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Firms are beginning to use chatbots to collect information from users (e.g., online reviews), a task traditionally done through forms. We used two experiments to investigate how collecting reviews using chatbots in place of forms might impact user experience and, in turn, alter the nature of the reviews submitted by users. Study 1 compares chatbots to web forms, finding that chatbots may improve perceived efficiency but otherwise have no discernible effect on satisfaction and usage intention. At the same time, chatbot usage results in shorter, lower-quality reviews. While structured templates enhance form-based reviews, introducing structure to chatbot interactions does not positively impact satisfaction and usage intent, potentially making the process less efficient. Nonetheless, a structured chatbot approach yields longer reviews and mitigates declines in quality. Adding structure to a chatbot takes the chat out of the chatbot, turning the interaction from casual conversation to a formal process, as demonstrated in Study 2. Hence, while this structured approach for chatbots improves review quality without harming satisfaction and usage intent, it may not be the most effective method for enhancing the reviewer experience. Our research shows that the chatbot and structure pulled users towards contradicting genre rules (the social structures that guide technology use) and triggered users to subconsciously enact distinctly different thought patterns as they composed reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our study addresses the challenges limiting the adoption of Extended Reality (XR) Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), mainly focusing on device quality and cybersickness. We aim to investigate the impact of hardware and software on user experience and task performance while wearing Video See-Through (VST) HMDs. We employ a novel methodology designed to bridge the gaps identified in previous research.Methods: This study uses a convergent mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data in a within-subjects evaluation involving 20 participants. This comprehensive evaluation examines visual perception, visual quality, and user experience through a range of tasks. Usability, comfort, and cybersickness are assessed, with insights derived from both user performance metrics and subjective measures collected through in-depth interviews and comments. The study includes three distinct HMDs—two prototypes (PD1 and PD2) and one commercial device (CD1)—to provide a broad analysis of the technology.Findings: Our findings reveal that while participants were generally satisfied with VST mode, their preferences varied across devices. CD1 was preferred for its realistic color representation and superior reading task performance due to its high-resolution display and camera. However, visual disturbances and temporal issues differed across devices, with CD1 exhibiting fewer artifacts when stationary but showing more disturbances when participants were moving. Participants found PD1 and PD2 more comfortable for extended use and fewer cybersickness symptoms, but they highlighted color and display resolution issues. These variations underscore the importance of considering both qualitative and quantitative measures in HMD evaluations.Conclusion: This mixed-methods evaluation emphasizes the limitations of relying solely on visual perception performance measures for VST HMDs. By integrating both quantitative and qualitative insights, we offer a more detailed evaluation framework to identify design flaws and user experience issues that quantitative metrics alone might miss. This methodology contributes to the field by illustrating how a mixed-methods approach provides a broader perspective on XR technology, guiding future improvements and enhancing VST adoption in future applications.

Institutions in the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) sector serve the public as institutions for cultural heritage, identity, education, experience, and leisure. The goals of these institutions are becoming more closely aligned and they have shared a turn from being collection-centred to a focus on users and visitors. When these institutions also face similar challenges brought on especially by digitalization, there is increasing discourse in scholarly literature and among GLAM professionals about the drivers, impacts and opportunities of convergence for the sector. There remains however, scant empirical examination of user/visitor perception and experience of such convergence. This research addresses this knowledge gap and investigates a converged GLAM case institution, Te Ara 'Atea in New Zealand through a user/visitor survey. The survey findings suggest that users/visitors perceive and experience fewer issues with convergence relative to benefits. A novel insight from this research is that the concept of GLAM convergence can positively contribute to cultural and community wellbeing. As for perceived issue within the convergence space, of particular interest is the concept of unsanctioned touch of displayed objects/artworks, and the alleged unclear behavioral norms in converged environments. The findings also point to further considerations and implications regarding GLAM disciplinary boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistance systems have been widely adopted in the manufacturing sector to facilitate various processes and tasks in production environments. However, existing systems are mostly equipped with rigid functional logic and do not provide individual user experiences or adapt to their capabilities. This work integrates human factors in assistance systems by adjusting the hardware and instruction presented to the workers' cognitive and physical demands. A modular system architecture is designed accordingly, which allows a flexible component exchange according to the user and the work task. Gamification, the use of game elements in non-gaming contexts, has been further adopted in this work to provide level-based instructions and personalised feedback. The developed framework is validated by applying it to a manual workstation for industrial assembly routines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Multiple intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) in a wireless system are considered to enhance performance, efficiency, and flexibility in wireless networks. In this paper, we analyze outage probability (OP) for multiple IRS panels‐assisted wireless systems over Nakagami‐ m fading channels. We focus on selecting the best IRS panel to maintain the quality of service and enhance the user experience. We derive two closed‐form OP expressions using the central limit theorem and Laguerre series expansion. Additionally, we develop a novel asymptotic OP expression and obtain a novel diversity order. The diversity order of the considered system model depends on the minimum fading parameter (m) between the transmitter‐IRS panel and IRS panel‐receiver links and the number of IRS panels. We thoroughly investigate the impact of system parameters and validate our analytical results with simulations. Our findings emphasize that diversity order depends on the minimum fading parameter (m) between the transmitter‐IRS panel and IRS panel‐receiver links, the number of IRS elements in each panel, and the number of IRS panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deployment of increasingly diverse services on edge devices is becoming increasingly prevalent. Efficiently deploying functionally heterogeneous services to resource heterogeneous edge nodes while achieving superior user experience is a challenge that every edge system must address. In this paper, we propose a container-node graph (CN-Graph)-based container optimal matching deployment algorithm, edge Kuhn-Munkres algorithm (EKM) based on container-node graph, designed for heterogeneous environment to optimize system performance. Initially, containers are categorized by functional labels, followed by construction of a CN-Graph model based on the relationship between containers and nodes. Finally, the container deployment problem is transformed into a weighted bipartite graph optimal matching problem. In comparison with the mainstream container deployment algorithms, Swarm, Kubernetes, and the recently emerged ECSched-dp algorithm, the EKM algorithm demonstrates the ability to effectively enhance the average runtime performance of containers to 3.74 times, 4.10 times, and 2.39 times, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Method Results Conclusion Stroke survivors often face challenges in recovery and reintegration after acute care. Home‐based rehabilitation, incorporating advanced technologies like Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), shows promise for improving long‐term outcomes by providing more accessible, high‐intensity, and task‐oriented rehabilitation outside traditional clinical settings.This study assessed efficacy and usability of a 10‐week home‐based rehabilitation protocol for 52 individuals with chronic stroke. The intervention featured a cloud‐based platform, a mobile application, and functional electrical stimulation devices. Participants were categorized into groups for tailored exercise training and received both synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Efficacy was measured through standardized motor function tests, while usability was evaluated based on adherence, patient satisfaction, and the frequency of technical support requests.High adherence (74.03%) and a satisfaction of 73% were observed. On average, patients performed on average 414 min of unsupervised exercise per week. Significant improvement, including a median decrease of 6.08 s (22%) in Timed Up and Go (TUG) [z (24) = 4.17, p < 0.001], a median decrease of 4.04 s (17%) in Five Times Sit to Stand (5STS) [z (28) = 3.96, p < 0.001], Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) showed a mean increase of 3.2 ± 2.8 points, paired t‐test [t (20) = −5.01 p < 0.001] and an increase of 0.095 m/s (28%) in 10‐Meter Walk Test (10MWT) [z (24) = 3.71, p < 0.001]. Clinical relevance was observed in all outcome measures compared with the reported Minimum Detectable Change.This evaluation of a home‐based physiotherapy protocol indicates that integrating FES devices with virtual platforms and mobile applications can sustain high adherence while improving functional outcomes in chronic stroke rehabilitation. The prescription of high‐intensity training, significant improvements in balance, gait, and overall functionality were observed, highlighting the viability of this approach for home‐based programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic surgery, also known as robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), has rapidly evolved during the last decade. RAS systems are developed to assist surgeons to perform complex minimally invasive surgeries, and necessitate augmented interfaces for precise execution of these image-guided procedures. Extended Reality (XR) technologies, augmenting the real-world perception via integrating digital contents, show promise in enhancing RAS efficacy in various studies. Despite multiple reviews on technological and medical aspects, the crucial elements of human-robot interaction (HRI) and user experience (UX) remain underexplored. This review fills this gap by elucidating HRI dynamics within XR-aided RAS systems, emphasizing their impact on UX and overall surgical outcomes. By synthesizing existing literature, this systematic review study identifies challenges and opportunities, paving the way for improved XR-enhanced robotic surgery, ultimately enhancing patient care and surgical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on two issues: first, what are the factors that bring different user experiences to viewers on sports event platforms, and second, how should operators of sports event platforms better optimize the user experience of sports event platforms according to the influencing factors of viewers’ experiences. This paper takes the Tencent sports event platform as an example, and takes the technology acceptance model as the basis, introduces the user experience wheel model, and the relevant variables of the information construction theory to construct the user experience model of the sports event platform. conducted an online survey on the viewers of Tencent’s sports platform, and the complete replies of 312 individuals were included in the analysis. The regression model shows that improving service functions effective elements from the user’s perspective and enhancing brand design implementation elements from the perspective of sports event platforms can both have a significant positive impact on user experience, and the impact of service functions effective elements is stronger than that of brand design implementation elements. This study expands the applicability of relevant models and theories, enriching the empirical research system of user experience on sports event platforms. In practice, factors influencing user experience of sports event platforms have been discovered and verified, providing some reference opinions for optimizing platform information architecture, graphic interface design, increasing the commercial value of sports event platform brands, and promoting the sustainable development of the platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAdvances in artificial intelligence, specifically convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have significantly enhanced the ability to analyze and interpret consumer behaviors to digital advertising. This study explores the application of CNNs to predict consumer interest by analyzing facial expressions during advertisement viewing. The research aims to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of two CNN architectures in classifying consumer engagement, and (2) identify emotions that correlate with engagement. Utilizing the NeuroBioSense dataset, we extracted and processed 10,450 video frames for the models. Performance was assessed through precision, recall, F1 score, and AUC. Results indicate that both CNNs effectively distinguish between interested and disinterested responses, with Xception achieving higher precision and recall compared to ResNet-50. Happiness was identified as a strong indicator of consumer interest, while disgust and fear were associated with disinterest. These findings demonstrate that CNN-based emotion analysis can provide valuable insights for personalizing marketing strategies and enhancing efficacy of digital advertising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe increasing availability of technology-mediated cognitive stimulation tools is evident in the contemporary landscape. However, the acceptance of these tools by older adults is not always satisfactory. One of the reasons is that some were not designed with the perspective of older adult users. In light of this, user-centered design assumes paramount importance in enhancing technology adherence. This paper aims to elucidate the redesign process of a cognitive stimulation web lab (LABPSI) from the perspective of user experience and based on user-centered design, intending to improve accessibility and appeal for older adults, the targeted end users. Objective and subjective measures were recorded both before and after the web lab redesign to assess changes in participant performance and acceptance. The study included both healthy and mild cognitive impairment participants. Both groups demonstrated improved performance following the lab redesign. These findings suggest that the redesign process, guided by a user-centered perspective, results in a technologically satisfactory product tailored for the intended end users, in this case, older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At Ontario International Airport (ONT), elevating the customer experience goes beyond increasing operational efficiency. By using a comprehensive, data-driven approach to creating a customer journey map, ONT gains a clear and comprehensive understanding of a passenger's experience throughout the airport. This paper identifies key problems, areas of success and opportunities for improvement, leading to informed decision making and strategic investments that elevate overall customer satisfaction. Readers will learn the purpose and application of a customer journey map, including how to identify critical touchpoints and visualise the user experience from start to finish. The paper also introduces behavioural science tools, such as retina-scanning glasses, which help benchmark current experiences and uncover gaps in service. Additionally, it highlights the role of data-driven insights in influencing future design strategies, considering spatial features, emerging trends, policy changes and technology integration. The paper describes how to analyse and prioritise recommendations across each touchpoint, fostering cross-organisational consensus and guiding strategic investments in enhancing the airport experience. This knowledge is vital for professionals looking to innovate in service and infrastructure improvements, ensuring a world-class experience for airport passengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to enhance user experience on online learning platforms by investigating design principles, usability evaluation techniques, and redesign processes. A total of 150 participants, divided equally among students, educators, and professionals, were stratified by age, gender, education level, and familiarity with online learning. Various evaluation methods, including heuristic evaluation, guideline reviews, and cognitive walkthroughs, were employed. Metrics such as task success rate, time-on-task, and Net Promoter Score (NPS) were used to quantify user satisfaction and effectiveness. Additionally, five qualitative interviews were conducted for deeper insights. The results revealed specific usability issues and demonstrated the effectiveness of the applied evaluation techniques. Post-redesign metrics indicated significant improvements in user satisfaction and engagement. The study underscores the importance of a multi-faceted approach to design and evaluation in online learning platforms and suggests avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown that involving users in design processes is a key factor in understanding user needs and essential for designing computer systems capable of providing valuable user experiences. However, many practitioners do not emphasize user needs sufficiently and neglect user involvement in software design and development. The UCD Sprint is a recently proposed, step-by-step, cost-effective process that focuses on involving users in design activities. This article reports a mixed-method study in which, for the first time, practitioners working in companies used the UCD Sprint; the study's main objective was to investigate the impact of the UCD Sprint on practitioners' design practices. The results show that, among the various activities associated with this process, those that involved users were particularly appreciated by practitioners. Thus, the UCD Sprint can enhance the innovativeness of company design practices; it enables practitioners to obtain sufficient information to create systems that fit users' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on visual menus, specifically panel and pie menus, has gained widespread attention in recent times. However, limited research focuses on the mid-air interaction when comparing these two menu types. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive comparison between panel and pie menus in the context of cursor-based mid-air interaction within a photo booth setting. The evaluation involved analyzing muscle activities, performance metrics, and user experience to quantify the differences between the two menus across three menu operations. Our results indicated that the pie menu offered notable advantages by reducing muscular loads, achieving shorter task completion times, and delivering an overall more enjoyable user experience, making it a preferable choice for mid-air interaction in photo booth settings. Conversely, the panel menu exhibited superior scores of learnability and demonstrated enhanced accuracy in the switching operation, suggesting that it might be a better choice for complex and precision-demanding tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A healthcare provider's gender not only influences patients' health-related behaviors but also the reliability of health information. Grounded in the Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) theory and prior health literature, the current study examines how healthcare chatbots' gender cues and user gender affect intentions to use the chatbot and chatbot expertise perceptions. Using a 3 (Chatbot Gender Cues: Chatbot vs. Male Doctor vs. Female Doctor) X 2 (User Gender: Male vs. Female) between-subjects experiment, this study indicates that the female-doctor design cues led to significantly higher perceived warmth and communication satisfaction, which subsequently increased social presence and future intentions to use the chatbot. Results also indicated a significant gender congruence effect between female users and the female-doctor design cue chatbot to yield greater communication satisfaction. This study, however, did not find a significant difference in perceived expertise between male versus female doctor design cues. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates fast and precise Virtual Reality (VR) sketching methods with different tool-based asymmetric interfaces. In traditional real-world drawing, artists commonly employ an asymmetric interaction system where each hand holds different tools, facilitating diverse and nuanced artistic expressions. However, in virtual reality (VR), users are typically limited to using identical tools in both hands for drawing. To bridge this gap, we aim to introduce specifically designed tools in VR that replicate the varied tool configurations found in the real world. Hence, we developed a VR sketching system supporting three hybrid input techniques using a standard VR controller, a VR stylus, or a data glove. We conducted a formal user study consisting of an internal comparative experiment with four conditions and three tasks to compare three asymmetric input methods with each other and with a traditional symmetric controller-based solution based on questionnaires and performance evaluations. The results showed that in contrast to symmetric dual VR controller interfaces, the asymmetric input with gestures significantly reduced task completion times while maintaining good usability and input accuracy with a low task workload. This shows the value of asymmetric input methods for VR sketching. We also found that the overall user experience could be further improved by optimizing the tracking stability of the data glove and the VR stylus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

User experience (UX) research in the Human-Technology Interaction (HTI) field makes use mainly of explicit (self-reported) measures to evaluate the UX of a technical product. Unfortunately, explicit measures present some limitations. For this reason, UX research could benefit from the inclusion of implicit measures (IMs) in the UX evaluation. In the social-psychological literature, the application of IMs evaluating implicit attitudes is a topic of active research; however, less knowledge is present in HTI. To this aim, we present a scoping review of the application of IMs evaluating implicit attitudes in the UX field. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for scoping reviews. A database search was undertaken using IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, ACM digital library, and Science Direct databases. Three research questions have been identified. Of the 8943 identified records, only 12 articles matched the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results suggest that a combined use of implicit and explicit measures provide a more comprehensive understanding of users' evaluation of UX yet revealing participant's divergences in attitudes toward technology especially in studies with robots or chatbots. More research is needed to disentangle this discrepancy and single out the specific factors that could influence this relationship. Taken together, IMs evaluating implicit attitudes should be strongly considered within a more integrated approach to evaluating UX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to explore the safety of users using smart glasses to read articles while walking. We explore two factors of text presentation: the number of displayed words and the control methods of the text. Three text display modes (RSVP5, 3-lines, Page) and three text control modes (Auto, Manual, Mix) are designed and implemented. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of the text display and control methods. One is to evaluate the user's responsiveness, assessing how quickly the user is allowed to initiate a behavior when faced with an immediate need to respond. The other is to evaluate the ability of users to observe the surrounding environment, assessing whether the user can have sufficient ability to notice when an abnormal situation occurs. Besides the safety aspects, we also measure users' cognitive workload, system usability, and other subjective statistics as their user experience. The experimental results showed that in the display modes, providing too much text at one time reduced the user's ability to respond, and the RSVP5 display mode resulted in a poorer user experience. In terms of the control modes, the mix control modes make it easier for users to ignore their surroundings, and the auto control mode gets the worst user experience. As a result, when considering both safety and user experience, we suggest a smart glasses reading system should display a few lines of text at a time and let the users fully and manually control the text. Finally, a few guidelines are provided suggesting how to design a smart glasses reading system for pedestrians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algorithms are pivotal in shaping our online and offline experiences, yet they can inadvertently perpetuate hostile digital environments for users. This paper introduces the concept of the unsolicited algorithm, referring to algorithms that deliver content, recommendations, or actions without explicit user consent and awareness. Drawing from a technofeminist paradigm, we explore the repercussions of such algorithms on iPhone users experiencing marginalization, especially concerning gender. To do so, we present case studies involving the iPhone iOS features For You, which can resurface distressing memories for gender-based violence survivors, and Airdrop, commonly misused for the non-consensual sharing of explicit content. By proposing the concept of the unsolicited algorithm, we encourage critical discourse on the ethical implications of automated configuration in decision-making systems and emphasize the need to prioritize user consent and transparency in algorithm and affordance design. We also advocate for algorithm designers to revisit policies, implement algorithmic interventions and consider the vulnerabilities of marginalized users while prioritizing their agency and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chatbots have transformed educational practices, and ChatGPT represents a significant development in this domain. However, more research is needed to determine how user perceptions influence the overall user experience with ChatGPT. To address this gap, this study investigates the role of ChatGPT, a revolutionary artificial intelligence – (AI)-powered chatbot, in educational settings by investigating its impact on user experience from the perspective of students. It focuses on key perceptions, including human-like personality, human-like empathy, and ChatGPT efforts, and their influence on the user experience. It also explores how ChatGPT's efforts and usage depth affect user credibility, which in turn shapes the overall user experience. Data from 516 students who have used ChatGPT for academic assignments are collected through a questionnaire, and seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) is employed for analysis. The findings contribute to the literature on AI chatbots and user experience in three ways: by offering empirical insights into ChatGPT's role in education, by identifying key perceptions and their impact on user experience, and by capturing multiple dimensions of user experience for the design and implementation of ChatGPT as an educational tool. By shedding light on the interplay between user perceptions and user experience, this study provides valuable guidance for educators and developers aiming to optimize the use of ChatGPT in educational contexts and to ensure its effectiveness as a trustworthy and supportive learning tool [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst chatbots for mental health are becoming increasingly prevalent, research on user experiences and expectations is relatively scarce and also equivocal on their acceptability and utility. This paper asks how people formulate their understandings of what might be appropriate in this space. We draw on data from a group of non-users who have experienced a need for support, and so can imagine self as therapeutic target—enabling us to tap into their imaginative speculations of the self in relation to the chatbot other and the forms of agency they see as being at play; unconstrained by a specific actual chatbot. Analysis points towards ambiguity over some key issues: whether the apps were seen as having a role in specific episodes of mental health or in relation to an ongoing project of supporting wellbeing; whether the chatbot could be viewed as having a therapeutic agency or was a mere tool; and how far these issues related to matters of the user's personal qualities or the specific nature of the mental health condition. A range of traditions, norms and practices were used to construct diverse expectations on whether chatbots could offer a solution to cost-effective mental health support at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) enable people to control external devices by focusing on repetitive visual stimuli (RVS). However, RVS can be visually annoying and cause user discomfort. To address this issue, this study proposes subtle flickering RVS to enhance visual comfort with SSVEP-based BCIs. Previous research on mitigating this discomfort has explored various stimuli characteristics, such as frequencies, colors, and patterns, but some studies are contradicting and have their limitations. This study investigates whether modulation depth (MD) can reduce user discomfort when using LCD-displayed stimuli. Specifically, MDs ranging from 1 down to 0.0125 and their effect on SSVEP response and BCI performance have been computed. Results demonstrate that stimuli with a 0.5 MD achieve accuracy and information-transfer rate (ITR) performance of 80.06% and 41.6 bpm which are at par with a baseline BCI having stimuli with a MD of 1, having 79.98% accuracy and 41.08 bpm ITR. These findings demonstrate that a lower flicker annoyance may be obtained with stimuli having a MD of 0.5. By reducing user discomfort, the proposed subtle flickering RVS can improve user experience without significant degradation in performance, potentially increasing the adoption and usability of SSVEP-based BCIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether mobile payment (MP) adopters in China extend their MP usage during their travel abroad, through the lens of continuity theory. The findings from in-depth interviews articulated six major concerns while using MP at home, namely perceived risks, costs, incompatibility, complexity, customer support, and social influence. Three major concerns for not using MP when travelling abroad include perceived security risk, costs, and incompatibility. Discontinuity of usage include past experiences and concerns about using MP in the home country, together with their negative evaluation of the MP service environment of the travel destinations. This study answers why some Chinese tourists abandon MP when they travel. Practical implications are offered to service providers to enhance users' experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]