bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence and Design: Innovation, Practical Applications, and Future Creative Horizons
Authors: Di Dio Salvatore , Inzerillo Benedetto , Monterosso Francesco , Morvillo Samuele , Russo Dario
Published: November 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the design landscape, from product development to graphics, service and critical-speculative design. This paper explores how AI enhances efficiency and expands creative possibilities, offering insights into its applications, challenges, and opportunities. While AI excels in automating complex tasks, the designer’s role is evolving towards "sense making"—the ability to infuse meaning and context into AI-generated outputs. In product design, AI-driven technologies such as generative design and machine learning enable optimised and personalised solutions, positioning designers as mediators between algorithmic precision and human needs.In graphic design, AI democratizes access to advanced tools, raising ethical concerns about skill displacement. In service design, AI improves user experiences through personalisation, though issues of transparency and fairness must be addressed. In speculative design, AI has become a fundamental support for processes of futures imagining and envisioning. Additionally, the paper highlights the transformative role of AI in education, requiring students, researchers, and professionals to adapt to the evolving technological landscape.Finally, the paper discusses the ethical challenges of AI, such as bias and automation’s societal impact, presenting AI not as a replacement for designers, but as a tool that enhances creativity, fostering a collaborative future where human ingenuity and technology harmoniously coexist.
What if we Could Entangle Drones? Towards the Management of a Swarm of Drones as a Non-Local Quantum Object
Authors: Chaumette Serge
Published: November 2024

Since a few years, swarms of drones are used in both the civil and military domains. They might be composed of tens, hundreds if not thousands of drones (e.g. to achieve saturation effect). It thus becomes hard to deal with each of the individual drones that make it. Therefore, making a swarm a single object, that could then be controlled as a single entity, whatever its size and its surface, is the grail.Many projects have been working on this issue. Still, as far as we know, none has been convincingly successful. There are a number of reasons for that.From a conceptual point of view, the controls that make sense at the level of a swarm are not simply an upscale of the operations that make sense for the drones that compose it. Some controls are easy to upscale (take off, land) and to map back from the swarm to its individual components. Some are more difficult. For instance, what does it mean and does it even make sense to move a swarm to a given location? There is an underlying notion of synchronization that remains hidden if stating things so simply: when should the move begin, should the members go together, when is the move terminated, etc.? Whatever the answers to these questions, this requires stable communication and strong synchronization between the members of the swarm, which cannot be guaranteed in most theaters of operations, especially for large swarms. Additionally, there are operations that only make sense at the level of a swarm, not of an individual drone. For instance, it might be useful to split a swarm into two smaller sub swarms, and later reconnect them as a single object.From a technical point of view, two major configurations are to be considered. First, it the swarm is controlled by some central system on the ground (C2, Command and Control) it makes things partly tractable. The C2 has a global view of all the members of the swarm and the above issues can be dealt with, knowing the required information about each unitary system. Still this does not solve the problems of congestion, latences and disruptions. Second, if the swarm is composed of autonomous systems, i.e. when the swarm is composed of drones that decide on their own on their behavior, it becomes much more difficult. Still, this is the most interesting configuration in real world operation because autonomy makes it possible to address BLOS (Beyond Line of Sight) missions and avoids swarm to ground communication.The question to solve is what do we precisely expect when willing to make a swarm a single object? We claim that the perfect result would be to break the locality of each individual drone making the swarm a non-local object as if the drones were some sort of entangled (by analogy with quantum physics and the EPR principle). Therefore, our provocative claim that future swarms generation will be quantum swarms.
Optimizing AI Involvement in Engineering University Courses Based on Students' Personality
Authors: Filippi Stefano
Published: November 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhances educational experiences in engineering but varies in effectiveness based on student personality traits. This study investigates the impact of personality traits on engineering students' perceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize AI integration in university courses. Data was collected from students enrolled in two engineering courses during the Academic Year 2023-24. The analysis focused on the Big Five personality traits and various AI perception dimensions. Considering different levels of multivariate regression analysis, we identified key personality traits influencing students' attitudes towards AI. The findings suggest that tailoring AI integration to students' personality profiles can enhance engagement and learning outcomes. Future research should explore additional factors, such as age and attitudes towards technical roles, to further refine educational strategies.
Application of Architectural Appearance Design Process in Front Area of Fossil Fuel Power Plants Based on AIGC Collaboration
Authors: Tang Mengying , Jiang Jie , Chen Xi
Published: November 2024

This paper examine the development, evolution, and application of AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content, AIGC), the research finds the applicable method of applying AIGC in the exterior design of the front area of fossil fuel power plants through practical cases, and verifies the feasibility of applying this technology to the above industrial projects at present. The collaborative design model of the architectural appearance of "AIGC+" fossil fuel power plants put forward. The conceptual scheme diverges through AIGC technology and then converges through the professional evaluation of human experts, which complements the advantages of human beings and AIGC. The feasibility of the design model is demonstrated by applying the model to the exterior design project of the front area of the actual fossil fuel power plants. Although there are still some shortcomings in the application of "AIGC+" in the architectural appearance design of the front area of the fossil fuel power plants, compared with the traditional architectural appearance design process, the design efficiency is greatly improved and the types and styles of schemes are more diverse. This design model can ensure the quality of the conceptual design scheme to a certain extent, effectively save design time and cost, improve design efficiency, and save money.
Emerging threat of deepfakes: viability, risks, impacts and mitigations through a practical use case
Authors: Nyusti Levente , Eidar Simensen John
Published: November 2024

Early 2024 an employee was tricked to transfer 25 million dollars in a cyber-attack where live deepfakes were used to convince the employee of the legitimacy of the request (Chen and Magramo, 2024). Deepfakes are media (image, audio, and video) edited by an algorithm. In the case of the malicious deepfake e.g. video input, it enabled real time interaction between a target and the deepfake. The availability of software and hardware enabling anyone to create their own high quality deepfakes has become such a threat that Europol in 2022 stated: “Many organisations have now begun to see deepfakes as an even bigger potential risk than identity theft (for which deepfakes can also be used), especially now that most interactions have moved online since the COVID-19 pandemic” (Europol, 2022). This paper presents experiences from creating live deepfakes based on typical online, openly accessible media, using free software and a gaming computer, following a free online guide. Without previous experience with deepfakes, we were able to select settings that yielded high quality deepfakes with less than one hour of exploring. The activity of labelling faces requires very little skill. Based on the use case, we provide examples of the achieved quality and discuss cyber and information security implications for organisations. Interviews were performed with a set of small and medium sized organisations regarding their awareness and preparedness for dealing with deepfakes. Industry start to become aware of potential threats of deepfakes, but lack procedures, processes and awareness to be able to sufficiently mitigate deepfake risks. Finally, we suggest a set of best practices and procedures for identifying, and mitigating such threats, focusing on technology, organisation, and the human element.Chen, H. and Magramo, K. (2024) Finance worker pays out $25 million after video call with deepfake ‘chief financial officer’ | CNN. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/04/asia/deepfake-cfo-scam-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html (Accessed: 11 June 2024).Europol (2022) ‘Facing reality? Law enforcement and the challenge of deepfakes, an observatory report from the Europol Innovation Lab’. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Available at: https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/publications/facing-reality-law-enforcement-and-challenge-of-deepfakes#downloads (Accessed: 11 June 2024).
Using a model-based systems engineering framework for human-centric design
Authors: Rudder Sarah
Published: November 2024

This research explores the integration of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) practices with human-centric design principles to enhance enterprise operations. The primary focus is on incorporating personnel data into digital SE environments to improve human resource management and project outcomes. Utilizing the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF), the study develops a model that captures the complex relationships between organizational structures, resources, and human factors. A production line system (PLS) serves as a case study to demonstrate how MBSE tools can simulate and optimize human interactions within the operational environment. Key findings include improved traceability of personnel competencies between individual persons and proper resource allocation based on capabilities. The research concludes with a recommendation further studies to include performance requirements, personnel and resource roadmaps, and the consideration of organizational and societal influences on employees.
Interaction design of youth community in the context of service design
Authors: Jie Zeng Li , Hu Xin
Published: November 2024

With the development of urbanization, more and more young people are pouring into first-tier cities, but the existing youth communities started late and are not perfect and cannot adapt well to the physical and mental demands of the current young groups. Therefore, starting from the Start with the concept transformation of youth apartments into youth communities, this paper studies the development and design of youth communities based on service design according to the needs and preferences of youth groups and combined with the challenges and opportunities of the development of the times, in order to improve the living conditions of urban youth groups. Through the investigation of the current working and living status of young people, the living needs of young residents are summarized by user interviews and questionnaires. Through the Kano model, the living, living, social, psychological and health needs of young people are prioritized, and the service blueprint is used to build a youth community service system. According to the living needs of urban youth, a community that meets the needs of urban youth is established. The Kano model can effectively analyze the functional demand priorities of community residents for the community. Combining offline and online scenarios, according to the service design concept, the design strategy analysis and design practice of the youth community system are completed, providing convenient, fast and comfortable community services for urban youth, and enhancing the happiness and sense of belonging of urban youth.
Meta-picture and Chindōgu: Design Explorations to Inspire the Visual Experience
Authors: Zhang Jing , Chen Qixin , Qiang Liangliang
Published: November 2024

This experimental artwork is divided into a physical installation part and a virtual part. The physical installation is a camera recording the way people use the Tap-Hat, while the virtual part is an invitation for more viewers to participate. The image of the work is created by nesting and superimposing the tap and the hat, and is expressed in the form of a chindōgu, paying homage to the classic meta-picture Duck-Rabbit (Fliegende Blätter 1892). The self-referentiality of the picture is an integral part of Duck-Rabbit, and in 2024 we found this perspective still compelling.In addition to exploring the relationship between the image and the physical object, we believe that this work is also relevant to human society. As Kenji Kawakami, the inventor of the Chindōgu described in his 101 unuseless Japanese Inventions, "Digital products are indeed very advanced, but they also alienate people while facilitate people’s daily life, and deprive them of the freedom. And freedom is the most important thing in life."We wish to explore a form of art where "creation" and "experience" work together in freedom. In the invitation to experience, we expect people to temporarily leave entrenched cognition and purpose behind, and to discuss values and meanings that go beyond monetary figures.
Adaptive fashion experience - A methodological approach for inclusive outerwear dressing
Authors: Scarcelli Alessandra , Di Roma Annalisa
Published: November 2024

Today, the extended, hybrid, phygital reality builds new relationships between actors in the fashion industry supply chain and highlights the need to design products and services capable of interpreting the needs associated with physical and virtual interactions with the garment product. The paper proposes some outcomes of the ‘Moda 4.0’ project, mainly aimed at supporting fashion-clothing companies in the digital transition with a sustainable approach to products and processes. In this context, attention has been paid to the issue of the inclusiveness and adaptability of the outerwear, outlining here the opportunities offered by digital in the development of the adaptive design. The paper is structured in a first analytical part, which defines the scenario and identifies the general objectives of the project; a second experimental part, in which the results of the design experimentation of an adaptive outerwear and the wearing experience of a user with reduced mobility are presented.
Artifacts as a means to investigate alternate and future realities
Authors: Srikanth Nishanth
Published: November 2024

As design evolves and moves from the creation of physical objects to the creation of services, the methods and approach to prototyping have undergone a radical transformation, fundamentally altering the design process. Where once conceptual objects signaled the designer's view of the future, and sparked conversations about potential future realities; today, wireframes and frameworks are often used for targeted the refinement of specific interventions. As designers seek to shift the design process towards more participatory methods (Srikanth 2023), methods that involve all stakeholders in the design process, perhaps there is a new space for artifacts to be reintegrated into the design process, in a way that would facilitate new kinds of interactions, interventions, and discourse. From the use of actual and situated artifacts for critical inquiry, to speculative objects that allow for descriptions of, and interactions with, possible future worlds, physical objects can be a valuable tool in participatory design. Such artifacts can serve as boundary objects between communities and between disciplines as the design process becomes increasingly interdisciplinary. Furthermore, they can facilitate a deeper understanding of the value systems of different communities, as studying their interactions with objects allows us to decenter the human user in the design process and better understand how non-human objects fit into the larger systems they inhabit.This paper compares and contrasts speculative objects with material speculation. It examines the evolution of these two concepts, the key differences between them, and their potential applications in the context of participatory design. It also compares them to boundary objects and to the conceptual prototyping methods of the past, and examines how these types of objects and prototyping techniques have been used in different eras and their wide-ranging influence on different industries.
Interdisciplinary Application of Fractal Algorithm-Based Zodiac Symbol Graphic Design in Product Packaging
Authors: Zhou Shengdong , Joneurairatana Eakachat , Sirvesmas Veerawat , Wang Yan
Published: November 2024

With the widespread dissemination of Western astrological culture among the younger generation, its unique popular cultural characteristics have deeply penetrated public life, leading to the formation of a design and production market themed around astrology. Against this backdrop, design works increasingly utilize fractal graphics and computer algorithms to optimize visual effects and aesthetic features, thereby showcasing the diversity of design and providing practical application value. This study aims to explore the application of fractal algorithms in astrological symbol graphic design and further apply it to the field of product packaging design. Through various research methods such as literature review, expert interviews, questionnaire surveys, and experimental analysis, this study conducts an in-depth analysis of visual aesthetic elements in design and combines them with fractal patterns to achieve innovative design effects. The study employs the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to meticulously analyze primary evaluation factors such as visual aesthetic elements, graphic design aesthetic elements, textual design elements, and color design elements, as well as their secondary weight factors. Based on the analysis results of the importance of design elements, sample designs are created using existing fractal pattern materials. The outcomes of this study not only provide new design ideas for the product packaging of astrological symbol graphic design but also offer valuable references for interdisciplinary research in design studies and related disciplines, further promoting the market value and cultural dissemination of astrological symbol graphic design products among young people.
Harmonizing User-Centered Design and Operational Efficiency in Battery Electric Vehicles: Navigating the Electric Dilemma for Sustainable Mobility
Authors: Kreis Alexander , Hirz Mario , Stocker Christoph
Published: November 2024

As battery electric vehicles (BEVs) become more prevalent in the automotive industry, the interplay between user-centered design and usability takes center stage. This study addresses the complex dynamics of this paradigm and sheds light on the intricate trade-offs between user satisfaction and functional effectiveness to determine the optimal balance for a satisfying and sustainable user experience (UX). Therefore, an innovative approach is presented that enables optimized energy management, thereby increasing comfort and improving the UX. As technological innovations drive the capabilities of BEVs, the confluence of user expectations and operational efficiency presents a fundamental challenge. The pursuit of greater range combined with seamless usability underscores the need for a holistic human-centered design approach. In addition, the growing number of user-centric features (e.g., comfort features) introduces a new dimension to the equation, reinforcing the importance of human-centered design principles. Against this backdrop, external factors such as environmental conditions and user behavior exert a profound influence on the performance and usability of BEVs. The intricate interplay of these variables requires a nuanced understanding of user preferences and technological advances to strike a delicate balance. In response to these challenges, this research proposes an innovative framework to improve the UX of BEVs while maximizing energy efficiency in different operating scenarios and optimizing comfort features. By leveraging insights from user-centered design principles and advanced energy management strategies, this framework aims to optimize the driving experience while minimizing energy consumption. The electric dilemma highlighted in this study - increasing energy efficiency and driving range on the one hand and increasing comfort, optimized UX and human-center design on the other - which is particularly relevant for BEVs, illustrates the complicated interplay between user satisfaction and efficiency. Achieving a harmonious balance requires a multi-faceted approach that integrates user insights, technological advances and environmental considerations. The results emerging from the research offer actionable insights to guide the development of BEVs and provide manufacturers with a roadmap to tackle the electric dilemma and deliver UX that seamlessly combine comfort and efficiency. By embracing a human-centered design ethos, vehicle manufacturers can cultivate a symbiotic relationship between user satisfaction and efficiency, promoting a sustainable future for BEVs.
Human-centred design in AI era: Inclusive AI assistance for visually impaired persons in recycling practice
Authors: Wai Michael Siu Kin , Zhao Xinzhe , Zou Jiayi , Jiang Yijia , He Maoen , Zhang Keren , Jiang Qian , Li Jiaman
Published: November 2024

More science and social researchers have advocated to use the high-tech to support the persons with special needs. Since the early 2010s, the design research team of the Public Design Lab has put effort to conduct in-depth qualitative studies on the needs of visually impaired persons (VIPs) in their daily lives. The team has worked with VIPs to propose some “creative” ideas to support their needs. Moreover, by exploring the recent front-end technological advancements, the team has advocated possibilities of AI technology to be included in the “design” of daily objectives for VIPs. By using persona method and case study, the team facilitate the VIPs to propose a model which is based on the current known AI technology to assist them to carry out the recycling practice independently. The model is expected to be possible to be applied in other daily needs of VIPs as well as other persons with special needs.
Multi-Dimensional Nature of Human-Centered Design: an Autoethnographic Analysis of the Seiko Bell-Matic Wristwatch Using Information-Theoretic Methodologies
Authors: Chong Lance
Published: November 2024

Human-Centered Design (HCD) emphasizes empathy to understand users' needs, yet the complexity of these needs makes HCD an evolving and open-ended objective. This paper uses Seiko’s Bell-Matic wristwatch as an autoethnographic case study to explore discrepancies between the intended design and dynamic user needs. Applying the Networked Two-way Communication Channels (NTCC) model reveals new insights into the interaction dynamics of the Bell-Matic's unique mechanical alarm feature. This study proposes a novel approach to modeling UI interactions as multi-dimensional communication processes, enabling comparisons between system functionality and user needs. Ultimately, the paper reinterprets HCD by evaluating the alignment of functional entropies between systems and users.
Unconscious Design Method of Haipai Cultural Tourism Souvenirs Based on Extensional Narrative Theory
Authors: Junnan Ye , Wang Saiya , Wu Yue , Liang Haoyue
Published: November 2024

Haipai culture is unique to Shanghai and holds significant cultural value. Tourism souvenirs,as a key value-added industry in tourism, naturally serve as carriers for conveying local cultural essence and play a crucial role in promoting and disseminating Haipai culture. To address the current issues of severe homogenization, lack of depth, and insufficient emotional resonance in Shanghai tourism souvenirs, this paper explores an unconscious design approach for these souvenirs based on Extenics and narrative theory. Firstly, the KANO model is utilized to filter and categorize target user needs, obtaining their priority. Secondly, a cultural and creative product narrative design model constructed using Extenics innovation methods is employed to diagram the narrative framework of Haipai culture.Finally, through three unconscious design pathways, the narrative elements of Haipai culture and the user needs for tourism souvenirs are linked, resulting in the formulation of design strategies for Shanghai tourism souvenirs.The site of the First National Congress of the CPC, a landmark in Haipai culture, is used to validate the feasibility and rationality of these design strategies through the reproduction of its related elements in tourism souvenir design practice. This method provides a feasible path for both the internal excavation and external manifestation of Haipai cultural connotations and offers new ideas for showcasing Chinese cultural characteristics in the field of tourism souvenir design in the future.
Creating emotionally resonant User Experiences in response to ever-evolving challenges in Open Distance e-Learning Institutions.
Authors: Le Roux Petra , Van Staden Corne
Published: November 2024

Advances in ever-present, social, mobile, and physical computing technologies have moved the field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), particularly User Experience (UX), into practically all areas of human activity, including education. Higher education institutions (HEIs) face a growing need to enhance online learning opportunities that address an increasingly diverse learner community. This underscores the necessity of UX communities to propose that the development and evaluation of digital technology should not only include usability, but the broader range of user experiences, where users’ feelings, motivations, and values are given as much, if not more, attention than efficiency, effectiveness, and basic subjective satisfaction experiences which it offers. Emotion and the expression of emotion play a powerful role in the way human social interaction is shaped, and therefore can and must be exploited in HCI. An emotion lexicon is essential for describing emotions and emotion-aware experiences, facilitating the identification of emotions, and describing subsequent behavioural patterns which highlights the importance of a match between an emotion experienced, experience design and design principles. To explore the role of emotion and the possibilities it has for technology interaction, a non-formal learning initiative was implemented in an Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) environment using a freely available social media app exploiting its capacity for inclusiveness and educational potential. Using phenomenology as a research philosophy and a methodology, emotions were identified and mapped to behavioural patterns resulting in design principles. This allowed for the creation of emotion-aware experiences and a more comprehensive understanding of mobile tutoring in a ODeL environment.
Human-centered Design Based on the Double Diamond Model for Optimizing Hybrid Game Design
Authors: Liang Risheng , Chu Sauman , Lawton Debra , Pan Guobin
Published: November 2024

This research suggests a hybrid game design framework that combines Double Diamond methodology with system thinking, user-centered design, agile method, and heuristic evaluation. The framework is proposed to address challenges in hybrid games that merge digital and physical gameplay elements, specifically focusing on balancing technology integration and user engagement and interaction in designing hybrid games with digital and physical parts of the game. The first step is to identify the challenges of designing a hybrid game, such as game mechanics and player dynamics, which are analyzed using system thinking. Subsequently, User-centered design principles are followed by defining and prioritizing game design objectives to be relevant and empathetic to the player’s needs and expectations. After the design and development phases, the agile method is used in the test process, and game components are developed and refined iteratively to make changes based on the feedback loops. The final solution phase for game design is the heuristic evaluation to ensure usability, satisfaction, and iteration. The research showcases how the integrated framework approach includes a model of flexibility, practicality, and comprehensiveness regarding the progress of hybrid game design practices in combining human-centered design with iterative development.
Body Positivity Perception and Fashion
Authors: Kaya Özlem
Published: November 2024

One of the most important problems of our day is not liking our own bodies and being like someone else, which has become extremely important especially among young people and women. Due to this situation, many people try to make themselves look like people they want to see or like through surgical operations at a very young age. This situation brings with it very important problems and even causes irreversible mistakes, psychological problems and even deaths at a young age. For all these reasons, the body positivity movement, which sets out with the philosophy of trying to be happy with our own bodies no matter what kind of body type or shape we have, has emerged at this very moment by creating great awareness. With the body positivity movement, a more realistic ideal female body perception has begun to emerge. In this context, the body positivity movement is an important movement that encourages individuals to accept and love themselves as they are. The spread of this movement can change the ideal body perception of society and positively affect the psychological health of individuals. Therefore, awareness about body positivity needs to be increased and supported. In this context, a survey was conducted to determine the body positivity perception among young women between the ages of 18-24, to reveal the situation regarding their bodies and to reveal the attitude of society towards body standards and the findings were presented. According to the findings obtained as a result of the research conducted on a total of 296 university students, it was determined that the majority of the students have knowledge about body positivity and are aware of knowing, loving and accepting their own bodies in this direction.
Designing a Human-Robot Collaboration System to reduce Work Fatigue in Redistributing Dockless Sharing Bikes
Authors: Chen Yueru , Lam Daniel Lo Yun , Xiao Xinghan , Li Weinan , Zhang Luolin , Le Fang , Cong Fang , Jia Wang Stephen
Published: November 2024

Dockless bike-sharing systems in China have enhanced user convenience but face challenges like vandalism and improper parking. Despite advancements in bike collection technologies, manual labor remains essential in the redistribution process, often leading to worker fatigue and safety concerns. This study explores solutions to reduce work-related fatigue for bike collectors using a human-robot collaboration (HRC) system. In our proposed system, workers assess bike conditions and position them for a robotic arm to handle lifting and placement. The system aims to minimize physical strain and improve worker experience. We conducted simulations with healthy adults to test the system's effectiveness. Physical fatigue was measured through heart rate monitoring, and mental fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Participants were divided into two groups: one with nominal technological assistance and one without. Professional bike distributors evaluated the system's performance by observing task recordings and completing structured surveys. Our findings show that the HRC system significantly reduces physical and mental fatigue among participants. The system's potential to enhance bike redistribution efficiency and improve worker safety is promising. Future work will focus on integrating advanced robotics, intelligent software, and smart scheduling for real-world deployment and broader logistics applications.
Human Interaction with Autonomous Delivery Robots: Navigating the Intersection of Psychological Acceptance and Societal Integration
Authors: Patel Saumil
Published: November 2024

The rapid advancement of autonomous delivery robots has led to their increasing presence in our daily lives, prompting the need for a deeper understanding of the factors influencing their psychological acceptance and societal integration. This research paper presents a comprehensive survey-based study that investigates the complex interplay between human perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards delivery robots. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques to gather rich insights from a diverse sample of participants.The survey design incorporates a range of questions addressing key aspects of human-robot interaction, including perceived usefulness, ease of use, trust, safety concerns, social presence, and future expectations. The data collection process involves online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, ensuring a robust and representative dataset. The analysis employs statistical techniques and thematic coding to identify significant patterns, trends, and relationships within the data.Through a critical synthesis of the existing literature and the study's findings, this paper contributes novel insights into the psychological and societal factors shaping the acceptance of delivery robots. The results highlight the importance of trust, transparency, and user-centered design in fostering positive attitudes and willingness to engage with these technologies. The paper also identifies key challenges and opportunities for the successful integration of delivery robots into various domains, such as last-mile delivery, healthcare, and retail.By providing a comprehensive understanding of the human dimensions of delivery robot acceptance, this research advances the field of human-robot interaction and offers valuable implications for the design, development, and deployment of these technologies. The findings emphasize the need for collaborative efforts among researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to create delivery robot solutions that align with user needs, societal values, and ethical considerations. Overall, this paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on the future of autonomous delivery systems and their transformative potential for enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability in our rapidly evolving world.
Human Language-Instructed Robotic Excavation based on Behavior Trees
Authors: Hong Zirui , Cai Hubo
Published: November 2024

Collaborative construction robots have emerged as a promising alternative to relieve construction workers from both physically and cognitively demanding tasks, contributing to a safer and more productive construction industry. However, communicating with robots is not a trivial task as human workers and robots speak different languages. From the human-centered perspective, allowing human workers to communicate with robots using natural language is desirable because it minimizes additional cognitive load to human workers. Existing studies, however, have been focusing on converting language instructions into sequential actions, leading to a rigid task plan and inability to handle complex situations and unstructured working environments. To address this critical limitation, this paper explores the use of behavior tree (BT), an alternative architecture for describing and controlling complex tasks like excavation. A behavior tree is a hierarchical tree structure that specifies the switching between the agent’s actions (i.e., execution nodes) via control flow nodes. Its modular nature allows the BT of excavation to be generated through linking reusable actions based on the human task descriptions. The resulting BT structure enables the robot to alter its behavior by selecting different tree branches in response to changing working conditions, thus improving its adaptability to dynamic construction environment and its capability of error-handling. In addition, the BT eases the human understanding of robot behavior for debugging and correcting robot behavior. A corresponding framework is proposed for enabling humans to guide a robotic excavator using goal-oriented language instructions. The framework consists of four modules: interpretation and reasoning, knowledge management, structural analysis and parsing, and BT generation. The interpretation and reasoning module decomposes instructions into structured executable intents. The knowledge management module organizes the knowledge for instruction reasoning, including the robot capable skills and its current working environment. Structure analysis and parsing module further grounds the intents and extracts associated parameters, while BT generation module maps the extracted elements with predefined BT nodes, building and refining the BTs of desired tasks. A case illustration is performed to demonstrate the viability of the proposed framework with executable demos. The findings are expected to facilitate efficient and transparent human-robot cooperation in earthmoving construction from a human friendly perspective.
Applying UX principles to innovate citizen Science platform development: an integrative approach
Authors: Gertrudix Barrio Manuel , Carbonell-alcocer Alejandro , Romero-luis Juan , Sanchez-acedo Alberto , Rivas-rebaque Begoña
Published: November 2024

The development of digital platforms is critical for the success of Citizen Science initiatives, as it facilitates the effective engagement of diverse participant profiles. To ensure these platforms are effective, efficient, and satisfactory for users, a strategic development approach is necessary. This research proposes a design and development model for a Citizen Science platform at the European level, grounded in User Experience (UX) principles. The methodology involved benchmarking existing platforms, developing user stories to identify necessary functionalities, and assessing user engagement and satisfaction through focus groups, UX research using Hotjar, and web analytics via Matomo. The findings reveal a set of principles—such as the STP model, user-centered design, content marketing, and digital analytics—that are instrumental in optimizing the development of Citizen Science platforms.
Development of A Single Usability Metric that Accounts for Accessibility (SUMA)
Authors: Nasr Vanessa , Zahabi Maryam
Published: November 2024

Various technology tools have been designed to aid person(s) with disabilities (PWD). However, no wholistic, standardized method exists that evaluates usability with a focus on accessibility of apps. The objective of this study was to develop a model to assess app usability with a single usability metric that accounts for accessibility (SUMA). The model includes both subjective and objective usability measures to create a comprehensive view of usability and considers accessibility metrics to ensure interfaces are inclusive for PWD. SUMA combines all measures into a singular score, so it is easily interpretable and comparable to other interfaces since previous studies tended to prefer singular score questionnaires. Seven metrics are selected based on their relevance to website and app design as well as inclusivity considerations for PWD including efficiency, effectiveness, satisfaction, accessibility, learnability, flexibility, and memorability. This paper focuses on the development of SUMA and explains the next steps to finalize the model. This includes reducing model dimensionality through a principal component analysis (PCA) of user testing data from an indoor navigation app designed for PWD. Examples of the final model and Excel package are shown based on the pilot data. The results of PCA yielded a model with reduced dimensionality while maintaining a desirable amount of dataset variability.
Enhancing the Onboarding Experience with Wearable Technology for Research Applications
Authors: Amani Sara , Obeidat Noor , Ferris Thomas , Shryock Kristi
Published: November 2024

Recent advancements in wearable technologies like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and Empatica EmbracePlus have revolutionized the real-time monitoring of physiological parameters. However, integrating such technologies into research settings hinges on the seamless onboarding of participants that are unfamiliar with these devices. Our project, conducted at a large R1 university, investigated how procedural steps and participant instructions in the onboarding and setup processes affect user interaction with these sophisticated technologies.Our methodology consisted of a multi-phase study starting with a front-end analysis that established fundamental user interactions with the devices and identified potential onboarding challenges. Subsequent phases involved cognitive task analysis and iterative testing with engineering students, focusing on user registration, app installation, device pairing, and data synchronization. Key interventions included simplifying login procedures and enhancing the instructional clarity of device setup. User feedback was integral, collected through surveys and direct observation, ensuring a user-centered design approach.Initial findings indicated several user-technology interaction challenges, particularly with complex login credentials and device pairing. Suggestions for improving these tasks have been explored and discussed. The study emphasizes the importance of human-centered design in the deployment of wearable technologies in research settings. Our findings indicate that even minor, focused alterations in the onboarding process can notably enhance the efficiency of technology adoptions within research environments. This research highlights the transformative potential of wearable technologies in academic data collection, emphasizing the crucial role of user-friendly design. Our findings demonstrate strategic design modifications that can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of wearable technology usage in research settings.
When hearing protection makes you worse at your job: objective measurement of decrements in sensorimotor tracking
Authors: Wisniewski Matthew
Published: November 2024

Occupational hearing loss (HL) is a significant problem worldwide, even though it can be mitigated by the wearing of hearing protection devices (HPDs). When surveyed, workers report that worsened work performance while wearing HPDs is one reason why they choose not to wear them. However, there have been few studies to supplement these subjective reports with objective measures. In this study, listeners heard commands from the Coordinate Response Measure (CRM) corpus (i.e., sentences of the form "Ready  go to   now). CRM sentences informed listeners of which of nine moving on-screen objects to track with a computer mouse (e.g., "blue four" refers the listener to a blue square). The commands were presented in background street noise and were heard under No HPD or HPD wearing conditions. HPD wearing was simulated with a digital filter meant to mimic the attenuation profile of an HPD. Continuous recording of tracking error allowed the simultaneous examination of how HPD wearing impacted speech comprehension, the accuracy of tracking, and how tracking accuracy varied as a function of time on task. Listeners spent less time tracking the correct object in the HPD wearing condition. Tracking error, after trimming data to those time points in which the target object was known, showed worse performance for the HPD condition than the No HPD condition. Workers' complaints of poorer performance while wearing HPDs are justified and extend beyond just auditory situational awareness. Considering these aspects of performance will be an important part of addressing HPD non-use in occupational settings.
Information availability and accessibility regarding ecological products offered in online stores – a case of retail chains
Authors: Kozik Natalia , Kabaja Bartłomiej , Gedvilaitė Dainora
Published: November 2024

The global impact of increasing environmental pollution and the impending climate crisis are now becoming central concerns of modern-day societies at large. More than ever before, enterprises that introduce products to the market find themselves under pressure to take ecological actions and provide eco-friendly solutions. A large role is also played by consumers, whose everyday decision-making when selecting or buying products strongly affects the processes occurring on the market. However, for members of society to be able to make informed choices of products, they must be able to gain sufficient knowledge and information about them.The aim of the study was to assess the availability of information concerning organic products on the websites of the largest retailers in Poland. The research method used was an elaborated questionnaire to assess the availability and accessibility of environmental information on store websites. In total, 10 selected e-shops were evaluated. The study was limited to examining only the offer of food products, so that the results could be comparable.The obtained results suggest that there is a very large difference in the approach to providing consumers with knowledge about the impact of sold products on the environment. What is more, the assessed e-shops lacked direct links to subpages with eco-friendly or organic products. Only in a few cases did retailers decide to use additional, larger eco-labels, such as the EU organic logo. In most cases, the only way to recognize an ecological product was to observe photos of the offered products, which were often characterized by low resolution and small size.The development of e-commerce means that an increasing number of products are sold through this channel. In the case of traditional trade, many solutions have already been developed that can substantially bridge the information gap, thus allowing consumers to make more informed decisions.The obtained research results refer to the situation on the Polish market. However, the overall conclusions are rather disturbing. The analysis of the conducted research prompts to take actions and measures to achieve significant improvement in the availability, accessibility, and ease of identifying eco-friendly and organic products in e-commerce.