34 research outputs found
Fast and flexible selection with a single switch
Selection methods that require only a single-switch input, such as a button
click or blink, are potentially useful for individuals with motor impairments,
mobile technology users, and individuals wishing to transmit information
securely. We present a single-switch selection method, "Nomon," that is general
and efficient. Existing single-switch selection methods require selectable
options to be arranged in ways that limit potential applications. By contrast,
traditional operating systems, web browsers, and free-form applications (such
as drawing) place options at arbitrary points on the screen. Nomon, however,
has the flexibility to select any point on a screen. Nomon adapts automatically
to an individual's clicking ability; it allows a person who clicks precisely to
make a selection quickly and allows a person who clicks imprecisely more time
to make a selection without error. Nomon reaps gains in information rate by
allowing the specification of beliefs (priors) about option selection
probabilities and by avoiding tree-based selection schemes in favor of direct
(posterior) inference. We have developed both a Nomon-based writing application
and a drawing application. To evaluate Nomon's performance, we compared the
writing application with a popular existing method for single-switch writing
(row-column scanning). Novice users wrote 35% faster with the Nomon interface
than with the scanning interface. An experienced user (author TB, with > 10
hours practice) wrote at speeds of 9.3 words per minute with Nomon, using 1.2
clicks per character and making no errors in the final text.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, presented at NIPS 2009 Mini-symposi
The properties of Brightest Cluster Galaxies in the SDSS DR6 adaptive matched filter cluster catalogue
We study the properties of Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) drawn from a
catalogue of more than 69000 clusters in the SDSS DR6 based on the adaptive
matched filter technique (AMF, Szabo et al., 2010). Our sample consists of more
than 14300 galaxies in the redshift range 0.1-0.3. We test the catalog by
showing that it includes well-known BCGs which lie in the SDSS footprint. We
characterize the BCGs in terms of r-band luminosities and optical colours as
well as their trends with redshift. In particular, we define and study the
fraction of blue BCGs, namely those that are likely to be missed by either
colour-based cluster surveys and catalogues. Richer clusters tend to have
brighter BCGs, however less dominant than in poorer systems. 4-9% of our BCGs
are at least 0.3 mag bluer in the g-r colour than the red-sequence at their
given redshift. Such a fraction decreases to 1-6% for clusters above a richness
of 50, where 3% of the BCGs are 0.5 mag below the red-sequence. A preliminary
morphological study suggests that the increase in the blue fraction at lower
richnesses may have a non-negligible contribution from spiral galaxies. We show
that a colour selection based on the g-r red-sequence or on a cut at colour u-r
>2.2 can lead to missing the majority of such blue BCGs. We also extend the
colour analysis to the UV range by cross-matching our catalogue with publicly
available data from Galex GR4 and GR5. We show a clear correlation between
offset from the optical red-sequence and the amount of UV-excess. Finally, we
cross-matched our catalogue with the ACCEPT cluster sample (Cavagnolo et al.,
2009), and find that blue BCGs tend to be in clusters with low entropy and
short cooling times. That is, the blue light is presumably due to recent star
formation associated to gas feeding by cooling flows. (abridged)Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, submitted to MNRA
Implementation contextual factors related to community-based active travel to school interventions: a mixed methods interview study.
OnScreenDualScribe: A Computer Operation Tool for Users with a Neuromuscular Disease
Abstract. We developed a tool based on a modified number pad aimed at empowering persons with neuromuscular diseases to efficiently operate a computer and enter text. As the keypad lies securely in both hands, the system is ideal for someone who has motor problems using a full-size keyboard but cannot use speech recognition as an alternative method, because of dysarthria. The software offers various assistive techniques; for example, text entry is facilitated with the help of word prediction. An ambiguous mode with word-level disambiguation allows text entry with six keys. Initial empirical results with the system – which is already in regular use – indicate that it indeed represents a viable alternative, since it decreases effort without increasing the time to operate a computer
Implementation contextual factors related to community-based active travel to school interventions : a mixed methods interview study
Background
Active travel to school contributes to multiple physical and psychosocial benefits for youth, yet population rates of active travel to school are alarmingly low in the USA and many other countries. Though walking school bus interventions are effective for increasing rates of active travel to school and children’s overall physical activity, uptake of such interventions has been low. The objective of this study was to conduct a mixed methods implementation evaluation to identify contextual factors that serve as barriers and facilitators among existing walking school bus programs.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) were conducted with leaders of low-sustainability (n = 9) and high-sustainability (n = 11) programs across the USA. A combination of quantitative (CFIR-based) coding and inductive thematic analysis was used. The CFIR-based ratings were compared between the low- and high-sustainability programs and themes, subthemes, and exemplary quotes were provided to summarize the thematic analysis.
Results
In both the low- and high-sustainability programs, three of the 15 constructs assessed were commonly rated as positive (i.e., favorable for supporting implementation): student/family needs and resources, implementation climate, and planning. Three constructs were more often rated as positive in the high-sustainability programs: organizational incentives and rewards, engaging students and parents, and reflecting and evaluating. Three constructs were more often rated as positive in the low-sustainability programs: student/family needs and resources - built environment, available resources, and access to knowledge and information. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis: planning considerations, ongoing coordination considerations, resources and supports, and benefits.
Conclusions
Engagement of students, parents, and community members were among the factors that emerged across the quantitative and qualitative analyses as most critical for supporting walking school bus program implementation. The information provided by program leaders can help in the selection of implementation strategies that overcome known barriers for increasing the long-term success of community-based physical activity interventions such as the walking school bus
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Implementation contextual factors related to community-based active travel to school interventions: a mixed methods interview study.
BackgroundActive travel to school contributes to multiple physical and psychosocial benefits for youth, yet population rates of active travel to school are alarmingly low in the USA and many other countries. Though walking school bus interventions are effective for increasing rates of active travel to school and children's overall physical activity, uptake of such interventions has been low. The objective of this study was to conduct a mixed methods implementation evaluation to identify contextual factors that serve as barriers and facilitators among existing walking school bus programs.MethodsSemi-structured interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) were conducted with leaders of low-sustainability (n = 9) and high-sustainability (n = 11) programs across the USA. A combination of quantitative (CFIR-based) coding and inductive thematic analysis was used. The CFIR-based ratings were compared between the low- and high-sustainability programs and themes, subthemes, and exemplary quotes were provided to summarize the thematic analysis.ResultsIn both the low- and high-sustainability programs, three of the 15 constructs assessed were commonly rated as positive (i.e., favorable for supporting implementation): student/family needs and resources, implementation climate, and planning. Three constructs were more often rated as positive in the high-sustainability programs: organizational incentives and rewards, engaging students and parents, and reflecting and evaluating. Three constructs were more often rated as positive in the low-sustainability programs: student/family needs and resources - built environment, available resources, and access to knowledge and information. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis: planning considerations, ongoing coordination considerations, resources and supports, and benefits.ConclusionsEngagement of students, parents, and community members were among the factors that emerged across the quantitative and qualitative analyses as most critical for supporting walking school bus program implementation. The information provided by program leaders can help in the selection of implementation strategies that overcome known barriers for increasing the long-term success of community-based physical activity interventions such as the walking school bus