Effect of Technostress on academic productivity- E-engagement through persuasive communication

The focus of most of the existing studies on technostress is with regard to working professionals. In spite of the explosion of digital device use in education, not many studies have identified its effects on students. This study examines the presence of technostress among management students aged 22-29 years. Using a sample of 300+ students of a management college of India, this study validates the technostress instrument. With the pandemic, education has seen a paradigm shift. Sessions including classes, interactions, discussions, team projects, assignments, examinations, have gone online and this has ushered the compulsion of spending more time with technology and digital devices (laptops, mobile phones, desktop etc). It examines the effect of technostress on academic productivity of students. The study further explores the students’ expectations from the college to control their technostress, thereby indicating the need of enhancing e-engagement through persuasive communication.

Digital Distractions, Mindfulness, and Academic Performance With Undergraduate College Students

This study examined the relationship between digital distractions, mindfulness, and academic performance with undergraduate college students. A total of 199 students completed surveys that examined digital distractions and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (Baer et al., 2006). The results indicated that 96.5% of participants had a digital device near them when studying, and 94.0% used a digital device to help them study. The major purpose for using a digital device in the classroom was to check the time on their phone (91.0%) and text someone (88.9%). Some reasons for using a digital device for non-classroom purposes included to fight boredom (39.2%) and to stay connected with others (25.1%). Participants who had fewer digital distractions tended to be more mindful and a significant positive relationship (r = .192, p <; .05) was obtained between overall mindfulness and academic performance.

Narratives and Life Stories From the Machine to the Person

Contemporary society changes its social perspective from an anthropocentric environment to a space in which intelligent algorithms, present in every digital device, are increasingly acquiring a status of subject and less of object. Existential practices change at every moment, at every access to these intelligent agents who, in addition to supporting the user's requests, become anticipatory and prescient, demonstrating how it is essential, today, to sociologically analyse society through the image it gives the car. The intent of the contribution, mainly of a theoretical nature, will be to dialogue on the centrality of artificial intelligence as a leading actress of the multiple manifestations of digital cultures and practices, with the aim of renewing the debate on reflection on contemporary complexity starting from the event.

FEATURES OF THE SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE OF THE DIGITAL DEVICE DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM

В статье рассматриваются особенности архитектуры системы диагностики цифровых устройств на базе микроконтроллеров на примере разработанного аппаратно-программного комплекса. The article discusses the features of the architecture of the diagnostic system of digital devices based on microcontrollers on the example of the developed hardware and software complex.

Prevalence and determinants of digital eye strain among school children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Digital eye strain (DES) is an emerging public health problem due to continuous exposure to electronic gadgets and digital devices for educational, occupational or entertainment purposes, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. Children are more vulnerable to DES, as they continue to attend online classes but are unaware of early symptoms of DES and do not complain till their vision deteriorates. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of DES among school children during this pandemic.Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 176 school children aged 12-16 years, studying in 8th, 9th and 10th standards of a randomly selected school in Kollam district of Kerala, using the validated computer vision syndrome questionnaire (CVSQ), sent online via Google form to parents/guardians for recording their children’s pattern of digital device usage and DES symptoms.Results: The prevalence of DES among school children was 29.5%. Their commonest symptom was headache (n=125, 69.9%). The smartphone was the most commonly used digital device (n=159, 93.5%). The independent risk factors of DES were the preferred use of smart phone (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.846; 95% CI=1.371-5.906; p=0.005) and viewing distance of digital device <18 inches (AOR=2.762; 95% CI=1.331-5.731; p=0.006).Conclusions: This study has highlighted some of the risk factors associated with DES. A concerted effort is needed to raise awareness about DES by experts in the health and education sectors, along with parents and teachers, so that digital device use among children can be optimised.

Cough Sounds Recorded via Smart Devices as Useful Non-Invasive Digital Biomarkers of Aspiration Risk: A Case Report

Spirometer measurements can reflect cough strength but might not be routinely available for patients with severe neurological or medical conditions. A digital device that can record and help track abnormal cough sound changes serially in a noninvasive but reliable manner would be beneficial for monitoring such individuals. This report includes two cases of respiratory distress whose cough changes were monitored via assessments performed using recordings made with a digital device. The cough sounds were recorded using an iPad (Apple, Cupertino, CA, USA) through an embedded microphone. Cough sounds were recorded at the bedside, with no additional special equipment. The two patients were able to complete the recordings with no complications. The maximum root mean square values obtained from the cough sounds were significantly reduced when both cases were diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. In contrast, higher values became apparent when the patients demonstrated a less severe status. Based on an analysis of our two cases, the patients’ cough sounds recorded with a commercial digital device show promise as potential digital biomarkers that may reflect aspiration risk related to attenuated cough force. Serial monitoring aided the decision making to resume oral feeding. Future studies should further explore the clinical utility of this technique.