Beyond the Web: integrated digital communities

This paper details two case studies exploring integration within digital communities. Three types of integration are introduced – information, technological and online-offline integration. These concepts are explored through two online fan communities and through a mobile web based system. This paper addresses the idea of balance between offline and online spaces; a key research interest of Sillence’s. It tackles the issue of how design can affect the social use of a system and focuses upon the natural use of multiple communication media. The way in which people use and adapt technology to suit their needs is of interest to Sillence in all her work. She was asked to write this paper by the chair of the Web-based Communities Conference: Sillence, E. (2004a). Media Integration within Web Based Communities. In Proceedings of the IADIS International Conference Web Based Communities 2004. Lisbon, Portugal 24-26 March 2004, p175-182. Several papers have argued that involvement in online environments is having a negative social impact. However, her research argues that methodological flaws have encouraged these findings and overlooked the fact that natural settings provide opportunities for the integration of media across an online-offline boundary. Other related publications by her include: Kostakos, V. O’Neill, E., Little, L. & Sillence, E. (2005). The social implications of emerging technologies. Interacting with Computers, 17 (5) 475-483. Sillence, E. & Baber, C. (2004). Integrated Digital Communities: Combining Web-based Interaction with Text Messaging to Develop a System for Encouraging Group Communication and Competition. Interacting with Computers, 16 (1) 93-113 Also edited: Special edition of Interacting with Computers. “The social impact of emerging technologies” 17, 5 (2005

Getting connected- at what cost? Some ethical issues on mobile HCI

The large scale deployment of mobile applications inevitably affects our daily lives and the whole culture. Not all of these effects are desirable. In a market economy, ethical issues are not the foremost drivers in the development of technology. In this paper, we ask whether the mobile human-computer interaction community could take an active role in discussing the issues which really matter in the development of technology for human beings, rather than concentrating on the fine tuning of emerging gadgets

Self-Compassion, Psychological Resilience, and Social Media Use among Thai and British University Students

Previous research has suggested that self-compassion and psychological resilience are likely to be protective factors for young people’s psychological wellbeing during their time at university. However, no research has focused on self-compassion and psychological resilience among Thai and British students. The aims of this study were to explore the factors that affected self-compassion and psychological resilience among Thai and British university students and to explore the role that social media use has on these constructs. A total of 767 university students (482 Thai and 285 British undergraduate students) took part in a questionnaire-based study and 42 students (21 Thai and 21 British undergraduate students) participated in the in-depth interviews. The quantitative data show that gender, year of study as well as social media factors were predictors of self-compassion, while social support and perceived success influenced psychological resilience among Thai and British students. In addition, the qualitative data indicate that Thai and British students encountered similar problems and highlight the role that family and friends had on students’ strategies to deal with their problems compared to teachers and social media. The comparison between the two groups is discussed in relation to social media and cultural factors and the implications for higher education are considered

The Design of Information Technology as Design of the Information Society

The design of technical product is often focused in the development of that particular artefact. However, when we introduce new technology we don’t simply replace old technology with new, but change many things in the whole context of use. With the help of familiar examples from our everyday life we illustrate how far-reaching tiny-looking technological changes may be. Finally, we propose a design model which combines the traditional user-centred design cycle with broader view. The premise of the proposed model is that when designing information technology we fundamentally design information society

Ubiquitous systems and the family: Thoughts about the networked home

Developments in ubiquitous and pervasive computing herald a future in which computation is embedded into our daily lives. Such a vision raises important questions about how people, especially families, will be able to engage with and trust such systems whilst maintaining privacy and individual boundaries. To begin to address such issues, we have recently conducted a wide reaching study eliciting trust, privacy and identity concerns about pervasive computing. Over three hundred UK citizens participated in 38 focus groups. The groups were shown Videotaped Activity Scenarios [11] depicting pervasive or ubiquitous computing applications in a number of contexts including shopping. The data raises a number of important issues from a family perspective in terms of access, control, responsibility, benefit and complexity. Also findings highlight the conflict between increased functionality and the subtle social interactions that sustain family bonds. We present a Pre-Concept Evaluation Tool (PRECET) for use in design and implementation of ubicomp systems

How do people with asthma use Internet sites containing patient experiences?

Objective: To understand how people engage with websites containing patient authored accounts of health and illness. To examine how people with asthma navigate their way through this information and make use of the patient experiences they find. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with diagnoses ranging from mild to severe asthma were shown a range of websites, some containing patient experiences, and selected two sites to explore further. They discussed their choices in a series of focus groups and interviews. Results: Participants were influenced initially by the design quality of the sites and were subsequently drawn to websites containing patient experiences but only when contributions were from similar people offering ‘relevant stories’. The experiences reminded participants of the serious nature of the disease, provided new insights into the condition and an opportunity to reflect upon the role of the disease in their lives. Conclusion: For people with asthma websites containing other patients’ personal experiences can serve as a useful information resource, refresh their knowledge and ensure their health behaviours are appropriate and up-to-date. Practice Implications: Health professionals should consider referring asthma patients to appropriate websites whilst being aware that online experiences are most engaging when they resonate with the participants own situation

Apoptosis and signalling in acid sphingomyelinase deficient cells

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that the activation of a non-specific lipid scramblase during apoptosis induces the flipping of sphingomyelin from the cell surface to the cytoplasmic leaftet of the plasma membrane. Inner leaflet sphingomyelin is then cleaved to ceramide by a neutral sphingomyelinase. The production of this non-membrane forming lipid induces blebbing of the plasma membrane to aid rapid engulfment by professional phagocytes. However contrary evidence suggests that cells which are deficient in acid sphingomyelinase are defective in apoptosis signalling. This data has been interpreted as support for the activation of acid sphingomyelinase as an early signal in apoptosis. HYPOTHESIS: An alternative explanation is put forward whereby the accumulation of intracellular sphingomyelin in sphingomyelinase deficient cells leads to the formation of intracellular rafts which lead to the sequestration of important signalling molecules that are normally present on the cell surface where they perform their function. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS: It is expected that the subcellular distribution of important signalling molecules is altered in acid sphingomyelinase deficient cells, leading to their sequestration in late endosomes / lysosomes. Other sphingolipid storage diseases such as Niemann-Pick type C which have normal acid sphingomyelinase activity would also be expected to show the same phenotype. IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS: If true the hypothesis would provide a mechanism for the pathology of the sphingolipid storage diseases at the cellular level and also have implications for the role of ceramide in apoptosis

From a good death to a better bereavement? The impact of the end of life experience on bereavement adjustment, a thematic analysis

To date, the majority of research into a good death has focused on the experience of the person who is dying. Taking the perspective of bereaved individuals, this qualitative study explores which elements of the end of life experience constitute a good death and how these elements influence the process of bereavement adjustment. Following interviews with ten bereaved adults four themes were identified which together define a good death; a lack of physical distress, emotional resolution, ‘naming death as death’ and death at ‘the right time’. The value of open communication prior to death is highlighted. For those working with bereaved individuals these results support an understanding of the impact of the manner of death on bereavement adjustment. For those in palliative care settings, potentially modifiable elements of the end of life experience which may support better bereavement are suggested

Exploring trust in online health information: a study of user experiences of patients.co.uk

This feature has been co-authored by Anna Cunningham and her supervisor Frances Johnson. It is based on the research Anna conducted for her dissertation, which she completed as part of her MA in Library and Information Management at Manchester Metropolitan University. The study explored how people assess the trustworthiness of online health information, and the participants were asked to talk aloud whilst viewing information on the consumer health information website patients.co.uk. The study confirmed that their assessment was based on the information usefulness and credibility as well as identifying the factors relating to information quality and website design that helped to form these judgements. A. M