Population ageing and ICT: An exploratory review of technology innovation trough digital applications

The multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change produced by population ageing affects not only the quality of life of elderly people but also of our societies. Some dimensions of population ageing grow and expand over time (e.g. knowledge of the world events, or experience in particular situations), while others decline (e.g. reaction time, physical and psychological strength, or other functional abilities like reduced speed and tiredness). Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can help elderly to overcome possible limitations due to ageing. As a particular case, biometrics can allow the development of new algorithms for early detection of cognitive impairments, by processing continuous speech, handwriting or other challenged abilities. Among all possibilities, digital applications (Apps) for mobile phones or tablets can allow the dissemination of such tools. In this article, after presenting and discussing the process of population ageing and its social implications, we explore how ICTs through different Apps can lead to new solutions for facing this major demographic challenge

Emergency Remote Teaching: The Emerging Roles and Expanding Responsibilities of the Bangladeshi School Teachers at Primary Level During COVID-stricken Period

The goal of this article is to look into the current state of "emergency remote teaching" and the effects of Covid-19 on Bangladesh's primary education system. Bangladeshi School teachers started online classes few months after the compulsory closure of all educational institutions. This study sheds light on the changing roles of teachers during the pandemic situation, challenges of adaptation of online classes in both the rural and city areas, and the expanded responsibilities of the primary school teachers in terms of teachers’ experiences. Fifteen potential primary school teachers were interviewed over the telephone, and 50 primary and secondary school teachers from 45 different schools in Bangladesh were surveyed over Google forms. The quantitative data were analyzed with Microsoft Excel and summary of Google form, and the thematic analysis approach had been kept for qualitative one. The findings revealed that primary education level teachers have already started online classes despite not having any formal training or experience. The good news is that the teachers feel an urge to develop their knowledge by taking help from their own schools’ ICT teachers. The findings also revealed that most teachers are experiencing expanded responsibilities during the ‘new normal life,’ such as providing financial, moral, and psychological support to the students, maintaining a good relationship with guardians, and making them aware of the importance of online education. Even though few students have the facilities of digital resources and a friendly environment at home, they could not keep themselves engaged in the class. It is proved as one of the significant barriers of primary education level teachers. Students from rural areas and underprivileged urban areas are seen dropping out of school or engaging in child labor. Acknowledging the results, the study recommended some suggestions that might aid policymakers in eliminating the difficulties of remodeling the roles and responsibilities of the Bangladeshi school teachers at the primary level during the COVID-stricken period. Keywords:Primary education, emergency remote teaching, online class, pandemic, Teachers’ response, challenges, internet. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-21-07 Publication date:July 31st 202

Building a Tailored Text Messaging System for Smoking Cessation in Native American Populations

When starting new and healthy habits or encouraging vigilance against returning to poor habits, a simple text message can be beneficial. Text messages also have the advantage of being easily accessible for lower-income populations spread over a rural area, who may not be able to afford smartphones with apps or data plans. Users benefit the most from text messages that are customized for them, but personalization requires time and effort on part of the user and the counselor. However, personalization that focuses on the cultural background of a pool of recipients, in addition to general personal preferences, can be a low-cost method of ensuring the best experience for patients interested in taking up new habits. In this paper, we discuss the development of a system for motivating users to quit smoking designed for Native American users in South Dakota, using text messaging as a daily intervention method for patients. Our results show that focusing on modular message customization options and messages with a conversational tone best helps our goal of providing users with customization options that help motivate them to live happy and healthy lifestyles

Distributed Sensor Logging: As Easy as a Mesh of Yoyos

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.The Mass Gathering Data Acquisition and Analysis (MaGDAA) project involved the development of hardware and software solutions to facilitate the rapid and effective collection of autonomous and survey based data during mass gathering events. The aim of the project was the development and trial of a purpose-built Open Hardware based environment monitoring sensor prototypes using IOIO (pronounced “yoyo”) boards. Data from these sensors, and other devices, was collected using Open Source software running on Android powered mobile phones, tablets and other open hardware based platforms. Data was shared using a Wi-Fi mesh network based on an Open Source project called The Serval Project. Additional data in the form of survey based questionnaires were collected using ODK Collect, one of the applications in the Open Data Kit suite. The MaGDAA project demonstrated that it is possible for researchers (through the use of Open Source software and Open Hardware) to own, visualise, and share data without the difficulties of setting up and maintaining servers. MaGDAA proved to be an effective infrastructure independent sensor logging network that enables a broad range of data collection (demographic, predispositions, motivations, psychosocial and environmental influencers and modifiers of audience behaviour, cultural value) in the field of mass gathering research

EFFECT OF LOCKDOWN ON EDUCATION OF RURAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS DURINGCOVID-19 PANDEMIC IN UMARBAN (DHAR), M.P., INDIA

A survey was conducted to assess the impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 on online education of undergraduate learners of government colleges Umarban, district Dhar (454449) Madhya Pradesh, India. An online as well as offline survey was conducted from 10 October 2020 to 15 March 2021 to collect the information. To analyze the possibility and attention of students for online education, various online quizzes were conducted in which a structural questionnaire link using ‘Google form’ was sent to students through WhatsApp. A total of 265 students were taken for the survey. The simple percentage distribution was used to assess the learning status of the study participants. During the lockdown period, around 15.47% of learners were involved in e-learning. Most of the learners were used android mobile for attending e-learning. The present study revealed that around 60% of students were seen to involve in farming during lockdown instead of online classes. In addition to this, 45% of students never joined an online class during the entire session. Further analysis demonstrated that 13% of students do not have their own mobile phone, nearly 18% could not join due to poor internet connectivity, 21% of students faced unfavorable study environment at home and 3% of students have other reasons. This study also showed a comparative analysis of the presence of students before and after the COVID 19 pandemic. As the ratio of presence of students in physical and virtual classrooms was 2.32. The overall results from this study revealed that especially in rural areas COVID – 19 pandemic had affected more adversely on classroom attendance, where people already do not want to give importance to education. Higher education institutions may benefit from these findings while formulating strategies to support students during this pandemic. Moreover, to promote education in COVID 19 era strong strategies are urgently needed

Combat New Normal Life and Remote Emergency Learning During Pandemic Crisis: A Perspective from Public Universities Students

The Bangladeshi education system has resorted to a virtual emergency mode of learning in order to sustain teaching and learning practices in educational institutions, providing a quick fix to the challenges. From the perspective of public university students, the researcher employed a qualitative study approach to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on tertiary education in Bangladesh. The primary data was collected via a well-designed online questionnaire, which was completed by 150 persons. Public universities in Bangladesh use virtual platforms to deliver online classes. University facilities and infrastructure, a robust national data infrastructure, appropriate computer devices, and excellent and affordable data services for students are all required for online instruction. The goal of the study is to determine the practicality and applicability of online education, as well as how students deal with the risk of Covid-19. This research identified a number of unanticipated disruptions in students' learning, as well as a drop in excitement and study hours, difficulty with student-teacher interactions, and a variety of physical, emotional, and financial issues associated to academic studies. According to the research, the most typically mentioned issues by students include network and facility-related hurdles, as well as personal and socio-psychological challenges. A lack of technological infrastructure, a high cost of internet, a slow internet connection, a family's financial difficulty, and student mental strain were also recognized as important impediments to online education by the majority of students. The study presented several recommendations to policymakers based on the findings to help them overcome the challenges of online classrooms in the future. Keywords: Emergency virtual learning, online class, network, psychological stress, academic fear, Covid-19, Tertiary level. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-24-10 Publication date:August 31st 202

Leaking the secret: women's attitudes toward menstruation and menstrual-tracker mobile apps

2016 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.This study explored how menstrual-tracker mobile apps have characteristics that reflect menstruation as a taboo in the U.S. culture. Objectification theory and gender schema theory provided a conceptual and overarching framework to explore how the U.S. sociocultural context may play a role in the development of norms and assumptions surrounding menstruation, and in turn, menstrual-tracker mobile apps reflecting society’s norms and assumptions about menstruation as a taboo. Feminist theory is discussed as well, as it shed light on the development of the androcentric view toward menstruation in the United States, and it kindled the researcher’s interest in conducting this study. A dearth of literature exists about menstrual-tracker mobile apps as cultural products, and an online survey was conducted among a convenience sample of female undergraduate millennials (n = 258) to investigate if a correlation exists between their attitudes toward menstruation as a taboo and menstrual-tracker mobile apps’ security features, body control features, and discussion features. The analysis of the data revealed that female undergraduate millennials’ attitudes toward menstruation as a taboo in this study correlated to their attitudes toward security features and discussion features but not body control features on menstrual-tracker mobile apps

Advanced Teaching Methods Application and its Benefits in Descriptive Geometry at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture in Niš

Teaching tools, such as computer drawings in lecture templates, "step by step" presentations, Android application, got introduced so as to improve teaching process quality in Descriptive geometry subject, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture in Niš. Advanced teaching methods in practice classes, and on-the-screen video beam projected "step by step" presentations were available only to half of the enrolled students (experimental group –the EG), while the rest attended the practice classes deploying classical teaching methods, and manual drawings on the blackboard (control group –the CG). Deliberation of data on previous education and intellectual capabilities of students involved proved that the groups do not differ. Comparative analysis of the final results in academic year of 2016/17 indicated that in the EG students there was a higher knowledge of the subject matter, and higher exam pass rate. The conclusion is that the application of the advanced teaching methods makes learning and teaching process more successful, thus their usage in the future is recommended