Emoticon Use in Mobile Communications :-)

Author(s):  
Robert A. Nelson ◽  
Chad C. Tossell ◽  
Philip Kortum

Following the ubiquitous spread of smartphones across the world, an increasing amount of communications are conducted through text-based media (e.g., text messaging, email, social media, etc.). As such, important non-verbal information ordinarily conveyed through means such as facial expressions and body language can be absent. This can have a profound effect on the connectedness of a group, and can contribute to misunderstanding in interpersonal communications. However, emoticons have been used to provide this missing socio-emotional information and to help enhance the subtle interpretation of electronic communications. This article describes the content of current research into emoticon-use, including the parallels between emoticons and face-to-face non-verbal communications, the effect of gender and cultural differences on emoticon-use, and emoticon usage in media accessed through mobile technology. Given the high volume of mobile communications—and well-documented usability problems with regard to typing long messages on small screens—this article concludes with the suggestion of deeper integration of emoticons and mobile communication, as well as indications for future research.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Zhang ◽  
Xinge Liu ◽  
Xuan Yang ◽  
Yezhi Shu ◽  
Niqi Liu ◽  
...  

Cartoon faces are widely used in social media, animation production, and social robots because of their attractive ability to convey different emotional information. Despite their popular applications, the mechanisms of recognizing emotional expressions in cartoon faces are still unclear. Therefore, three experiments were conducted in this study to systematically explore a recognition process for emotional cartoon expressions (happy, sad, and neutral) and to examine the influence of key facial features (mouth, eyes, and eyebrows) on emotion recognition. Across the experiments, three presentation conditions were employed: (1) a full face; (2) individual feature only (with two other features concealed); and (3) one feature concealed with two other features presented. The cartoon face images used in this study were converted from a set of real faces acted by Chinese posers, and the observers were Chinese. The results show that happy cartoon expressions were recognized more accurately than neutral and sad expressions, which was consistent with the happiness recognition advantage revealed in real face studies. Compared with real facial expressions, sad cartoon expressions were perceived as sadder, and happy cartoon expressions were perceived as less happy, regardless of whether full-face or single facial features were viewed. For cartoon faces, the mouth was demonstrated to be a feature that is sufficient and necessary for the recognition of happiness, and the eyebrows were sufficient and necessary for the recognition of sadness. This study helps to clarify the perception mechanism underlying emotion recognition in cartoon faces and sheds some light on directions for future research on intelligent human-computer interactions.


Author(s):  
Hakikur Rahman ◽  
Senthil Kumar

With the advent of complex but user friendly mobile communications technologies and transformation of mobile devices being handy for usage, the applications and utilities of mobile devices have come into the palm of almost each and every human being of this modern world. Furthermore, with the unprecedented growth of the Internet and its outreach, the demand and requirement of users are growing fast, ranging from basic livelihood support, to infotainment, to social networking. Applications of mobile devices nowadays do not include only the facilities for calling another cell phone and text messaging, but also connecting to social networks, service providers networks, and servers of various organizations, like academic or business or health sector, thus providing appropriate services to users, meeting daily demands including emergencies . However, all these are dependent on technologies, social, cultural, and economic issues, which this study has explored. This chapter is based on a survey of concurrent literatures on mobile computing, its applications, and challenges. This study has put forwards three applications of mobile computing: learning, health, and GIS. In this aspect, by exploring the background on mobile computing, the chapter discusses a few constraints and challenges that have emerged in terms of design and application issues. Thereafter, before the conclusion, the chapter puts forward a few future research hints.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gabe Hatch ◽  
Krista K. Dowdle ◽  
Sean C. Aaron ◽  
Scott R. Braithwaite

Face-to-face prevention-focused relationship education programs have generally been efficacious in improving couples’ communication and relationship satisfaction. Computer-based interventions have furthered the dissemination of these interventions, so anyone with access to a computer can participate in the intervention. One of the next steps in this line of research is finding affordable and convenient ways to disseminate this information. One possibility is text messaging. The current study examined the feasibility of utilizing text messages as a dissemination tool for relationship enhancement. In this study, 128 married individuals were randomly assigned to a control condition ( n = 64), where relationship-related text messages were not received, or to a treatment condition ( n = 64), where relationship-related text messages were received. Individuals assigned to the treatment condition responded positively toward the intervention. Participants’ dropout and retention rates were promising, and 99% of the participants supplied authentic phone numbers. Participants reported the intervention helped them make changes in their relationship, and that the text messages’ content was beneficial to their relationship. Strengths, limitations, and ideas for future research are discussed, as well as the implications for utilizing text messages as a dissemination tool for preventative relationship education.


1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uus Uswatusolihah

This paper focuses on how interpersonal communication is built to achieveagreement and uses phenomenological approach. It is based on a research on therelationship between lecturer and student in the process of thesis consultation inSTAIN Purwokerto.This paper explains that the model of their relationship is a role model, inwhich the role is formed through a surrounding structure. Form and context ofinterpersonal communication happen in a kind of face to face dialogues andindividually. The process of communication hardly found in groups, or withcommunication media such as telephone and internet. Seen from its effectiveness,it is found that most of the interpersonal communications are effective enough tobuild agreement between the individuals involved in the process.


Author(s):  
Mariek Vanden Abeele

Recent empirical work suggests that phubbing, a term used to describe the practice of snubbing someone with a phone during a face-to-face social interaction, harms the quality of social relationships. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this chapter presents a framework that integrates three concurrent mechanisms that explain the relational impact of phubbing: expectancy violations, ostracism, and attentional conflict. Based on this framework, theoretically grounded propositions are formulated that may serve as guidelines for future research on these mechanisms, the conditions under which they operate, and a number of potential issues that need to be considered to further validate and extend the framework.


2021 ◽  
pp. 019394592110322
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Hanna ◽  
Jed R. Hansen ◽  
Kim A. Harp ◽  
Kelly J. Betts ◽  
Diane Brage Hudson ◽  
...  

Although theoretical and empirical writings on habits and routines are a promising body of science to guide interventions, little is known about such interventions among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Thus, an integrative review was conducted to describe interventions in relation to habits and routines, their influence on outcomes, and users’ perspectives. A medical librarian conducted a search. Teams screened titles, abstracts, and articles based upon predefined criteria. Evidence from the final 11 articles was synthesized. A minority of investigators explicitly articulated habits and routines theoretical underpinnings as part of the interventions. However, text messaging or feedback via technology used in other interventions could be implicitly linked to habits and routines. For the most part, these interventions positively influenced diabetes self-management-related behaviors and health outcomes. In general, the interventions were perceived positively by users. Future research is advocated using habit and routine theoretical underpinnings to guide interventions.


Author(s):  
Giorgia Gon ◽  
Abdunoor M. Kabanywanyi ◽  
Petri Blinkhoff ◽  
Simon Cousens ◽  
Stephanie J. Dancer ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are estimated to affect up to 15% of hospital inpatients in low-income countries (LICs). A critical but often neglected aspect of HAI prevention is basic environmental hygiene, particularly surface cleaning and linen management. TEACH CLEAN is an educational intervention aimed at improving environmental hygiene. We evaluated the effectiveness of this intervention in a pilot study in three high-volume maternity and newborn units in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods This study design prospectively evaluated the intervention as a whole, and offered a before-and-after comparison of the impact of the main training. We measured changes in microbiological cleanliness [Aerobic Colony Counts (ACC) and presence of Staphylococcus aureus] using dipslides, and physical cleaning action using gel dots. These were analysed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. We used qualitative (focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and semi-structured observation) and quantitative (observation checklist) tools to measure why and how the intervention worked. We describe these findings across the themes of adaptation, fidelity, dose, reach and context. Results Microbiological cleanliness improved during the study period (ACC pre-training: 19%; post-training: 41%). The odds of cleanliness increased on average by 1.33 weekly during the pre-training period (CI = 1.11–1.60), and by 1.08 (CI = 1.03–1.13) during the post-training period. Cleaning action improved only in the pre-training period. Detection of S. aureus on hospital surfaces did not change substantially. The intervention was well received and considered feasible in this context. The major pitfalls in the implementation were the limited number of training sessions at the hospital level and the lack of supportive supervision. A systems barrier to implementation was lack of regular cleaning supplies. Conclusions The evaluation suggests that improvements in microbiological cleanliness are possible using this intervention and can be sustained. Improved microbiological cleanliness is a key step on the pathway to infection prevention in hospitals. Future research should assess whether this bundle is cost-effective in reducing bacterial and viral transmission and infection using a rigorous study design.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 737
Author(s):  
An-Chen Liu ◽  
Po-Tsung Tu ◽  
Catherine Langpoklakpam ◽  
Yu-Wen Huang ◽  
Ya-Ting Chang ◽  
...  

GaN has been widely used to develop devices for high-power and high-frequency applications owing to its higher breakdown voltage and high electron saturation velocity. The GaN HEMT radio frequency (RF) power amplifier is the first commercialized product which is fabricated using the conventional Au-based III–V device manufacturing process. In recent years, owing to the increased applications in power electronics, and expanded applications in RF and millimeter-wave (mmW) power amplifiers for 5G mobile communications, the development of high-volume production techniques derived from CMOS technology for GaN electronic devices has become highly demanded. In this article, we will review the history and principles of each unit process for conventional HEMT technology with Au-based metallization schemes, including epitaxy, ohmic contact, and Schottky metal gate technology. The evolution and status of CMOS-compatible Au-less process technology will then be described and discussed. In particular, novel process techniques such as regrown ohmic layers and metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) gates are illustrated. New enhancement-mode device technology based on the p-GaN gate is also reviewed. The vertical GaN device is a new direction of development for devices used in high-power applications, and we will also highlight the key features of such kind of device technology.


i-Perception ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 204166952110095
Author(s):  
Elmeri Syrjänen ◽  
Håkan Fischer ◽  
Marco Tullio Liuzza ◽  
Torun Lindholm ◽  
Jonas K. Olofsson

How do valenced odors affect the perception and evaluation of facial expressions? We reviewed 25 studies published from 1989 to 2020 on cross-modal behavioral effects of odors on the perception of faces. The results indicate that odors may influence facial evaluations and classifications in several ways. Faces are rated as more arousing during simultaneous odor exposure, and the rated valence of faces is affected in the direction of the odor valence. For facial classification tasks, in general, valenced odors, whether pleasant or unpleasant, decrease facial emotion classification speed. The evidence for valence congruency effects was inconsistent. Some studies found that exposure to a valenced odor facilitates the processing of a similarly valenced facial expression. The results for facial evaluation were mirrored in classical conditioning studies, as faces conditioned with valenced odors were rated in the direction of the odor valence. However, the evidence of odor effects was inconsistent when the task was to classify faces. Furthermore, using a z-curve analysis, we found clear evidence for publication bias. Our recommendations for future research include greater consideration of individual differences in sensation and cognition, individual differences (e.g., differences in odor sensitivity related to age, gender, or culture), establishing standardized experimental assessments and stimuli, larger study samples, and embracing open research practices.


2020 ◽  
pp. 152483802096734
Author(s):  
Mengtong Chen ◽  
Ko Ling Chan

Digital technologies are increasingly used in health-care delivery and are being introduced into work to prevent unintentional injury, violence, and suicide to reduce mortality. To understand the potential of digital health interventions (DHIs) to prevent and reduce these problems, we conduct a meta-analysis and provide an overview of their effectiveness and characteristics related to the effects. We searched electronic databases and reference lists of relevant reviews to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in or before March 2020 evaluating DHIs on injury, violence, or suicide reduction. Based on the 34 RCT studies included in the meta-analysis, the overall random effect size was 0.21, and the effect sizes for reducing suicidal ideation, interpersonal violence, and unintentional injury were 0.17, 0.24, and 0.31, respectively, which can be regarded as comparable to the effect sizes of traditional face-to-face interventions. However, there was considerable heterogeneity between the studies. In conclusion, DHIs have great potential to reduce unintentional injury, violence, and suicide. Future research should explore DHIs’ successful components to facilitate future implementation and wider access.


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