98 research outputs found
Accessibility of Health Data Representations for Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities for Design
Health data of consumer off-the-shelf wearable devices is often conveyed to users through visual data representations and analyses. However, this is not always accessible to people with disabilities or older people due to low vision, cognitive impairments or literacy issues. Due to trade-offs between aesthetics predominance or information overload, real-time user feedback may not be conveyed easily from sensor devices through visual cues like graphs and texts. These difficulties may hinder critical data understanding. Additional auditory and tactile feedback can also provide immediate and accessible cues from these wearable devices, but it is necessary to understand existing data representation limitations initially. To avoid higher cognitive and visual overload, auditory and haptic cues can be designed to complement, replace or reinforce visual cues. In this paper, we outline the challenges in existing data representation and the necessary evidence to enhance the accessibility of health information from personal sensing devices used to monitor health parameters such as blood pressure, sleep, activity, heart rate and more. By creating innovative and inclusive user feedback, users will likely want to engage and interact with new devices and their own data
A Game-based Psychotherapy Intervention Model for Memory Disorder: Model Validation Using EEG Neurofeedback Data
Game-based psychotherapy intervention is a promising alternative to non-pharmacological approaches in treating memory disorders. Nevertheless, the game-based approach is yet to be included systematically in existing intervention models for treating memory disorders. Hence, this article discusses how a proposed gamebased psychotherapy intervention is developed and validated using neurofeedback approach. The proposed model consists of nine exogenous and six instantaneous factors as the main components. To ensure its applicability, a validation procedure has been carried out through a series of psychotherapy experiments involving the elderly with memory disorder symptoms. Electroencephalogram (EEG) data captured from the experiments are thoroughly analysed to validate relationships among factors in the model. Experimental findings have proven that all relationships are successfully validated and supported except for the belief component with the cut-off point of 56.6%. The novelty of this study can be attributed to the integration of digital games and neurofeedback in psychotherapy for memory disorders. The model is believed to be a guideline in planning suitable cognitive training and rehabilitation for people with memory disorders towards improving the quality of the elderly life
'Protecting our best brother China': fangirls, youth political participation and nationalism in contemporary China
The ongoing concern with the intersection of fandom and nationalism has sparked discussions of civic and political participation in different social contexts. This research investigates ‘fangirls’, a young female-led fan community of Chinese pop idols that gained attention from a high-profile event in 2019, the ‘Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement’. Participants from Hong Kong and mainland China engaged in dramatic clashes on social media. The clashes stemmed from the Hong Kong protesters’ condemnation of local celebrities for their silence on sensitive political issues out of the fear of damaging commercial interest on the mainland. In response, the fan communities from the mainland mobilised under the slogan ‘Protect Our Best Brother A’Zhong (China’s nickname)’, flooding to Twitter and Instagram to ‘occupy’ the protesters’ threads. This action turned from a fan-based campaign in defence of the idols into a nationalist movement in defence of China. By doing an ethnographic study with both online and offline components, I investigate the cultural practice, political subject, and historical significance of fangirls. After providing a historical overview of youth political participation in modern China, I lay out the theoretical framework and explain the research design of this study. The first empirical chapter examines the development of China’s idol culture and emphasise the idea of ‘persona’ in fangirls’ activities in a data-driven media context. Fangirls developed distinct principles of action in quasi-political activities that have been appropriated for political participation. Chapter Five then explores how fangirls became nationalists. China was ‘idolised’ as ‘Brother A’Zhong’ and the notion of ‘brotherland’ emerged, while the principles derived from fandom reshaped fangirls’ perceptions of ‘civility’ and ‘rationality’ in the cultural and political realms. The last empirical chapter focuses on the historical significance of fangirls, which has received little attention. I situate fangirls within the history of China’s modernisation and explore how they reimagined their relationship with the nation-state. By a historically informed sociological approach and an interdisciplinary analytical framework, my efforts of revisiting the nationalist expressions of fangirls advance the understanding of both fandom culture and youth political participation
High Frequency Physiological Data Quality Modelling in the Intensive Care Unit
Intensive care medicine is a resource intense environment in which technical and clinical decision making relies on rapidly assimilating a huge amount of categorical and timeseries physiologic data. These signals are being presented at variable frequencies and of variable quality. Intensive care clinicians rely on high frequency measurements of the patient's physiologic state to assess critical illness and the response to therapies. Physiological waveforms have the potential to reveal details about the patient state in very fine resolution, and can assist, augment, or even automate decision making in intensive care. However, these high frequency time-series physiologic signals pose many challenges for modelling. These signals contain noise, artefacts, and systematic timing errors, all of which can impact the quality and accuracy of models being developed and the reproducibility of results. In this context, the central theme of this thesis is to model the process of data collection in an intensive care environment from a statistical, metrological, and biosignals engineering perspective with the aim of identifying, quantifying, and, where possible, correcting errors introduced by the data collection systems. Three different aspects of physiological measurement were explored in detail, namely measurement of blood oxygenation, measurement of blood pressure, and measurement of time. A literature review of sources of errors and uncertainty in timing systems used in intensive care units was undertaken. A signal alignment algorithm was developed and applied to approximately 34,000 patient-hours of simultaneously collected electroencephalography and physiological waveforms collected at the bedside using two different medical devices
Using audit and feedback to improve colonic polyp detection, qualitative studies within the national endoscopy database automated performance reports to improve quality outcomes trial (NED APRIQOT)
M.D ThesisColorectal cancer (CRC) arises from polyps, and polyp detection and resection at
colonoscopy is pivotal in preventing CRC. Colonoscopists with a low polyp detection rate
have a higher rate of CRC after colonoscopy. The National Endoscopy Database Automated
Performance Reports to Improve Quality Outcomes Trial (NED-APRIQOT) is a randomised
cluster control trial of electronic audit and feedback (A&F) in English endoscopy centres. This
MD aimed to (1) assess the acceptability of colonoscopy key performance indicators (KPIs);
(2) develop an evidence-based and theoretically informed behaviour change intervention
(BCI), an A&F endoscopist performance report, for implementation in the trial; and (3)
explore pre-trial experiences of endoscopy A&F.
A narrative review of A&F and KPIs in the colonoscopy literature was undertaken. This
informed selection of KPIs for a Delphi consensus, to determine the clinical acceptability of
KPIs available through the NED. A panel of UK experts in colonoscopy, reflecting the varied
professional backgrounds performing endoscopy, undertook three rounds rating statements
and provided free-text comments. A case-mix adjusted mean number of polyps (MNP) was
chosen for the trial.
An A&F behavioural theory review informed the design of a draft BCI. Interviews were
undertaken with 19 endoscopists from six English NHS endoscopy centres, purposively
sampled for clinical background and professional experience. The BCI was iteratively refined
through rounds of cognitive interviews in which participants interacted with and ‘talked
aloud’ about the BCI. The finalised BCI was implemented in the NED-APRIQOT.
These participants also undertook semi-structured interviews exploring current colonoscopy
A&F practices. A framework thematic analysis mapped themes to Feedback Intervention
Theory (FIT) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. A FIT-based model described A&F’s
intended and paradoxical effects on endoscopist behaviour. Detection and patient safety
were dependent on coaching, team behaviours and unit-leads managing underperformance.
Future endoscopy A&F interventions should consider targeting behaviours using theoretical
models
The Augmented Learner : The pivotal role of multimedia enhanced learning within a foresight-based learning model designed to accelerate the delivery of higher levels of learner creativity
The central theme for this dissertation lies at the intersection of multisensory technology enhanced learning, the field of foresight and transformative pedagogy and their role in helping to develop greater learner creativity. These skills will be key to meeting the needs of the projected growing role of the creative class within the emerging global workforce structure and the projected growth in R&D and the advancement of human-machine resource management. Over the past two decades, we have traversed from the Industrial Age through the Information Age into what we now call postnormal times, manifested partly in Industry 4.0. It is widely considered that the present education system in countries with developed economies is not optimised for delivering the much-needed creative skills, which are prominent amongst the critical 21st C skills required by the creative class, (also known as creatives), which will be increasingly dominant in terms of near future employability. Consequently, there will be a potential shortfall of creatives unless this issue is rapidly addressed.
To ensure that the creative skills I aimed to enhance were relevant and aligned with emerging demands of the changing landscape, I deconstructed the critical dimensions, context, and concept of creativity in postnormal times as well as undertaking in-depth research on the potential future workscape and the future of education and learning, applying a comprehensive foresight approach to the latter using a 2030-2040 horizon.
Based upon the outcomes of these studies I designed an experimental integrative learning system that I have applied, researched, and evolved over the past 4 years with over 150 students at PhD and master’s level. The system is aimed at generating higher levels of creative engagement and development through a focus on increased immersion and creativity-inducing approaches. The system, which I call the Living Learning System, is based upon eight integrated elements, supported by course development pillars aimed at optimizing learner future skill competencies and levels of creativity for which I apply severalevaluation techniques and metrics.
Accordingly, as the central hypothesis of this dissertation, I argue that by integrating the critical elements of the Living Learning System, such as emerging multisensory technology enhanced learning coupled with optimised transformative and experiential learning approaches, framed within the field of foresight, with its futures focus and decentralised thinking approaches, students increase their ability to be creative. This increased ability is based on the student attaining a richer level of personal ambience through deeper immersion generated through higher incidence of self-direction, constructivism-based blended pedagogy, futures literacy, and a balance of decentralised and systems-based thinking, as well as cognitive and social platforms aimed at optimizing learner creative achievement.
This dissertation demonstrates how the application of the combined elements of the Living Learning System, with its futures focus and its ensuing transdisciplinary curricula and courses, can provide a clear path towards significantly increased learner creativity.
The findings of the quantitative, questionnaire-based research set out in detail in Chapter 9, together with the performance and creativity evaluation models applied against the selected case studies of student projects substantiate the validity of the hypothesis that the application of the Living Learning System with its futures focus leads to increased creativity in line with the needs of the postnormal era.publishedVersio
Measuring knowledge sharing processes through social network analysis within construction organisations
The construction industry is a knowledge intensive and information dependent industry. Organisations risk losing valuable knowledge, when the employees leave them. Therefore, construction organisations need to nurture opportunities to disseminate knowledge through strengthening knowledge-sharing networks. This study aimed at evaluating the formal and informal knowledge sharing methods in social networks within Australian construction organisations and identifying how knowledge sharing could be improved. Data were collected from two estimating teams in two case studies. The collected data through semi-structured interviews were analysed using UCINET, a Social Network Analysis (SNA) tool, and SNA measures. The findings revealed that one case study consisted of influencers, while the other demonstrated an optimal knowledge sharing structure in both formal and informal knowledge sharing methods. Social networks could vary based on the organisation as well as the individuals’ behaviour. Identifying networks with specific issues and taking steps to strengthen networks will enable
to achieve optimum knowledge sharing processes. This research offers knowledge sharing good practices for construction organisations to optimise their knowledge sharing processes
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