A socio-technical framework for digital contact tracing

In their efforts to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, decision makers are considering the development and use of smartphone applications for contact tracing. Even though these applications differ in technology and methods, there is an increasing concern about their implications for privacy and human rights. Here we propose a framework to evaluate their suitability in terms of impact on the users, employed technology and governance methods. We illustrate its usage with three applications, and with the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) guidelines, highlighting their limitations

Robot transparency, trust and utility

As robot reasoning becomes more complex, debugging becomes increasingly hard based solely on observable behaviour, even for robot designers and technical specialists. Similarly, non-specialist users have difficulty creating useful mental models of robot reasoning from observations of robot behaviour. The EPSRC Principles of Robotics mandate that our artefacts should be transparent, but what does this mean in practice, and how does transparency affect both trust and utility? We investigate this relationship in the literature and find it to be complex, particularly in nonindustrial environments where, depending on the application and purpose of the robot, transparency may have a wider range of effects on trust and utility. We outline our programme of research to support our assertion that it is nevertheless possible to create transparent agents that are emotionally engaging despite having a transparent machine nature

Emotions and Online-Distance Education: The Case of Cyprus

Η παρούσα έρευνα μελετά το ρόλο των συναισθημάτων των συμμετεχόντων φοιτητών σε δύο μεταπτυχιακά προγράμματα σπουδών του Ανοικτού Πανεπιστημίου Κύπρου κατά τον πρώτο χρόνο λειτουργίας τους. Ειδικότερα, αξιολογείται η εμπειρία της εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευσης μέσα από τα συναισθήματα των φοιτητών, όπως αυτά αποτυπώνονται σε συνεντεύξεις, μηνιαία ημερολόγια συναισθημάτων και ηλεκτρονικά μηνύματα. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας επισημαίνουν την πολλαπλότητα των πεδίων στα οποία μπορούν τα συναισθήματα να εκταθούν, καθώς και τη σπουδαιότητα των ερμηνειών που αποδίδουν οι φοιτητές σε σχέση με τη συγκεκριμένη μεθοδολογία μάθησης. Τα ζητήματα κοινωνικής και συναισθηματικής επικοινωνίας και επαφής αναδεικνύονται ως κρίσιμης σημασίας στη διερεύνηση των συναισθημάτων για την εμπειρία της εξ αποστάσεως μάθησης. Γενικά, τα ευρήματα της έρευνας αυτής υποστηρίζουν ότι η όσον το δυνατό συντομότερη εξοικείωση των σπουδαστών με την εξ αποστάσεως μεθοδολογία, η ενίσχυση της ποιοτικής επικοινωνίας με τους συμφοιτητές και τους καθηγητές και ο κατάλληλος προγραμματισμός και σωστή διαχείριση του χρόνου, είναι παράγοντες που συντελούν στη μείωση των αρνητικών συναισθημάτων.This article examines the origin and impact of adult learners’ emotions in the context of a distance learning program at the Open University of Cyprus. A range of methods for accessing emotions related to online learning is used, such as emotion diaries, semi-structured interviews, and email messages. The study highlights the multiple directions adult learners’ emotions can take and the significance of learners’ interpretations of their emotions in relation to the learning methodology. The issues of social and emotional communication and contact emerge as critical in the exploration of adult learners’ emotions in the context of online learning. In particular, the study shows how adult learners’ emotions in online learning are manifest and expressed in ambivalent ways, that is, how both positive and negative emotions co-exist and form particular emotional climates that influence adults’ learning experiences throughout the course. Analyzing the data from this study confirms findings from other recent research that in order to decrease negative emotions associated with online – distance learning methodology, the learners must familiarise themselves with the technology at hand, enhance quality communication with fellow learners and instructors as well as become well-organised and manage their time effectively. In addition, the programme must be well-organised and the instructors must facilitate the learners’ needs in a timely and organised manner. All in all, the current study shows that there is a lot to be gained from further considering how adult learners talk about their emotions as they learn how to become online learners

Modelling of amorphous polymer surfaces in computer simulation

We study surface effects in amorphous polymer systems by means of computer simulation. In the framework of molecular dynamics, we present two different methods to prepare such surfaces. {\em Free} surfaces are stabilized solely by van--der--Waals interactions whereas {\em confined} surfaces emerge in the presence of repelling plates. The two models are compared in various computer simulations. For free surfaces, we analyze the migration of end--monomers to the surface. The buildup of density and pressure profiles from zero to their bulk values depends on the surface preparation method. In the case of confined surfaces, we find density and pressure oszillations next to the repelling plates. We investigate the influence of surfaces on the coordination number, on the orientation of single bonds, and on polymer end--to--end vectors. Furthermore, different statistical methods to determine location and width of the surface region for systems of various chain lengths are discussed and applied. We introduce a ``height function'' and show that this method allows to determine average surface profiles only by scanning the outermost layer of monomers.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figure

Abdominal shotgun trauma: A case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

The Sustainability Game::AI Technology as an Intervention for Public Understanding of Cooperative Investment

Cooperative behaviour is a fundamental strategy for survival; it positively affects economies, social relationships, and makes larger societal structures possible. People vary, however, in their willingness to engage in cooperative behaviour in a particular context. Here we examine whether AI can be effectively used to to alter individuals' implicit understanding of cooperative dynamics, and hence increase cooperation and participation in public goods projects. We developed an intervention---the Sustainability Game (SG)---to allow players to experience the consequences of individual investment strategies on a sustainable society. %, when personal well being, communal space, and resources limitations are taken into consideration. Results show that the intervention significantly increases individuals' cooperative behaviour in partially anonymised public goods contexts, but enhances competition one-on-one. This indicates our intervention does improve transparency of the systemic consequences of individual cooperative behaviour