•Journal•ISSN: 2624-9898
Frontiers in computer science
Frontiers Media
About: Frontiers in computer science is an academic journal published by Frontiers Media. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Computer science & Engineering. It has an ISSN identifier of 2624-9898. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 124 publications have been published receiving 167 citations.
Topics: Computer science, Engineering, Medicine, Biology, Context (archaeology)
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TL;DR: LABKIT as discussed by the authors is a user-friendly plugin for microscopy image segmentation that can be applied to single and multi-channel images as well as to timelapse movies in 2D or 3D.
Abstract: We present LABKIT, a user-friendly Fiji plugin for the segmentation of microscopy image data. It offers easy to use manual and automated image segmentation routines that can be rapidly applied to single- and multi-channel images as well as to timelapse movies in 2D or 3D. LABKIT is specifically designed to work efficiently on big image data and enables users of consumer laptops to conveniently work with multiple-terabyte images. This efficiency is achieved by using ImgLib2 and BigDataViewer as well as a memory efficient and fast implementation of the random forest based pixel classification algorithm as the foundation of our software. Optionally we harness the power of graphics processing units (GPU) to gain additional runtime performance. LABKIT is easy to install on virtually all laptops and workstations. Additionally, LABKIT is compatible with high performance computing (HPC) clusters for distributed processing of big image data. The ability to use pixel classifiers trained in LABKIT via the ImageJ macro language enables our users to integrate this functionality as a processing step in automated image processing workflows. Finally, LABKIT comes with rich online resources such as tutorials and examples that will help users to familiarize themselves with available features and how to best use LABKIT in a number of practical real-world use-cases.
39 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors analyzed learning strategies, preferences, and learning settings among older adults with intellectual disabilities and found that guided learning with personal explanations was the most preferred learning format in both groups of older adults.
Abstract: Learning to use information and communication technologies (ICT) may be more difficult for older people due to decreases in fluid intelligence, generational effects, and other age-related effects. Especially older people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at a high risk of digital exclusion. To enable all older adults to use ICT, individualized technology training may be provided. However, little is known about the ICT learning preferences among older people with ID. Based on semi-structured interviews with older adults (n = 7, mean age = 76.6 years) and older adults with ID (n = 14, mean age = 62.4 years), this paper analyzes learning strategies, preferences, and learning settings. The results from content analysis show that guided learning with personal explanations in a one-to-one setting is the most preferred learning format in both groups of older adults. While many older adults without ID additionally favor self-regulated learning (i.e., learning with manuals or videos), older adults with ID mostly rely on guided learning with personal assistance. The differences can be explained by different abilities (e.g., reading skills) and social networks (e.g., living situation, having children). Not all older adults have a family or an institutional support network to help them learn ICT and community organizations may provide additional support. Researchers and practitioners should be aware of the diverse knowledge backgrounds and competencies in the group of older adults. ICT training in old age should be ideally composed in a modular way embedding self-regulated learning formats into guided learning modules.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explored the experiences and attitudes of eighty older adults including those who had prior experience and those who never used (or perhaps never heard of) smart technologies through an online survey.
Abstract: Smart technologies (e.g., smartphones, smart security technologies, digital home assistants) have advanced over the years and will continue to do so. There are various benefits to using these technologies in one's life, such as an increase in productivity through automation and self-monitoring one's health. Older adults particularly may benefit from smart technologies to support their everyday activities and compensate for age related changes. In this study, we explored the experiences and attitudes of eighty older adults including those who had prior experience and those who had never used (or perhaps never heard of) smart technologies through an online survey. We assessed their general opinions toward using smart technology and explored what facilitated or hindered their use. Older adults rated the facilitators to use for each smart technology differently, with few commonalities between the order of the most agreed upon facilitators. However, older adults' opinions were consistent across each technology about their ignorance of technological features and cost of the smart technology, which could be potential barriers to use. Among those who had never used one of the smart technologies, privacy was the most commonly endorsed concern. The results from this study support the understanding of key considerations when developing and deploying smart technologies for older adults.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors proposed a technical guidance framework that fully automates the identification and evaluation of automatic thoughts to achieve a virtual agent that can interact with users by taking into account their verbal and non-verbal behaviors in face-to-face situations.
Abstract: Cognitive restructuring is a well-established mental health technique for amending automatic thoughts, which are distorted and biased beliefs about a situation, into objective and balanced thoughts. Since virtual agents can be used anytime and anywhere, they are expected to perform cognitive restructuring without being influenced by medical infrastructure or patients' stigma toward mental illness. Unfortunately, since the quantitative analysis of human-agent interaction is still insufficient, the effect on the user's cognitive state remains unclear. We collected interaction data between virtual agents and users to observe the mood improvements associated with changes in automatic thoughts that occur in user cognition and addressed the following two points: (1) implementation of a virtual agent that helps a user identify and evaluate automatic thoughts; (2) identification of the relationship between a user's facial expressions and the extent of the mood improvement subjectively felt by users during the human-agent interaction. We focus on these points because cognitive restructuring by a human therapist starts by identifying automatic thoughts and seeking sufficient evidence to find balanced thoughts (evaluation of automatic thoughts). Therapists also use such non-verbal behaviors as facial expressions to detect changes in a user's mood, which is an important indicator for guidance. Based on the results of this analysis, we provide a technical guidance framework that fully automates the identification and evaluation of automatic thoughts to achieve a virtual agent that can interact with users by taking into account their verbal and non-verbal behaviors in face-to-face situations. This research supports the possibility of improving the effectiveness of mental health care in cognitive restructuring using virtual agents.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors explore the task performance and body cognition of humans when they have multiple full bodies as an extended embodiment, allowing a participant to control up to four bodies at the same time and perceive sensory information from them.
Abstract: Human behavior and perception are optimized for a single body. Yet, the human brain has plasticity, which allows us to extend our body schema. By utilizing technology like robotics or virtual reality (VR), we can modify our body parts or even add a new body to our own while retaining control over these parts. However, the update of body cognition when controlling multiple bodies has not been well examined. In this study, we explore the task performance and body cognition of humans when they have multiple full bodies as an extended embodiment. Our experimental system allows a participant to control up to four bodies at the same time and perceive sensory information from them. The participant experiences synchronizing behavior and vision perception in a virtual environment. We set up three tasks for multiple bodies and evaluated the cognition of these bodies with their gazing information, task performances, and subjective ratings. We found that humans can have the sense of body ownership and agency for each body when controlling multiple bodies simultaneously. Furthermore, it was observed that people manipulate multiple bodies by actively switching their attention in a static environment and passively switching their attention in a dynamic environment. Distributed embodiment has the potential to extend human behavior in cooperative work, parallel work, group behavior, and so on.
6 citations