Software Usability

This volume delivers a collection of high-quality contributions to help broaden developers’ and non-developers’ minds alike when it comes to considering software usability. It presents novel research and experiences and disseminates new ideas accessible to people who might not be software makers but who are undoubtedly software users

Positioning theory and discourse analysis : some tools for social interaction analysis

This article outlines positioning theory as a discursive analysis of interaction, focusing on the topic of conflict. Moreover, said theory is applied to a new work environment for the social sciences: virtual spaces. The analysis is organized in the following way. First, the major key psychosocial issues which define the topic of conflict are reviewed. Then, virtual environments are presented as a new work space for the social sciences. Thirdly, a synthesis of positioning theory and its FOUCAULTian legacy is conducted, while appreciating its particular appropriateness for analyzing conflictive interaction in virtual environments. An empiric case is then presented. This consists of an analysis of interactive sequences within a specific virtual environment: the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) Humanitats i Filologia Catalana studies forum. Through positioning theory, the production and effects that a conflictive interaction sequence has on the community in which it is produced are understood and explaine

La inteligencia artificial fue poco utilizada pero relevante en las revisiones sistemáticas sobre el COVID-19: un estudio metodológico

Este trabajo de investigación fue presentado como Trabajo Fin de Grado en la Facultad de Medicina de nuestra Universidad (convocatoria ordinaria, curso 2021/2022) el 13 de junio de 2022.Objective: A rapidly developing scenario like a pandemic requires the prompt production of high-quality systematic reviews, which can be automated using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. We evaluated the application of AI tools in COVID–19 evidence syntheses. Study design: After prospective registration of the review protocol, we automated the download of all open-access COVID–19 systematic reviews in the COVID–19 Living Overview of Evidence database, indexed them for AI-related keywords, and located those that used AI tools. We compared their journals’ JCR Impact Factor, citations per month, screening workloads, completion times (from pre-registration to preprint or submission to a journal) and AMSTAR–2 methodology assessments (maximum score 13 points) with a set of publication date matched control reviews without AI. Results: Of the 3 999 COVID–19 reviews, 28 (0.7 %, 95 % CI 0.47-1.03 %) made use of AI. On average, compared to controls (n = 64), AI reviews were published in journals with higher Impact Factors (median 8.9 vs. 3.5, P<0.001), and screened more abstracts per author (302.2 vs. 140.3, P=0.009) and per included study (189.0 vs. 365.8, P<0.001) while inspecting less full texts per author (5.3 vs. 14.0, P=0.005). No differences were found in citation counts (0.5 vs. 0.6, P=0.600), inspected full texts per included study (3.8 vs. 3.4, P=0.481), completion times (74.0 vs. 123.0, P=0.205) or AMSTAR–2 (7.5 vs. 6.3, P=0.119). Conclusion: AI was an underutilized tool in COVID–19 systematic reviews. Its usage, compared to reviews without AI, was associated with more efficient screening of literature and higher publication impact. There is scope for the application of AI in automating systematic reviews.Objetivo: Un escenario dinámico como una pandemia requiere la rápida producción de revisiones sistemáticas de calidad, que pueden automatizarse utilizando inteligencia artificial (IA). Se evaluó el uso de herramientas de IA en las revisiones sistemáticas sobre COVID–19. Diseño del estudio: Tras el registro prospectivo del protocolo del estudio, automatizamos la descarga de todas las revisiones sistemáticas open-access sobre COVID–19 en la base de datos COVID–19 Living Overview of Evidence, las indexamos en busca de palabras clave relacionadas con la IA y localizamos aquellas que utilizaban herramientas de IA. Comparamos el factor de impacto de sus revistas, las citas por mes recibidas, las cargas de trabajo en screening, el tiempo de elaboración (días desde el registro del protocolo hasta el primer preprint o envío a una revista) y la evaluación metodológica AMSTAR–2 (máximo, 13 puntos) con un grupo control de revisiones sistemáticas que no usaron IA emparejadas por fecha de publicación. Resultados: De las 3999 revisiones sobre COVID–19, 28 (0,7%, IC al 95%: 0,471,03 %) hicieron uso de IA. De media, en comparación con los controles (n = 64), las revisiones con IA se publicaron en revistas con mayor factor de impacto (mediana 8,9 vs. 3,5, P<0,001), y examinaron más abstracts por autor (302,2 vs. 140,3, P=0,009) y por estudio incluido (189,0 vs. 365,8, P<0,001), a la vez que inspeccionaron menos full texts por autor (5,3 vs. 14,0, P=0,005). No se encontraron diferencias en las citas recibidas (0,5 vs. 0,6, P=0,600), en full texts inspeccionados por estudio incluido (3,8 vs. 3,4, P=0,481), en los tiempos de elaboración (74 frente a 123, P=0,205) ni en puntuación AMSTAR–2 (7,5 frente a 6,3, P=0,119). Conclusión: La IA fue una herramienta infrautilizada en las revisiones sistemáticas sobre COVID–19. Su uso, en comparación con las revisiones sin IA, se asoció con una selección más eficiente de la literatura y un mayor impacto de publicación. Hay cabida para la aplicación de la IA en la automatización de las revisiones sistemáticas.La elaboración de este estudio fue becada con una “Beca de Iniciación a la Investigación para Estudiantes de Grado” del Plan Propio de Investigación 2021 de la UGR. El coste de la publicación open-access fue financiado por la Universidad de Granada y el Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Andalucía (CBUA)

Positioning theory and discourse analysis: some tools for social interaction analysis

'Der Beitrag skizziert die Theorie der Positionierung als eine - vor allem auf Konflikte fokussierende - Diskursanalyse von Interaktionen. Darüber hinaus wird dieser Ansatz für die Erforschung virtueller Umgebungen als einem neuen Anwendungsbereich bzw. Forschungsfeld für die Sozialwissenschaften fruchtbar gemacht. Der Beitrag geht dabei in folgenden Schritten vor: Zuerst werden aus sozialpsychologischer Sicht die wichtigen Aspekte von Konflikten thematisiert. Daraufhin folgt eine Darstellung virtueller Umgebungen als sozialwissenschaftliche Analysefelder. Als Drittes wird die Verbindung der Theorie der Positionierung und ihrer Foucaultschen Fundamente und Bezüge entfaltet, um deren Angemessenheit und Verwendbarkeit für die Analyse konflikthafter Interaktionssituationen zu beurteilen. Als empirisches Anwendungsbeispiel hierfür dient die Analyse von Interaktionssequenzen in einer spezifischen virtuellen Umgebung, dem Studierendenforum Humanitats i Filologia Catalana an der Universität Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). Mithilfe der Theorie der Positionierung können die Effekte, die konflikthafte Interaktionssequenzen auf die Konstitution der Gemeinschaft haben, in der sie auftreten, verstanden und erklärt werden.' (Autorenreferat)'This article outlines positioning theory as a discursive analysis of interaction, focusing on the topic of conflict. Moreover, said theory is applied to a new work environment for the social sciences: virtual spaces. The analysis is organized in the following way. First, the major key psychosocial issues which define the topic of conflict are reviewed. Then, virtual environments are presented as a new work space for the social sciences. Thirdly, a synthesis of positioning theory and its Foucaultian legacy is conducted, while appreciating its particular appropriateness for analyzing conflictive interaction in virtual environments. An empiric case is then presented. This consists of an analysis of interactive sequences within a specific virtual environment: the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) Humanitats i Filologia Catalana studies forum. Through positioning theory, the production and effects that a conflictive interaction sequence has on the community in which it is produced are understood and explained.' (author's abstract)

Minds Online: The Interface between Web Science, Cognitive Science, and the Philosophy of Mind

Alongside existing research into the social, political and economic impacts of the Web, there is a need to study the Web from a cognitive and epistemic perspective. This is particularly so as new and emerging technologies alter the nature of our interactive engagements with the Web, transforming the extent to which our thoughts and actions are shaped by the online environment. Situated and ecological approaches to cognition are relevant to understanding the cognitive significance of the Web because of the emphasis they place on forces and factors that reside at the level of agent–world interactions. In particular, by adopting a situated or ecological approach to cognition, we are able to assess the significance of the Web from the perspective of research into embodied, extended, embedded, social and collective cognition. The results of this analysis help to reshape the interdisciplinary configuration of Web Science, expanding its theoretical and empirical remit to include the disciplines of both cognitive science and the philosophy of mind

Strategic science communication: the “flatten the curve” metaphor in covid-19 public risk messaging

This chapter discusses the emergence of the “flatten the curve” metaphor in the context of COVID-19 science communication strategies and its role in public messaging efforts that sought to inform world populations and mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Faced with the unexpected arrival and spread of the new coronavirus, governments worldwide have responded with mitigation policies to contain the dissemination of the disease. Prevention behaviours, such as washing hands frequently and maintaining social distancing, were thoroughly communicated to the public. However, despite the quality of the communication campaigns implemented, it is always hard to change people’s perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours, even more so in the short term, as is required in a global health crisis. In pandemics, the literature on risk and crisis communication suggests that messages sent by authorities should enable the understanding of complex information, avoid misinformation, and promote the adoption of adequate behaviours. This assertion presumes that, ideally, communication campaigns follow a set of strategic decisions on target audiences, communication objectives, key messages, adequate channels and message format. Although the emergence of the “flatten of the curve” metaphor did not follow a classical strategic approach, it seems to have incorporated a set of valuable communicational principles that explain why it has become the defining message of about COVID-19. This well-known chart grew into a science strategic communication device, conveying complex scientific information in an engaging but also clear way to the general public. It is, therefore, a good example to advogate for a strategic science communication approach.This work is supported by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the project UIDB/00736/2020

Proceedings of the First PhD Symposium on Sustainable Ultrascale Computing Systems (NESUS PhD 2016)

Proceedings of the First PhD Symposium on Sustainable Ultrascale Computing Systems (NESUS PhD 2016) Timisoara, Romania. February 8-11, 2016.The PhD Symposium was a very good opportunity for the young researchers to share information and knowledge, to present their current research, and to discuss topics with other students in order to look for synergies and common research topics. The idea was very successful and the assessment made by the PhD Student was very good. It also helped to achieve one of the major goals of the NESUS Action: to establish an open European research network targeting sustainable solutions for ultrascale computing aiming at cross fertilization among HPC, large scale distributed systems, and big data management, training, contributing to glue disparate researchers working across different areas and provide a meeting ground for researchers in these separate areas to exchange ideas, to identify synergies, and to pursue common activities in research topics such as sustainable software solutions (applications and system software stack), data management, energy efficiency, and resilience.European Cooperation in Science and Technology. COS

Artech 2008: proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Digital Arts

ARTECH 2008 is the fourth international conference held in Portugal and Galicia on the topic of Digital Arts. It aims to promote contacts between Iberian and International contributors concerned with the conception, production and dissemination of Digital and Electronic Art. ARTECH brings the scientific, technological and artistic community together, promoting the interest in the digital culture and its intersection with art and technology as an important research field, a common space for discussion, an exchange of experiences, a forum for emerging digital artists and a way of understanding and appreciating new forms of cultural expression. Hosted by the Portuguese Catholic University’s School of Arts (UCP-EA) at the City of Porto, ARTCH 2008 falls in alignment with the main commitment of the Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts (CITAR) to promote knowledge in the field of the Arts trough research and development within UCP-AE and together with the local and international community. The main areas proposed for the conference were related with sound, image, video, music, multimedia and other new media related topics, in the context of emerging practice of artistic creation. Although non exclusive, the main topics of the conference are usually: Art and Science; Audio-Visual and Multimedia Design; Creativity Theory; Electronic Music; Generative and Algorithmic Art; Interactive Systems for Artistic Applications; Media Art history; Mobile Multimedia; Net Art and Digital Culture; New Experiences with New Media and New Applications; Tangible and Gesture Interfaces; Technology in Art Education; Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. The contribution from the international community was extremely gratifying, resulting in the submission of 79 original works (Long Papers, Short Papers and installation proposals) from 22 Countries. Our Scientific Committee reviewed these submissions thoroughly resulting in a 73% acceptance ratio of a diverse and promising body of work presented in this book of proceedings. This compilation of articles provides an overview of the state of the art as well as a glimpse of new tendencies in the field of Digital Arts, with special emphasis in the topics: Sound and Music Computing; Technology Mediated Dance; Collaborative Art Performance; Digital Narratives; Media Art and Creativity Theory; Interactive Art; Audiovisual and Multimedia Design.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Blind guide: anytime, anywhere

Sight dominates our mental life, more than any other sense. Even when we are just thinking about something the world, we end imagining what looks like. This rich visual experience is part of our lives. People need the vision for two complementary reasons. One of them is vision give us the knowledge to recognize objects in real time. The other reason is vision provides us the control one need to move around and interact with objects. Eyesight helps people to avoid dangers and navigate in our world. Blind people usually have enhanced accuracy and sensibility of their other natural senses to sense their surroundings. But sometimes this is not enough because the human senses can be affected by external sources of noise or disease. Without any foreign aid or device, sightless cannot navigate in the world. Many assistive tools have been developed to help blind people. White canes or guide dogs help blind in their navigation. Each device has their limitation. White canes cannot detect head level obstacles, drop-offs, and obstructions over a meter away. The training of a guide dog takes a long time, almost five years in some cases. The sightless also needs training and is not a solution for everybody. Taking care of a guide dog can be expensive and time consuming. Humans have developed technology for helping us in every aspect of our lives. The primary goal of technology is helping people to improve their quality of life. Technology can assist us with our limitations. Wireless sensor networks is a technology that has been used to help people with disabilities. In this dissertation, the author proposes a system based on this technology called Blind Guide. Blind Guide is an artifact that helps blind people to navigate in indoors or outdoors scenarios. The prototype is portable assuring that can be used anytime and anywhere. The system is composed of wireless sensors that can be used in different parts of the body. The sensors detect an obstacle and inform the user with an audible warning providing a safety walk to the users. A great feature about Blind Guide is its modularity. The system can adapt to the needs of the user and can be used in a combination with other solution. For example, Blind Guide can be used in conjunction with the white cane. The white cane detects obstacles below waist level and a Blind Guide wireless sensor in the forehead can detect obstacles at the head level. This feature is important because some sightless people feel uncomfortable without the white cane. The system is scalable giving us the opportunity to create a network of interconnected Blind Guide users. This network can store the exact location and description of the obstacles found by the users. This information is public for all users of this system. This feature reduces the time required for obstacle detection and consequent energy savings, thus increasing the autonomy of the solution. One of the main requirements for the development of this prototype was to design a low-cost solution that can be accessible for anyone around the world. All the components of the solution can provide a low-cost solution, easily obtainable and at a low cost. Technology makes our life easier and it must be available for anyone. Modularity, portability, scalability, the possibility to work in conjunction with other solutions, detecting objects that other solutions cannot, obstacle labeling, a network of identified obstacles and audible warnings are the main aspects of the Blind Guide system. All these aspects makes Blind Guide an anytime, anywhere solution for blind people. Blind Guide was tested with a group of volunteers. The volunteers were sightless and from different ages. The trials performed to the system show us positive results. The system successfully detected incoming obstacles and informed in real time to its users. The volunteers gave us a positive feedback telling that they felt comfortable using the prototype and they believe that the system can help them with their daily routine

Elementary Public School Teachers’ Coping Mechanisms Used During the COVID-19 Pandemic in North Texas: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe elementary public school teachers’ experiences coping with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping theory, the study answered the central research question: How do elementary public school teachers describe their experiences coping with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic? The sub-questions addressed: What psychological, physical, and emotional mechanisms are elementary public school teachers using to cope with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic? Purposeful sampling and maximum variation sampling were used to select 14 elementary public school teachers’ who experienced teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The setting of the study was North Texas Independent School District. The data collection methods used included participant journaling, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group. The data was analyzed using Moustakas’s data analysis which began with epoché, then transcendental-phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, and synthesis of composite textural and composite descriptions. Two themes were identified through data analysis which included teacher stress and teacher coping mechanisms. Findings indicated that teachers had faced much adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic in ways such as students, technology, and instruction; however, they have been resilient throughout the pandemic. Psychological, physical, and emotional coping mechanisms have helped teachers cope with their stress. Implications for research suggested that helping teachers find adequate outlets to cope with their stress could be effective. Recommendations for future research are provided