A Multimodal Interaction Design Guidelines for VR Foot Reflexology Therapy Application

Author(s):  
Hector Chimeremeze Okere ◽  
Suziah Sulaiman ◽  
Dayang Rohaya Awang Rambli ◽  
Oi-Mean Foong

The proliferation of multimodal interaction research have presented numerous advantages which include enhancement of realism, increased efficiency in user task performance and the achievement of an interactivity that is relatively identical to the conventional human to human interactions. Haptic, visual, and aural interactions have been widely utilized and applied in various domains ranging from military and scientific visualization realms into more multidisciplinary areas, such as art and culture, education, archeology, and complementary medicine. In Virtual reality stress therapy application particularly in the proliferation towards the virtualization and simulation of the traditional foot reflexology therapy, little is understood on the haptic, visual and aural interactive nature of the therapy and to what extent they contribute in the patients' relaxation and stress relief, which hinders the system developers from obtaining the appropriate system design requirements for foot reflexology virtual stress therapy applications. This paper presents an exploratory study that examines from both the patients' and practitioners' perspective, the haptic, visual and aural interactive nature in foot reflexology domain since the practices promote relaxation and stress relief. The study explored 2 traditional foot reflexology sessions; audio recorded semi-structured interview was used to collect data from the participant's while the session was going on for analysis. The study findings presented the haptic, visual and aural interactive nature involved from the patients' and practitioners' perspective, and a higher level design requirements for the haptic, aural, visual and general interactivity extracted from the study findings as well as from literature. Implications for future research are also discussed.

Author(s):  
Farhah Amaliya Zaharuddin ◽  
Nazrita Ibrahim ◽  
Azmi Mohd Yusof ◽  
Eze Manzura Mohd Mahidin ◽  
Mohd Ezanee Rusli

Author(s):  
Xian Wu ◽  
Jenay M. Beer

Telepresence has the potential to assist older adults to stay socially connected and to access telehealth. Telepresence was initially created for office use, thus the usability of telepresence for older adults remains unknown and there is a lack of design recommendations, particularly those with an emphasis on users’ age-related needs and limitations. To bridge the gap, this study assessed two telepresence user interfaces (UIs). One UI was designed to mimic common features founds in commercially available telepresence systems. Another UI was designed based on design guidelines for older adults. Each UI was integrated to a virtual driving environment created via Unity. To assess the usability of both UIs, thirty older adults participated in usability testing. Questionnaires and semi-structured interview were administered following each UI test sessions. Results of this study provide insight on what usability features are critical for the aging population to use telepresence, such as high color contrast, automated controls, and consistent icons.


Author(s):  
Christopher R. Hale ◽  
Anna L. Rowe

This symposium addresses the challenge of translating user data to specifications suitable for interface development. Four methodologies will be presented: Decision requirements tables, ecological interface design, object-view and interaction design and procedural networks. These four methodologies will be contrasted relative to three dimensions: (1) type of data used in analysis, (2) point in the design process at which each methodology focuses its impact and (3) the formalisms each uses for translating psychological data into engineering data suitable for specification development. Our introductory remarks will elaborate on these three dimensions, and present an example design problem. The four session participants then will present their respective methodologies, how each addresses the three dimensions and how each can be used to address the example design problem.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Fraser ◽  
Michael Leveritt ◽  
Lauren Ball

INTRODUCTION: General practitioners (GPs) play an important role in the management of patients who are overweight or obese. Previous research suggests that GPs’ physical characteristics may influence patients’ perceptions of health care received during consultations, mediating the likelihood of patients following health advice provided by GPs. This study aimed to explore patients’ perceptions of their GP’s health status and its influence on patients’ perceptions of healthy eating and exercise advice. METHODS: An interpretive approach to phenomenology underpinned the qualitative inquiry and study design. Twenty-one participants (aged 55.9 ± 6.5 years; 14 females, 7 males) who had previously received healthy eating and/or exercise advice from a GP participated in an individual semi-structured interview. A constant comparison approach to thematic analysis was conducted. FINDINGS: Participants identified three key indicators of perceived health of their GP. These included the GP’s physical appearance, particularly weight status; perceived absence of ill health; and disclosure of a GP’s health behaviours. Participants expressed favourable perceptions of the weight status of their GP. Participants expected their GP to be a healthy role model and often, but not always, felt more confident receiving advice from a GP that they perceived as healthy. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight that a GP’s perceived health status influences patients’ perceptions of the health advice received during consultations. These findings provide a foundation for future research that may allow GPs to modify patients’ perceptions of their health status in order to facilitate behaviour change in overweight or obese patients. KEYWORDS: Body weight; general practitioners; obesity; overweight; physicians; primary health care


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 788-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Hamm ◽  
Arthur G Money ◽  
Anita Atwal ◽  
Gheorghita Ghinea

The assistive equipment provision process is routinely carried out with patients to mitigate fall risk factors via the fitment of assistive equipment within the home. However, currently, over 50% of assistive equipment is abandoned by the patients due to poor fit between the patient and the assistive equipment. This paper explores clinician perceptions of an early stage three-dimensional measurement aid prototype, which provides enhanced assistive equipment provision process guidance to clinicians. Ten occupational therapists trialled the three-dimensional measurement aid prototype application; think-aloud and semi-structured interview data was collected. Usability was measured with the System Usability Scale. Participants scored three-dimensional measurement aid prototype as ‘excellent’ and agreed strongly with items relating to the usability and learnability of the application. The qualitative analysis identified opportunities for improving existing practice, including, improved interpretation/recording measurements; enhanced collaborative practice within the assistive equipment provision process. Future research is needed to determine the clinical utility of this application compared with two-dimensional counterpart paper-based guidance leaflets.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paschal Anosike

Previous research has focused on stable developed economies to predict that human capital and entrepreneurship education (EE) provision at the higher education (HE) level will positively affect entrepreneurial success. This article draws on the outcome of recent EE projects in two HE institutions in a conflict-torn northern Nigeria as a proxy to advocate the introduction of entrepreneurship as a compulsory component into the secondary school curriculum in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using semi-structured interview data, it is found that the provision of EE at secondary education level could help to facilitate human capital development and assist efforts to curb youth unemployment. Specifically, the study suggests that EE comprises both generic and specific human capital that increases an individual’s ability to identify and exploit opportunities, particularly for young people, and in doing so helps to reduce their vulnerability to poverty and involvement in armed conflict. Suggestions for future research and policy considerations are provided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (01) ◽  
pp. 91-110
Author(s):  
Serene Dalati

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to explore factors influencing Syrian female academic researchers’ experience in academic research in the field of business and economics studies. Research Methodology – The research methodology follows a qualitative approach. The methodology is based on conducting focus groups with female academic researchers selected from Syrian public and private universities, to clarify any potential factors, which may be influencing women researchers’ experience. Subsequently, a semi-structured interview protocol is designed to be applied to this target group. A judgement-sampling technique is selected at Syrian public and private universities. Findings – The research findings indicate that personality traits, passion for research, marital and maternal status are important micro-level factors are influencing female researchers’ experience. Academic work overload, an organisational culture of the institution, need for networking support with the business sector, are identified as meso factors. Finally, social culture and norms of the Middle Eastern societies, stereotyping and interpretation of religion are crucial factors at a macrolevel. The research develops a theoretical framework of dimensions, which may be influencing female academic researchers in the field of business and economics. Research Limitation/Implications – The research limitation is associated with sampling size and geographical scope. Future studies could investigate a larger sample with representative geographical scopes, and employs theory testing approaches. Future research could also extend its investigation to examine further disciplines including science, mathematics, engineering and technology. Practical Implications – The study provides practical advice to decision and policymakers examining employment and hiring structure and suggests evaluating policies associated with support with childcare providing on-campus childcare. The study advises introducing support mechanisms for improving the reward system and compensations schemes for academic researchers, encouraging the development and production of scientific research. Originality/Value – There is no prior research on women researchers in Syria. This research is considered as a new perspective of women researchers in Syria during a sensitive time, which characterises Syria. The study provides a theoretical contribution associated with experiences of female researchers at faculties of business and economics in Syrian higher education.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S267-S267
Author(s):  
Abdi Malik Musa ◽  
Samuele Cortese ◽  
Olivia Bloodworth

AimsObesity and depression are increasing in prevalence and have become key issues in the public health of the modern day. We performed a meta-review to summarise the association between obesity and depression in adults.MethodA systematic literature search was undertaken on MEDLINE, PsychINFO, EMBASE and Web of Science for systematic reviews (SRs) with or without meta-analyses (MA) on the association between obesity and depression in adults (>18 years) published before 18 September 2018. Any approach to define depressive disorders (e.g. via structured interview or code in medical file) was accepted. Likewise, any method to assess obesity was accepted. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment was completed by two reviewers independently, with a third reviewer to arbitrate any disagreement. AMSTAR 2 tool was used to assess the methodological quality and risk of bias of the pertinent SRs/MAs.ResultAfter duplicate removal, we identified 6007 potentially pertinent citations. Following, title, abstract and full-text screening, 10 studies were included in the review; nine SRs with MAs and one SR. A statistically significant association between obesity and depression was reported in all nine SRs with MAs, with odds ratios ranging from 1.18 (95% CI = 1.11-1.26) to 1.57 (95% CI = 1.53-2.01). Increased severity of obesity (body mass index over 40) was associated with a greater odds of becoming depressed. Odds of developing depression were greater for obese females, compared to obese males, but this difference was not statistically significant. Depression was shown to be a significant risk factor for future obesity in all four relevant MAs with odds ratios ranging from 1.18 (95% CI = 1.13-1.23) to 1.40 (95% CI = 1.14-1.71) . Depressed adolescent females had the highest odds of becoming obese, significantly more so than depressed adolescent males and depressed adults. The quality of the included studies were mixed with five scoring moderate quality, three low quality and two critically low quality.ConclusionThe findings suggest a reciprocal association between depression and obesity, which may be modulated by age and gender. Future research should assess the potential effect of obesity and depression severity more carefully while also exploring the underlying mechanisms. These results warrant the investigation of the effect of obesity or depression intervention on the outcomes of the other.FUNDINGThis research received no financial sponsorship.


10.28945/4613 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 433-460
Author(s):  
Devasmita Chakraverty

Aim/Purpose: This study examined experiences related to the impostor phenomenon among Black doctoral and postdoctoral scholars in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Background: Research on the impostor phenomenon is usually focused on undergraduates, especially for Blacks, with sparse research on Black doctoral and postdoctoral scholars. This phenomenon was originally investigated among Whites. Due to fewer studies on Blacks, culturally-relevant understanding of the impostor phenomenon is limited. Methodology: This study used surveys and interviews (convergent mixed-methods) to examine the impostor phenomenon among U.S.-based doctoral and postdoctoral scholars (together referred to as “trainees”) in STEM. Participants took a survey (that used the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale or CIPS to individually compute impostor phenomenon scores) and a one-on-one, semi-structured interview. Survey (with CIPS scores) and interview data were converged from the same participants, who were recruited from a national conference focused on minorities in STEM (convenience sampling). Using constant comparative method and analytic induction, interview-data were categorized into themes. Contribution: Findings documented race-based impostor-experiences, possibly culturally relevant to other groups of underrepresented minorities (URMs). Findings have implications for research, policy, and practice. These include future initiatives to broaden participation in STEM careers among the underrepresented groups, support those who might experience this phenomenon and transition challenges in academia, and create greater awareness of the challenges trainees face based on their background and life experiences. Findings: Surveys indicated moderate to intense impostor phenomenon among 15 participants at the time data were collected. Interviews with the same participants found six themes linked to the impostor phenomenon: 1) Being the only-one, 2) Lack of belonging, 3) Stereotyping, micro-aggression and judgment, 4) External appearances, 5) Feeling like the “diversity enhancers,” and 6) Complications of intersecting identities. Recommendations for Practitioners: Practitioners should consider the tensions and complications of Black identity and how it ties to training experiences in STEM as well as how race-based impostor phenomenon could shape an individual’s interaction with faculty, mentors, and peers. This knowledge could be helpful in designing professional development programs for Blacks. Recommendation for Researchers: Study findings could have research implications on the way doctoral and postdoctoral training is reimagined to be more inclusive and welcoming of diversity across multiple axes of gender, race/ethnicity, class, first-generation status, ability, sexual orientation, and country of origin, among others. Impact on Society: Black trainees could be vulnerable to leaving STEM fields due to their underrepresentation, lack of critical mass, racial discrimination, and other unpleasant experiences. Conversations around training, development, and means to address psychological distress could focus on culturally-relevant experiences of the impostor phenomenon. Future Research: Future research could look at the experiences of other underrepresented groups in STEM such as Native Americans and Hispanics as well as among faculty of color and individuals from other fields beyond STEM.


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