Motions with Emotions?

This article examines how the interactive capabilities of companion robots, particularly their materiality and animate movements, appeal to human users and generate an image of aliveness. Building on Husserl’s phenomenological notion of a ‘double body’ and theories of emotions as affective responses, we develop a new understanding of the robots’ simulated aliveness. Analyzing empirical findings of a field study on the use of the robot Zora in care homes for older people, we suggest that the aliveness of companion robots is the result of a combination of four aspects: 1) material ingredients, 2) morphology, 3) animate movements guided by software programs and human operators as in Wizard of Oz-settings and 4) anthropomorphising narratives created by their users to support the robot’s performance. We suggest that narratives on affective states, such as, sleepiness or becoming frightened attached to the robot trigger users’ empathic feelings, caring and tenderness toward the robot.

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Using the Change4Life Disney Branded 10-minute Shake Ups During the COVID-19 ‘Lockdown’

10.31219/osf.io/q8jz4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Emily Budzynski-Seymour ◽

James Steele ◽

Michelle Jones

Keyword(s):

Perceived Exertion ◽

Affective Responses ◽

Online Resources ◽

Future Research ◽

Affective States ◽

Perceived Effort ◽

Qualitative Feedback ◽

Bidirectional Relationship ◽

The Uk

Physical activity (PA) is considered essential to overall health yet it is consistently reported that children are failing to meet the recommended levels. Due to the bidirectional relationship between affective states and PA, affective responses are a potential predictor to long term engagement. Since late March 2020 the UK government enforced ‘lockdown’ measures to help control the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19); however, this has impacted children’s PA. Using online resources at home to support PA is now common. The primary aim of this research was to investigate the use of the Change4Life 10-minute Shake Ups to support PA by examining the effects of Disney branding upon children’s (n=32) post activity affective responses and perceived exertion. The secondary was to investigate the effect of the lockdown on PA habits. Children had similar positive affective responses and perceived effort to activities; however, branding was considered to be a key contributing factor based upon qualitative feedback from parents. Children’s PA levels dropped slightly since ‘lockdown’ was imposed; though online resources have been utilised to support PA. The use of immersive elements such as characters and narrative in PA sessions, as well as utilising online resources during ‘lockdown’ appear potentially promising for future research.

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Using crystallization to understand loneliness in later life: integrating social science and creative narratives in sensitive qualitative research

Qualitative Research ◽

10.1177/14687941211005943 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 146879412110059

Author(s):

Barbara Barbosa Neves ◽

Josephine Wilson ◽

Alexandra Sanders ◽

Renata Kokanović

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Creative Writing ◽

Social Science ◽

Older People ◽

Case Studies ◽

Vulnerable Populations ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Later Life ◽

Care Homes ◽

Social Phenomena

This article draws on crystallization, a qualitative framework developed by Laurel Richardson and Laura Ellingson, to show the potential of using sociological narratives and creative writing to better analyze and represent the lived experiences of loneliness among older people living in Australian care homes. Crystallization uses a multi-genre approach to study and present social phenomena. At its core is a concern for the ethics of representation, which is critical when engaging with vulnerable populations. We use two case studies from research on loneliness to illustrate an application of crystallization through different narrative types. To supplement our sociological narratives, we invited author Josephine Wilson to write creative narratives based on the case studies. Josephine was awarded the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2017 for Extinctions, a novel exploring themes such as later life and loneliness. By contrasting the two approaches—sociological and creative narratives—we discuss the implications of crystallization for qualitative research.

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A Wizard of Oz Field Study to Understand Non-Driving-Related Activities, Trust, and Acceptance of Automated Vehicles

12th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications ◽

10.1145/3409120.3410662 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Henrik Detjen ◽

Bastian Pfleging ◽

Stefan Schneegass

Keyword(s):

Field Study ◽

Automated Vehicles ◽

Wizard Of Oz

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The ‘regulated death’: a documentary analysis of the regulation and inspection of dying and death in English care homes for older people

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x06005460 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 233-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

KATHERINE FROGGATT

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Best Practice ◽

Quality Care ◽

Care Homes ◽

National Standard ◽

Good Death ◽

Term Care ◽

Documentary Analysis ◽

Death Event ◽

Inspection Process

In England, processes of regulation and inspection have been established to ensure that older people living in long-term care settings receive quality care. This paper describes how dying and death in care homes for older people is regulated and inspected. A documentary analysis was undertaken of the standard that addresses dying and death in the 2001 Care Homes for Older People: National Minimum Standards. Present in the standard is a ‘good death’ template drawn from constructions of best practice in palliative care. The way in which this national standard is enacted in the inspection process is described using a content analysis of the inspection reports from 226 care homes for older people. These present a narrow focus on dying and death, one that emphasises the older person's wishes and the degree of adherence to policies and procedures concerned with the dying and death event. A regulated death attenuates the ‘good death’ template and reflects both the inspection process and capabilities of the residents of care homes. If the regulation and inspection process is to integrate dying with living, a broader conception and regime of inspection is required. Only then will end-of-life care be provided that meets the diverse needs of older people who live in care homes.

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