Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used to promote exercise among older adults. The data ... more Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used to promote exercise among older adults. The data captured through VR may be useful indicator of the game user’s experience as well as providing insight into functional ability of older adults. This paper presents classifiers to predict game user experience variables using VR data from community-dwelling older adults. Head-kinematic data of the VR headset was collected from 13 participants over a six-week period with three 20-minutes exergame sessions per week (e.g., 360 minutes per participant). Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa) and multisensory response-time (RT). Game user experience was captured through perceived-levels of cybersickness, enjoyment, and exertion after each session. Data was used as references for discrete binary and ternary classification patterns. Combinations of kinematic features were used to train different classifiers: K-nearest-neighbors (KNN), linear discriminant an...
Background Despite the proven benefits of exercise in older adults, challenges such as access and... more Background Despite the proven benefits of exercise in older adults, challenges such as access and motivation can deter their engagement. Interactive virtual reality (VR) games combined with exercise (exergames) are a plausible strategy to encourage physical activity among this population. However, there has been little research on the feasibility, acceptability, and potential benefits of deploying at-home VR exergames among community-dwelling older adults. Objective The objectives of this study are to estimate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of a co-designed VR exergame in community-dwelling older adults; examine intervention feasibility and assessment protocols for a future large-scale trial; and provide pilot data on outcomes of interest (physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, mood, cognition, perception, and gameplay metrics). Methods The study will be a remote, 6-week intervention comprising an experimental and a control group. A sample of at least 12 community...
Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 2020
IntroductionFamily caregivers of people living with dementia require a range of accurate, current... more IntroductionFamily caregivers of people living with dementia require a range of accurate, current, and reliable information throughout the care trajectory. Much of this information is available online, however it can be difficult for caregivers to identify and decide what content is relevant to them. Little is known about how online design cues impact family caregivers’ decision to assess how trustworthy information is and whether to engage with it.MethodsOur exploratory research focused on the interface design of CARE-RATE, an online search tool intended to support more effective information searches for family caregivers seeking dementia care-related resources. Data from focus groups were coupled with design literature to inform the development of three mockups that were evaluated by seven dementia caregiver experts.ResultsParticipants preferred a search bar design because of its simplicity, familiarity, and functionality. Design elements that impact trust included logos from repu...
As we age our ability to perform day-to-day activities can change. One such activity that is comp... more As we age our ability to perform day-to-day activities can change. One such activity that is complex and cognitively challenging is driving. Research has shown that older adult drivers have the highest crashes per mile driven and are more vulnerable to injuries due to frailty. Driving cessation however has been known to cause social isolation and depression among older adults. This study aims to better engage the older adult in the discussion and decision about when to stop driving. SmartDrive, a self-assessment application intended to promote safe driving decisions by providing feedback and recommendations based on user performance in driving-related cognitive tasks, has been evaluated in this study. The researchers specifically explore the reactions elicited by different styles of feedback presented to the user (text-only, score map and visuals) to identify the most appropriate style that would persuade them to consider their driving ability and the recommendation shown. Thematic ...
In this paper we describe a means for disambiguating vague search queries by automatically asking... more In this paper we describe a means for disambiguating vague search queries by automatically asking users a series of clarifying questions. We demonstrate how a structure of appropriate questions can be generated by greedily choosing those that will yield the maximum information gain when answered. Data are manually annotated with indicator variables of interest to train a classifier that achieves 96% precision on our test set. We then use a modified version of the ID3 algorithm to select clarifying questions and present a functional prototype that employs our algorithm for query disambiguation within the context of caregiving in healthcare.
... Chhabra, Gerry Craddock, Jin Dewen, Sten Ekman, Martin Ferguson, Shirley G. Fitzgerald, Antal... more ... Chhabra, Gerry Craddock, Jin Dewen, Sten Ekman, Martin Ferguson, Shirley G. Fitzgerald, Antal (Tony) Huba, Jeffrey Jutai, Kiyomi Matsuo, Mounir Mokhtari, Johan Molenbroek, Hisaichi Ohnabe, Paul F. Pasquina, Marcia Scherer, Nigel Shapcott, Richard Simpson, Ronaldo de ...
Height adjustment.<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "A haptic-robotic plat... more Height adjustment.<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "A haptic-robotic platform for upper-limb reaching stroke therapy: Preliminary design and evaluation results"http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/5/1/15Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2008;5():15-15.Published online 22 May 2008PMCID:PMC2409358.
Researchers at the Centre for Studies in Aging and at Simon Fraser University are developing ubiq... more Researchers at the Centre for Studies in Aging and at Simon Fraser University are developing ubiquitous assistive technology to aid persons with dementia complete routine activities. To ensure that the system is useful, effective, and safe, it must be able to adapt to the user and guide him/her in an environment that may not be fully observable. This paper discusses the merits of using partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) algorithms to model this problem as POMDPs are able to provide robust and autonomous control under conditions of uncertainty. A POMDP controller is being designed for the current prototype, which guides the user through the activity of handwashing.
An aging workforce increases the risk of workers experiencing cognitive decline that may lead to ... more An aging workforce increases the risk of workers experiencing cognitive decline that may lead to a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or early onset dementia (MCI|EOD) while still employed. This systematic review explores the use of technologies (defined as any methods, processes, software, hardware or equipment) deployed by employers to accommodate, or build sustainable workspaces for, workers diagnosed with MCI|EOD. After screening 3,860 titles/abstracts and 67 full text reviews, we identified and analyzed eight articles that met our inclusion criteria. We found that: 1) The existing literature almost exclusively focuses on employees’ perspectives on the quality of work life when diagnosed with MCI|EOD, 2) Negative workspace culture toward employees’ cognitive decline, and the variability of disease onset and progression, may account for low employer awareness, 3) Employer responses focus on mitigation of risk associated with workers’ impairment. While this review demonstrates...
The potential of technology to assist people who are diagnosed with MCI or early dementia (EOD) w... more The potential of technology to assist people who are diagnosed with MCI or early dementia (EOD) whilst still working is under‐explored.
2018 World Engineering Education Forum - Global Engineering Deans Council (WEEF-GEDC), 2018
How can the Turing-complete machines of tomorrow be designed ethically by the students of today f... more How can the Turing-complete machines of tomorrow be designed ethically by the students of today f As the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems notes, there is growing concern that AI and other transformational technologies "remain human-centric, serving humanity’s values and ethical principles." This concern is amplified in the context of engineering education as our curriculum still struggles to enter the 21st Century let alone address the accelerating complexities of modern era systems. This paper offers a contemporary perspective on the teaching of ethics as an integral part of design itself. Part of the framework of discourse is the notion of "ethical by design" as proposed by three of the authors of this paper, Mulvenna, Boger, and Bond. They proposed a pragmatic manifesto of principles to support developers, providers, and users in the collaborative process of inherently and explicitly including ethics into product and servi...
Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used to promote exercise among older adults. The data ... more Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used to promote exercise among older adults. The data captured through VR may be useful indicator of the game user’s experience as well as providing insight into functional ability of older adults. This paper presents classifiers to predict game user experience variables using VR data from community-dwelling older adults. Head-kinematic data of the VR headset was collected from 13 participants over a six-week period with three 20-minutes exergame sessions per week (e.g., 360 minutes per participant). Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa) and multisensory response-time (RT). Game user experience was captured through perceived-levels of cybersickness, enjoyment, and exertion after each session. Data was used as references for discrete binary and ternary classification patterns. Combinations of kinematic features were used to train different classifiers: K-nearest-neighbors (KNN), linear discriminant an...
Background Despite the proven benefits of exercise in older adults, challenges such as access and... more Background Despite the proven benefits of exercise in older adults, challenges such as access and motivation can deter their engagement. Interactive virtual reality (VR) games combined with exercise (exergames) are a plausible strategy to encourage physical activity among this population. However, there has been little research on the feasibility, acceptability, and potential benefits of deploying at-home VR exergames among community-dwelling older adults. Objective The objectives of this study are to estimate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of a co-designed VR exergame in community-dwelling older adults; examine intervention feasibility and assessment protocols for a future large-scale trial; and provide pilot data on outcomes of interest (physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, mood, cognition, perception, and gameplay metrics). Methods The study will be a remote, 6-week intervention comprising an experimental and a control group. A sample of at least 12 community...
Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 2020
IntroductionFamily caregivers of people living with dementia require a range of accurate, current... more IntroductionFamily caregivers of people living with dementia require a range of accurate, current, and reliable information throughout the care trajectory. Much of this information is available online, however it can be difficult for caregivers to identify and decide what content is relevant to them. Little is known about how online design cues impact family caregivers’ decision to assess how trustworthy information is and whether to engage with it.MethodsOur exploratory research focused on the interface design of CARE-RATE, an online search tool intended to support more effective information searches for family caregivers seeking dementia care-related resources. Data from focus groups were coupled with design literature to inform the development of three mockups that were evaluated by seven dementia caregiver experts.ResultsParticipants preferred a search bar design because of its simplicity, familiarity, and functionality. Design elements that impact trust included logos from repu...
As we age our ability to perform day-to-day activities can change. One such activity that is comp... more As we age our ability to perform day-to-day activities can change. One such activity that is complex and cognitively challenging is driving. Research has shown that older adult drivers have the highest crashes per mile driven and are more vulnerable to injuries due to frailty. Driving cessation however has been known to cause social isolation and depression among older adults. This study aims to better engage the older adult in the discussion and decision about when to stop driving. SmartDrive, a self-assessment application intended to promote safe driving decisions by providing feedback and recommendations based on user performance in driving-related cognitive tasks, has been evaluated in this study. The researchers specifically explore the reactions elicited by different styles of feedback presented to the user (text-only, score map and visuals) to identify the most appropriate style that would persuade them to consider their driving ability and the recommendation shown. Thematic ...
In this paper we describe a means for disambiguating vague search queries by automatically asking... more In this paper we describe a means for disambiguating vague search queries by automatically asking users a series of clarifying questions. We demonstrate how a structure of appropriate questions can be generated by greedily choosing those that will yield the maximum information gain when answered. Data are manually annotated with indicator variables of interest to train a classifier that achieves 96% precision on our test set. We then use a modified version of the ID3 algorithm to select clarifying questions and present a functional prototype that employs our algorithm for query disambiguation within the context of caregiving in healthcare.
... Chhabra, Gerry Craddock, Jin Dewen, Sten Ekman, Martin Ferguson, Shirley G. Fitzgerald, Antal... more ... Chhabra, Gerry Craddock, Jin Dewen, Sten Ekman, Martin Ferguson, Shirley G. Fitzgerald, Antal (Tony) Huba, Jeffrey Jutai, Kiyomi Matsuo, Mounir Mokhtari, Johan Molenbroek, Hisaichi Ohnabe, Paul F. Pasquina, Marcia Scherer, Nigel Shapcott, Richard Simpson, Ronaldo de ...
Height adjustment.<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "A haptic-robotic plat... more Height adjustment.<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "A haptic-robotic platform for upper-limb reaching stroke therapy: Preliminary design and evaluation results"http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/5/1/15Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2008;5():15-15.Published online 22 May 2008PMCID:PMC2409358.
Researchers at the Centre for Studies in Aging and at Simon Fraser University are developing ubiq... more Researchers at the Centre for Studies in Aging and at Simon Fraser University are developing ubiquitous assistive technology to aid persons with dementia complete routine activities. To ensure that the system is useful, effective, and safe, it must be able to adapt to the user and guide him/her in an environment that may not be fully observable. This paper discusses the merits of using partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) algorithms to model this problem as POMDPs are able to provide robust and autonomous control under conditions of uncertainty. A POMDP controller is being designed for the current prototype, which guides the user through the activity of handwashing.
An aging workforce increases the risk of workers experiencing cognitive decline that may lead to ... more An aging workforce increases the risk of workers experiencing cognitive decline that may lead to a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or early onset dementia (MCI|EOD) while still employed. This systematic review explores the use of technologies (defined as any methods, processes, software, hardware or equipment) deployed by employers to accommodate, or build sustainable workspaces for, workers diagnosed with MCI|EOD. After screening 3,860 titles/abstracts and 67 full text reviews, we identified and analyzed eight articles that met our inclusion criteria. We found that: 1) The existing literature almost exclusively focuses on employees’ perspectives on the quality of work life when diagnosed with MCI|EOD, 2) Negative workspace culture toward employees’ cognitive decline, and the variability of disease onset and progression, may account for low employer awareness, 3) Employer responses focus on mitigation of risk associated with workers’ impairment. While this review demonstrates...
The potential of technology to assist people who are diagnosed with MCI or early dementia (EOD) w... more The potential of technology to assist people who are diagnosed with MCI or early dementia (EOD) whilst still working is under‐explored.
2018 World Engineering Education Forum - Global Engineering Deans Council (WEEF-GEDC), 2018
How can the Turing-complete machines of tomorrow be designed ethically by the students of today f... more How can the Turing-complete machines of tomorrow be designed ethically by the students of today f As the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems notes, there is growing concern that AI and other transformational technologies "remain human-centric, serving humanity’s values and ethical principles." This concern is amplified in the context of engineering education as our curriculum still struggles to enter the 21st Century let alone address the accelerating complexities of modern era systems. This paper offers a contemporary perspective on the teaching of ethics as an integral part of design itself. Part of the framework of discourse is the notion of "ethical by design" as proposed by three of the authors of this paper, Mulvenna, Boger, and Bond. They proposed a pragmatic manifesto of principles to support developers, providers, and users in the collaborative process of inherently and explicitly including ethics into product and servi...
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