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With the growing prevalence of digital platforms for online shopping, advertising, and marketing activities in general, it is imperative to better understand how designs of virtual elements on digital interfaces influence click behavior. Websites and online advertisements contain virtual elements such as call-to-action buttons, images, and logos. This research examines how curved versus sharp angled shapes of virtual elements in online ads and on websites influence click-through rates (CTRs). The findings of a series of studies, including three field experiments and an eye tracking study, show that website and online ad elements in curved (vs. sharp angled) shapes generate higher CTRs. Process evidence suggests that curved (vs. sharp angled) digital elements enhance visual appeal, leading to approach motivation and greater CTR. In terms of practical implications, the findings of this research have strong relevance for designing online ads and website interfaces and for digital marketing strategies. Specifically, digital marketers desiring higher click rates would benefit from having more curved (than sharp angled) virtual elements on websites and in online ads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a common-sense approach for librarians in activating their intelligence in assessing and using artificial intelligence (AI). Cited are the ways on how they can sift through the challenges posed by AI and create a balanced approach drawing on the strengths of the library, and seven things that librarians should consider in supporting and helping people they serve activate their intelligence using AI as a tool.

This paper is dedicated to the quantum chemical package Jaguar, which is commercial software developed and distributed by Schrödinger, Inc. We discuss Jaguar's scientific features that are relevant to chemical research as well as describe those aspects of the program that are pertinent to the user interface, the organization of the computer code, and its maintenance and testing. Among the scientific topics that feature prominently in this paper are the quantum chemical methods grounded in the pseudospectral approach. A number of multistep workflows dependent on Jaguar are covered: prediction of protonation equilibria in aqueous solutions (particularly calculations of tautomeric stability and pKa), reactivity predictions based on automated transition state search, assembly of Boltzmann-averaged spectra such as vibrational and electronic circular dichroism, as well as nuclear magnetic resonance. Discussed also are quantum chemical calculations that are oriented toward materials science applications, in particular, prediction of properties of optoelectronic materials and organic semiconductors, and molecular catalyst design. The topic of treatment of conformations inevitably comes up in real world research projects and is considered as part of all the workflows mentioned above. In addition, we examine the role of machine learning methods in quantum chemical calculations performed by Jaguar, from auxiliary functions that return the approximate calculation runtime in a user interface, to prediction of actual molecular properties. The current work is second in a series of reviews of Jaguar, the first having been published more than ten years ago. Thus, this paper serves as a rare milestone on the path that is being traversed by Jaguar's development in more than thirty years of its existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the potential of the Gamified Metaverse as a platform for promoting library services. The study compares the effectiveness of a traditional library program with a Metaverse- based library program in terms of knowledge acquisition and library anxiety. The research also examines students' perceptions of implementing gamification within the context of the Gamified Metaverse platform. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, including pre- and post-test analysis, statistical analysis, and qualitative data collection. The results indicate that both the traditional and Metaverse-based library programs effectively increased the participants' knowledge, with no significant difference between the two approaches. However, the Metaverse-based program was found to be less effective in facilitating interaction with librarians and reducing library anxiety. Additionally, students expressed positive perceptions of implementing gamification in the Gamified Metaverse platform, finding it engaging and motivating. These findings contribute to the understanding of the effect of the Metaverse as a tool for promoting library services and enhancing knowledge acquisition. However, it is not as effective in reducing library anxiety, particularly in terms of interaction with librarians and staff. It should be noted that the platform may have limitations such as high costs and potential side effects of virtual reality, making it more suitable as an additional tool for promoting library services, taking into account its feasibility and potential benefits for specific student populations and larger libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes librarian research on information visualization as well as general trends in the broader field, highlighting the most recent trends, important journals, and which subject disciplines are most involved with information visualization. By comparing librarian research to the broader field, the paper identifies opportunities for libraries to improve their information visualization support services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital heritage portal interfaces are generally similar to digital library and search engine interfaces in displaying search results as a list of brief metadata records. The knowledge organization and search result display of these systems are item-centric, with little support for identifying relationships between items. This paper proposes a knowledge graph system and visualization interface as a promising solution for digital heritage systems to support users in browsing related items, understanding the relationships between items, and synthesizing a narrative on an issue. The paper discusses design issues for the knowledge graph, graph database, and graph visualization, and offers recommendations based on the authors' experience in developing three knowledge graph systems for archive and digital humanities resources: the Zubir Said personal archive collection at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore; Singapore Pioneers social network; and Polyglot Medicine knowledge graph of Asian traditional and herbal medicine. Lessons learned from a small user study are incorporated in the discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chatbots are "computer agents that can interact with the user" in a way that feels like human-to-human conversation.1 While the use of chatbots for reference service in academic libraries is a topic of interest for both library professionals and researchers, little is known about how they are used in library reference service, especially in academic libraries in Canada. This article aims to fill this gap by conducting a web-based survey of 106 academic library websites in Canada and analyzing the prevalence and characteristics of chatbot and live chat services offered by these libraries. The authors found that only two libraries were using chatbots for reference service. For live chat services, the authors found that 78 libraries provided this service. The article discusses possible reasons for the low adoption of chatbots in academic libraries, such as accessibility, privacy, cost, and professional identity issues. The article also provides a case study of the authors' institution, the University of Calgary, which integrated a chatbot service in 2021. The article concludes with suggestions for future research on chatbot use in libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies are becoming increasingly autonomous, able to complete tasks on behalf of consumers without human intervention. For example, robot vacuums clean the floor while cooking machines implement recipes on their own. These autonomous products free consumers from daily chores that they used to perform manually. The current research suggests that some consumers derive meaning from completing such manual tasks, and that this meaning of manual labor acts as a barrier to the adoption of autonomous products. A series of field and experimental studies shows that consumers who score high (vs. low) on the meaning of manual labor construct tend to evaluate autonomous products less favorably and adopt them less frequently. However, making alternative sources of meaning in life salient can serve as a remedy to increase autonomous product adoption among these consumers. One such strategy is to emphasize that the time gained through the use of autonomous products can be spent on meaningful activities, thus offsetting the detrimental effects of meaning of manual labor on autonomous product adoption. The findings suggest effective interventions for firms that offer autonomous products while stressing the need to provide meaningful experiences to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a powerful global trend toward deeper integration of digital twins into modern life driven by Industry 4.0 and 5.0. Defense, agriculture, engineering, manufacturing, and urban planning sectors have thoroughly incorporated digital twins to great benefit across their respective product lifecycles. Despite clear benefits, a digital twin framework for health and medical sectors is yet to emerge. This paper proposes a digital twin framework for precision neuromusculoskeletal health care. We build upon the International Standards Organization framework for digital twins for manufacturing by presenting best available computational models within a digital twin framework for clinical application. We map a use case for modeling Achilles tendon mechanobiology, highlighting how current modeling practices align with our proposed digital twin framework. Similarly, we map a use case for advanced neurorehabilitation technology, highlighting the role of a digital twin in control of systems where human and machine are interfaced. Future work must now focus on creating an informatic representation to govern how digital data are passed to, from, and within the digital twin, as well as specific standards to declare which measurement systems and modeling methods are acceptable to move toward widespread use of the digital twin framework for precision neuromusculoskeletal health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the potential of language models such as ChatGPT to transform library cataloging. Through experiments with ChatGPT, the author demonstrates its ability to generate accurate MARC records using RDA and other standards such as the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set. These results demonstrate the potential of ChatGPT as a tool for streamlining the record creation process and improving efficiency in library settings. The use of AI-generated records, however, also raises important questions related to intellectual property rights and bias. The paper reviews recent studies on AI in libraries and concludes that further research and development of this innovative technology is necessary to ensure its responsible implementation in the field of library cataloging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses the importance of the DSpace open-source software that supports numerous digital libraries and repositories around the world. With the release of DSpace version 7, a natural question that arises is whether the new version offers enough new functionalities to motivate system administrators to upgrade. This paper briefly describes the most important changes, including new features and bug fixes, included in DSpace 7.4 and prior minor versions. The next parts of this paper explore our estimate that there are several thousand DSpace-based systems globally that will likely have to be upgraded in the near future. The main reason for this need is that older versions of DSpace (including 5.x) have reached the end of their developer support period or are reaching it in mid-2023. Based on our own upgrade experience, we propose suggestions and recommendations on migrating from the previous DSpace 6.3-based environment to the new one in a case study that concludes this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities and scientific educational institutions today need targeted information services to ensure that their user communities have the information they need. This study aims to design, develop, implement, and evaluate a mobile application for academic library services at Tarbiat Modares University (Tehran, Iran). A four-stage process was utilized to accomplish this aim. In the first phase, relevant literature was reviewed to obtain appropriate data requirements for the app. A questionnaire was designed and administered to survey expert librarians on the most suitable data requirements. The second phase involved the design of the user interface and user experience with the assistance of experts, followed by the evaluation of the experience. The third phase involved the development of the app in the Android Studio environment using the Java programming language, based on the requirements identified in the first and second phases. The app was then made available to the user community. Finally, the app was evaluated in the fourth phase using a questionnaire tool. The researchers found this approach to application development to be both economical and effective in the context of a developing country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a non-linear finite element model (FEM) to predict the load-carrying capacity of three different configurations of elliptical concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) short columns: double steel tubes with sandwich concrete (CFDST), double steel tubes with sandwich concrete and concrete inside the inner steel tube, and a single outer steel tube with sandwich concrete. Then, a parametric and analytical study was performed to explore the influence of geometric and material parameters on the load-carrying capacity of elliptical CFST short columns. Furthermore, the current study investigates the effectiveness of machine learning (ML) techniques in predicting the load-carrying capacity of elliptical CFST short columns. These techniques include Support Vector Regressor (SVR), Random Forest Regressor (RFR), Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR), XGBoost Regressor (XGBR), MLP Regressor (MLPR), K-nearest Neighbours Regressor (KNNR), and Naive Bayes Regressor (NBR). ML models accuracy is assessed by comparing their predictions with FE results. Among the models, GBR and XGBR exhibited outstanding results with high test R2 scores of 0.9888 and 0.9885, respectively. The study provided insights into the contributions of individual features to predictions using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) approach. The results from SHAP indicate that the eccentric loading ratio (e/2a) has the most significant effect on the load-carrying capacity of elliptical CFST short columns, followed by the yield strength of the outer steel tube () and the inner width of the inner steel tube (). Additionally, a user interface platform has been developed to streamline the practical application of the proposed ML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence‐based treatment for disorders characterized by recurrent binge eating. Yet, access to specialized treatment like DBT remains limited. To increase the accessibility of DBT, we developed a DBT skills training app (Resilience: eDBT) for the management of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. This paper delineates the developmental process of Resilience and tests its usability. Methods: Descriptive information on the development and features of Resilience is provided, including its framework, content structure and delivery formats, functionality, data storage procedure, and privacy protocols. Usability was assessed via a mixed methods approach in 10 symptomatic individuals. Qualitative data were organized based on an existing framework, which included six themes: usability, visual design, user engagement, content, therapeutic persuasiveness, and therapeutic alliance. Results: Resilience demonstrated good usability via a Systems Usability Scale score of 85.5, which exceeded the recommended cutoff of 68. Positive aspects of the app, according to interview data, were the ease of use and the visual design, while the addition of peer support was suggested as an opportunity for improvement. Discussion: A novel DBT‐based app may serve as an acceptable, low‐intensity option or adjunct to traditional treatment for targeting ED symptoms that emerge in daily life. However, notable limitations include the small sample size and the single time point at which the usability assessment was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the growing field of data physicalizations, which blend design, technology, and data to create tangible representations of information. Topics include the evolution of data physicalizations from abstract concepts to practical applications in areas such as science engagement, knowledge work, and physical well-being.

Today there is a wealth of data available detailing the climate impact of our actions, including the ${\rm CO}_2$ CO 2 emissions from academic flying. Despite this, such data is hard to engage with in the abstract, leading to little practical action. In this paper, we investigate how to support processes of collectively working through and making sense of environmental data about academic flying through data physicalisation. Drawing on the results from a series of workshops with stakeholders at our own university, in which we have designed and deployed a data physicalisation of flight data, we describe this process and discuss lessons learned with a focus on material, engagement with data and ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although household consumption contributes to climate change, it can be challenging to comprehend the consequences and effects from a personal perspective. In this paper, we explore the design of physical data visualisations to promote sustainable practices within households. We conducted 15 household design workshops involving household members to explore physical designs and envision the potential use of physical artefacts in the home to promote sustainability behaviours using five low to medium-fidelity prototypes. The findings from these workshops highlight the need to balance aesthetics, abstraction, and the presentation of actionable information in the design of physical artefacts. Based on our findings, we identify key design considerations for future design: (1) including all household members in the design process to reflect the collective goals and values of the home, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement, (2) considering child-friendly design in physical artefacts to promote awareness, education, engagement, and sustainable values in children, (3) and considering nature-based visuals to reduce the mental burden of information overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the "black-box' nature of artificial intelligence (AI) recommendations, interpretability is critical to the consumer experience of human-AI interaction. Unfortunately, improving the interpretability of AI recommendations is technically challenging and costly. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the industry to identify when the interpretability of AI recommendations is more likely to be needed. This study defines the construct of Need for Interpretability (NFI) of AI recommendations and empirically tests consumers' need for interpretability of AI recommendations in different decision-making domains. Across two experimental studies, we demonstrate that consumers do indeed have a need for interpretability toward AI recommendations, and that the need for interpretability is higher in utilitarian domains than in hedonic domains. This study would help companies to identify the varying need for interpretability of AI recommendations in different application scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested how speech phenomena (discourse markers like oh and you know and fillers like uh and um) and the conceptualisation of voices (as human or machine) affected speaker quality ratings (trustworthiness, friendliness, intelligence, and nervousness) across dialogues and monologues. Listeners preferred human voices over synthesised voices in dialogue containing discourse markers and fillers (Study 1). Shifting the location of discourse markers to new locations did not negatively impact ratings of what participants heard (Study 2), but hearing shifted markers did lead participants to rate imagined machine speech containing markers more negatively on a post-experiment questionnaire. Backstories also impacted perceptions of recorded speech: People rated the same synthesised speech more positively if they believed it was created by a person than if they believed it was created by machine (Study 3). Similarly, people's opinions about robots varied depending on context (Study 4). How people rate machine agents in the future will likely reflect how machine agents are portrayed to the public, capabilities aside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow experience is one of the most ambitious targets of any user interface designer. However, it has remained elusive to evaluate how well user interfaces give rise to flow experience outside conducting invasive self-reporting-based questionnaires, which remove the users from the flow experience and can't be massively applied. At the same time, otherwise, well-built systems do track the behaviour of users on the interface, and therefore, user behaviour data could act as a reliable proxy for assessing the experience of users. Currently, there is little empirical research or data about which indices of user behaviours might correspond with having a flow experience as well as the different psychological constituents of the flow experience. Therefore, facing the challenge of using users' behaviour data to model users' experience, we investigated the associations between users' behaviour data (e.g. mouse clicks, activity time in the system, and average response time) and their self-reported flow experience by using data mining (i.e. associations rules) analysing data from 204 subjects. Results demonstrate that the speed of users' actions negatively affects the flow experience antecedents while also positively affecting the loss of self-consciousness. Our study advances the literature, providing insights to identify users' flow experience through behaviour data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is an emerging software technology for automating business processes. RPA uses software robots to perform repetitive and error‐prone tasks previously done by human actors quickly and accurately. These robots mimic humans by interacting with existing software applications through user interfaces (UI). The goal of RPA is to relieve employees from repetitive and tedious tasks to increase productivity and to provide better service quality. Yet, despite all the RPA benefits, most organizations fail to adopt RPA. One of the main reasons for the lack of adoption is that organizations are unable to effectively identify the processes that are suitable for RPA. This paper proposes a new method, called Rule‐based robotic process analysis (RRPA), that assists process automation practitioners to classify business processes according to their suitability for RPA. The RRPA method computes a suitability score for RPA using a combination of two RPA goals: (i) the RPA feasibility, which assesses the extent to which the process or the activity lends itself to automation with RPA and (ii) the RPA relevance, which assesses whether the RPA automation is worthwhile. We tested the RRPA method on a set of 13 processes. The results showed that the method is effective at 82.05% and efficient at 76.19%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entering an era where humans and synthetic agents are supposed to collaborate and cooperate, adequate models of human intent are crucial for coordinated teamwork. Unfortunately, although there is a need for such models, the concept of intent is ambiguous and approaches to model intent from a human-centric perspective are scarce. Building upon theoretical and methodological foundations, this study aims to address these gaps by presenting a conceptualisation of intent alongside an approach. Specifically, leveraging the six levels of cognitive control outlined in the Joint Control Framework, a provisional model of human intent alongside a defined and operationalised concept is presented. Building on these foundations, a novel approach is proposed. Utilising seven scenario-based interviews, the value of these contributions is demonstrated through an example case in the context of Manned-Unmanned Teaming. It is concluded that intent should be understood as a multi-faceted concept shaped by situated constraints, where intent is formed through a commitment to choices by context-situation and means-end reasoning. It is also concluded that the approach is useful, particularly since it can glean insights from choices considered and committed, both being essential in the design of synthetic teammates' capability to adapt to their human partner's agency. Relevance To human factors/ergonomics theory: With theoretical and methodological foundations, a provisional model of human intent is accompanied by a definition and operationalisation of intent to enhance understanding of this often ambiguous concept. Building upon these foundations, this paper introduces and demonstrates an approach for modelling situated intent from a human-centric perspective. These contributions deepen the understanding of human intent, particularly in the context of designing and developing systems that can effectively account for and adapt to human agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of health apps and wearables has garnered substantial academic attention, particularly in examining why individuals decide to use or not use them. In response to the extensive body of research on this topic, we conducted a scoping review of 61 articles published from 2007 to 2022, aiming to examine the dominant theoretical frameworks and antecedents of health apps and wearables use. The findings demonstrated that the dominant theoretical frameworks within this domain were rooted in the human-computer interaction theories, notably the Technology Acceptance Model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Next, our review identified four levels of antecedents: technological, individual, societal, and policy. At the technological level, emphasis was placed on functionality, reliability, and technological infrastructure. Individual antecedents encompassed socio-demographics, personality traits, cognitive responses to benefits and risks, emotional and affective responses, self-efficacy, and digital literacy. Societal antecedents highlighted the role of social networks and social norms, while policy antecedents elaborated on laws, regulations, and guidelines that encouraged health technology adoption. Our discussion illuminated that the evolving trend of theoretical frameworks in health apps and wearables use research, initially rooted in human-computer interaction, is progressively moving toward more comprehensive perspectives. We further underscored the importance of delving into societal and policy antecedents, which often are overshadowed by the more commonly discussed technological and individual factors. In conclusion, we advocated for a multi-stakeholder collaborative network approach, as this would enable communication researchers to understand the use of health apps and wearables more comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this systematic review is to investigate the inclusion of autistic individuals in the design process of immersive technologies. This study follows the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses standards for systematic literature reviews. To ensure the research questions and subsequent stages of the review incorporate pertinent parameters, the problem, interest, context framework has also been employed. Findings highlight that, while early proponents of immersive technology emphasized the importance of user involvement in design of new technology, immaturity of the technology often limited the implementation of direct user input to the design process. Nonetheless, analysis of the literature published between 2002–2022 identified 20 studies in which substantial influence of autistic individuals and stakeholders was found in the design process of immersive technologies. The roles of autistic individuals varied from active co-designers and co-creators to essential contributors in refining prototypes and providing critical feedback, ensuring the final products align with their needs and preferences. Results underscore the need to align research and design of immersive technologies more closely with the priorities and preferences of autistic individuals. Further is needed regarding actively involving autistic individuals in the design and implementation of immersive technology applications. On this basis, we maintain that more inclusive and effective deployment of immersive technologies is needed in order to ensure that resultant technologies are fit for purpose and address the actual needs of the autistic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye-controlled human-computer interaction (ECHCI) attracts attention for its human-centered, natural and direct operation characteristics. The most common ECHCI trigger motion is "gazing," which causes Midas Touch problems, lowering usability and operation experience. This paper innovatively proposed using motion combinations based on blinking as the trigger of interactive objects (IOs). Trigger motions and IO design parameters were explored on the platform consisting of Tobii eye-tracker and computer vision kits. In the motion experiment, it was concluded 2-blinks could bring a low task load and high success rate of 95%. In the IO size experiment, the larger the IO diameter, the shorter the users' response time and the higher users' interaction success rate, and 55.5 mm was the optimal setting. Based on this, it was found a larger spacing could bring higher operation efficiency, and 33.3 mm was taken as the recommended value. Based on the conclusion above, an eye-controlled multimedia player prototype was built for usability evaluation, which showed an equally high efficiency compared to mouse-controlled HCI. The findings in this paper overcame Midas Touch issues and avoided the interference of unavoidable involuntary blinking, which brought a significant increase in system robustness and has a wide range of potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated a "hand cursor" technique which used an open hand to control an area cursor (i.e., a cursor with a larger active area) while using an index finger extended gesture to switch the area cursor into a point cursor (i.e., a cursor with a single pixel active area). A pointer acceleration (PA) technique based on an improved sigmoid transfer function and a selection technique were applied to the hand cursor to assist target acquisition. A method to parameterize the Z dimension movement distance of the hand was adopted to help control the size of the hand cursor. A usability experiment was conducted to compare the task performance and the user satisfaction of the hand cursor and a standard cursor. The experimental results indicated that the "hand cursor" had higher performance in small target selections and improved the user experience for young people. Based on the results of the investigation, some design suggestions and applications of the hand cursor are summarized to guide freehand interaction with the hand cursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of mobile health technology can assist in enhancing the quality of life of elderly people. Over the last few years, though mHealth research has expanded, the usage of mHealth applications among elderly is still minimal. This study aims to evaluate mobile user interfaces in mHealth applications and elicit the key ageing barriers that limit the use of such apps among the elderly. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique was used whereby 28 papers were identified and examined out of 742. In addition to the systematic review, an experiment of using 5 existing mHealth apps was conducted with 10 individuals within the age group of 60–79 to determine additional ageing barriers and usage challenges. The Questionnaire for User Interface Satisfaction approach was used to prepare a questionnaire to assess the overall system satisfaction and was provided to participants after one week of usage. In this work, issues with the user interface that impact the elderly have been highlighted. Three important ageing barriers hindering the use of mHealth among the elderly have been identified via PRISMA, namely physical, cognitive and perspective. Empirical findings from the experiment carried out further consolidate the findings obtained from the PRISMA approach. This study's investigation emphasised the performance of older persons with mHealth apps, their needs and the challenges they confront when adopting mHealth technologies. As a result, technology designers will benefit from this information when developing and designing mHealth apps and services that are suitable for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that results in narrow interest and impairments in communication and social relationships. Usually, unknown contexts generate anxiety and frustration in persons with ASD, and great impediment in accessing services, including health ones. This seriously compromises prevention and treatment interventions in different medical areas. Technology offers many opportunities for persons with ASD and can be used to act as a mediator, helping to manage communication and interpersonal relationships and to familiarize with the environment, especially in new contexts. Specifically, we used digital tools to reduce stress and anxiety while teaching adequate dental care to children with ASD (MyDentist project). To generalize the R&D approach, we followed in the context of the MyDentist project for its adoption for research and development of inclusive software in e-health. We analyze our design and development process using the three-cycle model proposed by Hevner: the relevance cycle, which connects design with the environment; the rigor cycle, which connects design with the grounding theory; and the design cycle, which builds and evaluates artifacts. We present the results obtained in the project and the lessons learned. Lessons are formalized as guidelines that are further validated by a focus group including experts and stakeholders. A set of guidelines which can drive software development and research in similar contexts. Our research will benefit e-health researchers to perform rigorous and relevant Design Science Research. It will also inform software developers of e-health solutions and healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating text input in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a long-standing area of research with bearings on the quality of life in individuals with profound motor impairments. Recent advances in large language models (LLMs) pose opportunities for re-thinking strategies for enhanced text entry in AAC. In this paper, we present SpeakFaster, consisting of an LLM-powered user interface for text entry in a highly-abbreviated form, saving 57% more motor actions than traditional predictive keyboards in offline simulation. A pilot study on a mobile device with 19 non-AAC participants demonstrated motor savings in line with simulation and relatively small changes in typing speed. Lab and field testing on two eye-gaze AAC users with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis demonstrated text-entry rates 29–60% above baselines, due to significant saving of expensive keystrokes based on LLM predictions. These findings form a foundation for further exploration of LLM-assisted text entry in AAC and other user interfaces. Individuals with severe motor impairments use gaze to type and communicate. This paper presents a large language model-based user interface that enables gaze typing in highly abbreviated forms, achieving significant motor saving and speed gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To avoid the uncertainty present in a cooperation between manual vehicles (MVs) and automated vehicles (AVs), cooperative connected automated mobility (CCAM) is frequently proposed. In this contribution, we consider the situation of a motorway slip road where an AV (SAE level 3 or higher) on the motorway cooperates by opening a suitable gap for an entering AV. To ensure a meeting of the cooperation partners, speed adjustment by the system might often be necessary. Methods: To investigate the acceptance of an automated cooperative motorway access assistant a driving simulator study (N = 41) was conducted. Participants drove six laps on a virtual test track in a level 3 AV. Three levels of speed adjustment and two levels of an HMI (with or without HMI) were tested. They experienced the automated cooperative motorway access assistant in two situations. Firstly, when they entered the motorway themselves and benefited from the system, and secondly, when the system reduced their vehicle's speed to allow for cooperation with another vehicle on a motorway slip road ahead. Results: The results show that the acceptance of the assistant depends significantly on the magnitude of speed reduction: the greater the speed adjustment, the worse the user rating, and the more often the cooperation was terminated. Obviously, the acceptance depends on the perspective: If the users themselves benefit from the speed adjustment of others, they rate the system significantly better than if they themselves must accept the restriction. Only in the case of a small speed reduction, the assistant is rated as well as if the user benefits from the system. The availability of a human-machine interface (HMI) providing information about the system status influenced acceptance only marginally but had a significant influence on the trust in the automation. Discussion: The results suggest that people are willing to accept a personal disadvantage in order to give others an advantage in the context of CCAM. However, acceptance depends on the magnitude of the disadvantage. The overall agreement scores of the system with HMI did not differ from those without HMI, although the HMI was found to slightly reduce the termination of cooperation. Three possible reasons for this result, which differs from previous research, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to analyse and discuss the results of research concerning the development of historical concepts by Greek primary education pupils when engaged in a history game based on ICT. For purposes of the research, an experimental intervention was implemented. It was addressed to 67 pupils aged 10–11 years old, using an application of a three-dimensional mixed/augmented reality with Physical User Interfaces that operated as an interactive timeline and promoted embodied learning. Knowledge, perceptions, and performances of these sample children were examined through pre-/post-tests and semi-structured interviews. The analysis of the results indicates that participants' chronological understanding and ability to handle temporal concepts, dates and chronological abbreviations was significantly improved through somatic activation, the characters of a narrated story, and the objects integrated in the timeline application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify an appropriate conceptual framework to evaluate crowdsourcing platforms from an open innovation perspective employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The initial indices of the performance evaluation framework in the crowdsourcing platforms are obtained through the Delphi method and interviews with experts. Then, using these factors, a statistical questionnaire is designed and distributed among users of crowdsourcing platforms to confirm or reject the factors. Finally, the aspects of the performance evaluation framework of crowdsourcing platforms are specified from the perspective of open innovation. Using fuzzy hierarchical analysis, these aspects are prioritized in order of importance: Collaboration, Project design, Moderation, Terms and conditions, UI/UX (user interface and user experience), and Key statistics. Concerning the principle of crowdsourcing, which is based on crowd participation and crowd intelligence of users, Collaboration and Project design turned out to be the significant factors in evaluating a crowdsourcing platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant and lactating persons in sub-Saharan Africa face a heightened risk of HIV acquisition, due to biological and behavioral factors, combined with limited access to prevention and treatment services. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the dapivirine vaginal ring are promising tools for HIV prevention, and the ring's recent approval in multiple African countries represents a significant advancement in expanding access to HIV prevention. In a nested qualitative study within the MTN-042 trial, we explored the acceptability of study products among pregnant persons in the second and early third trimesters. Interviews were conducted privately, using a semi-structured guide with 77 participants, in participants' preferred language. Topics explored included product acceptability (using the theoretical framework of acceptability), user experience, satisfaction, disclosure, community attitudes, and sexual activity during pregnancy. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Dedoose software. We observed positive attitudes among participants towards the study products, which they found generally user-friendly, despite the added complexities of using them during pregnancy. Participants recognized that consistent and correct use would provide protection for both them and their unborn children. Although initial concerns existed, most of these worries dissipated over time, with study staff support and increased product use experience. These findings emphasize the importance of continued surveillance, support, and education to ensure the successful rollout of new HIV prevention measures during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We offer a critical inquiry into the faltering entry of an anthropomorphised AI (ro)bot, an algorithm without physical or visual form, into the workplace in a media consultancy company. While living a digital life in the virtual world, the ro(bot) was given a human name. We highlight the unexpected consequences the humanisation of an early form of artificial intelligence (AI) has on the affects circulating between people and the new technology and between members of different organisational groups. We argue that anthropomorphising technologies such as AI influences the affective life of organisations and amplifies existing discontent between organisational members, complicating the introduction of the technology. Focusing on human–AI interaction, our analysis reveals a rift between managers who are excited and hopeful about the future capabilities of AI and employees who are frustrated and angry about its present shortcomings. We conclude that collective affects play a central role in contemporary technology-driven organisations in which the role people play in relation to the avalanche of AI technologies is often neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible resonant acoustic sensors exhibit enhanced sensitivity near their resonant frequencies and have attracted increasing interest as essential components for next‐generation human‐machine speech interactions. However, membrane‐based resonant acoustic sensors are bulky owing to the inherently high bending stiffness of the sensing membrane. Inspired by the tiny hair‐based sensitive acoustic receptors of spiders, this study reports a hair‐like piezoelectric resonant acoustic particle velocity sensor (HP‐APVS) that enables highly sensitive sound sensing with a significantly reduced size. The HP‐APVS device is essentially a polyimide cantilever array fabricated using Nb0.02‐Pb(Zr0.6Ti0.4)O3 (PZT) on polyimide and self‐bending processes. The experimental results demonstrate that the HP‐APVS shows a linear response to acoustic particle velocity instead of acoustic pressure, with enhanced sensitivity in the resonance mode. Additionally, the proposed HP‐APVS exhibits an outstanding speaker recognition rate of 95.3% with an error rate reduction of 75% compared with that of a reference commercial microphone, indicating many potential applications in the realms of biometric authentication, voice user interfaces, and other intelligent acoustic electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a touchscreen mobile device while walking in sunlight glare limits the visual attention. This situational visual impairment could affect the usability of these devices. This work focuses on the user interaction in situational visual impairment regarding touch gestures and no-visual feedbacks. We performed two user studies. In the first study, we modified the user interface of the two most used applications, phone calling and text messaging, using touch gesture and audio feedback while these features were not used before. Then a user study performed to extract the user preferences of modified applications in visual impairment situation. Our findings indicate that participants preferred gestures, but did not clearly indicate a preference for audio feedback. In the second study, we employed the computational evaluation to explore the distinctions between the made gestures by individuals in two different situations: with and without visual impairment. The outcomes show that in situations with visual impairment: (1) the people draw bigger and broader gestures, (2) there is higher error in features related to geometric shape, (3) familiarity of the user with gestures changes the speed and time for drawing them, and (4) there is not a critical distinctive conduct in how to apply strokes. The user interaction in situational visual impairment could be improved using touch gesture without audio feedback. This situation needs a wider area to make the gestures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible robotic systems (FRSs) and wearable user interfaces (WUIs) have been widely used in medical fields, offering lower infection risk and shorter recovery, and supporting amiable human–machine interactions (HMIs). Recently, soft electric, thermal, magnetic, and fluidic actuators with enhanced safety and compliance have innovatively boosted the use of FRSs and WUIs across many sectors. Among them, soft hydraulic actuators offer great speed, low noise, and high force density. However, they currently require bulky electric motors/pumps, pistons, valves, rigid accessories, and complex controllers, which inherently result in high cost, low adaptation, and complex setups. This paper introduces a novel soft fibrous syringe architecture (SFSA) consisting of two or more hydraulically connected soft artificial muscles that enable electricity‐free actuation, motorless control, and built‐in sensing ability for use in FRSs and WUIs. Its capabilities are experimentally demonstrated with various robotic applications including teleoperated flexible catheters, cable‐driven continuum robotic arms, and WUIs. In addition, its sensing abilities to detect passive and active touch, surface texture, and object stiffness are also proven. These excellent results demonstrate a high feasibility of using a current‐free and motor‐less control approach for the FRSs and WUIs, enabling new methods of sensing and actuation across the robotic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide nursing shortage has led to the exploration of using robotics to support care delivery and reduce nurses' workload. In this observational, mixed-method study, we examined the implementation of a robotic nurse assistant (RNA) in a hospital ward to support vital signs measurements, medication, and item delivery. Human–robot interaction was assessed in four domains: usability, social acceptance, user experience, and its societal impact. Patients in a general medicine ward were recruited to participate in a one-time trial with the RNA and a post-trial 75-question survey. Patients' interactions with the RNA were video recorded for analysis including patients' behaviours, facial emotions, and visual attention. Focus group discussions with nurses elicited their perceptions of working with the RNA, areas for improvement, and scalability. Sixty-seven patients aged 21–79 participated in the trial. Eight in 10 patients reported positive interactions with the RNA. When the RNA did not perform to expectations, only 25% of patients attributed fault to the RNA. Video analysis showed patients at ease interacting with the RNA despite some technical problems. Nurses saw potential for the RNA taking over routine tasks. However, they were sceptical of real time savings and were concerned with the RNA's ability to work well with older patients. Patients and nurses suggested greater interactivity between RNA and patients. Future studies should examine potential timesaving and whether time saved translated to nurses performing higher value clinical tasks. The utility of improved RNA's social capability in a hospital setting should be explored as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development and widespread presence of social bots online has been transforming users' online news environment. This study adopts a human-centered perspective to investigate the impact of individuals' social media usage experiences on their social bot literacy, perception of threats posed from bots, and perceived social bot control within the context of China. We collected data from surveying 1159 Sina Weibo users and conducting interviews among 20 participants. The data were used to examine (1) the relationship between social media use and social bot literacy and perceived bot control, (2) the mediating role of social bot literacy between social media use and perceived bot control, and (3) the moderating role of perceived threat from bots in this relationship. The results of the analysis suggested a significant moderated mediation model in which social bot literacy mediated the correlation between social media use and perceived bot control and individuals' perceived threat further moderated this relationship. Specifically, for those with a higher level of perceived threat, their indirect effect of social media use was lower compared to those with a lower level of perceived threat from bots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory Design (PD) is a commonly used method in Western cultures with roots in Scandinavia. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many PD practitioners have transitioned to an online space, where researchers and participants from different geographical locations can co-design together. Yet, we do not fully understand how different cultures collide, mix and blend in the online co-design space. By understanding how one's culture influences the participation of a child, researchers can better structure sessions to elicit diverse input. This study examines a case study of researchers and participants from South Korea and the United States co-designing together. Close analysis of video recordings, analytic memos, and parent/child interview data demonstrates the ways in which children participated in design sessions. Facilitators paid special attention to various cultural sensitivities. Applying the theory of cultural awareness from public health literature, we offer implications on how scholars who are not fully embedded in the culture where co-design happens can understand other cultural norms and in response, create spaces in which co-design can occur successfully despite different cultural norms. Our findings show how different parts of the ecological systems from ideology, education systems, and ethnicity all influence children's participation in sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual assistants allow users to interact with apps using a conversational mode. A particular kind of device supporting virtual assistants is the smart speaker, which allows end users to access contents and services, perform searches and command smart environments via voice interaction. These devices are gaining relevance among users, and the number of apps available for giving them more conversational capabilities grows constantly. However, there is a gap between what can be achieved using these devices and the information available on the web, i.e. most web apps don't have one smart speaker app counterpart. In this work, we present a two-step approach to defining conversational interfaces for virtual assistants based on existing web sites. During the first step, the user creates web content blocks, which describe target contents and the strategy for retrieving them. In the second step, the user uses web content blocks to specify the conversational interface. Although the approach could be considered generic enough for any kind of conversational interface, we focus our research on voice user interfaces, considering smart speaker apps as a major target. With our approach, apps based on voice user interfaces for smart speakers may be developed in a no-code manner. We describe and illustrate the approach by presenting usage examples and an evaluation using the Alexa service and an Amazon Echo device. The evaluation shows promising results for two case studies where there is no significant difference between the user experience when comparing solutions developed using the Alexa SDK versus apps using our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a time when diverse forms of automated visual feedback systems on speech are introduced to the Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) community, our research investigates the possible design spaces and design implications to consider when creating them. We utilised a Wizard of Oz prototype that recognises fillers during speech and sends out real-time feedback in the form of a flickering screen and a post-report with graphic charts. We let 27 participants use this prototype and interviewed them about their general experience of using such systems. Based on thematic analysis, we propose eight design implications to consider when designing an automated visual feedback system on speech. Additionally, we discuss the possible future for automated visual feedback systems on speech where they collaborate with fields such as personal informatics (quantified self), self-determination theory (SDT) and motivation, and other socio-ethnic areas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern smart TV can record viewers' daily life-watching experiences called digital logs. These logs can be used for various purposes, including but not limited to recommendations, monitoring viewers, watching behavior, memory augmentation, e-learning, viewers' privacy, and designing and developing adaptive User Interfaces (UI). Much work is available on lifelogging technologies related to smartphones, fitness gadgets, and wearable and non-wearable devices. However, little attention has been given to smart TV-based lifelogging systems. In this paper, we proposed a TV-based SmartLog framework for logging specific information about watching experiences. The proposed work is implemented and installed on Android-based Smart TV. We logged various activities of individual viewers and other household members and their environmental contexts. We empirically evaluated the proposed solution by analyzing data from 75 household viewers of different age groups. These groups include teenagers, homemakers, senior citizens, literate, and educated. We carried out various tests on the collected data, ie, descriptive tabulation, Kendall's tau-b, Cronbach alpha, and Principal Component Factor Analysis (PCFA). The findings suggest that the SmartLog app received a positive perception regarding attitude, user satisfaction, ease of use, and intention to use. The proposed solution can be used to assist household viewers in terms of personalization, usability, accessibility, user experience, learnability, and reducing cognitive overload while interacting with smart TV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of misinformation on social media is a critical issue. One potential solution to mitigate the spread is user corrections; however, users often refrain due to various concerns. Leveraging the established influence of user interface design (UID) on how user interact with and respond to misinformation, this study investigates how user interface features can be designed to motivate users to challenge misinformation. It is aimed at gaining insights into users' needs and UID requirements that encourage this behaviour. We conducted four codesign sessions with 18 social media users (age range 20–60 years M = 39.1; 10 female and 8 male). We applied the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as a theoretical framework and analysed our data based on the core constructs of this framework: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. Our findings reveal four design considerations: creating secure and supportive environments, facilitating informed discussions through easy confrontation and access to reliable resources, leveraging recognition and social proof, and user support infrastructure. We also identified specific design elements with users, including indirection, semianonymity and privacy, simplicity, one‐click challenging, easy access to reliable sources, recognition, displaying social proof, and platform support. These elements are aimed at reducing social discomfort and making the process of correcting misinformation more approachable for users. Our findings offer actionable insights for social media platform designers to reduce the spread of misinformation by creating environments that encourage constructive dialogues and allow users to challenge misinformation without fear of conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel architecture for value, preference, and boundary alignment in large language models (LLMs) and generative AI systems, accompanied by an experimental implementation. It addresses the limitations in AI model trustworthiness stemming from insufficient comprehension of personal context, preferences, and cultural diversity, which can lead to biases and safety risks. Using an inductive, qualitative research approach, we propose a framework for personalizing AI models to improve model alignment through additional context and boundaries set by users. Our framework incorporates user-friendly tools for identification, annotation, and simulation across diverse contexts, utilizing prompt-driven semantic segmentation and automatic labeling. It aims to streamline scenario generation and personalization processes while providing accessible annotation tools. The study examines various components of this framework, including user interfaces, underlying tools, and system mechanics. We present a pilot study that demonstrates the framework's ability to reduce the complexity of value elicitation and personalization in LLMs. Our experimental setup involves a prototype implementation of key framework modules, including a value elicitation interface and a fine-tuning mechanism for language models. The primary goal is to create a token-based system that allows users to easily impart their values and preferences to AI systems, enhancing model personalization and alignment. This research contributes to the democratization of AI model fine-tuning and dataset generation, advancing efforts in AI value alignment. By focusing on practical implementation and user interaction, our study bridges the gap between theoretical alignment approaches and real-world applications in AI systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, engine room simulators have become an important tool for maritime training, but programming engine room simulators often involves handling large amounts of data, making the process inefficient. This paper proposes an innovative visual modeling method for the ship pipeline network program in engine room simulators, aimed at addressing the heavy programming tasks associated with traditional text-based design and calculation methods when dealing with complex and large-scale pipeline systems. By creating Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) images and using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) to place controls, an intuitive graphical user interface is built, allowing programmers to easily operate through the graphical interface. Subsequently, You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5) object detection technology is used to identify the completed SVG images and WPF controls, generating corresponding Comma-Separated Values (CSV) files, which are then used as data input via C# (C Sharp). Through automated data processing and equipment recognition, compared to traditional manual design processes (such as using Matlab or C++ for pipeline design), this method reduces human errors and improves programming accuracy. Customization of key pipeline characteristics (such as maximum flow and flow direction) enhances the accuracy and applicability of the pipeline network model. The intuitive user interface design also allows nonprofessional users to easily design and optimize pipeline systems. The results show that this tool not only improves the efficiency of data processing and calculation but also demonstrates excellent performance and broad application prospects in the design and optimization of ship pipeline systems. In the future, this tool is expected to be more widely promoted in ship pipeline network education and practical applications, driving the field towards more efficient and intelligent development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractNull hypothesis significance testing (NHST) is widely used in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI), and caution has been advised against deciding whether to stop or continue an experiment based on checking p-values. However, in clinical trials, NHST with interim analysis is commonly employed by adjusting the α levels to control Type I error rates. This approach, known as a group sequential design, can also be beneficial in the HCI field. We analyzed existing datasets of target-pointing tasks using group sequential designs and experimentally demonstrated that, depending on the α-level correction method, we could reduce the number of participants by 40.4–56.5%. Therefore, employing group sequential designs enables significant time and cost savings for both participants and researchers in the HCI field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a MATLAB GUI-based interface has been developed that can be integrated with GNSS receivers. Through this interface developed for calculation and querying purposes, Qibla direction application with geodetic precision can be achieved using coordinate information of a corner of the mosque and its facade length, without the need for auxiliary geodetic measurement devices and computational burden. Furthermore, interface allows users to query the Qibla directions in mosques for inspection. It has been found that 2% of the mosques are outside the Qibla direction, 51% are outside the Miqat boundaries, and 8% are within the Haram boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveDesignStudy sampleResultsConclusionsThis study investigated a previously evaluated self-adjustment procedure with respect to its applicability for asymmetrical hearing loss (AHL). Self-adjusted settings were evaluated for speech recognition in noise and sound preference.Participants were given the possibility to adjust the left and right hearing aid separately using a two-dimensional user interface. Two different adjustment sequences were tested. Realistic everyday sound scenes in a laboratory environment were presented. The difference between the ears regarding their speech recognition in noise was tested with two spatial conditions, unaided as well as with the prescriptive formula and the self-adjusted setting.Nineteen experienced hearing aid users (median age 76 years) with different degrees of AHL were invited to participate in this study.Participants adjusted a higher gain slope across frequency in the worse ear than in the better one. The two adjustment sequences resulted in significantly different adjustment durations and gain settings. The difference between the ears regarding speech recognition in noise did not change with the self-adjustment. Overall, group-mean effect sizes were small compared to the parameter space.The adjustment procedure can be used also by hearing aid users with AHL to find a possibly preferred gain setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]