Digital Interface Research Articles

3D GeoRemediation: A Digital Hydrogeophysical–Chemical Clone and Virtual Hydraulic Barrier with Groundwater Circulation Wells (GCWs) for Groundwater Remediation

Identification of contamination sources and delineation of plumes in the geological environment stand as pivotal elements in reconstructing the conceptual site model (CSM) and devising remediation strategies tailored to specific physicochemical traits. This study endeavors to showcase the capabilities of a 3D digital interface, seamlessly integrating multi-source data, to elucidate site-specific contamination dynamics and steer the implementation of remediation strategies harmoniously aligned with the ethos of remediation geology. In a site historically marred by chlorinated solvent contamination, the digitization of stratigraphic, piezometric, chemical, and membrane interface probe (MIP) data underpins geomodeling endeavors and yields a meticulously crafted, data-driven CSM. The hydrogeochemical and hydrogeophysical data were interpolated to build a volumetric, digital 3D model illustrating data-driven elements. The comprehensive 3D clone adeptly delineates secondary contamination sources and renders visible the contamination plume within a georeferenced framework, mirroring the nuanced interplay of stratigraphic nuances and groundwater path. A data-centric approach to modeling facilitates the design of the first hydraulic virtual barrier leveraging groundwater circulation well (GCW) technology, its geometry finely attuned to intercept the contamination plume originating from source dissolution and aligning with preferential groundwater flow trajectories. Conventional hydrochemical monitoring and multilevel sampling substantiate the discernible reduction in chlorinated solvent concentrations across various depths within the aquifer horizon, affirming the efficacy of GCWs in their virtual barrier configuration. The findings highlight the effectiveness and limited groundwater consumption of the virtual barrier compared to the on-site pump-and-stock system. This research underscores the potency of a multi-faceted evidence-driven puzzle in conceptualizing contamination mechanisms within the geological milieu, thereby fostering the application of cutting-edge, effective, and sustainable remediation strategies.

Rethinking Instrumental Interface Design: The MetaBow

Abstract Although extensive research has been conducted over the past two decades on the development and implementation of sensors using inertial movement units for violin bows, most of these new interfaces share a common drawback—bulky and user-unfriendly design. Despite the advancements in sensor data processing for composition, performance, and pedagogy, interface design remains a critical bottleneck for the real-world implementation of these sensor-embedded devices. Our study introduces MetaBow, a low-cost, nonintrusive frog design for violin bows that can accommodate either a standard sensor kit or a custom-designed board. This interface eliminates the need for additional physical training and maintains the integrity of traditional violin performance mechanisms. We thus view MetaBow as heralding a new era in digital music interface design for the violin family with the potential for seamless human-computer and human-machine collaboration in music practice and performance.

Consumer decision-making processes in digital environments—A psychological perspective

This conceptual paper examines the influence of psychological principles on consumer decision-making within digital shopping environments, integrating psychological theories with empirical observations to understand how cognitive, emotional, and social factors shape consumer behaviors online. By reviewing existing literature and applying a constructivist epistemology and relativist ontology, the study develops a conceptual framework highlighting the impact of digital interface design, information availability, and personalized marketing on consumer choices. The paper analyzes various examples and identifies vital psychological triggers and decision-making barriers, offering strategic insights for enhancing digital marketing practices. This research contributes to academic and practical understandings of digital consumer behavior, proposing that a more profound integration of psychological insights can lead to more effective and ethically grounded marketing strategies in the digital era.

MIDI-based generative neural networks with variational autoencoders for innovative music creation

By utilizing variational autoencoder (VAE) architectures in musical instrument digital interface (MIDI)-based generative neural networks (GNNs), this study explores the field of creative music composition. The study evaluates the success of VAEs in generating musical compositions that exhibit both structural integrity and a resemblance to authentic music. Despite achieving convergence in the latent space, the degree of convergence falls slightly short of initial expectations. This prompts an exploration of contributing factors, with a particular focus on the influence of training data variation. The study acknowledges the optimal performance of VAEs when exposed to diverse training data, emphasizing the importance of sufficient intermediate data between extreme ends. The intricacies of latent space dimensions also come under scrutiny, with challenges arising in creating a smaller latent space due to the complexities of representing data in N dimensions. The neural network tends to position data further apart, and incorporating additional information necessitates exponentially more data. Despite the suboptimal parameters employed in the creation and training process, the study concludes that they are sufficient to yield commendable results, showcasing the promising potential of MIDI-based GNNs with VAEs in pushing the boundaries of innovative music composition.

The effect of differentiated video presentations of choral performances on aesthetic responses of undergraduate choral and instrumental ensemble musicians

Research examining affective response to media modalities including film, television, gaming, video streaming, and virtual reality is expanding. This study examined aesthetic responses to choral performances presented in two contrasting video formats (stationary and produced). Volunteer undergraduate students ( N = 94) enrolled in ensembles (choral, n = 45; instrumental, n = 49) indicated their aesthetic responses to choral performances of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ “Only in Sleep” by manipulating a Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) dial. Participants viewed video performances of two ensembles, one of which was digitally altered to allow for use of the same audio content for both videos. CRDI data were used to create temporal line graphs depicting participant responses to each video and indicated similar shapes with more intense aesthetic response to the produced video. Statistical analysis of cumulative mean responses to each performance found a main effect of video format (stationary vs. produced) and a video format × presentation order interaction. Initial exposure to each video garnered a more intense response than that of the second video, and the produced video elicited greater magnitude than the stationary perspective video. Findings support further examination of video and other media, studying differentiated impact on aesthetic response to music performances.

Evaluating Digitalized Visualization Interfaces: Integrating Visual Design Elements and Analytic Hierarchy Process

This study addresses a fundamental scientific issue in digital interface design: the quantification of visual elements to enhance interface efficiency and user satisfaction. We propose an innovative framework combining the Analytic Hierarchy Process with visual design principles to quantitatively define and optimize design elements. The core of our research is a quantitative assessment method for interface design, aiming to advance the scientific understanding and development of digital user experience. We anticipate this approach will reveal the interplay between functionality, aesthetics, and emotion, guiding the creation of more appealing and efficient interfaces. Our findings clarify the scientific issue of integrating aesthetics with functionality in digital interface design, offering a systematic solution. This not only aids designers and researchers in understanding and evaluating the impact of interface design but also lays a solid theoretical and methodological foundation for future studies, encouraging a deeper scientific comprehension of the integration of aesthetics and functionality in interface design and exploring its application in crafting more effective and enjoyable user experiences.

The use of pencil ionization chamber with temporal readout capabilities to measure CT beam full width half maximum.

Measurement of Computed Tomography (CT) beam width is required by accrediting and regulating bodies for routine physics evaluations due to its direct correlation to patient dose. Current methods for performing CT beam width measurement require special hardware, software, and/or consumable films. Today, most 100-mm pencil chambers with a digital interface used to evaluate Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) have a sufficiently high sampling rate to reconstruct a high-resolution dose profile for any acquisition mode. The goal of this study is to measure the CT beam width from the sampled dose profile under a single helical acquisition with the 100-mm pencil chamber used for CTDIvol measurements. The dose profiles for different scanners were measured for helical scans with varying collimation settings using a 100-mm pencil chamber placed at the isocenter and co-moving with the patient table. The measured dose profiles from the 100-mm pencil chamber were corrected for table attenuation by extracting a periodic correction function (PCF) to eliminate table interference. The corrected dose profiles were then deconvolved with the response function of the chamber to compute the beam profile. The beam width was defined by the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the resulting beam profile. Reference dose profiles were also measured using Gafchromic film for comparison. The beam widths, estimated using the innovative deconvolution method from the 100-mm pencil chamber, exhibit an average percentage difference of 1.6±1.8 when compared with measurements obtained through Gafchromic film for beam width assessment. The proposed approach to deconvolve the pencil chamber response demonstrates the potential of obtaining the CT beam width at high accuracy without the need of special hardware, software, or consumable films. This technique can improve workflow for routine performance evaluation of CT systems.

Observable flow experience in Japanese children’s interactions with musical instrument digital interface instruments, violins, and bells

Despite the existing research on flow in music education, there remains a lack of researches in understanding children’s flow experiences in the context of playing musical instrument, electronic technological instruments, and other traditional instruments. This study investigates the observable flow experience among young children during their interactions with musical instrument digital interface instruments, violins, and bell-like instruments. The research employed a case study approach, with 20 children aged two to nine (11 females and nine males) participating in the study. In the study, we, as practitioner-researchers, offered workshops for children to experience a variety of traditional and non-traditional musical instruments. Throughout the study, researchers collected 89 video clips for analysis, using four cameras operated by four assistants who were trained to capture children’s flow in a musical context. These monthly sessions, each lasting an average of 60 min, began with the first session dedicated to capturing the very first encounter of children with various musical devices, instruments, and materials. Custodero’s Flow Indicators in Musical Activities captured children’s flow experiences during workshops. The findings included interpretations of the children’s flow experiences as they explored different devices, instruments, and materials, with a particular emphasis on accessibility and developmental considerations within the social context of children’s musical flow.

Real-time data visualization of welding robot data and preparation for future of digital twin system

The application of industrial technologies is undergoing significant changes. Finding the level at which to use efficient cyberphysical systems is perhaps one of the most important technical preparatory tasks in implementing digital manufacturing. Welding technology systems are investigated, and a framework for capturing the data sets required for data-driven manufacturing is developed. To make full autonomy in a manufacturing environment meaningful, formerly isolated groups of equipment need to be organized into a production information system. In our research, a test system is created that can implement a digital virtual interface and achieve new levels of efficiency with a future digital twin system. In the discourse of the study, the technological parameters of welding test pieces were investigated, namely the available measurement data sets of current, and voltage data. In the summary section, most of the tasks and research directions are presented, which can be envisaged as a continuation of the present study. Our study will be followed by further research, already testing a complete digital twin system, thus reaching another milestone on the way to autonomous manufacturing.

Developing Functional Thinking: from Concrete to Abstract Through an Embodied Design

AbstractIn addressing the challenge of fostering functional thinking (FT) in secondary school students, our research centered on the question of how an embodied design can enhance FT’s different aspects, including input–output, covariation, and correspondence views. Drawing from embodied cognition theory and focusing on an action- and perception-based task design that uses light ray contexts and different function representations, we developed a digital-embodied learning environment, using the nomogram as a central representation. Our pilot study involving four eighth-grade students provided insights into their physical interactions with these modules through a multi-touch digital interface. Analysis of video and audio recordings from the pilots, including students’ hand gestures and verbal expressions, was guided by comparing hypothetical learning activities with the actual learning activities. The results show that (1) a concrete light ray context enables students to ground the abstract mathematical function concept; (2) the bimanual coordinating motion tasks, incorporating the covariation aspect of FT, allow students to connect their bodily experience with function properties; and (3) our embodied and dragging tasks support insight in the conversion between nomograms and graphs of functions, encouraging students’ correspondence thinking by providing multiple perspectives to understand, reason about, and manipulate the function. In conclusion, our findings suggest the potential of digital-embodied tasks in fostering FT, evident in students’ diverse strategies and reasoning.

Virtual Instrument Performances (VIP): A Comprehensive Review

AbstractDriven by recent advancements in Extended Reality (XR), the hype around the Metaverse, and real‐time computer graphics, the transformation of the performing arts, particularly in digitizing and visualizing musical experiences, is an ever‐evolving landscape. This transformation offers significant potential in promoting inclusivity, fostering creativity, and enabling live performances in diverse settings. However, despite its immense potential, the field of Virtual Instrument Performances (VIP) has remained relatively unexplored due to numerous challenges. These challenges arise from the complex and multi‐modal nature of musical instrument performances, the need for high precision motion capture under occlusions including the intricate interactions between a musician's body and fingers with instruments, the precise synchronization and seamless integration of various sensory modalities, accommodating variations in musicians' playing styles, facial expressions, and addressing instrument‐specific nuances. This comprehensive survey delves into the intersection of technology, innovation, and artistic expression in the domain of virtual instrument performances. It explores musical performance multi‐modal databases and investigates a wide range of data acquisition methods, encompassing diverse motion capture techniques, facial expression recording, and various approaches for capturing audio and MIDI data (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). The survey also explores Music Information Retrieval (MIR) tasks, with a particular emphasis on the Musical Performance Analysis (MPA) field, and offers an overview of various works in the realm of Musical Instrument Performance Synthesis (MIPS), encompassing recent advancements in generative models. The ultimate aim of this survey is to unveil the technological limitations, initiate a dialogue about the current challenges, and propose promising avenues for future research at the intersection of technology and the arts.

Use of Technologies in Music Therapy Clinical Practice

Abstract Music therapy, an innovative treatment, is a proven complementary therapy that incorporates the nature and potential of music to promote individuals’ health and recovery from disease at emotional, superfluous, cognitive, and physiological levels. The objective of this literature review is to examine the adoption of technologies in music therapy starting with easy use and moving to improved benefits. A narrative review method was used in this study recognizing a broad range of scholarly articles, product literature and research papers adopting systematic method while stressing on the applicability of the technological solutions in clinical care settings. The review shows that it is possible to use musical instrument digital interface devices, speech-based emotion recognition, room acoustic measurement software, as well as applications for interactive music composing to increase the effectiveness of music therapy. For example, interactive audio visual (AV) systems and music identification (MID) will enable the clinicians to create patient’s profile; on the other hand, adaptive musical instruments and motion sensing interface will allow patients with physical impairment to play an active role in musical performance. The conclusions underline the possibilities of using applications for training metronome for gait, a speech-emotion recognition tool for monitoring patients’ states, and video analysis for assessing session effectiveness. However, these developments clearly depict some impediments which hinder the entrance of these technologies in areas such as India due to ignorance, high costs, and op tilting towards resistance. In conclusion, one can state that although the new technologies are the valuable potential in changing the stream of music therapy where effective and efficient therapeutic approaches are in high demand, further intensity of efforts and actions to spread awareness, make therapies affordable and integrate into the clinical and educational practice is needed. The consequent of this review is to provide for further programs in research toward formation of more cultured and easily reachable technicalities of the musical therapy so as to improve the medical benefits of music therapy.

Addictive Design as an Unfair Commercial Practice: The Case of Hyper-Engaging Dark Patterns

Abstract This article explains why hyper-engaging dark patterns should be considered unlawful in the European Union even though they are very common online, particularly on content-sharing platforms. A hyper-engaging dark pattern is a digital interface with an addictive design: it makes users spend more time interacting with the service by making use of big data analytics and one or more behavioural trait. Hyper-engaging dark patterns are a form of hypernudge. They exploit the dopamine cycle, reduce users’ autonomy and may have additional detrimental health effects. The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive should be interpreted as prohibiting them either as a form of undue influence or under the general test pursuant to Article 5. Both the Digital Services Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act can play a beneficial but merely complementary role in combatting the diffusion of hyper-engaging dark patterns.

Interproximal reduction in the refinement phase of Invisalign treatment: A quantitative analysis

Interproximal reduction (IPR) is a common adjunct to contemporary orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to carry out a quantitative analysis of IPR prescribed in the refinement phases of clear aligner therapy with the Invisalign appliance (Align Technology, San Jose, Calif). The digital treatment plans (DTPs) of a total of 330 patients treated by 11 orthodontists were evaluated. Relevant data regarding patient age, gender, and prescription of IPR in the initial and refined DTPs were obtained from Align Technology's digital interface, ClinCheck. Computational analyses included descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Most (n= 182; 75.2%) of the 242 patients who satisfied inclusion criteria were females. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 29.2 (22.1-40.2) years. More than 60% of the contact sites prescribed IPR related to the initial DTP (n= 1312; 60.4%), with 39.6% (n= 859) recorded in the refinement DTPs. A median (IQR) of 1.1 (0.6-2.1) mm of IPR was prescribed per patient in the initial DTP compared with a median (IQR) of 0.6 (0.3-1.3) mm in the refinement DTPs. The most common site for prescribed IPR in all DTPs was the mandibular anterior region. Almost half (n= 108; 44.6%) of the patients were prescribed IPR at the same contact point site more than once during treatment. Almost 40% of the contact points that were prescribed IPR were in the patients' refinement DTPs. Most IPR was prescribed for the anterior region of the mandible. Almost half of the patients had IPR repeatedly prescribed at the same sites during treatment.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR LEARNERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS

This paper explores the integration of innovative solutions in education to address the unique needs of learners with visual impairments. Despite education being a fundamental right, traditional methodologies often overlook this demographic, leading to significant learning barriers. The study examines the impact, efficacy, and potential improvements of assistive technologies (AT) and inclusive educational practices through a detailed review of recent literature. Key findings include the effective use of IT network programs, digital interface augmentation, haptic technology, and collaborative tools that support both visually impaired and sighted learners. By analyzing these technological interventions and educational strategies, the paper aims to highlight best practices, identify existing gaps, and propose directions for future research and development in making education more accessible and inclusive for visually impaired students.

Evaluating end‐users' digital competencies and ethical perceptions of AI systems in the context of sustainable digital banking

AbstractIn the pursuit of fostering sustainable digital banking (SDB), this study investigates the nexus between end‐users' digital competencies, perceptions of artificially intelligent systems, and sustainable practices. With a focus on addressing inclusivity barriers and promoting ethical considerations, expert interviews were employed to provide nuanced insights. The study's foundation rests on the significance of sustainable development goals, digital competencies, and artificial intelligence (AI) ethics in shaping the future of digital banking. An interview schedule was developed and distributed online to IT experts and researchers in the field of AI. The instrument examined the major challenges faced by customers in accessing digital banking, the expected timeline for the complete digitalization of the South African banking sector, customers' anticipated competency, and comfort levels with a 100% digital banking interface, and their perspectives on the overall impact of such a transition on humanity. The interview gathered participants' views on AI‐based banking systems that determine credit scores and creditworthiness. The study also included questions to obtain expert opinions on customers' digital capabilities, access to resources, and the impact of AI trust issues on financial service customers. The findings of this study provided valuable insights for stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and financial institutions. Implications derived from expert perspectives illuminate strategies for enhancing digital competencies, addressing inclusivity hurdles, and ensuring ethical AI integration. This study contributes to the sustainable development discourse by offering actionable recommendations for stakeholders in the pursuit of a more inclusive, digitally competent, and ethically responsible digital banking landscape.

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE DIGITAL WALL-EXPLORING SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS IN MEDIATED ENVIRONMENTS AS RESEARCH CREATION

This paper delves into the intricacies of self-consciousness within digital art by using the metaphorical concept of “mirror” to dissect the multifaceted layers of digital interfaces. Focusing on the work “Unstable Portraiture”, an extension of the earlier work “When You Are Not Your Body (WYANYB),” Through research creation, the works illuminates the digital interface’s role as a tool for self-reflection and self-consciousness. It aims to unravel the intricate tapestry of self-consciousness in the digitally mediated world, establishing a foundation for engaging discussions on the internal dimensions of artistic expression through digital means.

Considering Color: Applying Psychology to Improve the Use of Color in Digital Interfaces

Considering Color: Applying Psychology to Improve the Use of Color in Digital Interfaces

Новые технологии и прагматические техники в современной поэзии

The paper examines the linguistic and communication changes taking place in poetic dis­course under the influence of new media. The digital interface (blogs, social networks, applica­tions) affects the transformation of all the parameters of communication, due to the dominance of information channels and codes. The interaction of poetic language with colloquial speech and the influence of digital technologies lead to the creation of new strategies of subjectivation and addressing in contemporary poetry, as well as to an increase in the role of poetic pragmat­ics. In addition, the process of meaning formation in contemporary poetry involves the mech­anism of transcoding, i. e. the transfer of a message from one format to another, which can take place during the conversion from a paper (or analogue) format to a digital one. Transcoding involves a change in the form and content of the message, as well as other communication parameters. The paper classifies and explores in detail the pragmatic parameters that undergo transcoding under the influence of digital technologies, acting as new pragmatic techniques of poetic utterance.

A New Family Member or Just Another Digital Interface? Smart Speakers in the Lives of Families with Young Children

Based on longitudinal qualitative research involving twenty families with at least one child aged eight or younger, the article provides an account of how families, as distinctive communicative figurations, adopt, use and make sense of smart speakers through diverse socially situated practices. Findings show that parents and children enter in a communicative relationship with smart speakers based on their attribution of human-like or machine-like traits to the device, and the device response to their expectations. Moreover, engaging in communicative practices through and with smart speakers, family members subvert or reinforce existing power relations. However, smart speakers acquire new agency by intensifying the datafication and algorithmification of everyday life, thus entailing a shift in power dynamics between humans and machines.