scholarly journals The Effects of Smartphone Spectatorship on Attention, Arousal, Engagement, and Comprehension

i-Perception ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 204166952199314
Author(s):  
Kata Szita ◽  
Brendan Rooney
Keyword(s):  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Screen Size ◽  
Feature Films ◽  
Screen Viewing ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Activity Measures ◽  
External Stimuli ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Viewing Experience

The popularity of watching movies and videos on handheld devices is rising, yet little attention has been paid to its impact on viewer behaviour. Smartphone spectatorship is characterized by the small handheld screen as well as the viewing environment where various unrelated stimuli can occur, providing possible distractions from viewing. Previous research suggests that screen size, handheld control, and external stimuli can affect viewing experience; however, no prior studies have combined these factors or applied them for the specific case of smartphones. In the present study, we compared smartphone and large-screen viewing of feature films in the presence and absence of external distractors. Using a combination of eye tracking, electrodermal activity measures, self-reports, and recollection accuracy tests, we measured smartphone-accustomed viewers’ attention, arousal, engagement, and comprehension. The results revealed the impact of viewing conditions on eye movements, gaze dispersion, electrodermal activity, self-reports of engagement, as well as comprehension. These findings show that smartphone viewing is more effective when there are no distractions, and smartphone viewers are more likely to be affected by external stimuli. In addition, watching large stationary screens in designated viewing environments increases engagement with a movie.

scholarly journals Combined effects of genotype and childhood adversity shape variability of DNA methylation across age

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Darina Czamara ◽  
Elleke Tissink ◽  
Johanna Tuhkanen ◽  
Jade Martins ◽  
Yvonne Awaloff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Childhood Adversity ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Combined Effects ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
The Impact

AbstractLasting effects of adversity, such as exposure to childhood adversity (CA) on disease risk, may be embedded via epigenetic mechanisms but findings from human studies investigating the main effects of such exposure on epigenetic measures, including DNA methylation (DNAm), are inconsistent. Studies in perinatal tissues indicate that variability of DNAm at birth is best explained by the joint effects of genotype and prenatal environment. Here, we extend these analyses to postnatal stressors. We investigated the contribution of CA, cis genotype (G), and their additive (G + CA) and interactive (G × CA) effects to DNAm variability in blood or saliva from five independent cohorts with a total sample size of 1074 ranging in age from childhood to late adulthood. Of these, 541 were exposed to CA, which was assessed retrospectively using self-reports or verified through social services and registries. For the majority of sites (over 50%) in the adult cohorts, variability in DNAm was best explained by G + CA or G × CA but almost never by CA alone. Across ages and tissues, 1672 DNAm sites showed consistency of the best model in all five cohorts, with G × CA interactions explaining most variance. The consistent G × CA sites mapped to genes enriched in brain-specific transcripts and Gene Ontology terms related to development and synaptic function. Interaction of CA with genotypes showed the strongest contribution to DNAm variability, with stable effects across cohorts in functionally relevant genes. This underscores the importance of including genotype in studies investigating the impact of environmental factors on epigenetic marks.

scholarly journals Investigating the Impact of Brief Outings on the Welfare of Dogs Living in US Shelters

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 548
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Gunter ◽  
Rachel J. Gilchrist ◽  
Emily M. Blade ◽  
Rebecca T. Barber ◽  
Erica N. Feuerbacher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Urinary Cortisol ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Activity Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low Activity

Social isolation likely contributes to reduced welfare for shelter-living dogs. Several studies have established that time out of the kennel with a person can improve dogs’ behavior and reduce physiological measures of stress. This study assessed the effects of two-and-a-half-hour outings on the urinary cortisol levels and activity of dogs as they awaited adoption at four animal shelters. Dogs’ urine was collected before and after outings for cortisol:creatinine analysis, and accelerometer devices were used to measure dogs’ physical activity. In total, 164 dogs participated in this study, with 793 cortisol values and 3750 activity measures used in the statistical analyses. We found that dogs’ cortisol:creatinine ratios were significantly higher during the afternoon of the intervention but returned to pre-field trip levels the following day. Dogs’ minutes of low activity were significantly reduced, and high activity significantly increased during the outing. Although dogs’ cortisol and activity returned to baseline after the intervention, our findings suggest that short-term outings do not confer the same stress reduction benefits as previously shown with temporary fostering. Nevertheless, it is possible that these types of outing programs are beneficial to adoptions by increasing the visibility of dogs and should be further investigated to elucidate these effects.

"Exceptional" heroes in inclusive film of Kazakhstan

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-133
Author(s):  
Akmaral Kassymkhanova ◽  
Vladimir Popov ◽  
Baubek Nogerbek
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Value Orientations ◽  
Theoretical Methods ◽  
Domestic Science ◽  
Feature Films ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Official Data ◽  
Civilized World

The theme of integrating people with special needs into society is extremely relevant both for the entire civilized world and for our country in particular. The introduction refers to the signing by the Republic of Kazakhstan of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities at the UN headquarters. However, today there is no full-fledged integration of people with disabilities into society. As it is known, cinematography is a modern herald of value orientations, it has educational functions, and also endows a viewer with ability to see beauty in everything. However, domestic science has not yet investigated the image of an "exceptional" hero in cinema, which is a person with a disability. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide scientific coverage of inclusive cinema in Kazakhstan and the image of an “exceptional” hero. The study used theoretical methods such as bibliographic, descriptive, analytical, systematic, chronological and statistical. The results examine the impact of inclusive cinema on the transformation of public opinion, as well as instilling humanity in society. The discussion contains official data on shooting of 248 feature films for the period of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan of which only 17 are devoted to the theme of disability. The article shows the dynamics of the creation of films about disability in the Republic of Kazakhstan, highlights modern inclusive cinema in Kazakhstan on the example of the films “To be or not to be” (2014) and “The girl and the sea” (2017) directed by Aziz Zairov and Mukhamed Mamyrbekov. In conclusion, it is suggested that inclusive cinema can serve as a “beacon” of value orientations for society and a guide in understanding and accepting citizens with disabilities. It also proposes a forecast of development of the trend of creating pictures about people with disabilities.

scholarly journals Is There the Holocaust without a Film Music? Analyzing a Croatian and a Serbian Film about the Holocaust

2017 ◽  
pp. 181-195
Author(s):  
Renata Jambrešić Kirin
Keyword(s):  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Film Music ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Holocaust Memory ◽  
Feature Films ◽  
The Holocaust ◽  
Socially Relevant ◽  
Historical Issues ◽  
The Impact

This article implies that the impact of cinematic fiction on the capability to imagine and comprehend the trauma of the Holocaust is formed at the intersection of aesthetic, moral, social and ideological frames in particular society. Cinema had a special role for the unification of the Holocaust memory since 1990. In the post-Yugoslav cinema two feature films (Lea and Darija, 2011 and When Day Breaks, 2012) represent the cinematic paradigm shift in dealing with the difficult heritage of the Holocaust in Croatia and Serbia following the break of communism. Although they suffer from apolitical approach to historical issues and mitigate the consequences of local collaboration with the Nazis, as well as take the child as „the figure of infantilization” of the Holocaust (Hirsch 2012), their influence on the “postmemory generation” and the pedagogy of trauma in the region is significant and socially relevant.

scholarly journals An analysis of the circumstances and factors that have influenced the development of Animation Industry in Iran in the 1960-2002 periods

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (SE) ◽  
pp. 61-77
Author(s):  
Naser Golmohammadi
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Policy ◽  
Animation Industry ◽  
Historical View ◽  
Feature Films ◽  
Art Form ◽  
Iranian History ◽  
The Government ◽  
Printed Materials ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

In the early part of 20th century animation emerged as a revolutionary way of making art. It evolved into a powerful means of expression and creativity of artists who could merge all art genres into one art form. The subsequent developments of animation have opened its diverse uses in entertainment business, education and political propaganda. This article attempts to examine the factors that have influenced and shaped the development of animation industry in Iran. It takes a historical view and investigates the impacts of changing socio-economic and political forces that have determined the functions of animation in the Iranian society. The study traces the establishment of the industry to the government-run centres, describing the pioneering role of artists who gave rise to the ‘golden age’ of animation in the pre-revolutionary Iran. Especial attention is throughout paid to the long and rich cultural and artistic heritages, as the thematic basis for indigenously produced animated films in Iran. The growth of the industry is considered in conjuncture with the expansion of feature films cinema and expansion of television networks. The latter is particularly important for the fact that it provides a secured market for a sizeable audience of children and young people in Iran. The study analyses the impact of the 1979 Islamic Revolution on the animation industry from a period of stagnation to a highly promoted and government sponsored artistic and industrial activity. In the post-revolutionary period, the industry was transformed from one reflecting the Iranian history and culture to the one that emphasises the Islamic-Iranian values and Islamic traditions; hence animation has become an ideological means in propagating the cultural policy of the state. Thus, animation has increasingly become a cultural industry assigned to supply growing needs of television and artistic works reserved for international festivals.This research is largely based on extensive interviews with animation artists and those who are working in the industry complemented with a sample of questionnaires addressed to both Iranian artists and foreign observers and participants in the Iranian International festivals on animation. The research methodology is also supplemented with the research on printed materials – very few and often descriptive- and personal experience of working over twenty years in the industry.

The Race Relations Narrative in British Film

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Bidnall
Keyword(s):  
Race Relations ◽  
West Indian ◽  
West Indians ◽  
Domestic Life ◽  
Feature Films ◽  
Short Films ◽  
The 1950S ◽  
The Impact

“West Indians and the Race Relations Narrative in British Film” revisits perhaps the three most famous middlebrow British “race relations” films of the 1950s and 60s and their star lead, Bermudan—not West Indian—actor Earl Cameron. Taken together, Pool of London, Sapphire, and Flame in the Streets demonstrate the evolving “race relations narrative” that refracted shifting popular attitudes to Caribbean settlers in the capitol. Equally important but less acknowledged in the cinematic histories is Cameron’s perceptive portrayal of “safe” West Indian characters to a mainstream British audience. This chapter’s second subject is the Jamaican actor, filmmaker, and settler Lloyd Reckord. As major feature films remained preoccupied with the impact of Commonwealth migration on white domestic life, Reckord expanded British film’s experience and knowledge of race through his short films Ten Bob in Winter and Dream A40.

Not Just Playing Around

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-72
Author(s):  
Rebecca Petley ◽  
Jill Attewell ◽  
Carol Savill-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Nintendo Wii ◽  
Reluctant Learners ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Game Console ◽  
Mobile Phone Networks ◽  
The Impact

MoLeNET is a unique collaborative initiative, currently in its third year, which encourages and enables the introduction of mobile learning in English post 14 education via supported shared-cost projects. Mobile learning in MoLeNET is defined by MoLeNET as “The exploitation of ubiquitous handheld technologies, together with wireless and mobile phone networks, to facilitate, support, enhance and extend the reach of teaching and learning.” MoLeNET projects use a wide range of handheld devices with their learners including two handheld game platforms: the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS. A small number of projects have also experimented with educational and therapeutic use of the Nintendo Wii game console and experienced considerable success in engaging reluctant learners and supporting learners with difficulties and/or disabilities. This paper explores the impact that mobile game technologies have on teaching and learning for those involved in MoLeNET, including the development of academic and social skills and the improvement of mobility and health related issues.

The Hundred-Year-Old Question: Can American Cinema Be Saved?

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 37-47
Author(s):  
James Schamus
Keyword(s):  
American Film ◽  
Film Festival ◽  
American Cinema ◽  
Feature Films ◽  
Theatrical Film ◽  
Streaming Services ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Ticket Prices ◽  
Film Experience ◽  
Viewing Experience

The Art House Convergence conference annually brings together hundreds of independent theater owners and supporters of arthouse cinema during the days preceding the Sundance Film Festival. When the organizers invited James Schamus to deliver the keynote address at their 2016 gathering, it was a commission he did not relish. The expected argument of such speeches is pretty much set in stone these days: cinema, understood primarily as feature films meant initially for theatrical exhibition, is under attack, and the keynote speaker's task is to rally the troops in its defense, soliciting applause for recent victories on the battlefield, and railing against the encroachments of the enemies of film, in particular the digital streaming services whose assaults on the sanctity of the theatrical viewing experience, and thus on the aesthetic object known as the theatrical film, grow ever more ferocious with each passing year. Schamus took on the task of delivering that speech, and then transforming it into this article for FQ. He concludes with a rousing plea to all regarding what he terms, “This vicious spiral of longer movies, higher costs and higher ticket prices,” that can only spell disaster for the supporter of truly independent American cinema. Schamus urges readers to stand with him (and all who love the genuine American film experience), to advocate for vibrant, varied, open-ended, hybrid, serial and ongoing open storytelling and entertainment.

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