907 research outputs found
Do We Need Artificial Dining Companions? Exploring Human Attitudes Toward Robots in Commensality Settings
No full textInstagram Reactions to a Virtual Dining Companion:Qualitative Coding vs. Automated Sentiment Analysis
No full textTechnologies designed to support solo eaters by providing them company are an emerging design space at the intersection of AI, affective computing, and everyday dining rituals. This study explores public reactions to such novel systems by analyzing Instagram comments on a viral post depicting a man dining with a virtual reality partner. Using a mixed-methods approach, we first applied automated sentiment tools - including TextBlob, VADER, NRCLex, and BERT - to quantify surface-level sentiment. However, these analyses failed to capture the layered, performative, and culturally nuanced nature of user responses. To address this, we conducted manual thematic coding of 719 comments, revealing a wide spectrum of emotional tones - from sarcasm and judgment to empathy, curiosity, and self-reflection. Our findings demonstrate that many seemingly "positive"comments were in fact mocking or ambivalent, and that public discourse about emerging technologies like virtual companionship is deeply shaped by generational expression, meme culture, and shifting social norms. Thus, social media can be a valuable source of opinions and preferences regarding novel interactive technologies - even speculative prototypes - but the collected data needs to be analyzed on multiple levels
Grace S. Fong, Herself an Author : Gender, Agency, and Writing in Late Imperial China, 2008
No full textZufferey Nicolas. Grace S. Fong, Herself an Author : Gender, Agency, and Writing in Late Imperial China, 2008. In: Études chinoises, n°28, 2009. Numéro spécial sur le droit chinois. pp. 243-247
Assessing Graduate and Undergraduate Student Needs to Redesign a Chemistry Seminar Course
No full textThe Chemistry Seminar course at Rutgers University-Newark consists of newer graduate students and upper-level undergraduate students. To maximize student learning, the physical sciences librarian and professor assessed the knowledge and needs of both groups at the beginning of the course and utilized the results in course redesign. The course objectives of learning chemical information literacy skills to prepare for an oral presentation and engagement in department seminars remain of utmost importance, but addressing general curriculum gaps is also considered. Post-course assessments show students find the redesigned course highly useful and valuable for their short and long term needs.Peer reviewe
Designing Interactions for Artificial Commensal Companions
No full textEating with others offers several health and social benefits, which could potentially be preserved through the use of robotic companions when dining with another person is not an option. This study examined enjoyment of interaction, social connection, desired features, and concerns regarding a lunchtime commensal interaction between a human and a social robot. Participants were asked to eat lunch, unexpectedly accompanied by a NAO robot capable of conversing with them, and to participate in a qualitative study afterward. Twenty-two users took part in interviews focused on their experience with a robot and their thoughts on the ideal functionalities an artificial commensal companion should have. Users unanimously enjoyed the interaction, and stated that they would prefer eating with a robot to eating alone. They also suggested novel applications and specific improvements, including stronger personalization and the ability to discuss personal topics and interests as well as show empathy
Individual Differences in Social and Emotional Responses to Robotic Dining Companions: Toward Personalized Interaction Design
No full textThis study investigates how affective and personality traits shape users’ emotional and social responses to a robotic dining companion in a commensal context. The companion is a NAO robot, equipped with a GPT-based dialogue and a commensal activity visual detection module, able to engage in mealtime conversation and exhibit responsive nonverbal behaviors. Twenty-two participants shared a meal with the robot and completed pre- and post-interaction measures of personality, affect, commensality habits, enjoyment of the interaction, and perceived social connection. Results showed that participants high in openness reported greater enjoyment of the interaction and more positive situational affect, while those high in negative trait affect also reported high enjoyment of the interaction, suggesting that the robot provided value even for users who were not predisposed to feel good. Perceived social connection was predicted by negative affect, frequency of eating with others, and technology use during meals. Traits like extraversion and agreeableness were inversely related to connection—suggesting that artificial social agents may resonate most with emotionally sensitive users, rather than the most sociable ones. These findings suggest that commensal robotic companions may be particularly well-suited to users high in negative affect and openness, but also highlight the importance of adapting dialogue and behavioral strategies to users’ personality traits
Fables: Fong Siue-Fong
No full textI already have a similar book with English translations of Feng Hsueh-Feng, now here written Fong Siue-Fong. In fact, I have it in a hardbound first edition of 1953 and a paperbound second edition of 1955. Here is the hardbound French edition of 1955. The artist in those editions was called Huang Yung-yu; here he is Houang Yong-yu. The translator is not here acknowledged. This copy adds a picture of the author at the head of two new pages devoted to him. Surprisingly, the first full-page illustration -- for Le Paysan, les Moineaux et les Alouettes -- is reduced in size (5). Not all of the printer's designs used in the second edition are used here, perhaps because some texts run longer on the page. The order of fables seems to differ from the respective orders in the English editions. As I mention there, the fables are often directly admonitory and/or of a highly political slant. Un Rat Original may have the best illustration (77). Among the most overtly political is the fable on the imperialist weasel munching a duckling (26-8); here again the illustration is reduced, this time to fit horizontally and not vertically onto its page. There is a T of C at the back. The Foreign Languages Press in 1983 also did a paperbound version in smaller format but using the same illustrations, and I have that edition too.This is a hardbound book (hard cover)Language note: FrenchOriginal language: chiStated first editionFong Siue-Fon
Ji nian guo ji shi ren hui
No full textSide A. 1. 雞年國際诗人会 : 序.Live recording."1/1/93"--Spine & side A label."from Loh Wai Fong Jan '93"--Side B label.Electronic reproduction from Rulan Chao Pian Audio Cassette Collection.Spoken by author.Spoken in English and Chinese.Detailed contents in vernacular field only
[[alternative]]The Initiative of A Waldorf School in Taiwan--the Experience of Fong-Le School (2000-2005)
No full text[[abstract]]The focus of this case study is to document the process of the development of Fong-Le School, a ‘ becoming’ Waldorf school which is located in the central part of Taiwan. Fong-Le School was just established in March of 2005, however her initiators worked together after December of 2000. Based on the participation of the researcher who is also one of parents of Fong-Le School, the data of school files, and formal and informal interviews, the school life history since 2000 was reconstructed and written in this thesis.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is: (1) to analyze the periods and tasks of development of Fong-Le School; (2)to find the problems and resolutions during the process of school-building; (3)to realize the threefold structure of Fong-Le School’s organization; (4)to research the life of community of Fong-Le School and the practice of Waldorf education; (5)to clarify the role of parents of Fong-Le School during the process of establishment of the school. Finally, the researcher tries to summarize the discoveries and to offer some suggestions to Fong-Le School , the other alternative schools and public schools.
Briefly speaking, Fong-Le School is “reborn” by her initiators! After the disappointment of the first trial, the parents and teachers tried again and strived to move to another place to begin a new Waldorf school, Fong-Le School. The process of the initiative of the school was very difficult. Lack of money, buildings, and facilities, parents and teachers of Fong-Le School work together to practice Waldorf education in the light of Anthroposophy and to manage the school in the guidance of the Threefold Social Order.
In conclusion, it is realized from the experience of development of Fong-Le School that although the school was just established, her aim to become a Waldorf school is strongly supported by her initiators. However, the Fong-Le School community still faces challenges: her vision and direction in the future, the organization and management of the school, her finances and facilities, her own buildings, etc. And the destiny of Fong-Le School, becoming a Waldorf school, means that there needs more Waldorf teachers trained, more research on Waldorf curriculum suitable for the children in Taiwan. Of course, the survival and prosperity of the school is dependent on the cohesion and striving of the whole community of the school.
Embedded Data Librarianship: A Case Study of Providing Data Management Support for a Science Department
No full textThis case study details how a data services librarian and a science librarian collaborate to provide embedded data management support for the research-oriented Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University–Newark. Combining their familiarity with emerging professional practices and resources, their efforts to gain a deeper understanding of the specific data management needs of researchers in the department, and their research into the evolving research data infrastructure in that particular discipline, the two are able to successfully connect researchers with the best practices in data management, suitable data repositories, and experts in the campus’ Computing Services unit.This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Science & Technology Libraries, published online on 24 September 2015, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/0194262X.2015.1085348.Peer reviewe
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