Studies on user control in ambient intelligent systems

People have a deeply rooted need to experience control and be effective in interactions with their environments. At present times, we are surrounded by intelligent systems that take decisions and perform actions for us. This should make life easier, but there is a risk that users experience less control and reject the system. The central question in this thesis is whether we can design intelligent systems that have a degree of autonomy, while users maintain a sense of control. We try to achieve this by giving the intelligent system an 'expressive interface’: the part that provides information to the user about the internal state, intentions and actions of the system. We examine this question both in the home and the work environment.We find the notion of a ‘system personality’ useful as a guiding principle for designing interactions with intelligent systems, for domestic robots as well as in building automation. Although the desired system personality varies per application, in both domains a recognizable system personality can be designed through expressive interfaces using motion, light, sound, and social cues. The various studies show that the level of automation and the expressive interface can influence the perceived system personality, the perceived level of control, and user’s satisfaction with the system. This thesis shows the potential of the expressive interface as an instrument to help users understand what is going on inside the system and to experience control, which might be essential for the successful adoption of the intelligent systems of the future.<br/

Three-dimensional observation and analysis of remineralization in dentinal caries lesions

The remineralization mechanism in dental caries lesions is not completely understood. This study reports on ultrastructural and chemical changes observed within arrested caries lesions. Carious human teeth were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused-ion-beam (FIB)-SEM. The crystals detected in the caries lesions were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), along with chemical element mapping using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS)-STEM. FIB-SEM 3D reconstructions revealed a severely damaged dentin surface abundantly covered by bacteria. Although the dentin tubules were clogged up to a depth of 100 mu m, bacterial invasion into dentin tubules was not observed. TEM crystal analysis and EDS-STEM revealed the presence of Ca and P, as well as of Mg within the HAp crystals deposited inside the dentin tubules. It was concluded that extensive remineralization with deposition of Mg-HAp crystals had occurred in dentin tubules of caries-arrested dentin. Understanding the natural remineralization process is thought to be helpful for developing clinical biomimetic remineralization protocols

From cultural path to cultural route: A value-led risk management method for via Iulia Augusta in Albenga (Italy)

Today, the field of cultural heritage faces many challenges: cultural heritage is always at risk, the large amount of heritage information is often fragmented, climate change impacts cultural heritage and heritage recording can be time-consuming and often results in low accuracy. Four objectives, related to the challenges, were defined during this research work. It proposes a relevant value-led risk management method for cultural heritage, it identifies climate change impact on cultural heritage, it suggests a database lay-out for cultural heritage and demonstrates the potential of remote sensing tools for cultural heritage. The Via Iulia Augusta, a former Roman road in Albenga, was used as case study

User experience of automated blinds in offices

There are clear economical drivers for ambient intelligent office environments. For example, the energy and cost savings that can be made by automatically switching off the light when people are not in a room or by dimming the electric light if sufficient daylight is available. The intelligent behavior should not only result in energy and cost savings, but also make sure that occupants are satisfied with and feel in control of their working environment. However, automation might reduce this feeling of control. If decisions are based solely on economic criteria such as energy saving, the resulting conditions might not be beneficial for the comfort of occupants. A balance between energy efficiency and comfort needs to be found. As a large part of the population spends a significant part of the day in an office environment, it is not surprising to see an increasing awareness of user comfort in office buildings. Besides the positive effects of a comfortable work environment on the health and wellbeing of office workers, studies have shown correlations between the level of comfort and job satisfaction, and even productivity (Boyce, 2003). Hence, there are also economic reasons for employers and building owners to focus on comfortable work environments. Although comfort is a subjective concept, much research has been done on objective determinants and measures of comfort. Many aspects have been identified that influence the perception of comfort in offices, including environmental aspects (e.g. building characteristics, climate), social aspects (e.g. relationships with colleagues), and personal aspects (e.g. gender, age) (Bluyssen et al., 2011). It is unclear how all of these different aspects relate to each other and contribute to an overall perception of comfort, but studies have shown the importance of individual aspects such as daylight and electric lighting on perception of comfort. The perception of control is an important psychological process that influences perceived lighting quality and satisfaction with the working environment (Veitch, 2001). In this paper, we report our work on the user experience of automated daylight control systems in relation to occupants’ perceived comfort with the indoor climate

User experience of automated blinds in offices

There are clear economical drivers for ambient intelligent office environments. For example, the energy and cost savings that can be made by automatically switching off the light when people are not in a room or by dimming the electric light if sufficient daylight is available. The intelligent behavior should not only result in energy and cost savings, but also make sure that occupants are satisfied with and feel in control of their working environment. However, automation might reduce this feeling of control. If decisions are based solely on economic criteria such as energy saving, the resulting conditions might not be beneficial for the comfort of occupants. A balance between energy efficiency and comfort needs to be found. As a large part of the population spends a significant part of the day in an office environment, it is not surprising to see an increasing awareness of user comfort in office buildings. Besides the positive effects of a comfortable work environment on the health and wellbeing of office workers, studies have shown correlations between the level of comfort and job satisfaction, and even productivity (Boyce, 2003). Hence, there are also economic reasons for employers and building owners to focus on comfortable work environments. Although comfort is a subjective concept, much research has been done on objective determinants and measures of comfort. Many aspects have been identified that influence the perception of comfort in offices, including environmental aspects (e.g. building characteristics, climate), social aspects (e.g. relationships with colleagues), and personal aspects (e.g. gender, age) (Bluyssen et al., 2011). It is unclear how all of these different aspects relate to each other and contribute to an overall perception of comfort, but studies have shown the importance of individual aspects such as daylight and electric lighting on perception of comfort. The perception of control is an important psychological process that influences perceived lighting quality and satisfaction with the working environment (Veitch, 2001). In this paper, we report our work on the user experience of automated daylight control systems in relation to occupants’ perceived comfort with the indoor climate

AuCl3-Catalyzed Hemiacetal Activation for the Stereoselective Synthesis of 2-Deoxy Trehalose Derivatives

[Image: see text] A new practical, catalytic, and highly stereoselective method for directly accessing 1,1-α,α′-linked 2-deoxy trehalose analogues via AuCl(3)-catalyzed dehydrative glycosylation using hemiacetal glycosyl donors and acceptors is described. The method relies on the chemoselective Brønsted acid-type activation of tribenzylated 2-deoxy hemiacetals in the presence of other less reactive hemiacetals

Long-term bonding to eroded dentin requires superficial bur preparation

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the influence of different surface preparation techniques on long-term bonding effectiveness to eroded dentin. Materials and methods: Dentin specimens were eroded by pH cycling or were left untreated as control, respectively. Five different "preparation” techniques were applied: (1) cleaning with pumice, (2) air abrasion, (3) silicon polisher, (4) proxo-shape, and (5) diamond bur. The three-step etch-and-rinse adhesive OptiBond FL (O-FL; Kerr) and the mild two-step self-etch adhesive Clearfil SE Bond (C-SE; Kuraray) were evaluated. Micro-tensile bond strength was measured after water storage for 24h and 1year. Fracture analysis was performed by stereomicroscopy and SEM. Interfaces were characterized by TEM. Differences were statistically analyzed with a linear mixed effects model (α = 0.05). Results: Erosion reduced bond strength in all groups, but this effect was less prominent when eroded dentin was prepared by diamond bur. Storage lowered bond strength in almost all groups significantly, but this ageing effect was more prominent for the eroded surfaces than for non-eroded controls. Whereas after 1-year control specimens revealed superior bond strength with the three-step etch-and-rinse adhesive (O-FL), the mild two-step self-etch adhesive (C-SE) revealed a better 1-year bond strength to eroded dentin. The interface at eroded dentin appeared very prone to degradation as was shown by the increased amount of adhesive failures and by the silver infiltration detected by TEM. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Although a minimally invasive approach should clinically always be strived for, superficial preparation (or minimal roughening) with a diamond bur is recommendable for long-term bonding to eroded denti

Immediate performance of self-etching versus system adhesives with multiple light-activated restoratives

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of both single and double applications of (Adper Prompt L-Pop) self-etching dental adhesive, when used with three classes of light-activated restorative materials, in comparison to the performance of each restorative system adhesive. Evaluation parameters to be considered for the adhesive systems were (a) immediate marginal adaptation (or gap formation) in tooth cavities, (b) free setting shrinkage-strain determined by the immediate marginal gap-width in a non-bonding Teflon cavity, and (c) their immediate shear bond-strengths to enamel and to dentin. Methods: The maximum marginal gap-width and the opposing-width (if any) in the tooth cavities and in the Teflon cavities were measured immediately (3 min) after light-activation. The shear bond-strengths to enamel and to dentin were also measured at 3 min. Results: For light-activated restorative materials during early setting (&#60;3 min), application of Adper Prompt L-Pop exhibited generally superior marginal adaptation to most system adhesives. But there was no additional benefit from double application. The marginal-gaps in tooth cavities and the marginal-gaps in Teflon cavities were highly correlated (r=0.86–0.89, p&#60;0.02–0.01). For enamel and dentin shear bond-strengths, there were no significant differences between single and double applications, for all materials tested except Toughwell and Z 250 with enamel. Significance: Single application of a self-etch adhesive was a feasible and beneficial alternative to system adhesives for several classes of restorative. Marginal gap-widths in tooth cavities correlated more strongly with free shrinkage-strain magnitudes than with bond-strengths to tooth structure.</p