Animal-Computer Interaction: a Manifesto (2011) and sections from Towards an Animal-Centred Ethics for Animal-Computer Interaction (2016)

Reprint of journal article "Animal-Computer Interaction: a Manifesto" (2011) and of sections of journal article "Towards an Animal-Centred Ethics for Animal-Computer Interaction" (2016

Hyper-Document structure: maintaining discourse coherence in non-linear documents

The passage from linear text to hypertext poses the challenge of expressing discourse coherence in non-linear text, where linguistic discourse markers no longer work. While hypertext introduces new possibilities for discourse organisation, it also requires the use of new devices which can support the expression of coherence by exploiting the technical characteristics and expressive capabilities of the medium. In this paper we show how in hypertext the notion of abstract document structure encompasses animated graphics as a form of meta-language for discourse construction

The Role of Ethological Observation for Measuring Animal Reactions to Biotelemetry Devices

This paper presents a methodological approach used to assess the wearability of biotelemetry devices in animals. A detailed protocol to gather quantitative and qualitative ethological observations was adapted and tested in an experimental study of 13 cat participants wearing two different GPS devices. The aim was twofold: firstly, to ascertain the potential interference generated by the devices on the animal body and behavior by quantifying and characterizing it; secondly, to individuate device features potentially responsible for the influence registered, and establish design requirements. This research contributes towards the development of a framework for evaluating the design of wearer-centered biotelemetry interventions for animals, consistent with values advocated by Animal- Computer Interaction researchers

Visualising Discourse Coherence in Non-Linear Documents

To produce coherent linear documents, Natural Language Generation systems have traditionally exploited the structuring role of textual discourse markers such as relational and referential phrases. These coherence markers of the traditional notion of text, however, do not work in non-linear documents: a new set of graphical devices is needed together with formation rules to govern their usage, supported by sound theoretical frameworks. If in linear documents graphical devices such as layout and formatting complement textual devices in the expression of discourse coherence, in non-linear documents they play a more important role. In this paper, we present our theoretical and empirical work in progress, which explores new possibilities for expressing coherence in the generation of hypertext documents

Towards a Wearer-Centred Framework for Animal Biotelemetry

The emerging discipline of Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) aims to understand the relation between animals and technology in naturalistic settings, to design technology that can support animals in different contexts and to develop user-centred research methods and frameworks that enable animals to take part in the design process as legitimate contributors [11]. Given existing interspecies differences and communication barriers, measuring the behaviour of animals involved in ACI research can be instrumental to achieving any or all of these aims, as a way of gauging the animals’ patterns, needs and preferences. Indeed, measuring behaviour is a common practice among ACI researchers, who take various approaches to this task [5,15,17,24]. In this respect, the use of biotelemetry devices such as VHF tags and GPS trackers, or bio-logging and environmental sensors has a significant potential [22]. At the same time, biotelemetry has been used for many years in many areas of biological research. Biotelemetry is used to improve the quality of physiological and behavioural data collected from animals and in an attempt to reduce researchers’ intrusion in the animals’ habitat [2]. However, there is evidence that carrying biotelemetry tags may influence the bearer’s physiology and behaviour [20]. Such impacts interfere with the validity of recorded data [14] and the welfare of individual animal wearers [1,3,13]. Neither of these effects are compatible with the animal-centred perspective advocated by ACI, on both scientific and ethical grounds. Our analysis of current body-attached device design and biotelemetry-enabled studies points to a general lack of wearer-centred perspective. To address these issues, we have developed a framework to inform the design of wearer-centred biotelemetry interventions, in order to support the implementation of animal-centred research methodologies and design solutions in ACI and other disciplines

Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI): changing perspective on HCI, participation and sustainability

In the spirit of this year’s conference theme ‘changing perspectives’, this paper invites the CHI community to glance at interaction design through the lense of Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI). In particular, I argue that such a perspective could have at least three benefits: strengthening HCI as a discipline; broadening participation in Interaction Design; and supporting CHI’s commitment to sustainability. I make the case that, far from being a niche research area, ACI is directly relevant to and even encompasses HCI. Thus ACI research firmly belongs at CHI

Visualising Discourse Structure in Interactive Documents

In this paper we introduce a method for generating interactive documents which exploits the visual features of hypertext to represent discourse structure. We explore the consistent and principled use of graphics and animation to support navigation and comprehension of non-linear text, where textual discourse markers do not always work effectively

Design issues for VREs: can richer records of meetings enhance collaboration?

Technologies for collaboration have advanced significantly in the past ten years. Through tools such as the Access Grid (AG), it is now possible to conduct multi-site meetings involving large numbers of participants interacting using high quality and video and sharing data. Virtual Venues within the AG toolkit store data, documents, applications and services which can be accessed across multiple sites. These documents might include records of the meetings themselves. We discuss ways in which such records can be made navigable and re-usable so that collaborators can achieve a shared understanding of meetings’ work

Ontological Foundations for Scholarly Debate Mapping Technology

Mapping scholarly debates is an important genre of what can be called Knowledge Domain Analytics (KDA) technology – i.e. technology which combines both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysing specialist knowledge domains. However, current KDA technology research has emerged from diverse traditions and thus lacks a common conceptual foundation. This paper reports on the design of a KDA ontology that aims to provide this foundation. The paper then describes the argumentation extensions to the ontology for supporting scholarly debate mapping as a special form of KDA and demonstrates its expressive capabilities using a case study debate

Giorno della Memoria 2016. Memoria della Shoah e responsabilit\ue0 presente-Progetto di Terza Missione

In linea con le finalit\ue0 intese dalla Presidenza del Consiglio Regionale delle Marche nel farsi promotrice e coordinatrice delle iniziative organizzate sul territorio regionale per la celebrazione del Giorno della Memoria 2016, e in accordo con il tema \u201cLa memoria contro ogni discriminazione\u201d proposto dalla Presidenza stessa agli Enti collaboratori (la Comunit\ue0 ebraica di Ancona, l\u2019Ufficio scolastico regionale, l\u2019Istituto di Storia Marche, la Rete Universitaria per il Giorno della Memoria, l\u2019Anci Marche), l\u2019evento "Memoria della Shoah e responsabilit\ue0 presente" organizzato dall\u2019Universit\ue0 di Macerata per il giorno 29 gennaio 2016 \u2012 articolato in Convegno, Mostra e Spettacolo \u2012 \ue8 mirato a dare un degno risalto al valore della Memoria e dell\u2019educazione dei cittadini, soprattutto dei giovani, al rifiuto di ogni forma di sopruso e di discriminazione nei confronti di ogni popolo, cultura, etnia e religione, nella ferma convinzione che \ue8 primariamente attraverso la trasmissione del sapere, della conoscenza e di valori positivi, da un lato, e lo sviluppo di una cultura del pluralismo e di un sentimento sempre pi\uf9 diffuso di cura, attenzione e tutela dei diritti umani e civili, dall\u2019altro, che viene resa possibile la costruzione di una civilt\ue0 fondata sulla pacifica convivenza fra popoli e, al contempo, lo scardinamento di mentalit\ue0 razziste, antisemite e negazioniste