Cognitive Models as Usability Testing Tools

2008 ◽  
pp. 814-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanja Kljajevic
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Cognitive Architecture ◽  
Usability Testing ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Cognitive Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Testing Tools ◽  
Cognitive Theories ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Interactive Behaviour

This chapter discusses the idea that using computational cognitive models in usability testing has many benefits over the traditional approaches. It argues that computational cognitive models, anchored in the concept of cognitive architecture, offer an integrated approach to interactive behaviour emerging from the use of mobile phones. A cognitive architecture is a theoretical framework containing a set of relatively independent core constraints that are constant across time and tasks. It constrains models built within the cognitive theories based on the architectures, preventing proliferation of implausible theories. This proliferation, on the other hand, is typical of the traditional approaches to usability testing. In this chapter the benefits of using the model-based approach based on a cognitive architecture in usability testing will be discussed, with a special emphasis on mobile phone interfaces.

scholarly journals Integrating ACT-R Cognitive Models With the Unity Game Engine

2019 ◽  
pp. 512-535
Author(s):  
Paul Richard Smart ◽  
Tom Scutt ◽  
Katia Sycara ◽  
Nigel R. Shadbolt
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cognitive Architecture ◽  
Cognitive Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Game Engine ◽  
Virtual Characters ◽  
3D Environments ◽  
2D And 3D ◽  
3D Virtual Environments

The main aim of the chapter is to describe how cognitive models, developed using the ACT-R cognitive architecture, can be integrated with the Unity game engine in order to support the intelligent control of virtual characters in both 2D and 3D virtual environments. ACT-R is a cognitive architecture that has been widely used to model various aspects of human cognition, such as learning, memory, problem-solving, reasoning and so on. Unity, on the other hand, is a very popular game engine that can be used to develop 2D and 3D environments for both game and non-game purposes. The ability to integrate ACT-R cognitive models with the Unity game engine thus supports the effort to create virtual characters that incorporate at least some of the capabilities and constraints of the human cognitive system.

scholarly journals Integrating ACT-R Cognitive Models with the Unity Game Engine

2016 ◽  
pp. 35-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Richard Smart ◽  
Tom Scutt ◽  
Katia Sycara ◽  
Nigel R. Shadbolt
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cognitive Architecture ◽  
Cognitive Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Game Engine ◽  
Virtual Characters ◽  
3D Environments ◽  
2D And 3D ◽  
3D Virtual Environments

The main aim of the chapter is to describe how cognitive models, developed using the ACT-R cognitive architecture, can be integrated with the Unity game engine in order to support the intelligent control of virtual characters in both 2D and 3D virtual environments. ACT-R is a cognitive architecture that has been widely used to model various aspects of human cognition, such as learning, memory, problem-solving, reasoning and so on. Unity, on the other hand, is a very popular game engine that can be used to develop 2D and 3D environments for both game and non-game purposes. The ability to integrate ACT-R cognitive models with the Unity game engine thus supports the effort to create virtual characters that incorporate at least some of the capabilities and constraints of the human cognitive system.

scholarly journals An Algorithm for Choosing the Optimal Number of Muscle Synergies during Walking

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3311
Author(s):  
Riccardo Ballarini ◽  
Marco Ghislieri ◽  
Marco Knaflitz ◽  
Valentina Agostini
Keyword(s):  
Motor Task ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
The Other ◽  
Simulated Dataset ◽  
Muscle Synergies ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Real Dataset ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Semg Signals

In motor control studies, the 90% thresholding of variance accounted for (VAF) is the classical way of selecting the number of muscle synergies expressed during a motor task. However, the adoption of an arbitrary cut-off has evident drawbacks. The aim of this work is to describe and validate an algorithm for choosing the optimal number of muscle synergies (ChoOSyn), which can overcome the limitations of VAF-based methods. The proposed algorithm is built considering the following principles: (1) muscle synergies should be highly consistent during the various motor task epochs (i.e., remaining stable in time), (2) muscle synergies should constitute a base with low intra-level similarity (i.e., to obtain information-rich synergies, avoiding redundancy). The algorithm performances were evaluated against traditional approaches (threshold-VAF at 90% and 95%, elbow-VAF and plateau-VAF), using both a simulated dataset and a real dataset of 20 subjects. The performance evaluation was carried out by analyzing muscle synergies extracted from surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals collected during walking tasks lasting 5 min. On the simulated dataset, ChoOSyn showed comparable performances compared to VAF-based methods, while, in the real dataset, it clearly outperformed the other methods, in terms of the fraction of correct classifications, mean error (ME), and root mean square error (RMSE). The proposed approach may be beneficial to standardize the selection of the number of muscle synergies between different research laboratories, independent of arbitrary thresholds.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Geolocation Information through Mobile-Devices under Different COVID-19 Mobility Restriction Patterns in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Raquel Pérez-Arnal ◽  
David Conesa ◽  
Sergio Alvarez-Napagao ◽  
Toyotaro Suzumura ◽  
Martí Català ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
The Other ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Experimental Setting ◽  
Mobile Data ◽  
Restriction Patterns ◽  
Mobility Data ◽  
The World ◽  
Proper Interpretation

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the world in unprecedented and unpredictable ways. Human mobility, being the greatest facilitator for the spread of the virus, is at the epicenter of this change. In order to study mobility under COVID-19, to evaluate the efficiency of mobility restriction policies, and to facilitate a better response to future crisis, we need to understand all possible mobility data sources at our disposal. Our work studies private mobility sources, gathered from mobile-phones and released by large technological companies. These data are of special interest because, unlike most public sources, it is focused on individuals rather than on transportation means. Furthermore, the sample of society they cover is large and representative. On the other hand, these data are not directly accessible for anonymity reasons. Thus, properly interpreting its patterns demands caution. Aware of that, we explore the behavior and inter-relations of private sources of mobility data in the context of Spain. This country represents a good experimental setting due to both its large and fast pandemic peak and its implementation of a sustained, generalized lockdown. Our work illustrates how a direct and naive comparison between sources can be misleading, as certain days (e.g., Sundays) exhibit a directly adverse behavior. After understanding their particularities, we find them to be partially correlated and, what is more important, complementary under a proper interpretation. Finally, we confirm that mobile-data can be used to evaluate the efficiency of implemented policies, detect changes in mobility trends, and provide insights into what new normality means in Spain.

scholarly journals DESIGN OF THE USABILITY MEASUREMENT TOOL FOR MULTIMODAL MOBILE APPLICATIONS

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (29) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Sheikh Abdullah Al-Aidaroos ◽  
Ariffin Abdul Mutalib
Keyword(s):  
User Interface ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
The Other ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Evaluation Instrument ◽  
Voice Call ◽  
Goal Question Metric

Nowadays, mobile phones provide not just voice call and messaging services, but plethora of other services. Those computational capabilities allow mobile phones to serve people in various areas including education, banking, commerce, travelling, and other daily life aspects. Meanwhile, the number of mobile phone users has increased dramatically in the last decade. On the other hand, the usability of an application can usually be verified through the user interface. Therefore, this paper aims to design a measurement tool to evaluate the usability of mobile applications based on the usability attributes and dimensions that must be considered in the interface. To obtain the appropriate attributes, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) has been conducted and the Goal Question Metric (GQM) has been used to design the tool. From 261 related works only 18 most relevant ones were selected, through four SLR. 25 dimensions were found through the SLR, but some of these dimensions are synonymous or a part of other dimensions. Consequently, three dimensions must be included in any usability evaluation instrument, which is broken down into ten sub dimensions.

scholarly journals Neo-mechanistic explanatory integration for cognitive science: the problem of reduction remains

Sofia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Azevedo Leite
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Cognitive Science ◽  
Cognitive Models ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Mechanisms ◽  
Cognitive Sciences ◽  
Significant Challenge ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Cognitive Theories ◽  
Multi Level

One of the central aims of the neo-mechanistic framework for the neural and cognitive sciences is to construct a pluralistic integration of scientific explanations, allowing for a weak explanatory autonomy of higher-level sciences, such as cognitive science. This integration involves understanding human cognition as information processing occurring in multi-level human neuro-cognitive mechanisms, explained by multi-level neuro-cognitive models. Strong explanatory neuro-cognitive reduction, however, poses a significant challenge to this pluralist ambition and the weak autonomy of cognitive science derived therefrom. Based on research in current molecular and cellular neuroscience, the framework holds that the best strategy for integrating human neuro-cognitive theories is through direct reductive explanations based on molecular and cellular neural processes. It is my aim to investigate whether the neo-mechanistic framework can meet the challenge. I argue that leading neo-mechanists offer some significant replies; however, they are not able yet to completely remove strong explanatory reductionism from their own framework.

scholarly journals Usability Evaluation of Encyclopedia Websites

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Nor Azman Ismail ◽  
Fadzrul Izwan Jamaluddin ◽  
Akmal Harraz Hamidan ◽  
Ahmad Fariz Ali ◽  
Su Elya Mohamed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Form ◽  
Usability Testing ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Usability Evaluation ◽  
Web Performance ◽  
Testing Tools ◽  
Usability Tests ◽  
Website Analysis ◽  
User Friendly

Usability is an important aspect that every website should focus more. It tells us how well and success website will function with real users. Many people often think usability tests are expensive and time-consuming. It can be a cost-effective and time saver with usability testing instead of spending more time fixing an unusable website. This study evaluates the usability of encyclopedia websites by using automated usability testing tools and questionnaire methods. The questionnaire was developed based on a standard form called Website Analysis and Measurement Inventory (WAMMI) that identified 20 common usability questions divided into five categories. Each category deals with one aspect of usability. Simultaneously, the automated usability testing tools used in this study were Pingdom and GT Metrix to calculate and analyse the website performance of selected encyclopedia websites based on website components including page load time, media size and overall web performance grades. This study could help web designer, developer, and practitioners design better and more user-friendly encyclopedia websites.

scholarly journals Asymmetrical cross-language phonetic interaction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Phonological Representation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Alternative Theory ◽  
L2 Acquisition ◽  
The Asymmetry ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Cross Language ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract Two acoustic studies were carried out with L1 Polish learners of English. One study examined L1 phonetic drift, comparing learners of L2 English who were undergoing intensive L2 phonetic training with quasi-monolingual Polish speakers. The other study looked at L2 acquisition, comparing learners at two different levels of proficiency. Unlike most previous studies of Polish-English bilinguals, VOT data of both voiced and voiceless consonants were analyzed. In both experiments, an asymmetry was observed by which voiced stops were more susceptible to cross-language phonetic influence (CLI) than voiceless stops. These results build on evidence of a similar asymmetry observed in a number of other L1–L2 pairings. Predictions of competing phonological models are evaluated with regard to equivalence classification and phonetic CLI. It is shown that both traditional approaches to the phonological representation of voice contrasts fail to predict the observed asymmetry. An alternative theory, which predicts the asymmetry, is discussed.

scholarly journals Plaintive Survival under Panoptical Surveillance: A Reading of Rituparno Ghosh’s The Last Lear.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Aparna Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phones ◽  
English Language ◽  
New World ◽  
Power Relation ◽  
The Self ◽  
The Other ◽  
Feature Film ◽  
The People ◽  
Identity Privacy

This paper is an attempt to explore how the powerful gaze of the panoptical power relation through the  technological aids of this neocolonial era which forms the ‘Self,’ distorts the identity, privacy and liberty of the  lives under this surveillance who becomes the ‘other’. The study is based on the reading of Rituparno Ghosh’s 2007 English–language film The Last Lear. The  film which won the National Award of India for the best feature film in English in 2007  is based on a 1985 Bengali play, Ajker Shajahan ( Today’s Shakespeare) written by Utpala  Dutt. The film unfolds the story of an aging Shakespearean actor persuaded by a young ambitious director to take up acting again. But the retired actor is unwilling to adjust the new world of cinema and its complex technical tricks. The film also expose how the powerful camera gaze and mobile phones turn as the new colonizer who distorts truth and induce fears in the minds of the people under surveillance. This study is carried out based on the Post-Panoptical theories of Surveillance.

scholarly journals DEFORMATION MECHANISM OF STRUCTURAL BODY COMPRESSION

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-41
Author(s):  
О. N. Protasenya ◽  
L. V. Larchenkov ◽  
M. L. Protasenya
Keyword(s):  
Deformation Mechanism ◽  
Nuclear Physics ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
The Other ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
Soil Physics ◽  
Engineering Structures

In order to prepare soil for sowing of agricultural crops it is necessary to have a number of engineering structures that ensure its qualitative treatment and protection from erosion. Modern equipment do not fully meet the whole complex of specified requirements. Application of tillage machinery being used for main soil cultivation is directed on suppression (destruction) of natural vegetation which is considered as the strongest competitor to cultivated plants. From the other side, vegetation on the Earth’s surface plays an important role for reliable protection of soil from erosion. Destruction of vegetation throughout the whole period of crop tending leads to the fact that the remaining cultivated plants are not able to protect soil from erosion by such natural aggressive factors as rain storms and strong winds. As a consequence, processes of soil structure destruction and losses of entire soil strata and its fertility occur in the geographical (landscape) envelope. Thus, equipment for primary and secondary soil tillage exerts double impact: from one side, killing of weeds takes place, and on the other hand, there is destruction (erosion) of soil structure and profiles of its geographical envelope. The soil, in the understanding of the earth, is the perfect place that gives life to plants and organisms, has a fertility. For the last 50 years analytical scope of physical processes occurring in the soil has been extended, physical methods for investigation of soil properties and application of technical equipment for assessment of physical-mechanical soil characteristics have got widespread use. However, there is no summative investigation on soil physics which includes and reveals thermodynamics, electrophysics and nuclear physics of soils. At the same time an integrated approach for studying such complicated object makes it possible to understand important nature of some processes occurring in the soil and to develop practical measures for fertility improvement and erosion reduction. The paper considers problems pertaining to deformation mechanism while forming soil structure and its compression under influence of external loadings: magnetic, electric, physico-chemical, gravitational and thermal fields and working organs of tillage tools.

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