A Robust User Authentication Technique in Online Examination

User authentication in the online environment is promoting a hugely challenging issue. This has contributed to the realization of a user authentication where the exams can be performed over the Internet at any time and from any place and by using any digital device. Consequently, further investigations are required to focus on improving user authentication methods to enhance online security mechanisms, especially in the field of e-exams. This research proposes a new user authentication technique based on the user interface (UI). The novel idea is created based on the design preferences of candidates who are taking the e-exams. Several design features are used to design a special user interface for e-exams, for example, the font attributes, back colour, number of questions per page, group categories for questions based on difficulties, and timer setting. The introduced technique can be used to support the user authentication process in the e-exams environment. Furthermore, the proposed technique provides the ability to login to the e-exam without the need to remember the login information, but to select what the student prefers according to his/her personal information. Based on the literature review, a primary evaluation claiming that the students have differences in their preferences and that each user has stable design preferences within different sessions is revealed. In regard to these facts, they become the resource and essence of this research. The security performance of the proposed method is evaluated. The results of the experiments show a false positive (FP) rate of 0.416% and a false negative (FN) rate of 0%.

Exploring the potential of Urban Leftover Spaces

<p>A city’s spatial environment emerges from the ongoing negotiation between the constructed environment, urban processes, and bodily experience. Many spaces do not represent a static notion but are continually challenged and reconstituted, including spaces that appear to be ‘leftover’. The ability to recognise leftover spaces in the urban context is an integral part of the urban redevelopment process, where structured and layered approaches become useful in understanding how to transform these spaces into places. Consequently, leftover spaces in the urban fabric can be seen both as having potential and as threatening. Researchers have pointed out the issues, conditions, and importance of the positive utilisation of leftover spaces. These spaces can be designed, transformed, and integrated into the main urban fabric to achieve environmental and social gains. Creative and flexible design should lead to psychologically healthy places by improving the image of a city from within. However, there is insufficient information available on how to go about designing such spaces. The revitalisation and aesthetic quality of leftover spaces could expand the dynamism of a city through strategic design interventions. This study explores how the visual perception of leftover spaces in Wellington City that influences both personal experiences and their potential usage could be enhanced. The research aims to investigate the potential of different types of urban leftover spaces, which could be used in a more effective way than they are present. The mixed methodology undertaken in this study seeks to inform planning initiatives by knowing what people feel about leftover spaces and their aspects that need improvement. This research, therefore, examines how such leftover spaces are defined and can be redesigned to become part of a built environment. The research thus consists of three studies starting with an initial visual preference study to understand human perceptions that could lead to better design solutions. The second study explored the differences in design preferences among participants coming from different fields of study, forming the main visual preference study. Visual preferences can guide behaviour and the emotional responses of different users in the redesign of such spaces and their essential attributes. Lastly, focus group discussions were held with built and non-built environment participants. To sum up, the results revealed that providing more vegetation is a critical design attribute for such spaces. The study contradicts theories that hold there are differences in the ways built and non-built environment experts perceive the environment.</p>

Exploring the potential of Urban Leftover Spaces

<p>A city’s spatial environment emerges from the ongoing negotiation between the constructed environment, urban processes, and bodily experience. Many spaces do not represent a static notion but are continually challenged and reconstituted, including spaces that appear to be ‘leftover’. The ability to recognise leftover spaces in the urban context is an integral part of the urban redevelopment process, where structured and layered approaches become useful in understanding how to transform these spaces into places. Consequently, leftover spaces in the urban fabric can be seen both as having potential and as threatening. Researchers have pointed out the issues, conditions, and importance of the positive utilisation of leftover spaces. These spaces can be designed, transformed, and integrated into the main urban fabric to achieve environmental and social gains. Creative and flexible design should lead to psychologically healthy places by improving the image of a city from within. However, there is insufficient information available on how to go about designing such spaces. The revitalisation and aesthetic quality of leftover spaces could expand the dynamism of a city through strategic design interventions. This study explores how the visual perception of leftover spaces in Wellington City that influences both personal experiences and their potential usage could be enhanced. The research aims to investigate the potential of different types of urban leftover spaces, which could be used in a more effective way than they are present. The mixed methodology undertaken in this study seeks to inform planning initiatives by knowing what people feel about leftover spaces and their aspects that need improvement. This research, therefore, examines how such leftover spaces are defined and can be redesigned to become part of a built environment. The research thus consists of three studies starting with an initial visual preference study to understand human perceptions that could lead to better design solutions. The second study explored the differences in design preferences among participants coming from different fields of study, forming the main visual preference study. Visual preferences can guide behaviour and the emotional responses of different users in the redesign of such spaces and their essential attributes. Lastly, focus group discussions were held with built and non-built environment participants. To sum up, the results revealed that providing more vegetation is a critical design attribute for such spaces. The study contradicts theories that hold there are differences in the ways built and non-built environment experts perceive the environment.</p>

A USABILITY EVALUATION OF PORTABLE BREATH KETONE SENSOR DEVICES BY AND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS

Background. Portable breath ketone sensors may help people with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) avoid episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis; however the design features preferred by users have not been studied. We aimed to elucidate design preferences associated with breath ketone sensors among young people with T1DM aged 12-16 years, their parents, and diabetes educators. Research Designs and Methods. Two commercially available breath ketone sensors, designed for ketogenic diet monitoring, were assessed over one week by ten young people with T1DM following a usability evaluation approach. Participants interacted with the devices at least twice daily for five days, taking breath ketone, blood ketone and blood glucose measurements. Semi-structured interviews were conducted post-testing with participants, parents and two diabetes educators to elicit design preferences to inform the co-design of diabetes breath ketone sensor prototypes. Results. Participants acknowledged the non-invasiveness of breath sensors as compared to blood testing. Affordability, reliability and accuracy were identified as prerequisites for breath ketone sensors used for diabetes management. Design features valued by young people included portability, ease of use, sustainability, readability and suitability for use in public. The time required to use breath sensors was similar to that for blood testing. The requirement to maintain a 10-second breath exhalation posed a challenge for users. Conclusions. Breath ketone sensors for diabetes management bear potential to facilitate ketone testing in young people. Our study affirms features for young people that drive usability of breath sensors among this population, and provides a model of usability assessment of medical devices among young users.

Design preferences for global scale: a mixed-methods study of “glocalization” of an animated, video-based health communication intervention

Background Designing health communication interventions for global scaling promotes health literacy and facilitates rapid global health messaging. Limited literature explores preferences for animation prototypes and other content characteristics across participants in different global regions. Prior research underscores an urgent need for health communication interventions that are compelling and accessible across culturally and geographically diverse audiences. This study presents feedback from global learners on animation design preferences and other key considerations for the development of educational video content intended for global adaptation and scaling. Methods We used a mixed-methods, sequential explanatory design, with a qualitative descriptive approach to the analysis of the qualitative data. We recruited participants from an international group of learners enrolled in a massive open online course. Through an online quantitative survey (n = 330), we sought preferences from participants in 73 countries for animation design prototypes to be used in video-based health communication interventions. To learn more about these preferences, we conducted in-depth interviews (n = 20) with participants selected using maximum variation purposive sampling. Results Generally, respondents were willing to accept animation prototypes that were free of cultural and ethnic identifiers and believed these to be preferable for globally scalable health communication videos. Diverse representations of age, gender roles, and family structure were also preferred and felt to support inclusive messaging across cultures and global regions. Familiar-sounding voiceovers using local languages, dialects, and accents were preferred for enhancing local resonance. Across global regions, narratives were highlighted as a compelling approach to facilitating engagement and participants preferred short videos with no more than two or three health messages. Conclusions Our findings suggest that global learners may be willing to accept simplified visuals, designed for broad cross-cultural acceptability, especially if the content is localized in other ways, such as through the use of locally resonating narratives and voiceovers. Diverse, inclusive portrayals of age, gender roles and family structure were preferred.

Exploring yoga wear needs for the baby boomer generation

Baby boomers are defined as the demographics born during post-World War II between the years 1946 and 1965. As of 2016, boomers are in their 50s and 60s. As a group, they are interested in pursuing a healthy lifestyle and are willing to invest time and money in maintaining healthy bodies. Yoga, a mind body practice, is an appealing option for this group. A current U.S. national study showed that yoga practitioners over the age of 49 are the second largest group comprising 38% of the yoga practitioners. However, the boomer yoga practitioners do not have many choices when it comes to shopping for yoga wear. Manufacturers of active wear produce the same yoga wear for individuals regardless of age, even though the baby boomer market has different clothing needs and garment design preferences. This study explored baby boomers’ clothing needs and preferences in yoga wear.

Exploring yoga wear needs for the baby boomer generation

Baby boomers are defined as the demographics born during post-World War II between the years 1946 and 1965. As of 2016, boomers are in their 50s and 60s. As a group, they are interested in pursuing a healthy lifestyle and are willing to invest time and money in maintaining healthy bodies. Yoga, a mind body practice, is an appealing option for this group. A current U.S. national study showed that yoga practitioners over the age of 49 are the second largest group comprising 38% of the yoga practitioners. However, the boomer yoga practitioners do not have many choices when it comes to shopping for yoga wear. Manufacturers of active wear produce the same yoga wear for individuals regardless of age, even though the baby boomer market has different clothing needs and garment design preferences. This study explored baby boomers’ clothing needs and preferences in yoga wear.