Enhancing Restaurant Dining Experience: Design and Evaluation of a Mobile App for Personalized Menu Item Selection in Restaurants

Picking the right food item from a restaurant menu can be challenging for people, specially for those who are unfamiliar with local cuisine and those with specific dietary requirements. Existing menus often lack essential information, making it difficult for diners to make quick and confident decisions. In this paper, we propose a mobile app that offers a user-friendly interface to allows users rank menu items based on their preferences and concerns. Using personalized ranking algorithms, the app analyzes the ingredients and nutritional content of menu items, providing users with valuable information to make informed choices. Preliminary tests suggest that the app is easy to use and effective in providing relevant information to users. Overall, the proposed system has the potential to improve the dining experience of individuals with various dietary needs and preferences

Social distancing challenges for marginal communities during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

This study presents the challenges of marginal communities in maintaining social distances during the COVID-19 pandemic. We focused on garment worker communities in Bangladesh. The current living conditions put the community at high risk due to the contagious nature of COVID-19. The study involved 55 garment workers (32 female) living in three different regions--Ashulia, Gazipur, and Mirpur of Bangladesh. Through a qualitative research method, three critical aspects were studied. First, the inability to maintain social distancing in the community living in close proximity. Second, there is a lack of concern about healthcare among the community and, finally, the absence of preparation for crisis management. The research work proposes policy level intervention for better healthcare in the light of the pandemic that can be helpful in the coming days

Promoting Personalized Reminiscence Among Cognitively Intact Older Adults Through an AI-Driven Interactive Multimodal Photo Album: Development and Usability Study

BackgroundReminiscence, a therapy that uses stimulating materials such as old photos and videos to stimulate long-term memory, can improve the emotional well-being and life satisfaction of older adults, including those who are cognitively intact. However, providing personalized reminiscence therapy can be challenging for caregivers and family members. ObjectiveThis study aimed to achieve three objectives: (1) design and develop the GoodTimes app, an interactive multimodal photo album that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to engage users in personalized conversations and storytelling about their pictures, encompassing family, friends, and special moments; (2) examine the app’s functionalities in various scenarios using use-case studies and assess the app’s usability and user experience through the user study; and (3) investigate the app’s potential as a supplementary tool for reminiscence therapy among cognitively intact older adults, aiming to enhance their psychological well-being by facilitating the recollection of past experiences. MethodsWe used state-of-the-art AI technologies, including image recognition, natural language processing, knowledge graph, logic, and machine learning, to develop GoodTimes. First, we constructed a comprehensive knowledge graph that models the information required for effective communication, including photos, people, locations, time, and stories related to the photos. Next, we developed a voice assistant that interacts with users by leveraging the knowledge graph and machine learning techniques. Then, we created various use cases to examine the functions of the system in different scenarios. Finally, to evaluate GoodTimes’ usability, we conducted a study with older adults (N=13; age range 58-84, mean 65.8 years). The study period started from January to March 2023. ResultsThe use-case tests demonstrated the performance of GoodTimes in handling a variety of scenarios, highlighting its versatility and adaptability. For the user study, the feedback from our participants was highly positive, with 92% (12/13) reporting a positive experience conversing with GoodTimes. All participants mentioned that the app invoked pleasant memories and aided in recollecting loved ones, resulting in a sense of happiness for the majority (11/13, 85%). Additionally, a significant majority found GoodTimes to be helpful (11/13, 85%) and user-friendly (12/13, 92%). Most participants (9/13, 69%) expressed a desire to use the app frequently, although some (4/13, 31%) indicated a need for technical support to navigate the system effectively. ConclusionsOur AI-based interactive photo album, GoodTimes, was able to engage users in browsing their photos and conversing about them. Preliminary evidence supports GoodTimes’ usability and benefits cognitively intact older adults. Future work is needed to explore its potential positive effects among older adults with cognitive impairment