Daily Stress Recognition from Mobile Phone Data, Weather Conditions and Individual Traits

Research has proven that stress reduces quality of life and causes many diseases. For this reason, several researchers devised stress detection systems based on physiological parameters. However, these systems require that obtrusive sensors are continuously carried by the user. In our paper, we propose an alternative approach providing evidence that daily stress can be reliably recognized based on behavioral metrics, derived from the user's mobile phone activity and from additional indicators, such as the weather conditions (data pertaining to transitory properties of the environment) and the personality traits (data concerning permanent dispositions of individuals). Our multifactorial statistical model, which is person-independent, obtains the accuracy score of 72.28% for a 2-class daily stress recognition problem. The model is efficient to implement for most of multimedia applications due to highly reduced low-dimensional feature space (32d). Moreover, we identify and discuss the indicators which have strong predictive power.Comment: ACM Multimedia 2014, November 3-7, 2014, Orlando, Florida, US

Digitalization and Datafication:Everyday Management of Menstrual Period

The range of self-tracking digital technologies is very wide: mobile apps available to download; wearable technologies – Google Glass, Fitbit – that can be worn as bracelets or clipped onto clothes; sensors that can be embedded not only in the device for recording biometrics information (i.e. body temperature, hearth rate, blood glucose, etc.), but also in the smart city in order to monitor air pollution, traffic, energy consumption and so on. Self-tracking technologies allow users to track and transform into data – statistical analysis and graphical representations – daily information, practices and activities: calories intake, workout exercises, weight, mood, cigarettes or drink intake, financial expenses, social interaction, social media activities, sleeping hours, chronic diseases, health of urban environment, sexual and reproductive health, etc. The paper is constructed around two main questions: (1) how do self-tracking technologies intra-act with the embodiment of Self? (2) How does expert medical knowledge, inscribed in self-tracking technologies, perform body and personal bodily knowledge. Therefore, after an overview of theoretical framework, the second section provides an exploratory empirical analysis of the period tracker apps’ uses. Thus, the empirical part focuses on the women entanglement in the management of cycle through self-tracking apps that are aimed to map and transform into data daily symptoms and mood in order to visualize correlations and predict fertile windows, PMS and future menstrual periods

Human experience in the natural and built environment : implications for research policy and practice

22nd IAPS conference. Edited book of abstracts. 427 pp. University of Strathclyde, Sheffield and West of Scotland Publication. ISBN: 978-0-94-764988-3

Designing for frustration and disputes in the family car

This article appears with the express permission of the publisher, IGI Global.Families spend an increasing amount of time in the car carrying out a number of activities including driving to work, caring for children and co-ordinating drop-offs and pickups. While families travelling in cars may face stress from difficult road conditions, they are also likely to be frustrated by coordinating a number of activities and resolving disputes within the confined space of car. A rising number of in-car infotainment and driver-assistance systems aim to help reduce the stress from outside the vehicle and improve the experience of driving but may fail to address sources of stress from within the car. From ethnographic studies of family car journeys, we examine the work of parents in managing multiple stresses while driving, along with the challenges of distractions from media use in the car. Keeping these family extracts as a focus for analysis, we draw out some design considerations that help build on the observations from our empirical work.Microsoft Research and the Dorothy Hodgkin Awar

Designing for experience: Example experience design projects on workspace

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Industrial Design, Izmir, 2006Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 94-95)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxv, 96 leavesThe great experiences can be deliberate and are based upon principles that have been proven. This thesis study explored the most important of these principles before the practical study. After that, the study focused on making a practical study on the workspace domain in three main phases.In the data collecting phase, experience data was collected for a workspace domain by observing workspace activities. Used methods were photographing, informal interviews, field notes and ethnographic observation. In the data modeling phase, a data model were constructed. Pattern language was used as a base for re-modeling the experience data. The data model is simply a framework that allows the designer to document, collect, communicate and understand all design related information quickly and easily. During the design phase, this framework became the design guideline and was used as a roadmap for every single design idea.Framework also gives the opportunity of defining relations from patterns to patterns and from design ideas to patterns. This flexible opportunity lets the designer visualize experience scenarios with design ideas in a higher level of understanding. Framework has a special data encapsulation format which is inherited from pattern language. According to that format, short pattern names, short essence paragraphs and other sections makes easier to remember, communicate and connect the patterns with new ideas. At the end of the design phase, three different products which are actively related with the experience patterns were designed

The use and importance of emotional design in contemporary design practice

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Industrial Design, Izmir, 2006Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 83-89)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishx, 89 leavesThis thesis investigated emotional design concept. Products evoke emotions in people. This thesis suggests that emotions are at a basic importance for the success of a product since they influence product evaluation, purchase decision and product experience of users significantly. It is also claimed that, by the means of emotions, a higher user satisfaction, product longevity and a better product performance can be achieved, which will result in an enriched life.To provide an insight to emotional design concept, thesis investigated how products evoke emotions in people. Two recent design projects based on the traditions in emotion research were investigated in depth. Learning to Talk with Your Body project that is based on Jamesian tradition revealed that products could be designed to elicit predefined emotional responses in users. Emotionally Intelligent Alarm Clock project that is based on the cognitive tradition showed that it is possible to reach a higher user experience . thus an enriched life . through emotions. Aesthetics was considered as the most appropriate term encompassing the emotional attributes of products. Recent studies showed that, besides being appealing,aesthetic (attractive) products are perceived to perform better. Aesthetics generates a positive motivation for the user by contributing to the meaningfulness of the product.Thus aesthetics was accepted as a part of function. Roles of form, material and color in evoking emotions were investigated.Detailed observations about the emotional experiences of users with products and environment are fundamental necessities. Observing a user in a holistic structure, within a framework of a relational environment instead of evaluating user.s isolated performances in isolated activities will give a better understanding of user emotions

‘Catching ovulation’: Exploring women’s use of fertility tracking apps as a reproductive technology

This article is accepted for publication in Body & Society

Home & place making after stroke:Exploring the gap between rehabilitation and living environment

This thesis addresses the question why many stroke survivors, even when they have received optimal treatment in the rehabilitation center, fall into a black hole when they are at home. The goal is twofold: 1) to gain a better understanding of the experienced gap between the rehabilitation and living environment of stroke survivors, and 2) to help improve the transfer from the rehabilitation to the living environment with help of scientific knowledge. This thesis shows that to improve rehabilitation care till into the own living environment, available evidence-based knowledge should be enriched with practical knowledge of rehabilitation professionals and experience-based knowledge from stroke survivors and caregivers. Interviews with stroke survivors reveal that ‘being at home’ does not equal ‘feeling at home’. Resuming life at home after a stroke is very different from recovering in the rehabilitation environment. In order to better understand the problems, other theory is needed than only theory from rehabilitation medicine. This thesis provides a new theoretical perspective for rehabilitation medicine. We have viewed stroke survivors’ and their caregivers’ experiences through a socio-spatial lens. This results in a shift in focus from functional recovery to identity confusion and feeling at home at important places after stroke. It is recommended to have one professional in outpatient and home rehabilitation, who acts as a coach, and assists stroke survivors and caregivers in rebuilding meaningful and interconnected relationships with their lives, place by place