“Clicking vs. Writing”—The Impact of a Chatbot’s Interaction Method on the Working Alliance in AI-based Coaching

Coaching has become an important didactic tool for reflecting learning processes in higher education. Digital media and AI-based technologies such as chatbots can support stimulating self-coaching processes. For the use case of student coaching on the topic of exam anxiety, the working alliance between a coaching chatbot and a human coachee is investigated. Two coachbot interaction methods are compared: A click-based chatbot (implemented in a rule-based system), where the coachee can only click on one answer, and a writing-based chatbot (implemented in a conversational AI), which allows the coachee to freely type in their answers. The focus is on which coachbot interaction method enables a stronger working alliance between coach and coachee: a click-based or a writing-based chatbot. The working alliance and the technical realization of the chatbot systems were investigated in an exploratory quantitative study with 21 engineering students. The results indicate that the working alliance in both study conditions can be classified as medium to high overall. The results further show higher values for bonding on a writing-based platform than when using a click-based system. However, click-based systems seem to be more helpful as a low-threshold entry point to coaching, as they guide coachees better through the process by providing predefined answers. An evaluation of the technical realization shows that self-reflection processes through digital self-coaching via chatbot are generally well accepted by students. For further development and research, it is therefore recommendable to develop a “mixed” coachbot that allows interaction via clicking as well as via free writing.

COMPUTATIONAL-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF CONTACT INTERACTION OF BODIES WITH NEARLY FORM SURFACES

In many constructions, their elements are in contact with nominally matching (congruent) surfaces. In reality, this contact is disturbed due to deviations in the shape of these surfaces from the nominal. To study the effect of this perturbation on the distribution of contact pressure, the analysis of the stress-strain state of the body system of punched sheet-die is carried out. The middle element of this system deviates from the nominally flat shape. This causes a change in the contact pressure distribution. The proportionality between the clamping force and the level of contact pressure is also lost. The reliability and accuracy of the results obtained by numerical calculation have been experimentally confirmed. Keywords: stress-strain state; contact pressure; contact interaction; method of variational inequalities; Kalker variational principle; finite element method

Transient thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic analysis of a bidirectional thrust bearing in start-up and shutdown processes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reveal the transient thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication mechanism of a bidirectional thrust bearing in a pumped-storage unit, and to propose the transient simulation method of two-way fluid-solid-thermal interaction of thrust bearing.Design/methodology/approachThe transient fluid-solid-thermal interaction method is used to simulate the three-dimensional lubrication of the thrust bearing, during the start-up and shutdown process of a pumped storage unit. A pad including an oil hole is modelled to analyze the temporal variation of lubrication characteristics, such as the film pressure, thickness and temperature, during the transient operation process.FindingsThe injection of the high-pressure oil sufficiently affects the lubrication characteristics on film, in which the hysteresis phenomena were found between the start-up and shutdown possess.Originality/valueThis paper reveals the transient lubrication mechanism of tilting pad in a thrust bearing, by means of transient fluid-solid-thermal interaction method. Lubrication characteristics are simulated without assuming the temperature relationship between the oil film inlet and the outlet and the heat transfer on the pad free surface. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the safe design and stable operation of thrust bearings.

Forming the Dog Internet

Over the past decade, many systems have been developed for humans to remotely connect to their pets at home. Yet little attention has been paid to how animals can control such systems and what the implications are of animals using internet systems. This paper explores the creation of a video call device to allow a dog to remotely call their human, giving the animal control and agency over technology in their home. After building and prototyping a novel interaction method over several weeks and iterations, we test our system with a dog and a human. Analysing our experience and data, we reflect on power relations, how to quantify an animal's user experience and what interactive internet systems look like with animal users. This paper builds upon Human-Computer Interaction methods for unconventional users, uncovering key questions that advance the creation of animal-to-human interfaces and animal internet devices.

An Exploration of Freehand Crossing Selection in Head-Mounted Augmented Reality

Crossing, or goal crossing, has proven useful in various selection scenarios, including pen, mouse, touch, and virtual reality (VR). However, crossing has not been exploited for freehand selection using augmented reality head-mounted displays (AR HMDs). Using the HoloLens, we explore freehand crossing for selection and compare it to the state-of-the-art “gaze and commit” (head gaze) method. We report on three studies investigating freehand crossing in multiple use cases. The first study shows that crossing outperforms head gaze in selection scenarios of varying target arrangements. The second explores crossing, head gaze, and hand pointing in radial menu and dynamic interface scenarios. The third explores crossing as a function carrier for a variety of basic interaction functions in a drawing application. This work builds on existing knowledge on the goal-crossing paradigm by demonstrating its potential as a useful interaction method in 3D AR HMD interfaces.

ESTIMATION OF CONSUMERS VIEW ON CONCOMITANT USE OF DRUGS AND CREATING ITS AWARENESS: AN ONLINE SURVEY

Objective: To evaluate awareness among consumers regarding concomitant use of drugs and Herb-Drug interaction. Method: This was a cross-sectional survey, carried out over 2 months. The study was carried among 500 respondents and a questionnaire was sent using google form. Result: About 41% responded with their preference of medication as allopathy, whereas 37% consume both medications and 22% preferred herbal. Indications on con- comitant use of drugs show that out of 100% respondent who consumes both medications, 94% knows the duration of therapy. Reports on consultation to physician show that out of 100% respondent who consumes both medications 87% do consult their physician before use. Among 500 respondents, 60% are aware of Herb-Drug interaction (HDI) out of which only 9.2% have faced HDI. Conclusion: The result indicates a need to conduct more awareness on concomitant use of drugs and HDI to minimize the effect on consumers' health. Keywords: Herbal, Concomitant, Self-medication, HDI.