1,721,150 research outputs found
WEARABLE DESIGN PROGETTARE SISTEMI INDOSSABILI PER LA SALUTE
No full textWearable design è un libro che vuole spingersi oltre la classica progettazione per l'utente, proponendo, anche attraverso esempi pratici, punti di vista alternativi per comprendere e progettare sistemi indossabili, e in particolare wearable per la salute. In particolare Wearable design descrive metodologie innovative per il design di sistemi medicali, sviluppate e incentrate su due aspetti fondamentali: perché e come. Perché creare un dispositivo indossabile? Qual è l'utilità. Come questo "magico" oggetto è in grado di farlo? Qual è la tecnologia che utilizza? Come l'utente si interfaccia con essa? Qual è la facilità d'uso percepita e lo sforzo cognitivo a cui è sottoposto il soggetto durante l'utilizzo del sistema? Partendo da questi due concetti, Wearable design si propone come uno strumento per accompagnare il lettore nella realizzazione di un concept di un sistema indossabile, attraverso l'illustrazione di concetti chiave ed esempi pratici di analisi e sviluppo
CipherPal: A Privacy-Preserving Smart Fidget Device for Mindful Data Collection and Storage
Full text linkThis demonstration paper presents CipherPal, a next-generation prototype that integrates advanced mood-related sensing, on-device encryption, and decentralized storage to deliver a secure and er- gonomic interface for personal digital interactions. Our research builds upon previous explorations to create an interactive smart fidget device that makes the experience of secure biometric and in- teraction data collection natural and engaging. This paper discusses how we can utilize blockchain technology alongside interaction design to foster a more mindful and sustainable approach to per- sonal data management. The device features dual heartbeat sensors integrated into natural interaction points, and LED feedback for different device states. Users can securely store their interactions using IPFS storage and blockchain technology through its com- panion application, maintaining complete control over their data. CipherPal investigates the delicate balance that must be kept for sustainability between data sharing and digital privacy
HYBRID/VIRTUAL PHYSICAL COMPUTING PROTOTYPING HANDS- ON LABORATORY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic has forced schools and universities to rethink the classic "Hic et Nunc" (here
and now) model as the only valid teaching model.
Education in the third millennium no longer consists only of frontal activities in the classroom, with notes,
texts, and notions, but integrates technological and interactive tools to involve and facilitate learning.
The pandemic has forced educators, at all levels of learning, to undertake a change that has already been underway for years, especially in business training: the use of the internet as the primary teaching tool. According to an ongoing study on virtual learning [1], a staggering 97% of students had switched to online education in June 2020. Of the current college students surveyed, 63% said the quality of education decreased when it moved online and 31% said it stayed online. Only 5% of students said the quality of their education improved. Despite this, according to the IPSOS survey of June 2020 [2], 65% of Italian students are in favor of planning mixed online / presence lessons because they are considered more usable. If in principle the change due to the first months of the lockdown was almost traumatic, passing from a model in presence to a completely synchronous online model (almost an e-learning), with the evolution of the pandemic situation and with the attenuation of the measure’s containment, a controlled return in face-to-face was possible, from which the possibility of exploiting the situation to
implement the so-called blended teaching.
If on the one hand, the pandemic has made it possible to discover many valuable tools for distance and blended learning, on the other hand in some disciplines it has drastically changed the way in which these were taught; an example is the interaction design and in particular, courses where the development of
a physical prototype is required.
One of the fundamental aspects of these courses is in fact the hands-on on the various prototyping technologies and the constructive dialogue during the reviews in the classroom. Moreover, often these prototypes are made in groups, and the forced distancing compromises this part of cultural involvement and exchange of ideas among the students. In these two years of distance, hybrid and blended learning forced by the pandemic situation, various different attempts have been made to involve students in physical computing hands-on dynamics, from completely remote frontal lessons, up to the use of
connected laboratories with remotely controlled physical prototypes.
This paper shows the hybrid didactic experience created for the prototyping course of the Digital and Interaction design school at the Politecnico di Milano, reporting all the pros and cons, and exemplifying
all the fundamental aspects necessary for establishing a physical hands-on course in the distance
Informational content and assurance of textual disclosures: evidence on integrated reporting
No full textThis paper examines the economic benefits associated with textual attributes and the external assurance of integrated reporting (IR), an innovative form of corporate disclosure that connects financial and environmental, social and governance (ESG) information in a single report. We investigate the setting of South Africa, where IR has been mandatory since 2010 for listed companies. We find that IR readability is associated with a higher market valuation, conciseness with higher stock liquidity and tone bias with less dispersed analysts’ estimates. Results suggest that market participants appreciate IRs that are readable, short and focused, as well as hint at tone management strategies targeting analysts. We also show that assurance on IR moderates the negative effects of poor textual attributes: if firms publish IRs that are difficult to read but assure them, this compensates for the negative influence of reading difficulty on a market value; if long IRs are assured, this dampens the negative effect of verbosity on liquidity; if firms assure IRs, analysts’ forecast dispersion is lower, therefore suggesting that assurance acts as a credibility-enhancing mechanism for external users. Finally, we show that textual attributes and assurance matter for broader audiences interested in the ESG dimensions of a firm’s performance
The impact of classroom training on road hazards perception in a Tanzanian Secondary School
No full textIn Tanzania, in 2014, 3,760 people were killed on the roads, and 14,530 were injured. The possible
reasons are to be investigated around the fatalistic beliefs common in Africa, and the lack of effective
road safety education in schools. The present study was conducted in a Secondary School in Tanzania
in 2016. In January 212 students received a two-hour training held by a traffic psychologist and the
training effectiveness was assessed through Static Hazard Perception Test (SHPT), that was submitted
before the training and twice after the training, in February and in November (follow up). Aim of the
training was to open a ‘window of thought’ on simple concepts such as road risk and danger, starting
from the idea that reflecting on these concepts would help students to improve their awareness of the
dangers that can be found on the road. Pre-post repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)
yielded a principal effect of the training on hazard perception (F (1,210)=27.519, p<.001). Data
collected in the follow up show that the level of hazards perception at eight months after the training
was lower than immediately after the training (repeated measures ANOVA: F (1,210)=11,700, p<.005)
but higher than before the training (repeated measures ANOVA: F (1,210) =85,685, p<.001). Although
there are some limits, the results suggest that a traffic psychology training about road safety, based on
students’ reflection about their experience as road users, may help to better recognize hazards on the
road and to maintain such ability forward. Such results have implications for more effective road safety
education in Africa
Monitoring Performance in Women’s Soccer Players during Training through Wearable Sensors: Design Issues and Reliability Assessement
No full textAssessing Blockchain Health Devices: A Multi-Framework Method for Integrating Usability and User Acceptance
Full text linkIntegrating blockchain into healthcare devices offers the potential for improved data control but faces significant usability and acceptance challenges. This study addresses this gap by evaluating CipherPal, an improved blockchain-enabled Smart Fidget Toy prototype, using a multi-framework approach to understand the interplay between technology, design, and user experience. We synthesized insights from three complementary frameworks: an expert review assessing adherence to Web3 Design Guidelines, a User Acceptance Toolkit assessment with professionals based on UTAUT2, and an extended three-day user testing study. The findings revealed that users valued CipherPal’s satisfying tactile interaction and perceived benefits for well-being, such as stress relief. However, significant usability barriers emerged, primarily related to challenging device–application connectivity and data synchronization. The multi-framework approach proved valuable in revealing these core tensions. While the device was conceptually accepted, the blockchain integration added significant interaction friction that overshadowed its potential benefits during the study. This research underscores the critical need for user-centered design in health-related blockchain applications, emphasizing that seamless usability and abstracting technical complexity are paramount for adoption
Verso una strada che si spiega da sè
No full textIl contributo si focalizza sull'analisi di usabilità di alcune strade e sui possibili interventi ad implementazione della stessa
The Development of User-Centric Design Guidelines for Web3 Applications: An Empirical Study
Full text linkThe design of Web3 applications presents unique challenges due to their complex technical requirements. Despite the increasing spread of this technology, there is a notable lack of comprehensive, empirically grounded design guidelines for developing user-friendly Web3 interfaces. This study addresses this gap through a systematic three-phase approach: (1) developing initial guidelines from a literature review and industry sources (n = 31), (2) conducting evaluations using a 14-point framework based on the initial guidelines to test its effectiveness across diverse Web3 applications (n = 25), and (3) validating refined guidelines through expert evaluation sessions (n = 7). Expert evaluations highlighted the need for task-oriented rather than category-based organization of design principles. Based on these findings, we developed a structured framework organizing guidelines into four key task flows, each with three implementation levels. The framework emphasizes progressive disclosure of blockchain concepts, integrated user education, and clear state visualization. Our findings contribute to academic discussion and industry practice by providing empirically validated patterns for Web3 interface design. This study lays a foundation for creating more accessible and user-friendly decentralized applications, though future work should focus on longitudinal validation and adaptation to emerging technologies
The effect of publication, format and content of Integrated Reports on analysts’ earnings forecasts
No full textIntegrated Reporting (IR) has recently emerged as an accounting innovation that combines financial and non-financial/sustainability information relevant to corporate value creation in a single report. While prior research on IR examined the supply side (i.e., motivation for and content) of IR, this study focuses on the demand side of IR. We specifically investigate whether IR strengthens financial analysts’ earnings forecasts and what aspects of IR influence better forecasting. For this purpose, we conduct (1) a within-firm analysis from a sample of IR early adopters to measure the difference between the pre- and post-levels of forecast dispersion following the IR release and (2) a between-firm matching analysis to test whether an IR release is indeed associated with a lower dispersion. We examine 156 IR adopters from 18 countries in 2014 and 2015, matched with 95 non-IR firms selected as a control group. The results show that a single IR (type 3) decreases the post-level of forecast dispersion of IR firms with a smaller pre-forecast dispersion in comparison with the control group. Moreover, IR completeness and detail are associated with the post-level of forecast dispersion of IR firms with smaller pre-forecast dispersion, while IR accountability (reporting more negative issues) and length have no effect on it. Our findings suggest that an IR presenting more content elements and more detail may decrease uncertainty about a firm’s information environment and therefore strengthen analysts’ decisions
- …
