scholarly journals Motivating Students for Ear-Training with a Rhythmic Dictation Application

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 6781
Author(s):  
Matevž Pesek ◽  
Lovro Suhadolnik ◽  
Peter Šavli ◽  
Matija Marolt

We present the development and evaluation of a gamified rhythmic dictation application for music theory learning. The application was developed as a web application in the existing Troubadour platform for music ear training. The focus of the developed application was on user experience and engagement. With regards to the former, we developed a responsive and intuitive user interface; for the latter, we included several gamification elements and assessed the impact on the students’ engagement. We report on students’ experience analysis done through questionnaires and background data collected through the platform. We evaluated the rhythmic dictation application with the conservatory-level music theory students through A/B testing in order to independently evaluate the application’s impact. The results show a significant impact of the application on the students’ exam scores.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Labelle ◽  
Geneviève Boucher ◽  
Sébastien Lemieux

AbstractCircos plots were designed to display large amounts of processed genomic information on a single graphical representation. The creation of such plots remains challenging for less technical users as the leading tool requires command-line proficiency. Here, we introduce myCircos, a web application that facilitates the generation of Circos plots by providing an intuitive user interface, adding interactive functionalities to the representation and providing persistence of previous requests. myCircos is available at: http://mycircos.iric.ca. Non registered users can explore the application through the Guest user. Source code (for local server installation) is available upon request.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-199
Author(s):  
Leandro Guarino Vasconcelos ◽  
Laercio Augusto Baldochi ◽  
Rafael Duarte Coelho Santos

Purpose This paper aims to presents Real-time Usage Mining (RUM), an approach that exploits the rich information provided by client logs to support the construction of adaptive Web applications. The main goal of RUM is to provide useful information about the behavior of users that are currently browsing a Web application. By consuming this information, the application is able to adapt its user interface in real-time to enhance the user experience. RUM provides two types of services as follows: support for the detection of struggling users; and user profiling based on the detection of behavior patterns. Design/methodology/approach RUM leverages the previous study on usability evaluation to provide a service that evaluates the usability of tasks performed by users while they browse applications. This evaluation is based on a metric that allows the detection of struggling users, making it possible to identify these users as soon as few logs from their interaction are processed. RUM also exploits log mining techniques to detect usage patterns, which are then associated with user profiles previously defined by the application specialist. After associating usage patterns to user profiles, RUM is able to classify users as they browse applications, allowing the application developer to tailor the user interface according to the users’ needs and preferences. Findings The proposed approach was exploited to improve user experience in real-world Web applications. Experiments showed that RUM was effective to provide support for struggling users to complete tasks. Moreover, it was also effective to detect usage patterns and associate them with user profiles. Originality/value Although the literature reports studies that explore client logs to support both the detection of struggling users and the user profiling based on usage patterns, no existing solutions provide support for detecting users from specific profiles or struggling users, in real-time, while they are browsing Web applications. RUM also provides a toolkit that allows the approach to be easily deployed in any Web application.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lungwani Muungo

The effectiveness of any biomedical prevention technology relies on both biological efficacy and behavioraladherence. Microbicide trials have been hampered by low adherence, limiting the ability to draw meaningfulconclusions about product effectiveness. Central to this problem may be an inadequate conceptualization of howproduct properties themselves impact user experience and adherence. Our goal is to expand the current microbicidedevelopment framework to include product ‘‘perceptibility,’’ the objective measurement of user sensoryperceptions (i.e., sensations) and experiences of formulation performance during use. For vaginal gels, a setof biophysical properties, including rheological properties and measures of spreading and retention, may criticallyimpact user experiences. Project LINK sought to characterize the user experience in this regard, and tovalidate measures of user sensory perceptions and experiences (USPEs) using four prototype topical vaginal gelformulations designed for pericoital use. Perceptibility scales captured a range of USPEs during the productapplication process (five scales), ambulation after product insertion (six scales), and during sexual activity (eightscales). Comparative statistical analyses provided empirical support for hypothesized relationships between gelproperties, spreading performance, and the user experience. Project LINK provides preliminary evidence for theutility of evaluating USPEs, introducing a paradigm shift in the field of microbicide formulation design. Wepropose that these user sensory perceptions and experiences initiate cognitive processes in users resulting inproduct choice and willingness-to-use. By understanding the impact of USPEs on that process, formulationdevelopment can optimize both drug delivery and adherence.


Author(s):  
Ana Guerberof Arenas ◽  
Joss Moorkens ◽  
Sharon O’Brien

AbstractThis paper presents results of the effect of different translation modalities on users when working with the Microsoft Word user interface. An experimental study was set up with 84 Japanese, German, Spanish, and English native speakers working with Microsoft Word in three modalities: the published translated version, a machine translated (MT) version (with unedited MT strings incorporated into the MS Word interface) and the published English version. An eye-tracker measured the cognitive load and usability according to the ISO/TR 16982 guidelines: i.e., effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction followed by retrospective think-aloud protocol. The results show that the users’ effectiveness (number of tasks completed) does not significantly differ due to the translation modality. However, their efficiency (time for task completion) and self-reported satisfaction are significantly higher when working with the released product as opposed to the unedited MT version, especially when participants are less experienced. The eye-tracking results show that users experience a higher cognitive load when working with MT and with the human-translated versions as opposed to the English original. The results suggest that language and translation modality play a significant role in the usability of software products whether users complete the given tasks or not and even if they are unaware that MT was used to translate the interface.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7871
Author(s):  
Dwayne Jefferson ◽  
Frederick Paige ◽  
Philip Agee ◽  
France Jackson

To improve the construction industry’s capacity to deliver sustainable infrastructure, guidance on delivering green building systems needs to be more usable. Green buildings have certifications and ratings in place that ensure that projects are environmentally responsible and meet standards in resource efficiency. EarthCraft Multifamily (ECMF), an evolving green building certification, has been successful in increasing the delivery of energy-efficient affordable housing, and this study leverages user experience (UX) methodologies to understand how to further improve ECMF and replicate its success. This study identifies the impact ECMF tools and resources, such as the program manual, worksheet, and technical guidelines, have on enhancing project delivery for architects. This study conducted data analysis on project specifications, heuristic evaluation data, and stakeholder interview data. As the strengths and weaknesses of ECMF were identified, knowledge on the usability of the green building certification program was unveiled. Heuristic evaluations data show that accessibility and usability issues are present in ECMF resources. Interview data show that architects’ experiences with ECMF resources were affected by some of the usability issues identified in the heuristic evaluation data. Coded interview transcripts show the most prominent participant-identified improvements represented within the data. Resources need appropriate visual representation such as readability and hierarchy to improve their usability. Understanding how ECMF resources are utilized during project delivery allows for the appropriate content and options to be strategically framed to improve accessibility and enhance user decision making. ECMF resources can allow for the inclusion of a broader set of stakeholders by lowering the level of expertise required for sustainable infrastructure delivery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (EICS) ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Arthur Sluÿters ◽  
Jean Vanderdonckt ◽  
Radu-Daniel Vatavu

Intra-platform plasticity regularly assumes that the display of a computing platform remains fixed and rigid during interactions with the platform in contrast to reconfigurable displays, which can change form depending on the context of use. In this paper, we present a model-based approach for designing and deploying graphical user interfaces that support intra-platform plasticity for reconfigurable displays. We instantiate the model for E3Screen, a new device that expands a conventional laptop with two slidable, rotatable, and foldable lateral displays, enabling slidable user interfaces. Based on a UML class diagram as a domain model and a SCRUD list as a task model, we define an abstract user interface as interaction units with a corresponding master-detail design pattern. We then map the abstract user interface to a concrete user interface by applying rules for the reconfiguration, concrete interaction, unit allocation, and widget selection and implement it in JavaScript. In a first experiment, we determine display configurations most preferred by users, which we organize in the form of a state-transition diagram. In a second experiment, we address reconfiguration rules and widget selection rules. A third experiment provides insights into the impact of the lateral displays on a visual search task.


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