bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring user preferences regarding facial interface expressions of service robots across multiple age groups: A case study of the Kebbi Air robot
Authors: Yang Yang Chao , Wu Chun-ting , Chi Fu Yi , Lai Hsu-hsu
Published: June 2024

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and remote communication technology has enabled development and application of AI robots beyond industrial use, with such robots being applied for household use and services. In such applications, the facial expressions of robots are crucial to information exchange between humans and machines. The ability of robots to subtly change their facial expressions and respond sensitively to the emotional states of humans is a key focus in the development of service robots.This study analyses the Kebbi Air robot, exploring the preferences of users across various age groups (young people, middle-aged adults, and older adults) regarding the facial interface design styles applied to service robots (flat vs. realistic design). It also analyses how different design styles affect user recognition of robot facial expressions portraying emotions. This study developed a set of recommendations pertaining to facial expression styles for the Kebbi Air robot. The study comprised 2 phases. In the first phase, 21 older participants from Zuozhen, Tainan, Taiwan, were recruited to participate in a questionnaire survey and interview to enable assessment of their preferences regarding facial interface designs for robots. In the second phase, the survey plus interview format was repeated to compare the age-stratified data collected from four groups of participants stratified by age (i.e., older adults, middle-aged adults, prime adults and young people).The results indicate that regardless of design style, the younger participants were generally more accurate in recognising robot facial expressions than the other participants were. Furthermore, they demonstrated a higher level of emotional recognition for expressions portrayed in the realistic style, and they expressed a greater willingness to interact with robot interfaces. On the basis of this study’s findings, qualitative suggestions were proposed for various age groups; these suggestions encompassed style recommendations for robot facial expressions (e.g., eyebrows, eyes, mouth, and auxiliary symbols). Through its empirical exploration, this study provides valuable insights and recommendations for designing robot-friendly interfaces for multiple age groups.
Leveraging Human Data for Avatar Action Recognition in Virtual Environments
Authors: Eltanbouly Somaya , Halabi Osama
Published: June 2024

In the dynamic metaverse landscape, avatars serve as digital embodiments, crucial in representing user interactions. This research investigates the dynamics of avatars within the metaverse, with a specific focus on their movements and actions in virtual environments. Real-world pose estimation techniques, notably OpenPose, are applied to establish a correlation between human and avatar movements. A Multilayer Perceptron model, trained on the NTU RGB+D dataset, proves highly effective in accurately classifying avatar actions, achieving an impressive accuracy rate exceeding 95%. The study explores the impact of different avatar types on action recognition, revealing notable performance differences. Notably, a half-body avatar with only the upper part demonstrates comparable performance to a full-body avatar, while the absence of head joints adversely affects accuracy. Additionally, the research assesses the generalizability of human data for avatar recognition, highlighting its superiority over models trained exclusively on avatar data. The findings underscore the adaptability of these techniques to diverse avatar configurations and offer promising advancements in action recognition within the ever-evolving metaverse. This research contributes valuable insights into effectively integrating real-world action recognition techniques to understand avatar behaviors in virtual spaces comprehensively.
Revitalizing Urban Village Environments through Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Nantou Ancient Town
Authors: Pan Yangyang , Yu Yuanli , Yi Jian Izzy , Liu Yu , Tiantian Lo Sky , Cheng Shuyi
Published: June 2024

The rapid advancement of the digital age has significantly expanded the potential applications of digital twin technology. However, urban villages, characterized by low socio-economic status and limited access to digital twin technology. Additionally, Prior studies often overlook structural factors like inadequate planning and infrastructure, hindering efforts to improve urban village living conditions.Consequently, this study aims to investigate the implementation of digital twin technology to enhance the environment of urban villages and address issues such as outdated infrastructure and inadequate living conditions.The purpose of this study is to create a virtual model of an urban village (Nantou Ancient Town) using digital twin technology (Unreal Engine). The model will use 3D geospatial and data visualization to visually present the living conditions of urban villages, including buildings, population density, water supply and green space. The aim is to provide practical insights for enhancing the overall environment and improving living conditions in urban villages through targeted infrastructure improvements and environmental upgrades.Therefore, this research is of significant importance in improving the environment of urban villages and providing more opportunities for accessing digital technology. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of utilizing digital technology to enhance living conditions in urban villages, based on the premise of promoting balanced development of basic infrastructure in urban villages, and it also strengthens community inclusivity and sustainable development in urban villages.In conclusion, this research has promising prospects in advancing the field of digital improvement of living environments by exploring the widespread application of digital twin technology like the Unreal Engine, especially in areas where digital technologies are lacking, and addressing existing research gaps. By uncovering the potential of these technologies, this study has the possibility to enhance the well-being of urban village residents through the utilization of technology, drive innovation, and shape the future of digital living environments.
Combining AR and ball-shape input interface to control remotely a robot-arm
Authors: Abe Harutaka , Blanco Bataller Víctor , Terävä Henrik , Luimula Mika , Lopez Guillaume
Published: June 2024

Robot arm technology has revolutionized the manufacturing industry, offering worker safety and productivity benefits. However, issues like unintended actions and difficulty in intuitive operation remain. This study proposes a remote-control system for robot arms that combines augmented reality (AR) and a multi-sensor interactive smart ball (PALL0) from Ai2Ai Corp. The AR application allows operators to synchronize the control of a virtual and physical robot arm using their hand and the PALL0 held in the hand.The AR application operates the robot arm by matching the position of its head with the operator's hand and the posture of the head with the acceleration and angular velocity of the PALL0. A button on the PALL0 controls the opening and closing of the gripper, while the physical robot arm also operates. The start and end of the operation, as well as the return of the robot arm to its initial posture, can be performed using buttons in the AR application.Future research should compare the method of controlling robot arms using PALL0 with other methods, such as those that use the movement of the body's upper or lower extremities, and invest resources in building the robot's digital twin to improve system portability.
Positive Interactions with Intelligent Technology through Psychological Ownership: A Human-in-the-Loop Approach
Authors: Dalangin Bianca , Gordon Stephen , Roy Heather
Published: June 2024

While human-agent interaction is intended to ease daily and critical burdens on human operators, issues such as trust, lack of transparency, and system performance often negatively impacts the process to yield sub-optimal outcomes. Here, we propose a human-in-the-loop approach, in which users train an AI, as a potential avenue to remedy this complex problem. We use Tetris® as a use case and require participants to provide trial-by-trial inputs to train the AI model. Improvements in trust correlated with increased satisfaction levels during the training process but not final AI performance. Users’ preference for their trained AI, compared to a pre-trained AI, demonstrated increased improvements in trust. Personality and AI literacy did not affect these relationships. Results suggest positive perceptions towards AI systems can be elicited through psychological ownership pathways. We discuss how users’ involvement in constructing the system may influence ownership giving rise to positive human-agent interactions.
Dyadic Interactions and Interpersonal Perception: An Exploration of Behavioral Cues for Technology-Assisted Mediation
Authors: Javed Hifza , Moorman Nina , Weisswange Thomas , Jamali Nawid
Published: June 2024

Mediators aim to shape group dynamics in various ways, such as improving trust and cohesion, balancing participation, and promoting constructive conflict resolution. Technological systems used to mediate human-human interactions must be able to continuously assess the state of the interaction and generate appropriate actions. In this paper, behavioral cues that indicate interpersonal perception in dyadic social interactions are investigated. These cues may be used by such systems to produce effective mediation strategies. These are used to evaluate dyadic interactions, in which each interactant rates how agreeable or disagreeable the other interactant comes across. A multi-perspective approach is taken to evaluate interpersonal affect in dyadic interactions, employing computational models to investigate behavioral cues that reflect interpersonal perception in both the interactant providing the rating and the interactant being rated. The findings offer nuanced insights into interpersonal dynamics, which will be beneficial for future work on technology-assisted social mediation.
Evaluating explainability of time series models: A user-centered approach in industrial settings
Authors: Brorsson Emmanuel , Zhang Yanqing , Zohrevandi Elmira , Bhattacharya Nilavra , Theodorou Andreas , Darnell Andreas , Tammia Rasmus , Van Driel Willem
Published: June 2024

This paper investigates methods for evaluating the explainability of transformer models analyzing time series data, a largely unexplored area in the field of explainable AI (XAI). The study focuses on application-grounded methods involving human subject experiments with domain experts. On-site evaluations were conducted in two industrial settings involving 14 control room operators. The evaluation protocols consisted of methods to measure the metrics of subjective comparison, forward simulatability, and subjective satisfaction. The results indicate that the chosen combination of evaluation metrics provide a multi-faceted assessment on quality and relevance of explanations from an operator’s perspective in industrial settings, in turn contributing to the field of user-centered XAI evaluation, particularly in the context of time series data and offers insights for future work in this area.
Effects of Dual Tasking with Visual Display Terminal Work and Advertisement Presentation on Workers' Interest and Emotions
Authors: Onimaru Kanta , Osawa Yusuke , Watanuki Keiichi , Kaede Kazunori
Published: June 2024

In recent years, the use of visual-display terminals (VDTs) such as PCs and cell phones, for work, is proliferating. To perform efficiently, workers must be able to concentrate on and become immersed in their work. Most VDT work is performed while connected to the Internet and unintended distractions such as Internet advertisements (that appear on the display during work) can interfere with concentration. Distracting advertisements are generally considered disturbing and socially problematic. Previous studies have reported that visually disturbing stimuli presented in the peripheral-visual field reduce the ability to concentrate on tasks that are performed using central vision and have suggested that Internet advertisements may adversely affect work efficiency and accuracy. In-feed advertisements that blend into the timeline of articles and SNS, and recommendation-widget advertisements at the bottom of certain articles have been attracting attention recently, and their market is rapidly expanding. These native advertisements deliver value in line with the interests of workers in a natural flow. They promote consumption and fulfil their fundamental role as advertisements. In this context, we plan to investigate appropriate advertisement-presentation conditions, for inclusion in the worker's field of vision, in which the advertisements are recognizable, and worker concentration is unaffected. We aim to consider advertisements that benefit both advertisers and workers. Our objective is to investigate the nature of the interest and emotions generated by the advertisements in the workers. A cognitive memory task will be created, and during its execution the system will place simulated advertisements on the monitor for effect analysis. Task results, subjective evaluation, and eye-gaze information will be used to investigate advertising-element effects (such as color and movement) on worker interest and emotion and the corresponding impact on work concentration. Therefore, this study will provide an in-depth understanding of advertisement impact on worker interests and emotions while examining advertisement presentation conditions that are beneficial to both advertisers and workers. The study will explore the benefits that Internet-advertising optimization can bring to individuals and will contribute to the development of more effective and acceptable advertising strategies.
AI-Driven Music Generation and Emotion Conversion
Authors: Gao Xinwei , Kai Chen Deng , Gou Zhiming , Ma Lin , Liu Ruisi , Zhao Di , Ham Jaap
Published: June 2024

With the integration of Generalized Adversarial Networks (GANs), Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) overcomes algorithmic limitations, significantly enhancing generation quality and diversifying generation types. This advancement profoundly impacts AI music generation, fostering emotionally warm compositions capable of forging empathetic connections with audiences. AI interprets input prompts to generate music imbued with semantic emotions. This study aims to assess the accuracy of AI music generation in conveying semantic emotions, and its impact on empathetic audience connections. ninety audios were generated across three music-generated software (Google musicLM, Stable Audio, and MusicGen), using four emotion prompts (Energetic, Distressed, Sluggish, and Peaceful) based on the Dimensional Emotion Model, and two generated forms (text-to-music and music-to-music). Emotional judgment experiment involving 26 subjects were conducted, comparing their valance and arousal judgments of the audios. Through Multi-way variance analysis, the AI-music-generated software had a significant main effect on the accuracy of conversion. Due to the diversity of generated forms of MusicGen, it has a lower accuracy of conversion compared to Google musicLM and Stable Audio. There was a significant interaction effect of generated forms and emotion prompts on the accuracy of conversion. The differences in accuracy between emotion prompts in the form of text-to-music were statistically significant, except for the differences between the accuracy of Distressed and Peaceful. Compared with the generated form of text-to-music, the form of music-to-music showed statistically significant emotional conversion ability for low arousal. The diversity of AI software input elements (i.e., text or music) may affect the effectiveness of emotional expression in music generation. The ability of different software to convey different emotions according to different prompts was unsteady in the form of text-to-music. This study advance computer music co-composition and improvisation abilities, facilitating AI music applications in fields such as medical rehabilitation, education, psychological healing, and virtual reality experiences.
Brand associations with traffic patterns in store layout planning
Authors: Wang Jiacheng , W Y Wang Regina
Published: June 2024

In a brand store, different traffic patterns emerge as the layout plan guides customers toward what they want to buy. This study aims to clarify the types and definitions of traffic patterns, to understand the preferences of spatial designers for traffic patterns, and to explore the relationship between traffic patterns and brand associations. Focus group interviews with experts with spatial design backgrounds were conducted to obtain textual information, and the data analysis method of grounded theory was applied for content analysis. The study found that: (1) there are three types of store traffic patterns: open, sequential, and path-based traffic design; (2) space designers prefer to consider three categories in the design of store traffic patterns: layout flow, feedback and decorative atmosphere; and (3) To create a brand association, product characteristics, price information, and store lighting are regarded as the three most important properties.
IoT-based Vertical Farming Systems
Authors: Anjum Sheikh Javed , Mumtaz Asia , Farzeen Saba
Published: June 2024

Vertical farming, a revolutionary approach to agricultural production, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to address various challenges facing traditional farming practices. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of IoT-based Vertical Farming systems, exploring their hardware design, implementation strategies, testing methodologies, and prospects.The hardware design of IoT-based Vertical Farming systems encompasses a range of components essential for creating optimal growing environments. Soil moisture sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, light-dependent resistors (LDRs), and ESP32 Wi-Fi modules are among the key elements utilized in these systems. Soil moisture sensors enable precise irrigation management by measuring water content in the soil, while temperature and humidity sensors provide insights into environmental conditions. LDRs detect light levels, facilitating optimal lighting control, and ESP32 Wi-Fi modules enable wireless communication for remote monitoring and control.Implementation strategies for IoT-based Vertical Farming systems involve hardware setup, software development, and integration with existing infrastructure. Sensor nodes distributed throughout the farming environment are connected to a central control unit via Wi-Fi or other communication protocols. Software interfaces and applications are developed to provide users with real-time monitoring and control capabilities, allowing them to adjust environmental parameters as needed.Effective testing methodologies are crucial for ensuring the reliability, functionality, and security of IoT-based Vertical Farming systems. Black box testing focuses on external functionality, such as user interface interactions and sensor responses, while white box testing examines internal system components and code logic. Grey box testing combines elements of both black and white box testing, with a focus on limited knowledge and system behavior.The future prospects of IoT-based Vertical Farming are promising, with opportunities for innovation and advancement. Research and development efforts are needed to enhance system scalability, energy efficiency, and data analytics capabilities. Integration with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms can enable predictive analytics and autonomous decision-making, optimizing crop production and resource utilization. Expanding the application of vertical farming to diverse environments, including urban areas and arid regions, can address global food security challenges and promote sustainable agriculture practices.In conclusion, IoT-based Vertical Farming represents a transformative approach to agriculture, offering scalable and sustainable solutions to meet the growing demand for food production. Continued research, development, and adoption of these systems have the potential to revolutionize the agricultural industry and contribute to a more food-secure and environmentally sustainable future.
A pilot fMRI study for understanding the facial perception of 3D human faces
Authors: Wang Yuqian , Wei Yue , Luximon Yan
Published: June 2024

The human face is one of the most powerful communication tools, especially when people meet for the first time. Facial perception can be influenced by many factors. Although fMRI has been used to study the neural mechanisms when people look at pictures, how people perceive facial stimuli under different movements has not been studied in detail. In this pilot study, adult participants were scanned with a block design of static faces, dynamic faces, and corresponding scrambled face stimuli with a one-back task for attention. The activation of the right fusiform face area (FFA) validates the setting of this facial perception experiment. The dynamic nature of facial movements engages primary visual cortex V1 and other visual areas, resulting in heightened neural activity compared to static faces, as they analyze and extract information from the changing visual inputs. This result provides new insights for further research work in the neural activities related to dynamic face processing.
Engineering Project Management Skill Development in Research vs. Corporate Realms
Authors: Esqueda Merino Donovan , Rafael Morano Okuno Hector , A Murano Labastida Daishi , Enrique Chong Quero Jesus , A González Sarmiento Gloria , Vargas Olivares Arturo , Desaix López Rojas Arturo , Alberto Cruz Villar Carlos , Loaiza Martínez Joaquin , R San Vicente Cisneros Armando , Rodriguez Flores Daniel
Published: June 2024

In this study, we look into into two educational approaches implemented in a capstone course designed for Senior Mechatronic Engineers. Despite sharing a common syllabus and learning objectives, the course was delivered by two different groups of professors: the first focused on a research-oriented approach working together with a research laboratory, while the second emphasized an enterprise-driven perspective in partnership with various internal and external stakeholders.Mechatronic Engineers engaged in innovative technology-based projects require a fusion of technical expertise, soft skills, strategic thinking, and collaborative proficiency. Recognizing that vicarious experiences alone are insufficient for students to master such projects, our capstone course incorporated challenges with Training Partners to bridge the gap and simulate real-world demands.As part of the course requirements, students were tasked with developing a team project that culminated in a physical prototype and a poster presentation at an Engineering fair. Subsequently, students underwent a mock interview assessment, evaluated by their professors, during which they also assessed their self-efficacy across different skills. Our observations revealed that both evaluators and students shared similar perceptions regarding certain sub-competencies, including effective communication, impact on business/society/environment, and ethical commitment. However, some differences emerged in sub-competencies related to teamwork, problem formulation and resolution, methodological approach to design, and innovation capability.It is noteworthy that students exhibited a higher self-perceived leadership capability, a very important skill in non-hierarchical leadership roles like project management, than external assessments indicated. This observation is intriguing, considering that not all team members could assume leadership roles simultaneously, and the course did not explicitly require students to define leadership roles. The results highlight that while the difference between professor expectations and student self-assessment is relatively modest, the course emphasis may influence the development of specific skills.The study scrutinized two educational paradigms: one research-oriented and the other enterprise-driven. Findings indicate that enterprise-oriented students expressed greater proficiency in understanding the course objectives and planning skills, whereas research-oriented students demonstrated heightened confidence in project execution and interaction with stakeholders.
Beyond Boundaries: Art-Tech Collaboration Driving Future-Oriented Innovation
Authors: Efremenko Tatiana , Canina Marita , Monestier Eva , Ida Fiore Maria
Published: June 2024

The current innovation landscape, shaped by digital transformation and increasing complexity, force businesses and creators not only to enhance their technological and innovation capacity, but also address sustainable and societal challenges. To do so, it becomes paramount to rethink creative approaches for innovation to move beyond traditional human-centred frameworks that often lack a future-oriented and inclusive visions (Canina et. al, 2021) in favour of a more holistic conception of innovation for planetary well-being. Art and Technology collaboration emerges as a promising avenue, enabling artists and companies to design sustainable solutions and contribute to societal and environmental impact. While such collaboration offers significant opportunities, challenges hinder its potential. A key obstacle is the absence of a strategic, vision-led process, often implemented ad hoc. Futures Thinking is proposed as an approach to provide artists and companies a common ground for collaboration. This article explores the potential of Art-Tech collaboration for innovation, grounded in the Horizon Europe MUSAE project. The project aims to overcome collaboration challenges by defining a novel collaborative model, exploring the role of futures thinking in facilitating cross-disciplinary dialogue between art and technology. This approach enhances the Art-Tech collaboration process, driving innovation in a future-oriented and responsible manner. The conclusion underscores the potential of this cross-disciplinary approach to foster sustainable innovation through equal collaboration, emotional exploration, strategic tools, and anticipation of technological advancements' impact on people and the planet.
Fostering Corporate Innovation Activities through Artist-Created Boundary Media
Authors: Kamiya Taishi
Published: June 2024

Innovation activities in companies are essential for maintaining competitiveness in the market. In the early stages of innovation, which is known as “Fuzzy Front End”, diversity is crucial aspect. However, managing this diversity can be challenging due to conflicts caused by factors related to differences in positions or expertise. This paper introduce three types of Boundary Media (BM), which are panels explaining existing ideas, idea sketch sheets for activity participants to describe their ideas, and artist-created artworks, they were introduced into the early stages of two corporate innovation activities and researchers verified their effects. The artist conducted interviews to understand activity background, challenges, and vision of each innovation activity and created unique artworks that embodied the themes of the innovation activities based on the inspiration gained from the interviews. These works were introduced in idea creation workshops conducted for each innovation activity, and their effects were examined. The results showed that the artworks served as powerful sources of inspiration, eliciting participants' tacit knowledge, providing new perspectives, and facilitating intrinsic motivation for innovation. The workshops generated an average of more than two ideas per participant, yielding ideas and perspectives different from those of conventional models, which will be considered afterward. Notably, one of the two companies, recognized that the artist's work expressed the essence of their innovation activity and resonating with it, subsequently artists commissioned to create a logo for the innovation activity. This indicates that the artist-created works influenced the long-term direction of the innovation activity. The results of this study suggest that artists creating unique works that embody innovation activities and intervening in innovation activities as Boundary Media can stimulate the tacit knowledge of activity members, appeal to their creativity, and encourage them to recapture the essential concepts of the innovation activities, potentially fostering innovation activities. Future research will clarify the specific qualities and unique characteristics of artworks and the mechanisms of intervention effects on innovation activities to encourage practitioners foster innovation activities.
Using Cardiac and Electrodermal Activity as Cognitive Markers for Interruptions and Distraction in a Surveillance Simulation
Authors: Marois Alexandre , Mouratille Damien , Pratviel Yvan , Chamberland Cindy , Tremblay Sébastien
Published: June 2024

Security surveillance is frequently used to increase public safety. Characteristics of the surveillance rooms, however, pose many cognitive challenges pertaining to distraction and interruptions, which may affect surveillance performance. Affective computing could represent a potential solution. It involves the recognition and the interpretation of human states using, for instance, different psychophysiological measures. As a first step toward this goal, the present study aimed at assessing whether cardiac and electrodermal activity, could be used as potential markers of interruptions and distraction during a surveillance simulation. A total of 126 participants went through a simulation involving four 8-min scenarios using a high-fidelity urban security surveillance microworld. Task interruption in the form of a realistic secondary task to perform and distraction in the form of background noise representative of a busy operational centre were also implemented into the simulation. Different features of the electrocardiographic (ECG) signal varied with the presence of distraction, but also as a function of time on task. Electrodermal (EDA) features mainly varied as a function of time. These results suggest that distraction and time on task specifically impacted cognitive functioning, potentially increasing sympathetic activity through cognitive workload, and that EDA and ECG measures may represent relevant markers to use from an affective computing perspective to particularly pinpoint periods of distraction and hypovigilance. Implications for the development of user-adaptive systems are discussed.
Rapid detection of near-infrared spectral response of neural activity in prefrontal cortex
Authors: Wang Xiaodan , Qi Tianrui , Zheng Yiyuan , Fu Shan , Lu Yanyu
Published: June 2024

Due to its non-invasive neuroimaging properties and wide applicability in the field of aviation, fNIRS is chosen as the main tool for studying human factors in aviation. Currently, fNIRS-based brain-computer interface (BCI) and neurofeedback learning systems have a detection time of 4-6 seconds, which does not meet the needs of rapid decision-making by pilots in emergency situations. To shorten the detection time, we look for features to respond faster to subjects' stimuli and improve the feasibility of fNIRS for real-time application in aviation human factors. In this paper, two features of the NIR signal are extracted: the degree of variability feature and the oxygen exchange feature. By calculating the standard deviation, the degree of variability feature is compared between before and after stimulation, and the larger standard deviation indicates the more obvious activation effect of the stimulation on the brain prefrontal. In addition, by assessing the oxygenation between oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin in each channel, the activation response between different brain regions can be recognized, thus reflecting the occurrence of the stimulus more accurately.that the results shown that the standard deviation of the first-order derivatives of the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration of some of the channels increased compared with the resting state 1.5 s after the stimulus onset, suggesting that the difference between before and after stimulation brain frontal increased. Analysis of the degree of oxygen exchange of channel oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin before and after stimulation revealed that in 85% of the trials, the degree of oxygen exchange of certain channels changed significantly between 1 and 2 s after stimulation. Our study suggests that subjects' responses to stimulation and brain prefrontal activity could be detected on the basis of changes in the standard deviation of the first-order derivative of oxyhemoglobin and changes in the degree of oxygen exchange of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin in certain channels within 1 to 2 seconds after stimulation. This finding may enhance the feasibility of NIR imaging in future real-time applications of human factors.
A potential rapid detection of cognitive status in the brain: an fNIRS study
Authors: Qi Tianrui , Wang Xiaodan , Zheng Yiyuan , Fu Shan , Lu Yanyu
Published: June 2024

In the realm of human factors, objective assessment of cognitive states is crucial for the safe completion of tasks. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) can be employed to recognize the cognitive activities and evaluate the mental workload associated with cognitive-executive processes. This study proposes a method for facilitating the faster detection of changes in cognitive states based on the correlation coefficients of adjacent channels, which enables the extraction of local connectivity (LC) features from fNIRS data. The results indicate that the extracted new features can reflect changes in the activation patterns of specific brain regions during the early stages (0~2.5s) of the task. It is suggested that these features could be used to identify the brain's task states.
Comparison of Alpha Waves and SSVEP Based on Ear-EEG Using Conductive Paste and Gel Sheet
Authors: Kondo Sodai , Tanaka Hisaya
Published: June 2024

The ear-electroencephalogram (ear-EEG) method is used to measure brain activity from regions around ear. It is becoming a popular EEG measurement method due to its characteristics such as wearability, simplicity, and long term measurability. In our previous study, we developed and evaluated a brain-computer interface (BCI) by means of steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) measured via ear-EEG. Some ear-EEG-based SSVEP-BCIs have demonstrated practical performance in assisting people with disabilities in various ways. However, the EEG measurement electrodes used in these devices establish contact with skin through conductive paste that stains subject’s hair and skin. This impairs the simplicity of measurement, impacting the advantages of using ear-EEG. Hence, in this study, we measured and evaluated SSVEP and alpha waves by using electrodes coated with conductive gel sheets. A total of 20 channels of electrodes were installed around the subject’s left and right ears, of which EEG components of 10 channels each were made of conductive paste and gel sheet. While the SSVEP and alpha waves were detected by using both conductive paste and gel sheet as the electrode-skin interface, the electrodes attached to the skin with conductive paste showed better detection performance. This indicates that an ear-EEG-based BCI system can be constructed by using conductive gel sheets instead of conductive paste as the electrode-skin interface. In future studies, we aim to improve the signal detection performance of electrodes by using conductive gel sheets as the electrode-skin interface, subsequently developing SSVEP-BCI systems that are implemented for the progress of society.
How far has Japanese accessibility improved with Tokyo 2020 Olympics/Paralympics?
Authors: Kose Satoshi
Published: June 2024

The IOC/IPC decision of Tokyo 2020 in September 2013 necessitated accessibility improvements in Tokyo to enable trouble-free visits for the guests including the athletes. At its preparatory stage, the author expressed concern whether the spectators can reach their seats in time. Otherwise, it would result in games missed due to various potential troubles (author, 2016). London IPC Guide, translated into Japanese, was forwarded to the organizing committee to examine problems and upgrade situations in Tokyo. The gaps between Japanese standard practice and IPC Guide were filled as much as possible, along with several policy developments to make the way toward inclusive environment. Since the games were played without spectators due to COVID-19 restrictions, feared problems never surfaced: traffic jam did not occur; no sight line problems were reported; nor shortage of accessible hotel accommodation emerged. (They definitely would have happened if the stadiums and arenas were fully occupied, even with delay of one full year, particularly for the renovated facilities of existing ones.) Although not in time for the Games, some of the problems are gradually being solved, such as increasing the number of wheelchair accessible seats for the new carriage of the Bullet Trains, introduction of accessibility guidelines for small businesses that are deemed non-mandatory, or various design of toilets for diverse users (not just wheelchair accessible ones). It still seems to be slow for businesses to understand/accept the concept of reasonable accommodation to enable the users to fully appreciate the benefits of inclusiveness. Is it because of the lack of disability discrimination legislation based on UN-CRPD? This paper will argue on the issue.
Visual design for diversity and inclusion in web design
Authors: Massacesi Raffaella
Published: June 2024

Promoting diversity and inclusion in the realm of web design necessitates a paradigmatic shift in the creation and interpretation of digital spaces. This article explores the challenges inherent in integrating principles of diversity and inclusion into web design. Value and visual strategies oriented towards inclusion can transform digital spaces from mere information channels into collaborative environments that respect diversity and promote inclusion. This contribution aims to explore the theme of diversity and inclusion in web design, with a focus on university websites. The main goal is to understand the students' perspective and their perception of the issue, and to identify possible elements of innovation through visual design and User eXperience design.
Artificial Intelligence in Medication Management for Alzheimer's Patients in China
Authors: Zhang Xinyue , Elmansy Rafiq , Liu Jingyang
Published: June 2024

This study provides a comprehensive overview of artificial intelligence (AI) in China's pharmaceutical Alzheimer's management by examining past research. The focus is on critical factors that affect medicine adherence and major AI breakthroughs and trends. A systematic analysis examines how artificial intelligence can monitor medication adherence, give reminders, and discover drug interactions. These apps may improve patient adherence, therapeutic efficacy, and quality of life. However, literature gaps emphasise the need for more research. In conclusion, future projects should address these gaps to serve patients better, improve treatment outcomes, and navigate ethical and policy issues, advancing Alzheimer's drug management.
Enhancing Accessibility in Mexican Healthcare: A Versatile Lift and Walking Aid System
Authors: Greeksaida García Hernández Danna , Catalina Siordia Ortiz Valeria , Alejandra Vargas Villalpando Alondra , Ander Iñiguez Velasco Alex , Alberto  Valenzuela Gomez Sergio
Published: June 2024

Recent studies reported that 4.9 % of the Mexican population has a disability and/or limitations in their social participation; 48% of these being related to motor limitations (INEGI, 2020). The town of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, which is located in one of the biggest states of the country with predominantly low-income communities, faces a variety of difficulties regarding access to healthcare services and rehabilitation treatments. Access to private physiotherapy amenities is limited, and public services are often overloaded and distant from specialized clinics.Currently, there are various systems in existence to assist people with motor disabilities, such as Patient Lifts for transfer, Standers, and even Parallel Bars for physical therapy. Regardless of the many benefits they may have, these devices usually lack the proper adaptability and inclusion for patients of all ages. Bars may be too high and wide for pediatric patients in the case of Parallel Bars or height level may be too short for tall patients in the case of many Patient Lifts and Standers, among other issues. On account of these considerations, the project focuses on the design and construction of a lift and walking aid system that combines all the benefits of the existing tools and systems into a single one with the purpose of providing a solution to one of the main challenges of interprofessional care that patients with mobility impairments face every day in Mexico. The proposal aims to develop a patient lift targeted towards the rehabilitation clinic located at the University of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, with the goal of addressing multiple needs with a single and versatile device. It includes various features, such as switchable parallel bars and mechanisms that allow adaptation to the patient's specific needs, ensuring a proper walking and physical rehabilitation by providing stability and support; coupled with the use of a harness for patient's transfer and standing assistance. The system’s design is established considering patients’ anthropometric criteria and spatial measurements of the workspace, which ensures the safe and effective application of the device. This initiative would benefit the clinic by equipping healthcare providers with essential tools, optimizing equipment distribution, reducing costs, and most importantly, improving the quality of life for patients. Furthermore, the device's adaptability and versatility facilitates the incorporation of different accessories, such as the infinity band for rehabilitation in the same place, force platforms to measure strength in both extremities and monitoring systems for precise progress tracking during therapy.
Evaluation of Patient Stress During Mammograms through Surface Electromyography Analysis
Authors: Gielo Perczak Krystyna , Mcnaboe Riley , Posada-quintero Hugo
Published: June 2024

Regular mammograms are recommended for women to allow for early detection of breast cancer and in turn, proper treatment and improved prognosis of patients. However, the stress and discomfort associated with the procedure deter many women from routine screening. Most previous work attempting to characterize this pain utilizes subjective, questionnaire-based methods. The variability in methodology and subjectivity of these approaches requires a more objective strategy to fully understand mammogram related stress. Bio signals such as surface electromyography (sEMG) have been increasing in popularity as a means of quantifying various physiological states including stress and pain. This research presents the use of sEMG as a means of measuring the stress and discomfort experienced by biological females during a mammogram. N=25 healthy subjects were recruited to participate in a simulated procedure consisting of two different variations in machine design (compression paddle shape). Wearable sEMG sensors were placed on 14 different muscles and a multi-metric analysis was conducted to observe muscle activation and estimated stress between a relaxed state and the compressions of the procedure. Significantly activated muscles during the painful mammogram include the deltoid, infraspinatus, teres major, and trapezius upper fibers shown by the most responsive metrics derived. The illustration of intense activation of these muscles during the procedure along with the proposed bio signal analysis methodology can aid in advancing ongoing research and clinical efforts to make mammograms more comfortable and less stressful for patients by providing a more comprehensive understanding of the stress experienced.
Investigating the Barriers of High Quality of Care in Virtual Visits Using the AcciMap Framework
Authors: Tabibzadeh Maryam , Mokhtari Mohammad
Published: June 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic shift to telehealth in the U.S. and increased the demand for this modality of care. Although the peak in telehealth usage declined after the COVID-19 surge was over, it has remained an integral part of medical care. Quality of care has been a top priority for healthcare delivery systems. However, addressing this aim is not yet commensurate with the rapid growth of digital health. This paper focuses on virtual visits, as one of the main categories of telehealth, and provides a systematic analysis to enhance quality of care. It uses the AcciMap framework, originally developed by Rasmussen in 1997 for systematic incident investigation, to analyze barriers of high quality of care in virtual visits. It then provides recommendations to address some of those barriers.
Design of a semi-automatic passive knee mobilizer for lower limb rehabilitation
Authors: Lizbeth Paredes Cuan Alicia , Alexis Vázquez Ruiz Brandon , Alberto  Valenzuela Gomez Sergio , Miroslava Martínez González Grecia , Tadeo Gaspar Marisol
Published: June 2024

Physical rehabilitation is a vital component for the recovery of patients with knee injuries or after a surgical procedure. Part of the rehabilitation treatment includes manual therapy and the use of assistive devices, all these elements play a crucial role in the functional prognosis of the patient. In the context of knee rehabilitation, physical therapists need to find more effective methods and treatments to optimize the final result in terms of function and quality of life in patients with an injury. Hence, in addition to conventional therapies techniques, the introduction of other devices has become an effective strategy to enhance therapeutic outcomes.In this regard, knee mobilizers are devices specifically designed to facilitate and control joint movement during the rehabilitation process. These devices play an important role in providing support and stability, thus contributing to a more effective recovery.There are an important variety of mobilizers with different characteristics each. However, this kind of assistive machines are too expensive for patients and rehabilitation clinics, with poor availability for some parts of the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara and, sometimes, it’s difficult to adapt their features for patients with different anthropometric characteristics and treatment goals. This lack of adaptability and availability represent an opportunity to develop an assistive device that covers the needs mentioned above. Hence, this project aims to design a passive knee mobilizer to enhance the results of rehabilitation in patients with lower limb disabilities and post-operative procedures. The initiative addresses a fundamental challenge, which is the lack of independence and mobility among this population. The design criteria for this device included anthropometric measurements, interviews with physiotherapists and patients and a systematic literature review. During the design process it was important to select the proper materials, some of the characteristics taken into consideration were these: durability, maintenance, comfort, and cost.Some of the design implementations of this product included an adjustable limb holder to adapt the arm height for pediatric and adult users, a special seat that allows patients to shift their position to ensure the rehabilitation of both knees. Finally, the adaptation of a linear actuator for passive therapy. This machine is remotely controlled so that the physiotherapist can adjust it according to the patient's needs. Finally, it’s important to mention that the design of this product was based on local regulations and international standards. For example, ISO 13485, which outlines Quality Management Systems for Medical Devices and Mexican Official Normatives.