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This book is the first publication in English of the proceedings of the Japanese Conference on the Advancement of Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (JCAART), held in Niigata in 2008. This annual scientific meeting enables professionals from health-related fields to report and exchange their experiences and ideas for collaborative practice, as well as providing an opportunity for faculty and students to report the outcomes of their inter-professional learning. Japan has become the world's first super-aged society, with an average life expectancy of 79 for men and 86 for women. Healthy life expectancy is the extent of the capacity for independent living and is usually several years shorter than mean life expectancy. A two year extension of independent living is currently the official target set by health policy-makers in Japan. A team approach in health and social care is vital in the super-aged society. The rapid increase in the elderly population in Japan has been met by increased health and social care expenditure, but the delivery of improved and seamless services presents many challenges. As a result, Japan is uniquely placed to share the knowledge and experience it has gained in this field with a wider world. This book includes contributions on inter-professional education and rehabilitation engineering, creating the welfare driven city, as well as prosthetics and orthotics in assistive technology. It will be of interest to all those working to improve the quality of life of the elderly or disabled with the aid of assistive and rehabilitation technology.

This publication presents articles on Aging-in-Place, Assistive Technology, Monitoring and Telehealth, Transportation and Mobility, and Design. The section on assistive technology (AT) represents arguably the most mature and generic aspect of technology and aging; except that AT can hardly be regarded really as a specific discipline any longer. Assistive devices and systems command an expansive gamut of technological and engineering specialties, drawing upon mechanical engineering and industrial design at one end of the field and cybernetic systems engineering and brain-computer user interfaces at the other. The largest section in the book, on monitoring and telehealth, reveals novel applications of advanced pattern recognition techniques, some of which have, up to now, found roles primarily in the military, process engineering, and financial sectors. Transportation and mobility still represents by far the largest and most commercially lucrative market segment of technology for seniors. There is however a clear trend towards synthesis of information and communication technologies (ICT) and mobility technologies, which is embodied in the latest developments of automatic collision avoidance and full or semi-autonomous navigation functions in powered mobility devices. The last section is dedicated to design issues. It is proposed that designing for the special needs market before making a design as inclusive as possible to the mainstream market is a viable alternative to the currently accepted notion of inclusive design, provided that aesthetics are appropriately addressed. To conclude, we see a social shift from institutional to home-based care, in which information communication technology based solutions now afford the possibility of aging-in-place for the many thousands of people having mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

Nurses and midwives must increasingly work in multi-disciplinary teams and engage with patients to navigate the data and information central to today's digitally-driven healthcare system. This book presents the proceedings of NI 2021, the 15th International Congress in Nursing Informatics. Originally planned to be held in 2020, the international year of the nurse and midwife, but postponed due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the conference, with the theme of nursing and midwifery in the digital age, was eventually held as a virtual event from 23 August to 2 September 2021, and the organizers made the decision to take advantage of its virtual nature and extend it to 9 days, with each day focusing on a different theme. This is reflected in the organization of the book, and the 212 papers included here, of which 67 are full papers with the remainder being workshop, panel, case study, and poster abstracts, are grouped into 9 sections. The papers were selected from a total of 437 submissions from more than 40 countries and cover: data analytics and the use of nursing data; digital health nursing workforce development; health policy, service delivery and ethics; informatics in clinical care; innovation and entrepreneurship in nursing; integrated and connected care; nursing information systems; patient participation and citizen involvement; and systems implementation and digital workplaces. Highlighting developments in nursing and midwifery and the way in which nurses and midwives are embracing the digital age, the book will be of interest to all those involved in healthcare today.

Disruption often drives innovation, and 2020 was certainly an extraordinary year for all health professionals. Not only did it stretch individual providers and healthcare systems to their limits, it highlighted the urgent and rapid need to mobilize digital health technology, as well as pressure-testing digital health in ways and under timeframes not previously imagined. Many saw the rapid deployment and uptake of telehealth services, partly out of necessity to maintain continuity of care, but also to ensure that those who needed healthcare were still able to access it no matter what their situation or location. This book presents 17 selected papers from the Australian Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2020) – Healthier Lives, Digitally Enabled, held online from 5 – 25 November 2020. This annual conference usually marks the coming together of the nation's digital health community to discuss, share and showcase current and future initiatives that support the progression of digital health, but in 2020, it took the form of satellite events, culminating with an online Digital Health Institute Summit. The papers presented here reflect highly topical themes across various areas and disciplines, including: digital health in the care of the elderly, mental health, COVID-19, public health, and workforce. Familiar topics, such as wearables, mobile health and remote monitoring, interoperability, and data privacy are also covered, as well as telehealth, automation, bots, and other AI applications. The book will be of interest to all health professionals, especially those working in the fields of digital health informatics and telemedicine.

While health and care are increasingly delivered in a digital world, the digital community continues to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In this rapidly developing environment, it is acknowledged that the whole digital health and healthcare community is responsible for initiating and creating positive change. This book presents the proceedings of HIC 2024, the annual Australasian national conference for digital health and health informatics, held in Brisbane, Australia, from 5-7 August 2024. The conference provided the ideal environment for clinicians, researchers, health IT professionals, industry and consumers to integrate, collaborate, educate and share their knowledge. The conference - It Starts With Us - focused on 6 themes that underpin a fully digital healthcare sector: recipient of care experience; provider of care capability; clinical informatics; innovative models of care; integrated and connected care; and informatics infrastructure. The 28 papers and 15 posters reflect these themes, highlighting the research and technological innovations that are supporting the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. This book includes examples of a future where collective insights, shared knowledge, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and enthusiasm are the driving forces behind systemic improvements. It will be of interest to all those involved in the field of healthcare.

Understanding and modifying health behaviors plays an important part in healthcare. The need to change behaviors applies across a range of health contexts, from individual interventions to the clinically-delivered management of chronic diseases and rehabilitation. Telehealth or virtual care technology offers many possible advantages here, including cost-efficiency, scalability, personalization, and automated high volume data collection and analysis, but success will depend on the effectiveness of the design, implementation and deployment of IT-based methods. This book, which forms part of the Global Telehealth series, includes papers presented at Global Telehealth 2019 (GT2019), a National Symposium on the topic of IT-based Methods for Health Behaviours held in Adelaide, Australia on 5 July 2019. The 10 papers selected for inclusion here comprise only full-paper, blind peer-reviewed contributions received for the symposium and the subsequent call for further contributions. Topics range from the scientific theory of health behavior change, through technological approaches to active ageing and the implementation of the 10,000 steps project, to a discussion of digital infrastructure for the storing & sharing of internet of things, wearables and app-based research study data. The book will be of interest to all researchers, managers and healthcare practitioners working to bring about positive changes in health behavior.

The importance of databases and information systems to the functioning of 21st century life is indisputable. This book presents papers from the 13th International Baltic Conference on Databases and Information Systems, held in Trakai, Lithuania, from 1- 4 July 2018. Since the first of these events in 1994, the Baltic DB&IS has proved itself to be an excellent forum for researchers, practitioners and PhD students to deliver and share their research in the field of advanced information systems, databases and related areas. For the 2018 conference, 69 submissions were received from 15 countries. Each paper was assigned for review to at least three referees from different countries. Following review, 24 regular papers were accepted for presentation at the conference, and from these presented papers the 14 best-revised papers have been selected for publication in this volume, together with a preface and three invited papers written by leading experts. The selected revised and extended papers present original research results in a number of subject areas: information systems, requirements and ontology engineering; advanced database systems; internet of things; big data analysis; cognitive computing; and applications and case studies. These results will contribute to the further development of this fast-growing field, and will be of interest to all those working with advanced information systems, databases and related areas.

The term Telehealth covers a wide spectrum of disciplines, ranging from the enabling of direct clinical interventions to patient-centered care needs such as personal monitoring and care team support, as well as education, policy and professional aspects. Contributing to the solving of healthcare sustainability challenges and supporting the development and delivery of a wide range of innovative care and treatment models, Telehealth also acts as a major driver for change in global health issues. This book, Transforming Healthcare Through Innovation in Digital Health, presents the accepted full-paper, double-blinded, peer-reviewed contributions, as well as the editor-reviewed invited keynote papers, delivered at the 7th International Conference on Global Telehealth (GT2018), held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 10 and 11 October 2018. Approximately 50% of the total initial submissions were accepted. The conference provided a platform for the sharing of best practice and research directions across the international Telehealth community, and the 14 papers presented here deal with a variety of themes ranging from data collection and analysis to the design of interventions and delivery mechanisms, in situations from public health and primary care through to consumer health informatics, and from implementation and algorithm design to privacy and ethical considerations. Offering an overview of the innovation and diversity of today's Telehealth domain, this book will be of interest to all those involved in the design and implementation of healthcare solutions.

The population of the world is ageing, and the prospect of increasing care costs is generating new ideas and approaches to healthcare for the elderly. This growing burden of care, coupled with the rapid increase of digital literacy and an appetite for the use of digital resources among older citizens, has also encouraged a diversification of remote healthcare options, and has prompted the care sector to diversify its offer and investigate strategic alignments in research and development. This book presents a selection of papers from the 5th Global Telehealth conference, held in Adelaide, Australia, in November 2017. In recognition of the diversity of this area of healthcare, this series of international meetings, which began in 2010, has focused on different topics in telehealth. The main aim of the 2017 meeting was to share knowledge of complementary research endeavors in telehealth as related to later-life care, and to foster interaction between the different groups undertaking research in this emerging topic area. The 11 papers included here cover a diverse variety of topics, including: telehealth in the elderly with chronic heart failure; wearable information technology and self-management; telerehabilitation exercise in residential care; the Smarter Safer Homes platform; and prediction of freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson's disease. The book will be of interest to all whose work involves the development or delivery of healthcare for older patients.

The last few decades have seen the digital transformation of healthcare, with health informaticians taking the lead in innovations which have enabled the sector to evolve from rudimentary computer based records to large-scale systems allowing for intra-organisational, national and even international communication and information exchange. Establishing and maintaining strong partnerships between the healthcare community, government, universities and industry is integral to supporting these advances. This book presents 24 selected papers from the 25th Australian National Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2017), held in Brisbane, Australia, in August 2017. The theme of HIC 2017 is Integrating and Connecting Care, and the conference provides the ideal professional and social environment for clinicians, researchers, health IT professionals, industry and consumers to integrate, educate and share their knowledge and debate current and future health systems. The papers in the book reflect the theme of the conference, highlighting the cutting-edge research evidence, technology updates and innovations crucial to the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. Health informatics and e-health play a central role in connecting information systems, being smart with data, and enhancing both practitioner and consumer experience in healthcare interactions, and the book will be of interest to researchers and practitioners alike.

In the last few decades, health informaticians have established the knowledge base and practical expertise to facilitate the development of ever-more capable technical systems, increased connectivity, expanded access and the greater mobility of e-health and information management systems, and we have witnessed the evolution from simple computer-based records to systems allowing intra-organisational, national, and even international communication and information exchange. This book presents 20 of the papers delivered at the 24th Australian National Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2016), held in Melbourne, Australia in July 2016. The primary theme of the 2016 conference is Digital Health Innovation for Consumers, Clinicians, Connectivity and Community. The papers included here reflect this theme, and highlight the cutting edge research evidence, technology updates and innovations that are fuelling the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. They cover a wide spectrum of fields and encompass major theoretical concepts, examples of key applications of new technologies and important new developments in the field of health informatics. The book provides a current overview of trends in health informatics, and will be of interest to all those involved in the planning, design, implementation and delivery of healthcare today.

Databases and information systems are now indispensable for the day-to-day functioning of businesses and society. This book presents 25 selected papers from those delivered at the 12th International Baltic Conference on Databases and Information Systems 2016 (DB&IS 2016), held in Riga, Latvia, in July 2016. Since it began in 1994, this biennial conference has become an international forum for researchers and developers in the field of databases, information systems and related areas, and the papers collected here cover a wide spectrum of topics related to the development of information systems and data processing. These include: the development of ontology applications; tools, technologies and languages for model-driven development; decision support systems and data mining; natural language processing and building linguistic components of information systems; advanced systems and technologies related to information systems, databases and information technologies in teaching and learning. The book will be of interest to all those whose work involves the design, application and use of databases and information systems.

ICT, e-government and electronic participation have become increasingly important in the public sector and the social sphere in recent years. This book presents 53 of the papers accepted for the dual IFIP EGOV-ePart conference 2016, which took place in Guimarães, Portugal, in September 2016. This conference, which consisted of five partially intersecting tracks, presented advances in the socio technological domain of the public sphere demonstrating cutting edge concepts, methods, and styles of investigation by multiple disciplines. The conference has been a premier academic forum for over 15 years and has a worldwide reputation as one of the top two conferences in the research domains of electronic, open and smart government, policy and electronic participation. The papers in this joint proceedings of the 2016 IFIP EGOV-ePart conference comprise accepted submissions from all categories and all tracks (with the exception of some 38 papers which are published separately). The book is divided into 9 sections: eParticipation, e-Government Evaluation, Open Data and Open Government, Governance, Smart Cities, e-Government Implementation and Adoption, Ph.D. Colloquium Papers, Posters, and Workshops. Offering a comprehensive overview of research and practice on electronic government and electronic participation, this book will be of interest to all those involved in the socio-technological domain of the public sphere.

There is a changed emphasis in many health services, with conventional pressures such as budget and workforce constraints, combined with the indirect forces of social change and strategic direction, bringing about the need for more flexible approaches for the longer term. By enabling different care models and delivery channels, telehealth offers demonstrably effective and sustainable solutions for issues such as access to and quality of care. This book presents 18 papers delivered at the 5th Global Telehealth Conference, held in Auckland, New Zealand, in November 2016. The theme chosen for Global Telehealth 2016 is'The Promise of New Technologies in an Age of New Health Challenges', and the papers included here cover a wide variety of topics, from theoretical and abstract contributions through to discussions of practical projects and highly specific applied contributions. The book also includes two invited papers which detail recent contributions to two global issues in which telehealth plays a major role: universal health coverage and personal health monitoring. With papers ranging in scope from computer assisted screening technology for diabetic retinopathy to behavior change through computer games, this book will be of interest to all those involved in the design and provision of healthcare services.

Digital developments have resulted in many changes in the way healthcare is conceived and delivered. This has brought challenges, but has also created opportunities to shape healthcare, and has made the management and evaluation of systems and innovations, together with the education of healthcare practitioners, essential at all levels. This book presents the proceedings of HIC 2019, the annual Australian national conference for Health Informatics, held in Melbourne, Australia, from 12 – 14 August 2019. The conference provides the ideal environment for clinicians, researchers, health IT professionals, industry and consumers to gather and share their knowledge, to drive innovative thinking, enhance services, improve data-driven decision making, and allow greater consumer involvement. The conference focused on ten themes that underpin a fully digital healthcare sector: analytics and the learning health system; clinical informatics; digital health workforce development; health policy, ethics and business models; informatics in health professional education; innovations, informaticians and digital health entrepreneurship; integrated and connected care; interoperability and informatics infrastructure; participatory medicine and consumer informatics; and system implementations and digital hospitals. The 29 papers selected for inclusion here reflect these themes, highlighting the research and technological innovations that are supporting the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. The book includes examples of important new developments in the field of health informatics, and emphasizes the central role that digital health plays in current and future healthcare organizations everywhere. It will be of interest to all those involved in the field of healthcare.

Around the world, healthcare planners and governments are engaged in activities to stimulate innovation and reform health systems as part of the drive to deliver safe, effective, quality care to patients. ICT is both a critical component of health system innovation and key stimulus for reform. This book presents papers from the 23rd Australian national Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2015), held in Brisbane, Australia, in August 2015. The conference brings together researchers, industry groups and healthcare providers from Australia and around the world to share cutting edge research, technology updates and innovations, and the papers included here provide valuable evidence and information about the diverse role that ICT plays in the health, elderly and community care sectors internationally. They encompass a wide spectrum of work, from major theoretical concepts and examples of key applications of new technologies to important new developments in the field of health informatics. The book represents an important contribution to the health informatics evidence base and will be of interest to all those working towards better healthcare provision worldwide.

Electronic government and electronic participation continue to transform the public sector and society worldwide and are constantly being transformed themselves by emerging information and communication technologies. This book presents papers from the 14th International Federation for Information Processing's EGOV conference (IFIP EGOV 2015), and its sister conference, the 7th Electronic Participation (ePart) conference, held in Thessaloniki, Greece, in August and September 2015 with the support and sponsorship of the University of Macedonia. Through the years, both of these conferences have established themselves as leading scientific events in their field, providing a forum for scholars to present and discuss their work. Included here are 31 accepted ongoing research papers, grouped under the following headings: eParticipation; policy modeling; open government and smart cities; general e-government; and e-government services; as well as 6 Ph.D. colloquium papers, 5 accepted posters and 3 workshops. With their combination of scientific credibility and rigor and with high relevance to practice, the papers presented here will be of interest to all those whose work involves electronic government and electronic participation.

Health informatics plays a central role in the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. The integration and connection of health services, practitioners and consumers is critical to the realisation of the improvements promised by digital health, and the secondary use of health data has led to ground-breaking research discoveries. Increased reliance upon all types of digital media has also established health informatics as a viable specialisation in healthcare. This book presents the proceedings of the 26th national Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2018), Australia's premier health informatics event, held in Sydney, Australia, in July/August 2018. The conference provides an environment for clinicians, researchers, health IT professionals, industry and consumers to integrate, educate and share the knowledge which drives innovative thinking, and this year's theme, ‘Today's best practice, innovation today and preparing for tomorrow', focuses on the important issues of connecting the system, being smart with data, and enhancing the practitioner and consumer experience in healthcare interactions. The papers presented here reflect this theme, highlighting cutting-edge research evidence, technology updates and innovations from the digital transformation of the healthcare sector. Covering a wide spectrum of work, and encompassing major theoretical concepts, examples of key applications of new technologies and important new developments in the field of health informatics, the book will be of interest to all those working in the healthcare sector.

As healthcare organisations and governments look to information technology to capitalise and enhance healthcare, the need for effective investment to update existing technology and provide cost-effective infrastructure for the future becomes clear. The issues of defining success and understanding opportunities are crucial to planning optimum investment and the best use of scarce resources. This book presents papers from the Australian Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2014), held in Melbourne, Australia, in August 2014. With the theme of investing in e-health: people, knowledge and technology for a healthy future, the papers delivered at the conference and included here address the issues of building a future-focused, scalable and adaptable infrastructure and of training the healthcare workforce necessary to support it. Subjects covered include: user participation in ICT development for older adults; interactive patient websites; application areas of multi-user virtual environments in the healthcare context; as well as governance, training and assessing the quality of data in public health information systems. The book will be of interest to all those policy makers and practitioners involved in the planning and implementation of information technology projects as part of the healthcare system.

Databases and information systems are the backbone of modern information technology, and are crucial to the IT systems which support all aspects of our everyday life; from government, education and healthcare, to business processes and the storage of our personal photos and archives. This book presents 27 of the best revised papers selected from the 43 papers accepted following stringent peer review for the 2012 International Baltic Biennial Conference on Databases and Information Systems (Baltic DB&IS 2012), held in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2012. The conference provided a forum for the exchange of scientific achievements between the research communities of the Baltic countries and the rest of the world in the area of databases and information systems, bringing together researchers, practitioners and Ph.D. students from many countries. The subject areas covered at the conference included databases, data mining and optimization in IS, business modeling, cloud computing, IS engineering tools and techniques, as well as advanced E-learning environments and technologies. The book also includes presentations from two of the invited speakers at the conference: Exponential Growth of ICT: How Long Can It Last, by Prof. Arne Sølvberg and Variable Systems Model in Information Systems Development by Prof. Marite Kirikova.

Health systems worldwide are under increasing pressure to deliver services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Telehealth, or the delivery of health services at a distance, has an important role to play in achieving this. Communication technologies are becoming more readily accessible and affordable, and an array of telehealth applications are emerging which have potential benefits for patients and clinicians, particularly in areas where health services are traditionally limited, non-existent or difficult to access. This book presents papers selected from contributions to the 2nd International Conference on Global Telehealth, held in Sydney, Australia, in November 2012. The theme of the conference was delivering quality healthcare anywhere through telehealth, and the papers collected here are those in keeping with this theme. They are also deemed to have a lasting value and capture the international diversity and variations of scope in contemporary telehealth developments. The contributions in this book cover a broad spectrum, ranging from'work in progress'laboratory studies to successfully established clinical services, and will be of interest to all those concerned with improving the provision of healthcare worldwide.

'This volume presents papers from the Ninth International Baltic Conference on Databases and Information Systems (Baltic DB&IS 2010) which took place in Riga, Latvia in July 2010. Since this successful biennial series began in 1994, the Baltic DB&IS conferences have become an international forum of high scientific criteria for academics and practitioners in the field of databases and advanced information systems, as well as for the related areas of semantic technologies, ontologies and advanced software engineering technologies for information systems development and security. The international program committee selected, after careful review of the 59 papers submitted by twelve different countries, a total of 28 papers for presentation. Of these, 27 revised and extended papers are collected in this book. The subjects covered include the integration and security of IS, semantic technologies for IS, domain specific tools and languages for IS, software engineering with models and ontologies, and model based data storages and business IS. This valuable overview of original research results will primarily be of interest to all those involved in the field of databases and information systems.'

Databases and information systems are the backbone of modern information technology and are crucial to the IT systems which support all aspects of our everyday life; from government, education and healthcare, to business processes and the storage of our personal photos and archives. This book presents 22 of the best revised papers accepted following stringent peer review for the 11th International Baltic Conference on Databases and Information Systems (Baltic DB&IS 2014), held in Tallinn, Estonia, in June 2014. The conference provided a forum for the exchange of scientific achievements between the research communities of the Baltic countries and the rest of the world in the area of databases and information systems, bringing together researchers, practitioners and Ph.D. students from many countries. The subject areas covered at the conference focused on big data processing, data warehouses, data integration and services, data and knowledge management, e-government, as well as e-services and e-learning.

Healthcare systems around the world are going through immense changes as innovative approaches to healthcare delivery are adopted to reduce cost and improve quality of care. Health informatics professionals are increasingly required to support these changes, and innovation, learning from experience and sharing ideas are essential to delivering the promises of e-health. This book presents the proceedings of the 21st Australian National Health Informatics Conference (HIC 2013), held in Adelaide, Australia in July 2013. The theme of HIC 2013 is ‘Digital Health Service Delivery – the Future is Now!', emphasising the urgency of the need to embrace and advance the field of health informatics. The 28 papers in this volume examine and discuss directions, successes and other factors which need to be considered by all those involved in developing or implementing new health informatics systems. They present a wide diversity of work ranging from deeply theoretical to intensely practical, and represent experiences not only from Australasia, but also from many other parts of the world. Topics covered include: the design of viable and sustainable telehealth services, building an educated health informatics workforce, how to prepare health professionals for e-health as a life long learning process, improving the cancer patient journey, designing a diabetes mobile application with social network support, as well as many others. This book will be of interest to all those involved in the current and future provision of healthcare services.

Ambient Intelligence Perspectives II contains selected papers from the second international Ambient Intelligence Forum – AmIF 2009, held in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. This book aims to point to a multifaceted nature of Ambient Intelligence. It presents Ambient Intelligence in five different perspectives. The first perspective focuses on general issues and discusses the concepts of Ambient Intelligence. Second perspective deals with Ambient Intelligence enablers that facilitate the development of concepts and approaches. Third perspective presents applications of Ambient Intelligence in various fields and activities. Fourth perspective is concerned with Ambient Intelligence as being materialized in intelligent environments integrating devices and knowledge in order to assists and support humans. The last perspective covers the cognitive aspects of Ambient Intelligence.

It is almost 120 years since Alzheimer's disease (AD) was first reported, and the concept of managing some of the modifiable risk factors associated with the disease has been present from the outset. Intervening to manage risk factors as a way of tackling AD is not new, but optimizing brain health as a way of minimizing risk and maximizing the potential benefits of revolutionary new treatments for AD is becoming increasingly important. This book, the Handbook of Intervention and Alzheimer's Disease, presents 47 papers exploring factors which may either inspire or inform future treatment and clinical trials. While novel interventions such as anti-amyloid immunotherapy present great opportunities, they may also increase the risk of brain bleeds and edema, which in turn may lead to adverse clinical outcomes. Such adverse outcomes are demonstrably more likely to occur in persons with poor brain health, so improved management of the risk factors which make up the AD preventome will also minimize the risks associated with such novel therapies. The papers in this volume can therefore be thought of as offering insight into those factors that can optimize brain health or providing key insights into interventions which may achieve such outcomes. Together with its companion volume on prevention, the book provides a comprehensive overview of strategies for tackling Alzheimer's disease, and will be of interest to all those working in the field. Cover illustration: Improved hypoperfusion (resolving blue colors) on ASL MRI Z-score maps superimposed on structural MRI scans at baseline and one year in a PET amyloid-positive research participant with cognitive complaints undergoing one year of multi-domain personalized brain health interventions (vascular disease management, dietary optimization, sustained physical activity etc.). Permission to use this figure was granted both by the study P.I. Dr. David Merrill, MD, PhD, of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute and the research participant.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly developing field of computer science which integrates multiple disciplines such as computer science, psychology, and philosophy. It is a technology that develops theories, methods, technologies, and application systems to simulate, extend, and expand human intelligence by attempting to understand its essence, producing a new, intelligent machine that can respond in a way similar to human intelligence. Artificial intelligence now plays an increasingly important role in the development of global industries and economies, and as such is currently changing our world significantly, making AI research a hot topic worldwide. This book presents the proceedings of ICICTA 2023, the 16th International Conference on Intelligent Computing Technology and Automation, held on 24-25 October 2023 in Xi'an, China. The conference is an annual forum dedicated to emerging and challenging topics in AI and its applications, and its aim is to bring together an international community of researchers and practitioners in the field of AI to share the latest research achievements, discuss recent advances influence future direction, and promote the diffusion of the discipline throughout the scientific community at large. A total of 322 submissions were received for ICICTA 2023, and each paper received at least 2 review reports in a rigorous peer-review procedure. Based on these reports, 141 papers were ultimately accepted and are included in this book. The book offers a current overview of developments in AI technology, and will be of interest to all those working in the field.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly developing field of computer science which now plays an increasingly important role in many disciplines. A catalyst for significant change, research into AI is of particular importance in fields such as medicine and education, and as such has become an area to watch for many people worldwide. This book presents the proceedings of AIMEE 2023, the 7th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Medical Engineering and Education, held on 9 and 10 November 2023 in Guangzhou, China. The conference brought together top international researchers from around the world to exchange research results and address open issues in AI, medical engineering and education. A total of 238 submissions were received for AIMEE 2023, of which 89 papers were selected for presentation and publication after a rigorous international peer review process. The book is divided into 3 sections, covering artificial intelligence and scientific methodology; systems engineering and analysis: concepts, methods, and applications; and education reform and innovation. Presenting papers which explore and discuss many novel concepts and methodologies contributing to the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its applications, the book will be of interest to all those working in the relevant fields.

Computer graphics, multimedia and communications technology are now so much a part of life for most people in the developed world, that doing without them has become almost unthinkable. This book presents 10 papers selected from the 42 papers delivered at the ICCSCT 2023, the 5th International Conference on Computer Systems and Communication Technology, held on 24 and 25 November 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The conference provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators from around the world to showcase and discuss the latest innovations, trends, challenges, and solutions in the fields of computer systems and engineering, computer graphics and multimedia, and communication technology. Topics are varied, and those covered include: improving mass-gathering management using process-mining techniques; research into monocular-vision target detection and localization under non-orthographic conditions; the use of Python, Owlready and Sparql in processing the words in an ontological model of public political discourse; and the development of a 3D visualization-training system for switch-room safety procedures. Offering a varied overview of some of the recent developments and innovations in computer systems and engineering, computer graphics and multimedia, and communication technology, the book will be of interest to all those working in the field.

A reliable and sustainable energy supply is a prerequisite for any stable and prosperous society, and the volatility of international supply chains, coupled with the increasing threat of a global climate crisis, mean that developing and maintaining efficient and dependable energy systems for the future is more important than ever. This book presents selected papers from NEFES 2023, the 8th International Conference on New Energy and Future Energy Systems, held from 21 to 24 November 2023 in Matsue, Japan. The conference encompasses a number of different areas, including power system operation, biomass energy, fuel energy, solar energy, thermal energy, energy materials, energy technology, and other related fields. From a total of 84 submissions received, 12 peer-reviewed papers were selected for publication in this book. Ranging widely, from renewable energy policy planning for a low-carbon economy and the impact of lightning-induced wildfires on power systems to the energy supply capacity of micro energy grids and safety design technologies for a sodium-cooled fast reactor, the papers included here offer a fascinating insight into the challenges and solutions encountered in modern energy systems. Covering a wide range of topics related to energy and energy systems, the book will be of interest to all researchers, engineers, and educators working in the field.

Applied intelligence, integrated with software, is an essential enabler for science and the new economy, creating new markets and new directions for a more reliable, flexible and robust society and empowering the exploration of our world in ever more depth. The available software, however, often falls short of expectations, with current methodologies, tools, and techniques still neither robust enough nor sufficiently reliable to adequately serve a constantly changing and evolving market. This proceedings presents 40 papers delivered at SoMeT 24, the 23rd edition of the International Conference on New Trends in Intelligent Software Methodology Tools, and Techniques, held on 24 and 25 September 2024 in Cancun, Mexico. The conference explored new trends and theories, illuminating the direction of developments by discussing issues ranging from research practices to techniques and methodologies and proposing and reporting on the solutions needed for global world business, and this book aims to capture the essence of a new state-of-the-art in software science and its supporting technologies, and to identify the challenges that such technologies will have to master. The 40 papers included here were carefully selected following a thorough review process on the basis of technical soundness, relevance, originality, significance, and clarity, whereby each paper was reviewed by three or four reviewers. The book brings together the work of scholars from the international research community, and will be of interest to all those working in the field of intelligent software methodology, tools, and techniques.

This book presents the proceedings of COMMA 2024, the 10th biennial International Conference on Computational Models of Argument, held from 18 to 20 September 2024 in Hagen, Germany. The COMMA conference series provides a dedicated forum for the presentation and discussion of the latest advancements in this interdisciplinary field, covering basic research, systems and innovative applications and nurturing the steady growth of interest in computational-argumentation research worldwide. A total of 63 submissions was received for the conference, and after a thorough review process 26 were accepted as full papers, with a further 12 accepted as demos accompanied by an extended abstract, and 2 as full papers with accompanying demo, resulting in an acceptance rate of 53% for full papers and 63% for papers and demo abstracts combined. In addition to these 40 papers, extended abstracts of the 3 invited talks are also included here: Semantics in Argumentation: Classifications and Challenges, by Leila Amgoud; Expanding the Scope of Bayesian Argumentation, by Ulrike Hahn; and The Long Road to Trustworthy Natural Language Argumentation, by Serena Villata. The book provides a fascinating overview of current research and innovations, and will be of interest to all those working in the field.

Developments in AI are occurring rapidly, with new applications constantly on the increase, and one of the areas in which interesting developments are always taking place is that of intelligent equipment and special robots. This book presents papers from ICIESR 2023, the 2nd International Conference on Intelligent Equipment and Special Robots, held from 20 to 22 October 2023 in Qingdao, China. The conference series has established a platform for experts, researchers, and students working in related fields to present, exchange, and discuss the latest advances and developments, linking various branches of science and technology. It promotes innovation in, and the application of, intelligent equipment and special robots, and fosters the development of related industries, and this year's conference brought together 180 participants. A total of 206 submissions was received for the conference, of which 185 were selected for peer review, in the course of which they were evaluated for theme, structure, method, content, language, and format. Of these, 80 papers were accepted for presentation and publication, resulting in an acceptance rate of 39%. Topics covered include intelligent detection technology, smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, mechatronics technology, and creative and entertaining robots, among others. Providing a current overview of recent developments in the field, the book will be of interest to all those whose work relates to intelligent equipment and special robots.

Science-fiction author William Gibson is famously quoted as saying, “The future is already here – it's just not very evenly distributed.” During the Covid pandemic, telehealth and remote monitoring were elevated from interesting innovations to essential tools in many healthcare systems, but not all countries had the infrastructure necessary to pivot quickly, amply demonstrating the negative consequences of the digital divide. This book presents the proceedings of MedInfo 2023, the 19th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics, held from 8 – 12 July 2023 in Sydney, Australia. This series of biennial conferences provides a platform for the discussion of applied approaches to data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in health and wellness. The theme and title of MedInfo 2023 was The Future is Accessible, but the digital divide is a major concern for health and care-informatics professionals, whether because of global economic disparities, digital literacy gaps, or limited access to reliable information about health. A total of 935 submissions were received for the conference, of which 228 full papers, 43 student papers and 117 posters were accepted following a thorough peer-review process involving 279 reviewers. Topics covered include: information and knowledge management; quality, safety and outcomes; health data science; human, organizational and social aspects; and global health informatics. Significant advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented reality, virtual reality, and genomics hold great hope for future healthcare planning, delivery, management, education, evaluation, and research, and this book will be of interest to all those working to not only exploit the benefits of these technologies, but also to identify ways to overcome their associated challenges.

The field of hybrid human-artificial intelligence (HHAI), although primarily driven by developments in AI, also requires fundamentally new approaches and solutions. Multidisciplinary in nature, it calls for collaboration across various research domains, such as AI, HCI, the cognitive and social sciences, philosophy and ethics, and complex systems, to name but a few. This book presents the proceedings of HHAI 2024, the 3rd International Conference on Hybrid Human-Artificial Intelligence, held from 10-14 June 2024 in Malmö, Sweden. The focus of HHAI 2024 was on artificially-intelligent systems that cooperate synergistically, proactively and purposefully with humans, amplifying rather than replacing human intelligence. A total of 62 submissions were received for the main track of the conference, of which 31 were accepted for presentation after a thorough double blind review process. These comprised 9 full papers, 5 blue sky papers, and 17 working papers, making the final acceptance rate for full papers 29%. Acceptance rate across all tracks of the main program was 50%. This book contains all submissions accepted for the main track, as well as the proposals for the Doctoral Consortium and extended abstracts from the Posters and Demos track. Topics covered include human-AI interaction and collaboration; learning, reasoning and planning with humans and machines in the loop; fair, ethical, responsible, and trustworthy AI; societal awareness of AI; and the role of design and compositionality of AI systems in interpretable/collaborative AI, among others. Providing a current overview of research and development, the book will be of interest to all those working in the field and facilitate the ongoing exchange and development of ideas across a range of disciplines.

Smart mobile systems such as microsystems, smart textiles, smart implants, sensor-controlled medical devices, together with related body, local and wide-area networks, are part of the next-generation of health services, and have become important enablers for telemedicine and ubiquitous pervasive health. The multilateral benefits of pHealth technologies offer enormous potential for the improvement of medical quality, for the management of healthcare costs, and perhaps most importantly for improving patient experience. This book presents the proceedings of pHealth2024, the 20th conference in the pHealth series, held in Rende, Italy from 27 – 28 May 2024. The conference series brings together expertise from medical, technological, political, administrative, and social domains, and even from philosophy and linguistics to share and discuss the latest developments in wearable or implantable micro and nano technologies for personalized medicine. The book includes 1 keynote paper, 24 full papers, 8 poster papers and 2 panels from a total of 111 authors from around the world. All submissions were carefully and critically reviewed by at least two independent experts from a country other than the author's home country, and additionally by at least one member of the Scientific Program Committee, a rigorous selective process guaranteeing the high scientific level of the accepted and published papers. Offering a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in personalized medicine, the book will be of interest to researchers and practitioners alike, as well as to all those working in the planning and delivery of healthcare services.

Computers and electronics have become so ubiquitous in daily life that we rarely give them a second thought these days, and even image processing is something else that we now largely take for granted. This book presents the proceedings of IPEC2024, the 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Image Processing, Electronics and Computers, held from 12 to 14 April 2024 in Dalian, China. The aim of the IPEC conferences is to facilitate exchange and collaboration between academic researchers and industry, driving interdisciplinary integration and innovative development in image processing, electronics, and computer engineering. A total of 207 full paper submissions were received for the conference, of which 61 papers were ultimately selected for presentation at the conference and publication here after a rigorous review process which took into account significance, novelty, and technical quality. These are divided into 3 sections: Image Processing; Electronics and Automation; and Computer Application. Topics covered transcend the boundaries of traditional disciplines and reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the conference. They include graphics, computer vision, signal and information processing, distributed systems, software information engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and automation and control engineering. The book provides a current overview of the latest developments, and will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts alike. It will be of interest to all those working in the fields of image processing, electronics, and computers.

Human resource management (HRM) has undergone a significant transformation over the years, evolving from a purely administrative function to become a strategic partner in business growth. The concept of disruptive human resource management (DHRM) has emerged in the digital era, blending people, technology, and strategy to reshape organizational landscapes. At the heart of disruptive HRM lies an emphasis on people, with employees no longer viewed as merely a resource, but recognized as a valuable asset capable of driving innovation and growth. This book presents the proceedings of DHRM 2024, the International Conference on Disruptive Human Resource Management, held on 13 and 14 January 2024 in Bhubaneswar, India. The objective of the conference was to provide a platform for researchers and policy makers to discuss emerging, disruptive technologies in HR and people analytics. The book is divided into 3 sections. The first, contains 18 papers on human capital with technical space; the category that forms the backbone of DHRM. The second section covers business strategy, and presents 10 papers. The final section contains 11 papers dedicated to people management, and includes topics such as the application of big data analysis and prediction in hotel room pricing and the design and implementation of an intelligent question-answering robot based on DCU and ChatGLM6B models. Aligning people practices with business strategies can drive innovation, improve competitiveness, and create sustainable value, and this book will be invaluable to all those working in HR with an interest in disruptive human-resource management.

In its broadest sense, artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence exhibited by machines; computer systems in particular. Founded as an academic discipline in 1956, it was not until 2012, when deep learning outperformed previous AI techniques, that interest and investment increased enormously, ultimately leading to the situation today where it is sometimes hard for us to imagine a life without AI. This book presents the proceedings of CCIA2024, the 26th edition of the International Conference of the Catalan Association for Artificial Intelligence, held from 2 – 4 October 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. The CCIA conferences now serve as a forum to bring together participants working on AI research from around the world. A total of 68 papers was received for the conference, and this book contains 26 long papers, 19 short papers, and 4 long abstracts (49 papers) which were ultimately accepted following a thorough peer review process, resulting in an acceptance rate of 72%. These are divided into 5 sections: machine learning and deep learning applications; natural language processing (NLP); artificial intelligence ethics and decision support systems; robotics and autonomous systems; and specialized applications of AI, and cover a wide range of AI domains, such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, data science, and reinforcement learning. Critical AI applications across a number of fields are explored, including healthcare, smart services, environmental monitoring, and manufacturing, and topics such as the ethical considerations of AI, voice cloning, and decision-making support systems are also examined. Providing a current overview of new developments and ideas, the book will be of interest to all those working in the field of AI development.

The use of biomedical informatics and other advanced technologies have become increasingly important in the effort to promote health and wellbeing for all. This book presents the proceedings of GMDS 2024, the 69th conference of the German Society of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, held from 8 – 11 September 2024, in Dresden, Germany. The theme of GMDS 2024 was Health - thinking, researching, acting together, and the conference provided a platform for leading professionals in the fields of biomedical informatics, biometrics, epidemiology, social medicine & prevention, medical sociology and public health to present the latest developments and research in the field. Of the 79 full papers submitted for the conference, 40 were ultimately selected for presentation and publication here following a rigorous review process, an acceptance rate of 51%. The 40 papers are grouped under 9 section headings: healthcare IT systems; research infrastructure for biomedical research - FAIRification of medical data; study and data management; interoperability - standards, classifications, terminologies; knowledge representation; clinical decision support systems (CDSS),machine learning, artificial intelligence and large language models; machine learning and privacy; medical sociotechnical systems, human factors, usability; and imaging. Presenting some of the latest developments in preventive and curative healthcare and science, the book will be of interest to healthcare professionals everywhere.

Semantic systems encompass a variety of technologies that play a fundamental role in our daily lives, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, knowledge graphs and ontology engineering, and enterprise vocabulary management. This book presents the proceedings of SEMANTiCS 2024, the 20th International Conference on Semantic Systems, held from 17 to 19 September 2024 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The conference has become recognized as important international event providing a regular opportunity for professionals and researchers actively engaged in harnessing the power of semantic computing and artificial intelligence to gather and discuss the possibilities and practical limitations of various transformative technologies. These include semantic web and artificial intelligence, as well as areas such as data science, machine learning, logic programming, content engineering, social computing, natural language processing, digital humanities, and many more. A total of 95 submissions were received for the conference. These were subjected to a double-anonymous peer review process, with a minimum of 3 independent reviews for each submission, after which 26 papers were accepted for presentation and publication, representing an acceptance rate of 27%. The papers are divided into 6 sections: knowledge engineering with large language models; embeddings and machine learning on knowledge graphs; ontologies and knowledge graphs; linked data management; question answering and querying systems; and digital humanities and cultural heritage. Providing an overview of emerging trends and themes within the vast field of semantic computing and artificial intelligence, the book will be of interest to all those working in the field.

There is a global shortage of personnel in the healthcare workforce, a situation which seems unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future, and it is vital that approaches and innovations are found to mitigate the negative impact of these shortages on healthcare. The WHO has a global strategy for digital health, the success of which depends, to a great extent, on state-of-the-art health-information technology and the outcomes of health-informatics research. This book presents the proceedings of MIE2024, the 34th Medical Informatics Europe Conference, held from 25 - 29 August 2024 in Athens, Greece. The theme of MIE2024 was Digital Health and Informatics Innovations for Sustainable Healthcare Systems. Nearly 700 submissions were received for the conference. A thorough review process was conducted, following which a total of 341 full papers, were accepted from the 494 submitted (an acceptance rate of 69%), together with 64 short communication papers, 84 posters, 6 demonstrations, 13 panels, 12 workshops, and 2 tutorials. All accepted full papers, short communication papers and posters are included in these proceedings. Topics covered include databases, user-centred design, information systems, usability, privacy, security, secondary use of health data, data integration, interoperability, and standardisation, as well as clinical guidelines, AI and xAI, decision support, pattern recognition, medical imaging, natural language processing, deep learning, doctor-chatbot interaction, health literacy, and education. Offering a broad overview of the technology which promises to improve population health and access to healthcare delivery, the book will be of interest to healthcare professionals everywhere.

Automation has been ubiquitous in our lives for many years now, but advances in artificial intelligence have added a new dimension to control systems, and innovative developments are constantly emerging. This book presents the proceedings of MEAAC2024, the 2nd International Conference on Mechanics, Electronics, Automation and Automatic Control, held from 15 - 17 June 2024 in Ordos, China. The MEAAC conference series focuses on research and application challenges, and is dedicated to the promotion of academic exchange within and across disciplines, as well as to addressing theoretical and practical challenges and advancing current understanding and application. It also aims to establish connections and enable future collaboration. MEAAC2024 hosted around 100 attendees from home and abroad. A total of 61 papers were submitted for the conference, and an initial selection process resulted in 43 papers being sent for peer review, after which 34 papers were ultimately selected for presentation and publication, an acceptance rate of 56%. The book is divided into 3 sections: electrical engineering (6 papers), control engineering (8 papers), and mechanical engineering (20 papers). Topics covered include machinery manufacturing and measurement, mechatronics, electric power systems, and computers and artificial intelligence in control. Providing an up to date overview of current developments, the book will be of interest to all those working in the fields of mechanics, electronics, automation and automatic control.

Communication is the cornerstone of effective healthcare, and the digital age has ushered in new paradigms for professional collaboration. Digital tools have revolutionized how healthcare providers, academics, industries, caregivers, and patients interact, enhancing workflows, promoting teamwork, and leading to better health outcomes. This book presents the proceedings of EFMI STC 2024, the 23rd European Federation for Medical Informatics Special Topic Conference, held from 27 to 29 November 2024, in Timisoara, Romania. The theme of the conference was Collaboration across Disciplines for the Health of People, Animals and Ecosystems, and its aim was to provide each participant with the opportunity to contribute to the breaking down of silos and geographic borders and the creation of a cohesive environment. In total, 86 full papers were submitted for the conference, of which 52 were ultimately selected for presentation and publication after a thorough peer review process, resulting in an acceptance rate of 60%. The papers are divided into four sections: One Digital health and climate change; health informatics education and interprofessional collaboration; healthcare information systems; and health data science and analytics. Topics covered include integration of data; digital communication and collaboration; new paradigms and tools in healthcare education; integration of technologies into the doctor-patient relationship; healthcare information systems for people and animals; and human aspects in digital health. Providing a comprehensive overview of the ways in which information technology is changing healthcare worldwide, the book will be of interest to all those working towards the shaping of a healthier future.

The field of AI has grown enormously since 1974, when a summer conference on Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour was held in Brighton, UK. This milestone in the history of AI has since come to be thought of as the 1st European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI). This book presents the proceedings of ECAI-2024, the 27th European Conference on Artificial Intelligence. This 50th-anniversary edition of the conference, with the theme of celebrating the past and inspiring the future, was held from 19 to 24 October 2024 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Included here are 544 Main Track papers (selected from 2,344 submissions, acceptance rate 23%), and 18 Demo Track papers (57 submissions, acceptance rate 32%). These cover all areas of AI, including planning, search, constraints, satisfiability, knowledge representation, uncertainty, data mining, machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, multiagent systems, and robotics. Multi-disciplinary aspects such as the interplay between humans and machines, fairness, ethics, and trust are also covered. Also included in the book are eight invited papers on Frontiers in AI and the abstracts of 14 recently-published journal papers not previously presented at a conference with archival proceedings. ECAI-2024 was held concurrently with PAIS-2024, the 13th edition of the Conference on Prestigious Applications of Intelligent Systems, and the peer reviewed papers accepted for presentation at PAIS (35 papers from 71 submissions, acceptance rate 49%) also form part of this book. Offering a comprehensive overview of recent research and developments in AI, the book will be of interest to all those working in the field.

Universal design, inclusive design, design for all, innovation for all, and accessibility are some of the concepts aimed at making products, environments, and services usable and accessible for diverse users, regardless of ability, age, or background. While these terms imply common goals, they each offer distinct approaches to creating inclusive solutions. This book presents the proceedings of UD2024, the 7th International Conference on Universal Design, held from 20 to 22 November 2024 in Oslo, Norway. Although this UD conference series uses the term universal design, it also welcomes researchers and practitioners from the other disciplines designing for diverse user groups in the hope that this will result in a wider spectrum of viewpoints, and will help to unite these various approaches to advance the field. A total of 97 scientific papers were submitted to the conference, of which 60 were accepted for publication after a rigorous, 2 stage, peer review process. These 60 papers are grouped into 11 sections, covering theory and policy perspectives; co-design, community engagement, design methods and tools; universal design for health, wellbeing and equity; universal design and education; universal design in the built environment; architecture, sustainability and design tools; urban planning and navigation; universal design and transport; inclusive tourism and cultural heritage; universal design of ICT, digital accessibility and inclusion; and AI and XR. The book integrates knowledge and perspectives from users, practitioners, researchers, experts and policy makers, and will be of interest to all those working in the field of inclusive design.

Combining the principles of innovative design with the application of intelligent manufacturing technologies brings significant benefits for production and product development and offers the possibility of achieving a more intelligent, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing industry. This book presents the proceedings of IDIM 2024, the 2024 International Conference on Innovative Design and Intelligent Manufacturing, held on 20 and 21 July 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. The aim of the IDIM conference is to gather scholars, experts, and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in the fields of innovative design and intelligent manufacturing. The focus is on interdisciplinary intersections and exploring how design innovation and intelligent manufacturing technologies can drive industrial progress and societal development. A total of 369 submissions were received for the conference. All papers were reviewed by between 2 and 4 independent experts, and based on the reviewer's comments 127 papers were eventually accepted for presentation at the conference and publication in this book, resulting in an acceptance rate of 34%. Topics covered include digitization and automation in manufacturing processes; smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0; additive manufacturing and 3D printing; smart sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT); innovative design and user experience; human-machine collaboration and interfaces; sustainable manufacturing; and environmental technologies. Combining creative thinking with advanced technology, the book offers an overview of developments in the merging fields of innovative design and intelligent manufacturing, and will be of interest to all those working at the cutting edge of manufacturing technology.