Contribution Of Digital Technology Research Articles

Цифровые технологии для поддержки детей и молодых людей с выраженными ментальными ограничениями

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The article describes the digital technologies of two non-profit organizations – the charitable foundation for social assistance to children "Spread your wings!" and ANO “Resource Center for Helping People with Mental Disabilities ”Vera. Hope. Love”: developing online service (special site); online events (master classes) based on the peer-to-peer principle; communication simulator (messenger "EMO"). The main characteristics of digital technologies are highlighted: adaptive design, navigation and materials; content uniqueness; taking into account the user's opinion; safety; different levels of help. The mechanisms that ensure the developmental nature of the proposed digital tools are shown. The grounds (values and principles) underlying the development and application of digital technologies for children and young people with severe mental disabilities are disclosed. The authors consider the contribution of digital technologies in solving the problem of social exclusion, defining digital technologies as a tool that destroys barriers to inclusion in social life.</span></p>

Financial Technology Solutions for Financial Inclusion: A review and future agenda

Objective- This research aims to review the extant literature and the contribution of digital technology (DT) in financial inclusion (FI). In this study, researchers attempted to suggest some directions to policymakers towards furthering the initiatives for financial inclusion. The objectives are to explore user behaviour for technology adaptation of financial transactions. Design/ Methodology- A systematic literature review was conducted by using a method suggested by Cook and West (2012). The articles were selected between 2001 to 2020. Keywords such as ‘digital technology’ and Financial Inclusion (FI) were chosen for study. Full text articles in English language from SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google scholar were considered. A conceptual framework has been suggested based on the literature review, which can help future researchers to examine the current issues and challenges in the financial technology and digital technology field. Findings/Conclusion- The overall review of existing literature available on the topic signifies that digital technology is the driver of FI and economic growth. However, there are some gaps noted on which future studies can focus. Originality/Contribution/Value-In the literature review, research papers deal with problems, factors, and gaps in the use of digital technology. Thus, there is a need for more research on this topic. It is a unique study in the context of emerging economies.

Evaluation of a digitally enhanced cardiac auscultation learning method: a controlled study

BackgroundCardiac auscultation remains an efficient and accessible diagnostic tool, especially in resource-limited countries where modern diagnostic devices like cardiac ultrasound are expensive and difficult to access. However, cardiac auscultation skills of medical students and physicians are declining, mainly because of an ineffective teaching method for this technique. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of a digitally enhanced cardiac auscultation learning method on participants’ theoretical knowledge and auscultation skills.MethodsThis will be a controlled study with two parallel arms (1:1). Participants (fourth-year medical students) will be divided into two groups: an intervention group (receiving additional lectures, clinical internship and audio listening sessions) and a control group (receiving additional lectures and clinical internship). At the beginning of the study, all participants will undergo a pre-test that consist of two parts: a knowledge assessment based on multiple-choice questions and a skills assessment based on recognition of cardiac sounds from audio files. Thereafter, three specific additional lectures on cardiac auscultation will be delivered and all participants will take part in their official clinical internship. During these clinical internships (eight weeks), participants of the intervention group will be invited to two listening sessions based on five digital recordings of heart sounds. At the end of the clinical internship, all participants will be invited to a post-test to evaluate their knowledge, skills and satisfaction according to their learning method. The main outcome will be the participants’ knowledge progression. The other outcomes will be the participants’ skills progression, participants’ total progression and satisfaction. Data will be collected and analyzed in per protocol.DiscussionThis study could contribute to the development of a learning method that takes into account the advantages of the conventional method and the contribution of digital technology. Positive results could lead to improved cardiac auscultation skills among health professionals, especially in developing countries.Trial registrationThe trial is registered on the Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.pactr.org) under unique identification number: PACTR202001504666847, registered the 29 November 2019.

Transformation of Krinok to Bungo Krinok Music: The Innovation Certainty and Digital-Virtual Contribution for Cultural Advancement

Innovation is a certainty for the development of folk music. The use of digital technology is part of the creation of folk music in the sense of evolution itself. Krinok music is one of Jambi’s traditional music themes. This music genre is a cultural wealth that has great potential for artistic development and advancement. Musical systems, melodic contours, musical grammar, and interval patterns make up the distinctive character of krinok music. The normative freedom of the singing text’s spontaneous expression in presenting this musical entity and its changes is the entity that colors this uniqueness. The contribution of digital technology in processing krinok music has the potential for reproduction and publication as an integral part of the creative process itself. The placement of krinok music as cultural property is an effort to process it creatively. The result was the birth of new music as a transformation of Jambi folk music called “bungo krinok” music. This creative activity is an effort to progress the Indonesian nation’s culture.

Handwriting Readiness among Digital Native Kindergarten Students

Aims: Handwriting is an essential life skill, impacted by proficiency in visual-motor integration and fine motor control. The increase in the use of digital technology has changed the way children interact with their environments, and potentially, the development of the important requisite skills for handwriting. This study examined the “handwriting readiness” skills of children born in the digital age. Methods: 219 children in their first year of formal schooling (mean age = 5 years, 10 months), completed the Beery Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (Beery-VMI) and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) Short Form to assess visual motor integration, overall motor proficiency, and fine motor proficiency. Pencil grasp was also observed. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and comparison to established normative data using summary t-tests. Results: Participants met the expected performance level on the Beery-VMI and the manual dexterity subtest of the BOT-2. However, overall motor proficiency on the BOT-2 for our sample was lower than published normative data. Further, 60.3% of participants used static pencil grasps. Conclusions: The findings prompt us to question the potential contribution of digital technology to changes in motor performance among children in the digital age.

DIGITAL CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC GROWTH

The article is devoted to the analysis of the influence of digital technologies on the transformation of production processes, in order to overcome the slowdown of economic growth and increase productivity. The analysis of dynamics of labor productivity and sources of its growth has been carried out; the conclusion has been made that in the next decade the increase of both labor productivity and economic growth will be provided due to the introduction of digital technologies. The types of digital technologies, which influence different spheres of society life and form the digital economy, are considered. Two approaches to understanding the category of "digital economy" have been identified, its content has been considered and its place in the model of the world economy has been defined. The analysis of indicators characterizing the contribution of digital technologies to economic growth is conducted. It is established that introduction of digital technologies leads to increase of labour productivity, competitiveness and capitalization, improvement of quality of life, formation of new markets, increase of safety and in the end provides economic growth.

Abstract P1-11-19: E-DomSanté study on the improvement of care in oncology through digital technology

Abstract Background: The effectiveness of remote follow-up of cancer patients through weekly medical questionnaires filled in on their smartphone has been reported in international studies. These studies demonstrated an improvement in quality of life (QoL) and survival of several months. The e-DomSanté study proposes the combined use of innovative technological tools for the improvement of patient care. Patients and methods: This 2-year pilot study was carried out with patients followed-up for metastatic breast cancer who lived far from their treatment center. They were offered, in addition to their usual follow-up, weekly medical questionnaires (10 items) on an interactive tablet and a connected watch that registered their falls, bedtime and their general activity. All this data arrived on a secure portal. In the event of an alert, telemedicine was organized by remote consultation with exchange on a secure platform, in parallel, between the center's carers and the treating physician, nurse, pharmacist or the Territorial Support Unit. The evaluation criteria used included telemedicine and patients' QoL (FACT-B questionnaires) as well as their satisfaction with their care. Results: The average age of the 15 patients included in the study was 65 years (range, 36-82 years) with one third of patients who had never used a computer or tablet. Those patients as well as elderly patients (≥ 75 years old) adapted very well to the technology simply with reinforced education and modification of the ergonomics of tablets and questionnaires. The requests for remote consultation were mainly due to 1) symptoms of deteriorating disease detected in advance, 2) toxicities relating to the treatment making it possible to adapt the therapy quickly, 3) the support oncological care (pain, depression or taken into terminal care at home) and 4) exhausted relatives. The QoL of all patients was stable or even improved despite progression of their metastatic disease in most cases. Practically all patients were satisfied (less fatigue due to less travel, high responsiveness of carers, security and confidence, less stress) with just a few criticisms (stress generated by the technology, no space for comments in the questionnaires and the restrictive nature of wearing the watch). Conclusions: The e-DomSanté study confirms the contribution of digital technology in improving cancer care. This system avoids unnecessary consultations that are tiring for the patient and costly for society (transportation and hospitalization). It also avoids acute admissions through the emergency room. This method leads to an improvement in the QoL of patients and their satisfaction with their care. A second, much larger, multicenter randomized trial assessing patients' survival, QoL of patients and their relatives and medico-economic assessment will commence soon. Citation Format: Quénel-Tueux N, Allam V, Desroches M, Duguey-Cachet O, Fillatreau C, Beaufrère P, Trézéguet V, Cassauba S, Portolan N, Caubet C, Rodrigues J, Saint-Upéry N, Gourgues A, Oukhemanou C, Savino F, Maurel M, Burbaud T, Jacques M, Lamurey D, Buyse P-E, Volpato-Coilier M, Michardière E, Hoppe S. E-DomSanté study on the improvement of care in oncology through digital technology [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-11-19.

The Contribution of ‘Total Environment’ Reconstructions in Interpreting Ancient Greek Experience of Ritual Spaces

Abstract The temple of Epikourean Apollo in Bassae has long been suspected to have been constructed with astronomical considerations, aimed at influencing ancient religious experience. The study presented here involves the use of Virtual Reality software to reconstruct the temple in its original position and orientation, combined with an accurate reconstruction of the sun’s position during the Classical period. The aim is to test the hypothesis of deliberate solar considerations associated with the temple’s east entrance. The reconstruction also discusses the application of Virtual Reality Models (VRM) and their potential impact on understanding ancient spatial movement and memory, emotionality and cognition. In addition, it explores the possibility of ancient natural light manipulation in enhancing experience of religious architecture. This paper not only presents the first VRM of Apollo’s temple, but also a model with an accurate reconstruction of the sun’s position at specific moments in the year. The importance of such reconstructions in understanding religious experience is exemplified. A great deal is revealed about the proposed solar effect in relation to human observation, and the connotations of such an effect in specific religious contexts. This study could facilitate discussion on the contribution of digital technology in understanding ancient Greek ritual experience.

Factors Affecting School Teachers’ Perceptions of the Instructional Benefits of Digital Technology

The potential benefits of digital technology for teaching and learning in schools have been extensively characterized in the academic literature. However, little is known about the factors that affect teachers’ perceptions of these benefits. This state of affairs is problematic since we know that teachers’ perceptions have an impact on their teaching practices. The ultimate aim of this study was to develop and test a model of the factors affecting primary and secondary school teachers’ perceptions about the instructional benefits of digital technology in their teaching practices. Instructional benefits are defined here as the contribution of digital technology in several aspects of curriculum development such as the formulation of learning goals, the development of curriculum content and learning activities, the allocation of educational resources, and the adoption of new methods of assessment. This study used survey data gathered from 702 teachers from a 356 primary and secondary schools in Spain. The study aimed at exploring the relationship between teachers’ perceptions of the benefits of using digital technology for curriculum development and individual and school-level conditions. Correlation analyses examined the relationship between overall variables and teachers’ perceptions. Several significant relations were identified. Preliminary findings suggest that factors such as teaching area, digital literacy, educational ICT training, and Internet access are important predictors of teachers’ perceptions of the instructional benefits of digital technology. The outcomes of the study will help schools and teachers to enhance the use of digital technology in their teaching and learning practices.

Innovative uses of 3D digital technologies to assist the restoration of a fragmented terracotta statue

Abstract This paper describes how some innovative methodologies have been designed and employed to support the restoration of the Madonna of Pietranico, a terracotta statue severely damaged in the 2009 earthquake. The statue, fragmented in many pieces, has undergone a complex restoration performed by a multidisciplinary working group. The contribution of digital technologies was planned from the very beginning, since the complexity of this restoration originated the design of innovative procedures for managing the reassembly and restoration process. The Madonna test bed was therefore an example of how technology innovation could be pushed by clear application needs. A first important contribution was the study of the recombination hypothesis of the fragments. This initial phase was performed on digitized 3D models of the statue fragments, with the aim of reducing fragments manipulation, preventing further damages and increasing the capabilities to rehearse and evaluate different reassembly options. The accuracy of the 3D scanned models and the new recombination procedure introduced in this paper allowed to manage this phase in the digital domain with successful results. The digital 3D models were also used to design and produce an innovative supporting structure, constructed with a rapid prototyping device. Another important contribution concerned the study and virtual restoration of the polychrome decoration of the statue; our aim was to reproduce and restore in the virtual 3D domain the very complex original polychrome decoration, on the base of the remaining traces. Consequently, new virtual painting functionalities have been designed on the MeshLab platform (an open-source tool for 3D models visualization and manipulation) for reproducing pictorial decorations over digital 3D models and have been assessed on this specific test bed. This allowed us also to investigate the complexity of the virtual repainting process and to identify further technology enhancements. Finally, computer graphics technologies have been also used to produce a video that tells the story of the restoration.

On Design Engineering

AbstractLondon‐based Adams Kara Taylor (AKT) is one of the most innovative design‐led structural and civil engineering practices in the UK. Seeking out creative collaborations with leading architectural firms and schools of architecture and design internationally, it has, as Hanif Kara, Co‐Founder and Director at AKT, explains, developed a holistic approach in which architecture and engineering converge. Here Kara defines the emerging methods of ‘design engineering’, emphasising the importance of early input at the conceptualisation stage and research over even the contribution of digital technologies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.