131 research outputs found
Reimagining Robotic Walkers For Real-World Outdoor Play Environments With Insights From Legged Robots: A Scoping Review
PURPOSE
For children with mobility impairments, without cognitive delays, who want to participate in outdoor activities, existing assistive technology (AT) to support their needs is limited. In this review, we investigate the control and design of a selection of robotic walkers while exploring a selection of legged robots to develop solutions that address this gap in robotic AT. METHOD
We performed a comprehensive literature search from four main databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore. The keywords used in the search were the following: âwalkerâ, ârollatorâ, âsmart walkerâ, ârobotic walkerâ, ârobotic rollatorâ. Studies were required to discuss the control or design of robotic walkers to be considered. A total of 159 papers were analyzed. RESULTS
From the 159 papers, 127 were excluded since they failed to meet our inclusion criteria. The total number of papers analyzed included publications that utilized the same device, therefore we classified the remaining 32 studies into groups based on the type of robotic walker used. This paper reviewed 15 different types of robotic walkers. CONCLUSIONS
The ability of many-legged robots to negotiate and transition between a range of unstructured substrates suggests several avenues of future consideration whose pursuit could benefit robotic AT, particularly regarding the present limitations of wheeled paediatric robotic walkers for childrenâs daily outside use.
For more information: Kod*lab (link to kodlab.seas.upenn.edu
Risk Exposure to Particles â including Legionella pneumophila â emitted during Showering with Water-Saving Showers
The increase in legionellosis incidence in the general population in recent years calls for a better characterization of the sources of infection, such as showering. Water-efficient shower systems that use water atomization technology may emit slightly more inhalable bacteria-sized particles than traditional systems, which may increase the risk of users inhaling contaminants associated with these water droplets.
To evaluate the risk, the number and mass of inhalable water droplets emitted by twelve showerheadsâeight using water-atomization technology and four using continuous-flow technologyâ were monitored in a shower stall. The water-atomizing showers tested not only had lower flow rates, but also larger spray angles, less nozzles, and larger nozzle diameters than those of the continuous-flow showerheads. A difference in the behavior of inhalable water droplets between the two technologies was observed, both unobstructed or in the presence of a mannequin. The evaporation
of inhalable water droplets emitted by the water-atomization showers favored a homogenous distribution in the shower stall. In the presence of the mannequin, the number and mass of inhalable droplets increased for the continuous-flow showerheads and decreased for the water-atomization showerheads. The water-atomization showerheads emitted less inhalable water mass than the continuous-flow showerheads did per unit of time; however, they generally emitted a slightly higher number of inhalable dropletsâonly one model performed as well as the continuous-flow
showerheads in this regard.
To specifically assess the aerosolisation rate of bacteria, in particular of the opportunistic water pathogen Legionella pneumophila, during showering controlled experiments were run with one atomization showerhead and one continuous-flow, first inside a glove box, second inside a shower stall. The bioaerosols were sampled with a CoriolisÂź air sampler and the total number of viable (cultivable and noncultivable) bacteria was determined by flow cytometry and culture. We found that the rate of viable and cultivable Legionella aerosolized from the water jet was similar between the two showerheads: the viable fraction represents 0.02% of the overall bacteria present in water, while the cultivable fraction corresponds to only 0.0005%. The two showerhead models emitted a similar ratio of airborne Legionella viable and cultivable per volume of water used. Similar results were obtained with naturally contaminated hoses tested in shower stall. Therefore, the risk of exposure to Legionella is not expected to increase significantly with the new generation of water-efficient showerheads
SHELDON Smart habitat for the elderly.
An insightful document concerning active and assisted living under different perspectives: Furniture and habitat, ICT solutions and Healthcare
Domestic Practices and User Experiences Pre- and Post- Occupancy in a Low-Carbon Development
Examination of how household practices, resource flows and social contexts change after moving into an innovative development in Western Australia, with a focus on the home system of practice. This research demonstrates that while some aspects of domestic practices may change when the context changes, entrenched habits and personal practice history prescribe how practices are performed and the subsequent resources consumed
Boosting children's creativity through creative interactions with social robots
Creativity is an ability with psychological and developmental benefits. Creative levels are
dynamic and oscillate throughout life, with a first major decline occurring at the age of 7 years
old. However, creativity is an ability that can be nurtured if trained, with evidence suggesting an
increase in this ability with the use of validated creativity training. Yet, creativity training for
young children (aged between 6-9 years old) appears as scarce. Additionally, existing training
interventions resemble test-like formats and lack of playful dynamics that could engage children
in creative practices over time. This PhD project aimed at contributing to creativity stimulation
in children by proposing to use social robots as intervention tools, thus adding playful and
interactive dynamics to the training. Towards this goal, we conducted three studies in schools,
summer camps, and museums for children, that contributed to the design, fabrication, and
experimental testing of a robot whose purpose was to re-balance creative levels. Study 1 (n =
140) aimed at testing the effect of existing activities with robots in creativity and provided initial
evidence of the positive potential of robots for creativity training. Study 2 (n = 134) aimed at
including children as co-designers of the robot, ensuring the robotâs design meets childrenâs
needs and requirements. Study 3 (n = 130) investigated the effectiveness of this robot as a tool
for creativity training, showing the potential of robots as creativity intervention tools. In sum,
this PhD showed that robots can have a positive effect on boosting the creativity of children.
This places social robots as promising tools for psychological interventions.Criatividade Ă© uma habilidade com benefĂcios no desenvolvimento saudĂĄvel. Os nĂveis de
criatividade sĂŁo dinĂąmicos e oscilam durante a vida, sendo que o primeiro maior declĂnio
acontece aos 7 anos de idade. No entanto, a criatividade Ă© uma habilidade que pode ser nutrida se
treinada e evidĂȘncias sugerem um aumento desta habilidade com o uso de programas validados
de criatividade. Ainda assim, os programas de criatividade para crianças pequenas (entre os 6-9
anos de idade) sĂŁo escassos. Adicionalmente, estes programas adquirem o formato parecido ao
de testes, faltando-lhes dinùmicas de brincadeira e interatividade que poderão motivar as crianças
a envolverem-se em prĂĄticas criativas ao longo do tempo. O presente projeto de doutoramento
procurou contribuir para a estimulação da criatividade em crianças propondo usar robÎs sociais
como ferramenta de intervenção, adicionando dinùmicas de brincadeira e interação ao treino.
Assim, conduzimos trĂȘs estudos em escolas, campos de fĂ©rias, e museus para crianças que
contribuĂram para o desenho, fabricação, e teste experimental de um robĂŽ cujo objetivo Ă© ser uma
ferramenta que contribui para aumentar os nĂveis de criatividade. O Estudo 1 (n = 140) procurou
testar o efeito de atividade jĂĄ existentes com robĂŽs na criatividade e mostrou o potencial positivo
do uso de robÎs para o treino criativo. O Estudo 2 (n = 134) incluiu crianças como co-designers
do robÎ, assegurando que o desenho do robÎ correspondeu às necessidades das crianças. O
Estudo 2 (n = 130) investigou a eficĂĄcia deste robĂŽ como ferramenta para a criatividade,
demonstrando o seu potencial para o treino da criatividade. Em suma, o presente doutoramento
mostrou que os robÎs poderão ter um potencial criativo em atividades com crianças. Desta
forma, os robÎs sociais poderão ser ferramentas promissoras em intervençÔes na psicologia
The Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal: A Bibliographic Report
The content of the Humanistic Mathematics Network Newsletter was reviewed by Claire Skrivanos and Qingcheng Zhang in [1]. This report reviews the content of the Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal (1992-2004)
- âŠ