Listening Like a Computer: Attentional Tensions and Mechanized Care in Psychiatric Digital Phenotyping

2021 ◽  
pp. 016224392110263
Author(s):  
Beth M. Semel
Keyword(s):  
Speech Sound ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Subject Position ◽  
Research Subject ◽  
Semantic Meaning ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Digital Phenotyping ◽  
Human Research Subject ◽  
Audio Recordings

This article explores negotiations over the humanistic versus mechanized components of care through an ethnographic account of digital phenotyping research. I focus on a US-based team of psychiatric and engineering professionals assembling a smartphone application that they hope will analyze minute changes in the sounds of speech during phone calls to predict when a user with bipolar disorder will have a manic or depressive episode. Contrary to conventional depictions of psychiatry as essentially humanistic, the discourse surrounding digital phenotyping positions the machine as a necessary addition to mental health care precisely because of its more-than-human sensory, attentional capacities. The bipolar research team likewise portrays their app as capable of pinpointing sonic signs of mental illness that humans, too distracted by semantic meaning, otherwise ignore. Nevertheless, the team members tasked with processing the team’s data (audio recordings of human research subject speech) must craft and perform a selectively attentive machinic subject position, which they call “listening like a computer”: a paradoxical mode of attention (to speech sound) and inattention (to speech meaning). By tracing the team’s discursive and on-the-ground enactments of care and attention as both humanistic and machinic, I tune a critical ear to the posthuman promises of digital phenotyping.

The Effect of Tongue-Tie Release on Speech Articulation and Intelligibility

2021 ◽  
pp. 014556132110640
Author(s):  
Jonathan Melong ◽  
Michael Bezuhly ◽  
Paul Hong
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Developmentally Appropriate ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Speech Errors ◽  
Speech Articulation ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Audio Recordings ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Consistent Manner ◽  
Age Appropriate

Objective The relationship between ankyloglossia and speech is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of tongue-tie release on speech articulation and intelligibility. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted. Pediatric patients (>2 years of age) being referred for speech concerns due to ankyloglossia were assessed by a pediatric otolaryngologist, and speech articulation was formally assessed by a speech language pathologist using the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation 2 (GFTA-2). Patients then underwent a tongue-tie release procedure in clinic. After 1 month, speech articulation was reassessed with GFTA-2. Audio-recordings of sessions were evaluated by independent reviewers to assess speech intelligibility before and after tongue-tie release. Results Twenty-five participants were included (mean age 3.7 years; 20 boys). The most common speech errors identified were phonological substitutions (80%) and gliding errors (56%). Seven children (28%) had abnormal lingual-alveolar and interdental sounds. Most speech sound errors (87.9%) were age/developmentally appropriate. GFTA-2 standard scores before and after tongue-tie release were 85.61 (SD 9.75) and 87.54 (SD 10.21), respectively, (P=.5). Mean intelligibility scores before and after tongue-tie release were 3.15 (SD .22) and 3.21 (SD .31), respectively, (P=.43). Conclusion The majority of children being referred for speech concerns thought to be due to ankyloglossia had age-appropriate speech errors at presentation. Ankyloglossia was not associated with isolated tongue mobility related speech articulation errors in a consistent manner, and there was no benefit of tongue-tie release in improving speech articulation or intelligibility.

A Technological Perspective of Mobile and Electronic Commerce Systems

2012 ◽  
pp. 485-504
Author(s):  
Wen-Chen Hu ◽  
Yanjun Zuo ◽  
Naima Kaabouch ◽  
Lei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Commerce ◽  
Mobile Networks ◽  
Mobile Commerce ◽  
Mobile Internet ◽  
Research Subject ◽  
Wired Networks ◽  
Mobile Middleware ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Technological Perspective

The emergence of wireless and mobile networks has made possible the introduction of electronic commerce to a new application and research subject: mobile commerce. Mobile commerce is a promising trend of commerce because Internet-enabled smartphones such as iPhones are becoming very popular these days. People use smartphones to perform daily tasks like browsing the mobile Internet and making phone calls anytime and anywhere. However, understanding or constructing a mobile or an electronic commerce system is not easy because the system involves a wide variety of disciplines and technologies and the technologies are constantly changed. To facilitate understanding and constructing such a system, this chapter divides the system into six components: (i) applications, (ii) client devices or computers, (iii) mobile middleware, (iv) wireless networks, (v) wired networks, and (vi) host computers. Elements in these components specifically related to the subject are described in detail and lists of current technologies for component construction are discussed.

Biomedical Research and Human Research Subject Protection: Is There Need for Action in Germany and Austria?

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Staudinger ◽  
Gerhard Fortwengel ◽  
Magdalena Thoeni ◽  
Verena Stühlinger
Keyword(s):  
Biomedical Research ◽  
Research Subject ◽  
Human Research ◽  
Human Research Subject

scholarly journals Pivoting during the pandemic: A case study of the Senior Companion Program Plus

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 811-811
Author(s):  
Noelle Fields ◽  
Ling Xu ◽  
Erin Roark ◽  
Sruthi Sundar ◽  
Ishan Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Participant Engagement ◽  
Older Volunteers ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
The Status ◽  
Stress Burden ◽  
Access To Food ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Growing research supports the use of older volunteers to provide respite and community-based assistance to persons with ADRD and their caregivers. This study explores the impact of COVID-19 on a face-to-face, peer-led psychoeducational intervention for African American ADRD family caregivers, the Senior Companion Program Plus (SCP-Plus), and its subsequent need to ‘pivot’ during the pandemic. Method: The SCP-Plus was a randomized control trial across three states that assessed program impact on ADRD family caregiver stress/burden, coping, and social support. In spring 2020, the SCP-Plus intervention was halted because of the potential risk to participants due to COVID-19 (n = 20 enrolled dyads). In an effort to maintain rapport and trust, critical to retention in research studies, team members began weekly (March-April) and then bi-weekly calls (May-December) for the purpose of providing a social check-in and to provide updates on the status of the intervention. Results A total of 396 calls lasting approximately 10 minutes each were completed. Participants shared concerns around safety, access to food/supplies/masks/testing, feelings of stress and loss, concern for others, and the importance of technology as a means of social connection. Although the intervention aspect of the SCP-Plus ultimately ended due to COVID-19, information gleaned from these check-ins were used to pivot the study. The study moved forward by using a descriptive phenomenological approach to capture dyads’ lived experiences during COVID-19. Discussion Overall, purposeful participant engagement through weekly/bi-weekly phone calls suggests that this is a promising strategy for participant retention as well as for pivoting research.

830 Voice Activated Tool: A Successful Assistance for Patients with Limited Hand Function

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S252-S253
Author(s):  
Mini Thomas ◽  
David Chung ◽  
Christopher de La Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Hand Functions ◽  
Hospital Units ◽  
Network Connection ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Stored Information ◽  
Home Training

Abstract Introduction Burn survivors require significant assistance in physical functions and independence during their recovery and rehabilitation phase. Amputation, splints, bulky dressings, and pain attribute to limited or lack of hand mobility. Voice activated tools (VAT) have rapidly grown in popularity including in healthcare. Prior to the implementation of this project, patients mostly depended on soft touch call lights which were suboptimal for most patients. We piloted VAT to assist in hand functions of patients with limited or lack of hand mobility. Methods The project was piloted in collaboration with IT, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and patients’ family. IT enabled with uninterrupted source of wireless network connection in the patients’ room. Voice assistance was incorporated both through mobile phone and an added virtual assistant tool. Patients’ personal devices were used to promote utilization of stored information in the device. Occupational therapist assisted in mounting the device through a spring clamp and gooseneck cell phone holder to visualize the device screen. Speech therapists, nurses, and patient family helped in training the patient to voice appropriate commands. The patient utilized VAT for a wide variety of purposes including calling nurses, ordering hospital meals, phone calls, music, web browsing, and more. A survey was done to evaluate health care team’s opinion on VAT usage. Results Of the total burn team members, 34 (77%) staff responded to the survey including physicians, nurses, therapists, and nursing assistants. All survey responders reported VAT as a useful tool to be offered to all future patients with limited hand mobility. Majority (74%) of responders witnessed or participated in the successful use of VAT during the pilot period. Survey participants reported three reasons for the current soft touch call light system to be suboptimal: 1.Too sensitive, 2. Not all patients can use it 3. Conclusions Voice activated tool can be successfully utilized for assisting patients with limited hand mobility considering the current available tool is suboptimal. Adoption of a simple and popular technology of VAT can be easily incorporated in hospitals through collaboration of health care team. Applicability of Research to Practice Use of VAT could be successfully implemented for other hospital units including paralyzed patients, blind, and patients with orthopedic conditions or trauma to hands. Additionally, VAT could be incorporated in to rehabilitation and home training of patients with limited hand mobility. Further, VAT could be considered in the designing and planning of hospitals.

scholarly journals CareConekta: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a mobile health intervention to improve engagement in postpartum HIV care in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Clouse ◽  
Tamsin K Phillips ◽  
Carol Camlin ◽  
Sandisiwe Noholoza ◽  
Phepo Mogoba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
African Women ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Peripartum Period ◽  
Engagement In Hiv Care ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background : South Africa is home to the world’s largest antiretroviral therapy program but sustaining engagement along the HIV care continuum has proven challenging in the country and throughout the wider region. Population mobility is common in South Africa, but important research gaps exist describing this mobility and its impact on engagement in HIV care. Postpartum women and their infants in South Africa are known to be at high risk of dropping out of HIV care after delivery and are frequently mobile. Methods : In 2017, we developed a beta version of a smartphone application (app) – CareConekta – that detects a user’s smartphone location to allow for prospective characterization of mobility. Now we will adapt and test CareConekta to conduct essential formative work on mobility and evaluate an intervention – the CareConekta app plus text notifications and phone calls and/or WhatsApp messages – to facilitate engagement in HIV care during times of mobility. During the three-year project period, our first objective is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of using CareConekta as an intervention to improve engagement in HIV care. Our second objective is to characterize mobility among South African women during the peripartum period and its impact on engagement in HIV care. We will enroll 200 eligible pregnant women living with HIV and receiving care at the Gugulethu Midwife Obstetric Unit in Cape Town, South Africa. Discussion : This work will provide critical information about mobility during the peripartum period and the impact on engagement in HIV care. Simultaneously, we will pilot test an intervention to improve engagement with rigorously-assessed outcomes. If successful, CareConekta offers tremendous potential as a research and service tool that can be adapted and evaluated in multiple geographic regions, study contexts, and patient populations. Trial registration : ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03836625; registered February 8, 2019.

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