Increasing the User Experience in Autonomous Driving through different Feedback Modalities

Within the ongoing process of defining autonomous driving solutions, experience design may represent an important interface between humans and the autonomous vehicle. This paper presents an empirical study that uses different ways of unimodal communication in autonomous driving to communicate awareness and intent of autonomous vehicles. The goal is to provide recommendations for feedback solutions within holistic autonomous driving experiences. 22 test subjects took part in four autonomous, simulated virtual reality shuttle rides and were presented with different unimodal feedback in the form of light, sound, visualisation, text and vibration. The empirical study showed that, compared to a no-feedback baseline ride, light, and visualisation were able to create a positive user experience

Don’t fail me! The Level 5 Autonomous Driving Information Dilemma regarding Transparency and User Experience

Autonomous vehicles can behave unexpectedly, as automated systems that rely on data-driven machine learning have shown to infer false predictions or misclassifications, e.g., due to stickers on traffic signs, and thus fail in some situations. In critical situations, system designs must guarantee safety and reliability. However, in non-critical situations, the possibility of failures resulting in unexpected behaviour should be considered, as they negatively impact the passenger’s user experience and acceptance. We analyse if an interactive conversational user interface can mitigate negative experiences when interacting with imperfect artificial intelligence systems. In our quantitative interactive online survey (N=113) and comparative qualitative Wizard of Oz study (N=8), users were able to interact with an autonomous SAE level 5 driving simulation. Our findings demonstrate that increased transparency improves user experience and acceptance. Furthermore, we show that additional information in failure scenarios can lead to an information dilemma and should be implemented carefully

The TGF-β/Smad pathway induces breast cancer cell invasion through the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 in a spheroid invasion model system

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has opposing roles in breast cancer progression by acting as a tumor suppressor in the initial phase, but stimulating invasion and metastasis at later stages. In contrast to the mechanisms by which TGF-beta induces growth arrest, the pathways that mediate tumor invasion are not well understood. Here, we describe a TGF-beta-dependent invasion assay system consisting of spheroids of MCF10A1 normal breast epithelial cells (M1) and RAS-transformed (pre-)malignant derivatives (M2 and M4) embedded in collagen gels. Both basal and TGF-beta-induced invasion of these cell lines was found to correlate with their tumorigenic potential; M4 showing the most aggressive behavior and M1 showing the least. Basal invasion was strongly inhibited by the TGF-beta receptor kinase inhibitor SB-431542, indicating the involvement of autocrine TGF-beta or TGF-beta-like activity. TGF-beta-induced invasion in premalignant M2 and highly malignant M4 cells was also inhibited upon specific knockdown of Smad3 or Smad4. Interestingly, both a broad spectrum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor and a selective MMP2 and MMP9 inhibitor mitigated TGF-beta-induced invasion of M4 cells, while leaving basal invasion intact. In line with this, TGF-beta was found to strongly induce MMP2 and MMP9 expression in a Smad3- and Smad4-dependent manner. This collagen-embedded spheroid system therefore offers a valuable screening model for TGF-beta/Smad- and MMP2- and MMP9-dependent breast cancer invasion.Urolog

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer: Parallels Between Normal Development and Tumor Progression

From the earliest stages of embryonic development, cells of epithelial and mesenchymal origin contribute to the structure and function of developing organs. However, these phenotypes are not always permanent, and instead, under the appropriate conditions, epithelial and mesenchymal cells convert between these two phenotypes. These processes, termed Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), or the reverse Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition (MET), are required for complex body patterning and morphogenesis. In addition, epithelial plasticity and the acquisition of invasive properties without the full commitment to a mesenchymal phenotype are critical in development, particularly during branching morphogenesis in the mammary gland. Recent work in cancer has identified an analogous plasticity of cellular phenotypes whereby epithelial cancer cells acquire mesenchymal features that permit escape from the primary tumor. Because local invasion is thought to be a necessary first step in metastatic dissemination, EMT and epithelial plasticity are hypothesized to contribute to tumor progression. Similarities between developmental and oncogenic EMT have led to the identification of common contributing pathways, suggesting that the reactivation of developmental pathways in breast and other cancers contributes to tumor progression. For example, developmental EMT regulators including Snail/Slug, Twist, Six1, and Cripto, along with developmental signaling pathways including TGF-β and Wnt/β-catenin, are misexpressed in breast cancer and correlate with poor clinical outcomes. This review focuses on the parallels between epithelial plasticity/EMT in the mammary gland and other organs during development, and on a selection of developmental EMT regulators that are misexpressed specifically during breast cancer

The interpretative role of an experiencer

Media designers and interactive artists continue to expand the boundaries of experience design (XD) as they engage with increasingly diverse environments. Teaching, designing and understanding experience design and its participatory culture are likewise no longer grounded in traditional ideas such as software engineering, or visual design. Expanding on the theory of 'ambiguity as a resource for design' and 'open vs. closed text', we propose designers consider the interpretative role of an experiencer as part of an iterative design process. Working with a three-stage grounded theory process, we analyse two case studies, The Remediation of Nosferatu and The Interactive Hammock. With this research, we contribute design recommendations and evidence to support the importance of understanding and awareness of ambiguous vs. prescribed qualities