, technology, and personnel. They provide a method for identifying, analyzing, preparing, implementing, validating, and documenting engineering changes throughout a product’s lifecycle, ensuring everyone in the organization works from the same product record and changes are communicated in real-time. Change and configuration management are core enablers of the digital thread. However, the challenges and complexities of these subjects are generally not considered in current engineering or business curricula. In this paper, we report on the development and delivery of a graduate-level course dedicated to Change and Configuration Management and discuss a vision for a new digital enterprise curriculum. The course was developed in close partnership with industry and discusses the core elements, data structures, stakeholders, and workflows of change management and their role in the product lifecycle. The application of the industry standard CM2 methodology is emphasized as a strategy to provide control, maintain data integrity, and improve visibility and traceability of changes.
Exploring the Influence of Industry 4.0 Technologies on Workplace Dynamics: A Literature Analysis
Authors: Rodriguez Gasca Mariannys , Macedo Barbalho Sanderson
Published: June 2024

The rapid advancement of technology globally, coupled with the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, has significantly reshaped traditional production systems and the entire industrial value chain. Consequently, the complexity of tasks increased and substantially altered people's role in the production process. In this sense, the article examines the influence of Industry 4.0 technologies on work dynamics through an exhaustive literature review and bibliometric analysis. Key aspects related to human interaction in the business environment are addressed, and the implications of these emerging technologies on human factors are highlighted. The research identified an exponential growth in interest in human factors and ergonomics in i4.0 technologies from 2017 to 2022, suggesting the COVID-19 pandemic may have accentuated it. In addition, the review provides a comprehensive view of how Industry 4.0 influences the design of new workplaces, prioritizing worker safety and well-being through the study of diversity, skills and competencies of workers to improve adaptation and ergonomics, with a special focus on the intersection between technology and the human element in companies.
A Systematic Framework for the Integration of Lean, Green, and Human Factors for Sustainable Production
Authors: Hussain Amjad , Mehmood Amjad , Khurrum Bhutta Mohammed
Published: June 2024

In response to environmental and social impact challenges and the need for enhanced operational efficiency, this study focuses on integrating Lean, Green, and Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) in production systems. The paper introduces a novel conceptual model named Ergo-Green Lean, providing a comprehensive framework for integrating these paradigms. The study identifies successful integration strategies through a brief literature review, highlighting the potential benefits and implementation challenges. The proposed model and novel framework, developed through focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders, aims to enhance triple-bottom-line sustainability in a production environment to achieve a competitive edge in the market. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for further empirical validation and exploration of deeper integration possibilities, positioning Ergo-Green Lean as a promising path toward sustainable development in diverse industrial settings.
On the manufacturing of potted electrical connectors with 3D printing resin: an unobtrusive workflow
Authors: Alexandru Popa Andrei , Nowakowski Olgierd , Duggen Lars
Published: June 2024

The application space of additive manufacturing knows ongoing expansion due to advances in materials and improvements in equipment, but also the novel, creative use of well-established techniques. Vat photopolymerization (VPP) can be employed in the manufacturing of industrial grade electrical connectors with embedded conductive terminals. The proposed workflow includes the insertion of these terminals towards obtaining environmentally sealed connectors during the curing phase inherent to VPP 3D printing, thereby not disrupting nor adding to the original manufacturing steps. The novelty of the approach is further enhanced by potting the electrical terminals into the 3D printed substrate with the same material (thermoset resin) in which the connector body was produced. The naturally subsequent UV-curing of the full ensemble yields robust electrical connectors, mechanically tested and validated for their rigidity and ultimately characterized for their electrical performance. The complete manufacturing workflow can be extended to other commercially available connector types, relevant to a broad range of power and data transfer applications.
Application of Statistical Cluster Analysis in Design Process – the Case of Fabric Design
Authors: Lin Iou-ren , Chen Chien-Hsiung
Published: June 2024

There are many bed linen manufacturers in Taiwan. They want to success in the domestic bed linen collection market. However, the fabric designer always has the ideas with color and pattern by self-experience. For the fabric designer and manufacturer, they need a reference frame to communication. For this reason, we attempt to apply the statistical techniques for them to get more design understandings in the market of bed linen collections. We use the cluster analysis in a potential consumer survey to evaluate whether is the consumer’s lovely color and pattern with emotional preference.For the main bed linen buyers are the female in Taiwan market. The research focuses on 20-40 years old female interviewees. It collects more than 600 respondents’ data from three major cities in the northern, central and southern regions of Taiwan. The cities are Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. The interviewees choose the top 1 to 3 that they like the most and willing to buy from provided 16 photos of bed linen collection in different styles. Then, the result of the statistical cluster analysis shows that 16 collections can be grouped as 7 clusters with different favors. From the emotional preferences of color and pattern, we find out which collections are more suitable for different regions, and which ones are less popular among consumers. This can provide effectively the fabric designer with the direction of domestic consumer demand. And, also let manufacturer predetermine what combinations are suitable for some regional sales.In the past, fabric designers often used self-experience to design product. Now, we can try to conduct such surveys first, and then use more objective statistical results to help designers understand the bed linen design needs of consumers in different regions. At the same time, manufacturers can also better understand what types of products are suitable for sale in which region, also reduce inventory and slow-selling problems. Final, we hope to verify this statistical evaluation technique based on more manufacturers' sales data in the future, and whether it can improve their profits in practice.
Human Centered Research Agenda for Intelligent Technology in Process Control
Authors: Aho Jami , Karvonen Antero , Koskinen Hanna , Luimula Mika , Myllylä Mari , Tammentie Bastian
Published: June 2024

Intelligent technologies (e.g., AI-based applications and solutions) are entering many domains of modern human activity, including industry operations. However, integrating intelligent technology into human work requires conscious and well-informed design processes. One important question that arises is what kind of areas and issues should be considered in research and development to integrate intelligent technologies into human work such that it increases worker productivity and well-being, promotes meaningful work and seamless and sustainable human-technology cooperation, as advocated in Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0. Within our Business Finland funded research project COACH we have developed an initial roadmap for new intelligent process control work, which helps to find relevant research focus areas and to take better guided steps towards realizing the vision of Industry 5.0 paradigm. In the present paper, we introduce the roadmap and give several examples of how its research items could be addressed.
Feasibility evaluation method for scheduling schemes based on auxiliary elapsed time
Authors: Qin Licai , Liu Xiaojun
Published: June 2024

In flexible manufacturing workshops, workshop production scheduling belongs to a typical NP-complete problem, and its optimal solution is difficult to find, in order to simplify the construction of the model, nowadays, most of the related studies on scheduling problems usually simplify the logistic time in order to ignore the influence of logistics on workshop scheduling, in this paper, in order to verify the feasibility of this kind of scheduling plan which does not separate the logistics as a separate process in the case of joining infinite transport resources, the original scheduling plan using the created TLPU model for process splitting. A Gantt chart information storage structure is designed to facilitate the constraints of the split processes in the final generated scheduling plan with traffic resources. Then a method for differentially calculating the running time of each equipment is proposed based on the different characteristics and parameters of different equipment to complete the splitting process of a processing process with traffic resources in the original scheduling plan. After traversing all the original processing processes and performing the splitting process for them considering infinite traffic resources, the creation of the transport equipment time window is completed. Finally, a validation of the feasibility of the shop floor scheduling scheme based on the calculation of the derived transport equipment running time and transport equipment time window is proposed.
Design and development of urban space products by Large-scale robotic extrusion-based additive manufacturing technology
Authors: Santos Afonso , M. Sampaio Álvaro , Costa Artur , J. Pontes António
Published: June 2024

The production of products in additive manufacturing systems through the extrusion of material using robotic arms requires new paradigms ranging from product design, material selection, material processability, communication with the production system, production control, etc. The development of products through these technologies allows the production of solutions of considerable scale and innovation. These applications have been studied, especially for outdoor spaces, precisely because of the scale that production with robotic arms allows. Green areas within urban spaces are one of these outdoor spaces, which provide space for leisure and recreation, which leads to social improvements by gathering people. In this context, this research seeks to create products that improve social interaction within urban green spaces. To achieve this, sustainable products will be developed, through a large-scale robotic extrusion-based system, combining the versatility and design possibilities that additive manufacturing allows, with the associated sustainability of recycled plastic waste. Thus, this paper proposes a methodology for validating recycled materials and to understand the limitations that the material brings to the parametric models created and the challenges for production. For that, two sample-parts were developed. One part allowed to understand the maximum printing angle, and the other provided an understanding of the behavior of the material when the part had corners with different curvatures. Finally, an outdoor product to be placed in the urban space was developed and produced with the production parameters studied.
Additive manufacturing in the maritime industry: Impact on production processes, workers, and end-users
Authors: Piccioni Massimo , Ratti Andrea
Published: June 2024

Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies are revolutionising global production processes, offering substantial benefits to the maritime industry by eliminating the reliance on models and moulds. This shift toward a sustainable, zero-waste future presents significant opportunities and considerations for both workers and end-users.The adoption of automated 3D printing necessitates workforce retraining, with a focus on digital technology skills, reducing the reliance on manual labour. Proactive training programs are vital to equip operators for this evolving landscape. Additionally, studies are exploring occupational health-related aspects of 3D printing, assessing whether it could create a safer working environment compared to traditional manufacturing processes.AM customisation capabilities empower designers and engineers to prioritize human factors, enhancing user experience, comfort, and usability. This approach fosters innovations aligned with the preferences and needs of end-users.This paper aims to explore the impact of AM technologies on manufacturing processes and design freedom within the maritime industry, emphasizing opportunities for improved efficiency, sustainability, and adaptive design practices to meet the sector's dynamic needs.
Characteristics of muscle activity and joint dynamics during weight lifting by isotonic elbow flexion with assistive force
Authors: Muraki Satoshi , Yang Yuan , Luecha Teerapapa , Choi Jeewon , Yeap Loh Ping , Liang Yeoh Wen
Published: June 2024

[Objectives] This study focused on submaximal weightlifting (stopping at a targeted height) by elbow flexion and investigated the differences in muscle activity and joint dynamics under assisted and unassisted conditions. [Methods] Eight young adults lifted weights (equivalent to 15% of the biceps maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]) by isotonic elbow flexion with and without assistive force using our originally developed impedance-controlled assistive devices. The participants lifted weights to achieve a reference target on the screen (the angular position of the wrist) and terminated the movement at the specified target stopping position. During the task, we measured the dynamics of the elbow joint movement, as well as the co-contraction index of the biceps brachii (BB) and triceps brachii (TB) using electromyography (EMG). [Results and Discussion] The rectified EMG waveforms for the BB and TB exhibited a bimodal and unimodal waveform under the assisted and unassisted conditions, respectively. Under the assisted condition, the elbow joint angle tended to overshoot the target stopping position, suggesting that additional effort was required to accurately terminate the elbow flexion. [Conclusion] It was suggested that although humans could use an assistive force to reduce the muscle load, they have unique motor control to maintain joint movement accuracy.
Effect of variable cordless stick vacuum weights on discomfort in different body parts during floor vacuuming task
Authors: Arafat Sikder Md , Rahman Bhuiyan Minhazur , Begum Shirin , Ayodeji Princewill Fagbemi , Li Yueqing
Published: June 2024

Cordless stick vacuum cleaners designed for ease of use and maneuverability, making them a popular choice for household cleaning. Among cordless stick vacuum cleaners, two distinct styles exist: one with the center of mass (CoM) near the user's hand and another with the CoM near the brush. The popularity of upright vacuum cleaners for home use is declining in favor of lightweight cordless stick vacuum cleaners, particularly those with a center of mass (CoM) positioned close to the handle. Despite their popularity, user discomfort has emerged as a concern, particularly during extended cleaning sessions. This discomfort stems from the weight distribution and design of the vacuum cleaners, potentially leading to pain and fatigue in various body parts. This study investigates user discomfort in various body parts through qualitative questionnaires, focusing on the impact of weight and vacuuming duration of cordless stick cleaners. Twelve participants engaged in vacuuming tasks using three cordless stick vacuum cleaners weighing 5.2 lbs, 7.4 lbs, and 9.6 lbs respectively, on carpeted floors within an actual classroom setting. These sessions occurred at two durations: 5 minutes and 10 minutes. Discomfort levels were assessed across various body parts (shoulder, upper arm, lower back, forearm, wrist etc.) using a scale ranging from 0 (no discomfort) to 9 (unbearable discomfort).To analyze the data ANOVA was conducted, the results of this study suggest that both vacuum weight and usage time significantly impact discomfort levels in all body parts. As the weight and time increase, participants’ discomfort significantly increases. However, the strength of these effects varies depending on the body part. For example, wrist discomfort is extremely sensitive to both weight and time, while forearm discomfort is less impacted by both factors. Additionally, the interaction between weight and time is significant in some body parts, such as the shoulder, upper arm, lower back indicating that the effect of weight varies in different duration of the task.Hence, the data underscores that during prolonged vacuuming sessions, the wrist endure the most notable discomfort in contrast to areas such as the lower back, shoulder, forearm, or upper arm. This highlights the necessity for substantial ergonomic enhancements invacuum cleaner design targeted specifically at alleviating discomfort in these critical areas.
Hidden Dangers on the Flight Deck: A Stakeholder Analysis of the Issues Surrounding Commercial Pilot Mental Health
Authors: Miller Mark , Coleman-assad Katie
Published: June 2024

On October 22, 2023, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who was traveling as a guest in a flight deck jump seat of Alaska Airlines Flight AS2059 from Seattle Paine Field Airport to San Francisco International Airport grabbed the engine shutoff handles mid-flight. The guest pilot was wrestled away by the pilots in command of the aircraft and the aircraft diverted to Portland International Airport. The recent incident relating to airline pilot mental health highlighted the US airline industry’s reluctance to address a serious potential aviation safety problem of pilot mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic mental health issues throughout society were brought into the public spotlight. Olympic athletes made their point in the 2020 Olympics of being vulnerable to mental health issues, meanwhile little was mentioned about the stressful environment of airline pilots’ susceptibility to mental health issues. This research was aimed at US commercial pilot mental health from the perspectives of air safety concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) policy and process, the potential failure of pilots voluntarily reporting, the inadequate support for pilots and pilot job security. The research utilized other research related to pilot mental health, aviation accident and incident reports related to pilot mental health and lastly a stakeholder analysis of the primary stakeholder (pilots) in relation to mental health and the role of other major stakeholders. A complex problem emerged on pilot mental health. The stakeholder analysis showed that a solution to the commercial pilot mental health problem would require strong collaboration of the major stakeholders in an environment of transparency and willingness to sincerely address the issues to resolve the problem.
Making Sense of Culture in the Cockpit: The Crash of Japan Airlines Flight 1045
Authors: Cookson Simon
Published: June 2024

A novel methodology is used to analyze flight crew communication during the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 1045 in Anchorage, Alaska. Conversation analysis (CA) techniques are used to identify significant recurring phenomena and critical interactions that provide insight into the process of communication breakdown in the cockpit. Several communication barriers between the American captain and Japanese first officer (FO) and flight engineer (FE) contributed to the accident. One factor was the Japanese FO talking around flight safety concerns without stating them directly, which is explained in terms of high- and low-context interactions. Intra-cockpit communication may also have been influenced by topic avoidance and a desire to minimize face loss. The lessons from this accident are relevant to current airline operations as “culture accidents” still periodically occur.
The Challenges of the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Transportation.
Authors: Ziakkas Dimitrios , Henneberry Debra
Published: June 2024

The implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into transportation systems signifies a fundamental change that holds the potential to improve overall sustainability, safety, and efficiency. However, this transformation is not without its challenges, particularly concerning human factors and ergonomics. Firstly, the ergonomic integration of AI systems in transportation requires careful consideration of human-AI interaction. Unlike traditional systems, AI-driven technologies often involve complex algorithms that are not inherently intuitive to human operators. This complexity can lead to a disconnect between how the system operates and how users understand it. For instance, in autonomous vehicles, drivers may be required to take control in certain scenarios. The ergonomic challenge here lies in ensuring that the transition between AI and human control is seamless and that the user is adequately informed and prepared to take over. Another significant challenge is addressing the variability in human behavior and expectations. AI systems, designed based on standard models of behavior, may not adequately account for the wide range of human responses and interactions. This gap can lead to scenarios where AI systems behave in unexpected or counterintuitive ways to human users, potentially causing confusion and reducing the overall efficiency and safety of the transportation system. CAE Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) research case study focuses on the implementation and certification of AAM in the FAA/EASA environment.The reliability and trustworthiness of AI systems also pose a major ergonomic challenge. To fully integrate AI into transportation, users must trust these systems. This trust depends on the transparency and explainability of AI decision-making processes. Nevertheless, numerous AI algorithms, especially those rooted in deep learning, are frequently regarded as 'black boxes' owing to their intricacy and absence of interpretability. Developing AI systems that are both advanced and transparent is a significant hurdle that needs to be addressed.Data privacy and security are also paramount concerns. AI systems in transportation rely heavily on data, including personal and sensitive information. Ensuring the privacy and security of this data while utilizing it for AI processes is a complex challenge, requiring robust encryption methods and strict data handling policies. Moreover, the ergonomic aspect involves designing systems that not only protect data but also respect user privacy preferences and norms.The implementation of AI in transportation is a multifaceted challenge, requiring a holistic approach that considers human factors and ergonomics. As we move towards more AI-integrated transportation systems, it is essential to address these challenges through interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and a user-centered design approach.
Patterning Risk: An Innovative Task Design Method for Simulating Incidents in Transportation Studies
Authors: Lyu Mengtao , Li Fan
Published: June 2024

The development of alternative tasks is pivotal in transportation safety research, particularly when resource constraints hinder the execution of incident simulations. Traditionally, many studies have relied on expert knowledge and subjective judgments to design such alternative tasks. However, a systematic methodology is lacking. This work proposes a novel task design approach by constructing a Task Knowledge Graph (TKG). The proposed approach leverages the Knowledge Graph to delineate the hierarchical and logical relationships of necessary operations of human operators in the incident scenarios. Such TKG patterns the risks to provide a theoretical foundation for designing alternative tasks. A case study is provided in this work to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. In the case study, a modified Stroop game was designed to pattern the task demand of pilots during engine shutdown incidents. The results showed that the Stroop game could evoke similar eye movements in the participants as the engine shutdown scenario replicated on a simulator. Overall, the proposed approach offers a feasible tool for designing alternative tasks to obtain human behaviour data when direct replication of research scenarios is impractical.
Analysis of the influence of HUD brightness adjustment on pilots' information perception
Authors: sun Guoqiang
Published: June 2024

In order to study the visual effects of the external visual environment and HUD character brightness design on HUD information recognition, a 2×2 within-subject experimental design with two factors of character display brightness and environmental illumination was used, and the subjects were required to operate under experimental conditions. Complete the complete flight simulation process. The experiment collected subjects' performance data, SART scale data and physiological data. The experimental results show that the brightness factor is significant for the accuracy rate, and the environmental illumination factor is significant for the reaction time; among them, the environmental illumination factor is significant for the heart rate variability index SDNN, CV, and is borderline significant for the breathing index.
Considerations of Interior Design in Fully Automated Vehicles: Influence of Front Window Scenery on Ride Comfort and Motion Sickness
Authors: Tatsuno Junya , Hisada Iori , Ishimatsu Kazuma , Nakamura Hitomi , Maeda Setsuo
Published: June 2024

This study aims to derive findings applicable to the interior design of fully automated vehicles, focusing on the impact of external scenery information on ride comfort and motion sickness. Experiments were conducted using a driving simulator with three monitors, simulating automatic driving scenarios in two different environments: a suburban road with no buildings (Experiment 1) and an urban setting with buildings along the road (Experiment 2). Participants experienced 60 minutes of travel with moderate whole-body vibration exposure, and reported their perceived discomfort and motion sickness. Two foreground scenery conditions were tested: a three-display condition with all displays turned on, and a two-display condition where participants could not receive visual front window scenery from the center display, which was turned off. The results showed that motion sickness was more induced in the two-display condition in an urban environment. Discomfort results between both conditions were contradictory. Blocking visual scenery from front window during traveling in suburban areas may enhance ride comfort. Meanwhile, in an urban environment surrounded by structures, blocking the visual front window scenery may not only induce motion sickness but also decrease ride comfort.