The use of a tablet-based app for investigating the influence of autistic and ADHD traits on performance in a complex drawing task

This paper describes a smart tablet-based drawing app to digitally record participants’ engagement with the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) task, a well-characterised perceptual memory task that assesses local and global memory. Digitisation of the tasks allows for improved ecological validity, especially in children attracted to tablet devices. Further, digital translation of the tasks affords new measures, including accuracy and computation of the fine motor control kinematics employed to carry out the drawing Here, we report a feasibility study to test the relationship between two neurodevelopmental conditions: autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The smart tablet app was employed with 39 adult participants (18-35) characterised for autistic and ADHD traits, and scored using the ROCF perceptual and organisational scoring systems. Trait scores and conditions were predictor variables in linear regression models. Positive correlations were found between the attention-to-detail, attention-switching and communication subscales of the autistic trait questionnaire and organisational scores on the ROCF task. These findings suggest that autistic traits might be linked to differential performance on the ROCF task. Novelty and future applications of the app are discussed.

A Systematic review of smartphone and tablet use by older adults with and without cognitive impairment

Background and Objectives A systematic review was conducted to explore the use of smartphones and tablet computers as cognitive and memory aids by older adults with and without cognitive impairment, specifically the effects of smartphone and tablet use on participants’ cognition and memory, and the barriers to facilitators to smartphone and tablet use for cognitive and memory support. Research Design and Methods A systematic search of six key databases found 11,895 citations published between 2010 and 2021. Studies were included if they involved community-dwelling older adults with or without cognitive impairment arising from acquired brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia, and if they evaluated everyday smartphone or tablet device use for cognition, memory, or activities of daily living. Results A total of 28 papers were included in the narrative synthesis. There was some evidence that the use of smartphones and tablets could aid cognitive function in older adults without cognitive impairment, particularly executive function and processing speed. There was modest evidence that smartphone and tablet use could support memory in both older adults without cognitive impairment and those with acquired bran injury and dementia. Discussion and Implications Smartphones and tablets were seen by users as acceptable, enjoyable, and non-stigmatising alternatives to conventional assistive technology devices; however, current use of smartphone and tablet devices is hindered by the digital literacy of older adults, a lack of accommodation for older adult users’ motor and sensory impairments, and a lack of input from clinicians and researchers. Much of the evidence presented in this review derives from case studies and small-scale trials of smartphone and tablet training interventions. Further research is needed into older adults’ use of smartphones and tablets for cognitive support before and after the onset of cognitive impairment in order to develop effective evidence-based smart technology cognition and memory aids.

Correlate the Level of Internet Dependence and Associated Behavioral Problems among the Preschooler Children in the Selected Urban Area of Wardha District

India is seeing an increase in internet usage, particularly among young and children, as a result of the low cost and easy availability to touch screen mobile phones, tablet devices, and Wi-Fi. Since the previous decade, Internet use in India has grown at an exponential rate, resulting in a generation of gloomy anxiety about it, which has progressed to the point of becoming a hazardous addiction. Behavioral problems are arising due to internet dependence such as temper tantrum, aggression, thought problems, attention problems and rule breaking behaviors in the children and youth people too. Aim: To correlate the level of internet dependence and level of associated behavioral problems among the preschooler children. Materials and Methods: Descriptive correlation research design was used to conduct this study. A non-probability Convenience sampling was used to select the samples. This research study included 100 preschooler children from the Gajanan nagar (Arvi Naka) selected area of wardha district. Samples must select according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Young's Internet Addiction Test and behavioral scale was used to assess the level of internet dependence and also the level of associated behavioral problems of internet dependence. Results: The level of internet dependence: 3% of the preschooler children were disagree that they had internet dependence 4% had not sure, 80% had agree and 13% of them had strongly agree. Minimum Internet dependence score was 28 and maximum internet dependence score was 64. Mean Internet dependence score was 54.70±6.84 and mean percentage of Internet dependence score was 72.93±9.12. and associated Behavioural problems are 2% of the preschooler children were disagree that they had behavioral problem, 3% had not sure, 77% had agree and 18% of them had strongly agree. Minimum associated behavioral problem score was 37 and maximum associated behavioral problem score was 87. Mean associated behavioral problem score was 75.26±8.07 and mean percentage of associated behavioral problem score was 75.26±8.7. The hypothesis is tested statistically with association between internet dependence and behavioral problem. Conclusion: Parents and schools should educate their children on how to use the internet responsibly and how to balance time between online surfing, schoolwork, and outside physical activity. This study shows that there is a correlation-ship between the levels of internet dependency and associated behavioral issues in preschoolers. The situation is serious, and it will soon develop to an addicted state. Interventions such as setting limits and identifying early warning indications of underlying psychopathology are necessary.

Generating cause of death information to inform health policy: implementation of an automated verbal autopsy system in the Solomon Islands

Background Good quality cause of death (COD) information is fundamental for formulating and evaluating public health policy; yet most deaths in developing countries, including the Solomon Islands, occur at home without medical certification of cause of death (MCCOD). As a result, COD data in such contexts are often of limited use for policy and planning. Verbal autopsies (VAs) are a cost-effective way of generating reliable COD information in populations lacking comprehensive MCCOD coverage, but this method has not previously been applied in the Solomon Islands. This study describes the establishment of a VA system to estimate the cause specific mortality fractions (CSMFs) for community deaths that are not medically certified in the Solomon Islands. Methods Automated VA methods (SmartVA) were introduced into the Solomon Islands in 2016. Trained data collectors (nurses) conducted VAs on eligible deaths to December 2020 using electronic tablet devices and VA responses were analysed using the Tariff 2.0 automated diagnostic algorithm. CSMFs were generated for both non-inpatient deaths in hospitals (i.e. ‘dead on/by arrival’) and community deaths. Results VA was applied to 914 adolescent-and-adult deaths with a median (IQR) age of 62 (45–75) years, 61% of whom were males. A specific COD could be diagnosed for more than 85% of deaths. The leading causes of death for both sexes combined were: ischemic heart disease (16.3%), stroke (13.5%), diabetes (8.1%), pneumonia (5.7%) and chronic-respiratory disease (4.8%). Stroke was the top-ranked cause for females, and ischaemic heart disease the leading cause for males. The CSMFs from the VAs were similar to Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimates. Overall, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 73% of adult deaths; communicable, maternal and nutritional conditions 15%, and injuries 12%. Six of the ten leading causes reported for facility deaths in the Solomon Islands were also identified as leading causes of community deaths based on the VA diagnoses. Conclusions NCDs are the leading cause of adult deaths in the Solomon Islands. Automated VA methods are an effective means of generating reliable COD information for community deaths in the Solomon Islands and should be routinely incorporated into the national mortality surveillance system.

Analisis dan Pengembangan Sistem Informasi Penjualan BBM Berbasis Android

In managing reports on sales of fuel oil (BBM) at gas stations xxx Semarang using reports in the form of paper. The sales report paper is then recapitulated by the Administrative Officer. When going to perform data processing, the officer finds it difficult to present the sales data requested by the Manager. To overcome the problems that exist in the manual system, it is necessary to create a BBM Sales Information System so that data management and report generation can be done better. This research focuses on sales data for each type of fuel. To illustrate the requirements of the system using a use case diagram. The information system that will be created is built for the Android operating system that runs on tablet devices to make it easier for operators to fill in fuel sales data. The database used is SQLite because it is one of the databases that support mobile devices. The new system development method uses a prototype model. The stages used in the development of this system include the needs identification stage, the design stage, the prototyping manufacturing stage, the testing stage, and the implementation stage. The results of the development show that the Gas Station Sales Recording Application can run well because it is according to the manager's needs.

Tablet Devices in the Classroom: Their Instructional Role with Children on the Autism Spectrum

Understanding the instructional role of tablet devices while teaching a group of learners diagnosed with autism was the purpose of this research study. Five children diagnosed with autism participated in activities involving traditional paper and pencil and tablet devices. Observations and interviews with learners and one teacher were conducted. The case study provided an understanding of the motivational impact tablet devices potentially have on learners on the autism spectrum concerning engagement and participation in learning activities. The study also revealed that technology in general and tablet devices, in particular, are used in the classroom as reward mechanisms and entertaining strategies to seize and retain the learners’ attention to achieve instructional goals.

Isn’t There an App for That? The Role of Smartphone and Tablet Applications for Asthma Education and Self-Management in Adolescents

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, with a substantial proportion of the asthma population being children and adolescents. Self-management is recognized as a key component to asthma management, with multiple international guidelines emphasizing the need for adequate self-management skills for good asthma control. Unfortunately, the uptake amongst young people and adolescents is low, with often suboptimal engagement to self-management education and skills contributing to poor adherence to medication as well as poor perception of asthma symptoms. Innovative solutions to deliver education and self-management to adolescents are clearly needed. mHealth is the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet devices to improve healthcare and has been used in multiple chronic diseases. This review articles explores the current use of mHealth in asthma, specifically smartphone and tablet applications as a generation-appropriate, accessible delivery modality for provision of asthma education and self-management interventions in adolescents. Current evidence gaps are also highlighted, which should be addressed in future research.

User Authentication Based on Handwriting Analysis of Pen-Tablet Sensor Data Using Optimal Feature Selection Model

Handwriting analysis is playing an important role in user authentication or online writer identification for more than a decade. It has a significant role in different applications such as e-security, signature biometrics, e-health, gesture analysis, diagnosis system of Parkinson’s disease, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, analysis of vulnerable people (stressed, elderly, or drugged), prediction of gender, handedness and so on. Classical authentication systems are image-based, text-dependent, and password or fingerprint-based where the former one has the risk of information leakage. Alternatively, image processing and pattern-analysis-based systems are vulnerable to camera attributes, camera frames, light effect, and the quality of the image or pattern. Thus, in this paper, we concentrate on real-time and context-free handwriting data analysis for robust user authentication systems using digital pen-tablet sensor data. Most of the state-of-the-art authentication models show suboptimal performance for improper features. This research proposed a robust and efficient user identification system using an optimal feature selection technique based on the features from the sensor’s signal of pen and tablet devices. The proposed system includes more genuine and accurate numerical data which are used for features extraction model based on both the kinematic and statistical features of individual handwritings. Sensor data of digital pen-tablet devices generate high dimensional feature vectors for user identification. However, all the features do not play equal contribution to identify a user. Hence, to find out the optimal features, we utilized a hybrid feature selection model. Extracted features are then fed to the popular machine learning (ML) algorithms to generate a nonlinear classifier through training and testing phases. The experimental result analysis shows that the proposed model achieves more accurate and satisfactory results which ensure the practicality of our system for user identification with low computational cost.

The Impact of E-learning During COVID-19 Pandemic on Body Aches Among Students in a Palestinian University

Background: Musculoskeletal system pain is a major concern in our life due to its negative effects on our ability to perform our daily functions. During the COVID-19 pandemic several countries around the world switched their teaching programs into e-learning programs, where students spend long hour using desktop/ laptop or tablet devices. The use of these devices was associated with several complains among the students like neck, shoulder and back pain. The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of different body aches associated with e-learning on university students and to find a link between the most common body posture, the duration of usage of desktop/ laptop or tablet devices with the negative health outcome on these students. Methods: The subjects of this study were students from An-Najah university in Palestine. 385 questionnaires were filled using Google forms as a web-based questionnaire and all the subjects were using e-learning approach due to COVID-19 pandemic. Upon completion of the study, descriptive statistics, correlation statistics with Pearson coefficient and Chi square analysis were used to study the sample.Results: Our study showed that a large percentage of participants used the desktop/ laptop or tablet devices for e-learning during the pandemic. The Duration of these devices use was correlated with the duration and degree of pain among the participants, and also associated with the difficulty in their ability to perform several daily activities. In addition, most of the students used the sitting position with the supine bent forward during the device usage. When comparing the pain level and duration associated with desktop/ laptop or tablet device usage in both genders, female tend to have higher duration and more severe pain compared to male. Conclusion: The university students that participated in this study had an increase in body aches during the e-learning process, and the aches duration and severity increases if the duration of desktop/laptop or tablet usage increase.

Bridging the Digital Divide in Ethnic Minority Older Adults: an Organisational Qualitative Study

This paper aims to explore and understand the digital divide in older adults when accepting and using smart devices within an organization. Using an in-depth single case study, the digital divide is explored and understood using technology-mediated learning for older adults when using smart devices; ie. tablet devices. The case study is based on a group of educated, older Indian adult volunteers at a local Punjabi radio station. A qualitative approach used the data collection techniques of interviews, observations, informal conversations and reference to archival documents and interpretivism for analysis. Our findings revealed that older adults with ailments have shorter lives, contrary to popular perception, can be very active in their communities, are able to use basic IT and are willing to use technology when it leads to significant tangible or intangible benefits without considering the remaining time of their lives. Contributions for policymakers and industry are also offered in this paper.