Diverse User Research Articles

SHOPPE GAMES: HOW SHOPPE UTILIZES GAMIFICATION TO INCREASE APP UPTIME

This study examines how Shopee leverages gamification to increase user engagement, particularly by enhancing the time spent on its application. The research employs a qualitative approach with a literature review method, analyzing relevant studies on gamification in e-commerce. Findings reveal that gamification elements such as rewards, challenges, and social interaction significantly contribute to prolonged app usage. Rewards motivate users with tangible incentives, challenges create engaging experiences through progressively difficult tasks, and social interaction fosters connections through competition and collaboration. These results align with Self-Determination Theory and Flow Theory, which emphasize the role of fulfilling psychological needs and creating immersive experiences in driving engagement. The study provides practical insights for app developers, highlighting the importance of designing effective gamification strategies to enhance user retention and loyalty. However, limitations include the absence of primary empirical data, suggesting future research should explore the direct impact of gamification on diverse user demographics through quantitative or mixed-method approaches.

Remapping visibility: Layerability of gay dating apps and hybrid placemaking in Seoul, Korea

ABSTRACT This article recenters physical contexts in mediated communication, drawing on scholarship on communication and space and interviews with gay dating app (GDA) users in Seoul, South Korea. Findings suggested that GDAs virtually expanded the heavily stigmatized population’s everyday capacity to navigate and co-construct (parts of) Seoul as a fluctuating gay place(s) but with ongoing contextualizations through their physical situatedness. Physical gayborhoods’ boundedness shifted as GDAs enabled them to hybridly merge spatial contexts. Rather than simple virtualization, negotiations around societal and in-group stigmas and desires for physically grounded belonging were observed, and the gayborhoods importantly constituted the hybrid space by materially and discursively congregating diverse users. Based on the findings, I propose “layerability,” a topologically specified approach to visibility affordance.

Evaluating the interaction between human and paediatric robotic lower-limb exoskeleton: a model-based method

Abstract Lower-limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have shown potential in improving motor function in patients for both clinical rehabilitation and daily life. Despite this, the development and control of pediatric exoskeletons remain notably underserved. This study focuses on a unique pediatric robotic lower limb exoskeleton (PRLLE), tailored particularly for children aged 8–12. Each leg of the robot has 5 Degrees of Freedom (DOFs)—three at the hip and one each at the knee and ankle. The interaction between the child user and the PRLLE is intricate, necessitating adherence to essential requirements of comfort, safety, and adaptability. Testing numerous prototype variations against diverse user profiles, particularly for children with neurological disorders where each child differs, is impractical. Model-based methods offer a virtual testbed that is useful in the design stage. This study uses MATLAB® to simulate and evaluate the interaction between users and PRLLE after deriving the nonlinear dynamic model of the PRLLE, which is simplified through multiple layers. To verify the accuracy of the derived dynamic model, a Computed Torque Control method is employed. The study provides detailed outcomes for children aged 8, 10, and 12 years, for passive and active users along with variations in PRLLE assistance levels. The study shows significant reductions in human joint torques, up to 56%, alongside substantial actuator powers, reaching up to 98W, for a 10-year-old child user. Furthermore, examining 8 and 12-year-old child users revealed variations in interaction forces, with changes up to 29.5%. Consequently, meticulous consideration of the human user’s limitations is crucial during the PRLLE’s design and conceptualization phases, particularly for PRLLEs.

Empowering Global AMR Research Community: Interactive GIS dashboards for AMR data analysis and informed decision-making

Background Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) poses a global public health challenge, necessitating advanced tools to support data analysis, and visualization. This study introduces interactive Geographic Information System (GIS) dashboards as innovative platforms for AMR data analysis and visualization, offering comprehensive insights into resistance patterns, and geographic distribution across multiple countries, with a specific focus on Africa. Methods Three GIS dashboards were developed to address key objectives. The first integrates over 860,000 ATLAS data points from 83 countries, providing an interactive platform. Users can filter data by variables such as country, year, and region, enhancing data accessibility and visualization. The second dashboard focuses on the ATLAS dataset for Kenya and Uganda, incorporating detailed variables such as species, sample sources, and resistance phenotypes. The third involves Kampala, Uganda, to fill data gaps, enabling localized analyses through interactive features like geographic mapping and sample breakdowns by year. Results The dashboards demonstrated significant utility in visualizing and analyzing AMR data. The global dashboard effectively highlighted geographical trends and exposed critical data gaps, such as the scarcity of AMR records from Africa. The Kenya and Uganda dashboard revealed alarming resistance patterns, including the ineffectiveness of Ceftriaxone, Erythromycin, Levofloxacin, and Ampicillin in combating E. coli isolates. Notably, the Kampala-specific dashboard utilized simulated data to illustrate the potential of this tool for in-depth regional analysis of antibiotic resistance. This simulation showcased the dashboard's capability to incorporate real-time filtering, provide detailed insights into sample sources, and track trends. Across all dashboards, the interactivity significantly streamlined the identification of key trends, simplifying data interpretation for diverse users and supporting informed decision-making processes. Conclusions Interactive GIS dashboards offer a more effective alternative to spreadsheets for AMR data analysis. While spreadsheets provide a basic structure for organizing and managing data, dashboards deliver dynamic, user-friendly interfaces that enable advanced visualization, real-time updates, and intuitive data exploration. Dashboards also enhance accessibility and communication by presenting complex datasets in a more interactive and visually engaging format, making them more efficient for analyzing and interpreting AMR data.

TikTok & Children: TikTok Cultures Research Network & TIkTok Fireside Chat

At the TikTok & Children Symposium, the TikTok Cultures Research Network initiated a dialogue with TikTok Trust & Safety personnel to learn about their provisions and priorities for young people. The industry fireside chat was attended by scholars of TikTok cultures and intended to facilitate research agenda with real-world applications for researchers to respond to market issues as they unfold. Such cross-sector conversations provide the rare opportunity to glean insight on backend processes, query how decision-making is structured to consider other stakeholders, and learn about how big tech companies may navigate competing priorities and negotiate tensions. In the edited transcript that follows, the dialogue focuses on timely issues pertaining to minor safety and well-being, platform design and user diversity, and industry-academic partnerships. The dialogue closes with a selection of Q&As from the session, focusing especially on design changes, API access, age-gating, and the balance between universality and regionality.

International Perspectives on Skid Resistance Requirements for Pavement Markings: A Comprehensive Synthesis and Analysis

Pavement (or road) markings play an important role in road safety, influencing the dynamics of road users through their skid resistance properties. This study provides a comprehensive synthesis and analysis of international perspectives on the skid resistance of pavement markings and their requirements. It examines marking skid test results across various regions, including North America, Europe, and other parts of the world, and emphasizes the impact of different materials and test environments on skid resistance. The study also reviews current skid resistance standards and guidelines, from North American state-level standards to European and global specifications. Furthermore, it discusses the safety implications of these standards for diverse road users, especially motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians. In conclusion, this paper highlights the importance of further innovation and consistency in skid resistance testing and standards to improve road safety.

E-Connect

In an era of digital proliferation, the need for centralized, intuitive, and user-driven platforms for video content management is growing. This project introduces a Video Directory Application designed using React.js and integrated with Firebase Firestore. The platform provides a seamless experience with core components such as user registration, login, and signup, alongside dynamic features like video exploration, personal profile management, and content uploading for videos and blogs. The application addresses critical challenges in content discovery and personalization by integrating advanced search capabilities and user-specific data management. With a responsive design optimized for various devices, the platform ensures accessibility and usability for diverse users. By focusing on personalization, security, and scalability, the Video Directory Application is poised to empower users to explore, manage, and contribute high-quality video content efficiently. This application exemplifies a modern approach to content management, blending robust front-end interfaces with a scalable backend to foster engagement and creativity among its users. Key Words: Video Directory , Firebase Firestore , Content Management , User Authentication , Web Application Development.

Learnable and Expressive Visualization Authoring through Blended Interfaces.

A wide range of visualization authoring interfaces enable the creation of highly customized visualizations. However, prioritizing expressiveness often impedes the learnability of the authoring interface. The diversity of users, such as varying computational skills and prior experiences in user interfaces, makes it even more challenging for a single authoring interface to satisfy the needs of a broad audience. In this paper, we introduce a framework to balance learnability and expressivity in a visualization authoring system. Adopting insights from learnability studies, such as multimodal interaction and visualization literacy, we explore the design space of blending multiple visualization authoring interfaces for supporting authoring tasks in a complementary and fexible manner. To evaluate the effectiveness of blending interfaces, we implemented a proof-of-concept system, Blace, that combines four common visualization authoring interfaces-template-based, shelf confguration, natural language, and code editor-that are tightly linked to one another to help users easily relate unfamiliar interfaces to more familiar ones. Using the system, we conducted a user study with 12 domain experts who regularly visualize genomics data as part of their analysis workfow. Participants with varied visualization and programming backgrounds were able to successfully reproduce unfamiliar visualization examples without a guided tutorial in the study. Feedback from a post-study qualitative questionnaire further suggests that blending interfaces enabled participants to learn the system easily and assisted them in confdently editing unfamiliar visualization grammar in the code editor, enabling expressive customization. Refecting on our study results and the design of our system, we discuss the different interaction patterns that we identifed and design implications for blending visualization authoring interfaces.

User Acceptance and Sustainable Adoption of University Management Information Systems: a Cross-cultural Study

Objective: This study aims to enhance the quality of management information systems (MIS) in universities by investigating user acceptance and sustainable adoption across different cultural contexts.Method: A cross-cultural study was conducted utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework. Key research variables were identified, including system performance, management information quality, system interactivity, social impact, educational culture, usage habits, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, user acceptance, sustained use intention, and sustained use behavior. A series of hypotheses were established and validated through experimental analysis.Results: The analysis revealed that system performance, management information quality, educational culture, and perceived usefulness significantly positively influenced user acceptance, with path coefficients of 0.256, 0.752, 0.607, and 0.368, respectively. Additionally, social influence, usage habits, perceived usefulness, and user acceptance positively impacted users' willingness to continue using the MIS, with path coefficients of 0.533, 0.532, 0.441, and 0.602, respectively.Conclusions: The findings indicate that cross-cultural research on user acceptance and sustainable adoption of MIS in universities is vital for understanding diverse user needs. The insights gained can serve as objective guidance for enhancing the management capabilities of universities globally.

Social network sites (SNS) an archetype of techno-social stress: A systematic review.

Social Networking Sites (SNS) are widely used platforms known for both their hedonic and social connectivity benefits. Although there is considerable interest in understanding how personal technostress affects individual well-being, a significant gap remains in the systematic exploration of this topic within the literature. This review systematically examined 41 empirical studies from Scopus and PubMed published between 2014 and 2023, following PRISMA guidelines, and assessed for methodological quality using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Only English-language articles were considered to avoid translation complexities. Studies were categorized and coded using the Stressor-Strain-Outcome (SSO) model to examine demographic variations in stressor impacts and coping mechanisms. The findings reveal a complex interplay of technological, behavioral-technological, and social stressors. Technological complexities often exacerbate social stressors like FoMO (Fear of Missing Out) and social overload, resulting in psychological (e.g., anxiety, depression), behavioral (e.g., reduced engagement), and physical strains (e.g., sleep disruptions). Demographic factors significantly influence stress responses, with younger users and women particularly affected. Key intervention strategies identified include digital detox practices, mindfulness techniques, and user-centered SNS design modifications. This review emphasizes the need for targeted approaches to mitigate SNS-induced technostress to foster balanced, health-oriented digital engagement. Future research should focus on developing comprehensive frameworks to address technostress impacts on diverse user groups better and support sustainable digital well-being practices.

인공지능을 활용한 데이터 기반 가상 사용자를 활용한 참여적 디자인 연구 - 중국 피트니스 앱 KEEP을 중심으로

In the era of digital transformation, artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in optimizing user experience and interaction design. This study proposes a method using artificial intelligence to create data-based virtual users and integrate these virtual users into the participatory design process to plan and produce products that better meet user needs. This approach reduces the time and cost of traditional user research, decreases researcher bias, and more accurately reflects the true characteristics and needs of diverse user groups. The study uses China's fitness app Keep as a case study, utilizing artificial intelligence to collect and organize quantitative and qualitative data, and creates three typical virtual users representing healthy, overweight, and underweight user groups. These virtual users participated in the UI design process, and feedback and requirements from the virtual users provided design improvement solutions for layout, interaction efficiency, and personalized features. Comparative analysis and user surveys have verified that participatory design based on virtual users created with artificial intelligence is effective in improving user experience. The methods proposed in this study are expected to further disseminate user-centered design and enhance the quality of design.

AI-Driven Progressive Web Application for Enhancing Emergency Healthcare Decision-Making

The "Emergency Lifeline: Instant Hospital Info for Critical Moments" mobile application aims to revolutionize emergency healthcare by providing real-time hospital information, medical guidance, and optimized routing during critical situations. The application integrates advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geolocation, Telemedicine, and Multilingual Support to offer a comprehensive emergency solution. By leveraging AI for symptom analysis and hospital recommendations, GPS for real- time location tracking and optimized routing, and telemedicine for remote consultations, the app ensures that users can access medical assistance quickly and effectively. The inclusion of multilingual support, along with voice recognition and text-to- speech capabilities, ensures accessibility for a diverse user base, including those with disabilities or literacy challenges. This innovative approach enables users to make informed decisions, minimize response times, and improve healthcare outcomes in emergency scenarios. The system's design focuses on user experience, data security, and collaboration with healthcare providers to ensure accurate, up-to-date information. Overall, the app aims to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of emergency healthcare, making it a vital tool for individuals facing critical health situations. Keyword - Emergency healthcare, mobile application, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geolocation, Telemedicine, Multilingual support, Real-time hospital information, Symptom analysis, Routing optimization, Text-to-speech, Voice recognition, Healthcare accessibility, Critical moments, Medical guidance, User experience, Data security.

Digital equity in a crowded tool space: Navigating opportunities and challenges for equitable implementation of conservation technologies

AbstractWe call on conservation funders, technology developers, and practitioners to explore how digital technologies can transform conservation practice. Actors supporting, developing, and funding digital technologies for conservation must address digital inequity and reduce the societal risks of digital technologies that may undermine conservation goals. We highlight the challenges in leveraging digital conservation technologies and recommend approaches to increase access to digital technologies for uptake by diverse users while supporting equitable participation from diverse user communities to shape digital technologies and their applications. Improving access to and use of tools may be achieved through strategic funding for digital design that recognizes and supports local solutions and diverse practices and perspectives. With increasing digital access, funders must also emphasize adherence to safeguards and protocols to reduce risks associated with digital technologies. By adopting more ethical methodologies related to digital technologies, we not only enhance global sustainability but also foster collaborative relationships with communities, recognizing the intrinsic value of their expertise in conservation initiatives and jointly safeguarding the environment to ensure the well‐being of all. Encouraging more equitable approaches to conservation technologies underpins global priorities for sustainable development by centering and supporting the communities most directly involved in conservation action.

A Bayesian dynamic stopping method for evoked response brain-computer interfacing.

As brain-computer interfacing (BCI) systems transition fromassistive technology to more diverse applications, their speed, reliability, and user experience become increasingly important. Dynamic stopping methods enhance BCI system speed by deciding at any moment whether to output a result or wait for more information. Such approach leverages trial variance, allowing good trials to be detected earlier, thereby speeding up the process without significantly compromising accuracy. Existing dynamic stopping algorithms typically optimize measures such as symbols per minute (SPM) and information transfer rate (ITR). However, these metrics may not accurately reflect system performance for specific applications or user types. Moreover, many methods depend on arbitrary thresholds or parameters that require extensive training data. We propose a model-based approach that takes advantage of the analytical knowledge that we have about the underlying classification model. By using a risk minimization approach, our model allows precise control over the types of errors and the balance between precision and speed. This adaptability makes it ideal for customizing BCI systems to meet the diverse needs of various applications. We validate our proposed method on a publicly available dataset, comparing it with established static and dynamic stopping methods. Our results demonstrate that our approach offers a broad range of accuracy-speed trade-offs and achieves higher precision than baseline stopping methods.

Exploring library service preferences: A study of information source usage in engineering colleges

This study investigates the perception and preferences of library services and information sources among patrons at engineering colleges, specifically focusing on the Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida. Utilizing a quantitative approach, the research employs a survey method, collecting data from a sample of 382 respondents, including undergraduate students, postgraduate students, research scholars, and faculty members. The survey assesses satisfaction levels across various resources, including print books, e-books, print journals, e-journals/databases, and multimedia resources, with a particular emphasis on AI-based library services. Results indicate that faculty members exhibit the highest satisfaction with library services, particularly those enhanced by artificial intelligence, while undergraduate students show the least satisfaction. The findings highlight the importance of understanding user preferences to enhance library offerings, optimize resource utilization, and improve overall user experience. This research contributes valuable insights into the evolving needs of engineering college patrons in a digital age and offers recommendations for library management to better serve its diverse user base, particularly through the integration of AI-driven services.

PRIVATE LINK TRANSFER HUB: A SECURE PROTOCOL FOR PRIVATE FILE TRANSFERS

This paper introduces a secure file and message transferring website, Private link transfer, designed to prioritize extreme privacy and user control. The platform enables users to send files through One- Time Temporary Links, which are both expirable and highly configurable. These links can be tailored with a range of limitations, including access duration, IP restrictions, password protection, authentication keys, custom encryption, and a defined number of allowable views. Such features ensure a high level of security and privacy, minimizing unauthorized access or prolonged data exposure. In addition to these privacy-focused controls, Private Link Transfer offers a seamless user experience by incorporating seven premium themes, catering to diverse user preferences. The underlying system leverages a peer-to-peer file transfer protocol, eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries such as servers or cloud storage providers. By utilizing cutting-edge web technologies, this protocol establishes a direct connection between devices, ensuring faster, more efficient, and secure file transfers. The methodology combines advanced encryption with stringent limitations, protecting sensitive data against unauthorized access and mitigating the risks of interception during transmission. This paper explores the development and implementation of the protocol, detailing its key features and advantages over traditional file transfer methods. The proposed system is particularly suited for scenarios requiring temporary data sharing with strict privacy controls. It addresses modern challenges in secure file transfer, offering an innovative solution that aligns with the growing demand for enhanced digital privacy and security. Keywords: Secure File Transfer, Temporary Expirable Links, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Protocol, End-to-End Encryption, Data Privacy, Access Control, Custom Encryption.

Exploring the dynamics of dynamic ride-sharing: insights from a sensitivity analysis with an agent-based simulation

AbstractThis study delves into the potential of dynamic ride-sharing (DRS) systems utilizing the agent-based simulation framework MATSim. Through a comprehensive sensitivity analysis across various scenarios, we investigate the efficacy of a newly developed dynamic ride-sharing extension and unveil key insights. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of user willingness in driving DRS utilization, emphasizing the necessity of flexible departure times to accommodate diverse user preferences. Furthermore, we advocate for the inclusion of short trips within DRS options and highlight the efficacy of incentivizing DRS drivers, albeit with caution regarding unintended consequences such as modal shifts. Despite observing an increase in Vehicle Kilometers Traveled after DRS implementation, our study elucidates the nuanced nature of this increase, particularly regarding unmatched DRS drivers. In a “maximum scenario”, we identify the utmost potential for DRS adoption, shedding light on its viability under conducive circumstances and offering valuable insights for future transportation planning and policy-making.

Gesture Recognition Based on Wireless Technology: Present and Future

As a cutting-edge innovation of non-contact human-computer interaction, wireless gesture recognition technology is gradually becoming the focus of academic and industrial attention because of its significant advantages in many fields. This paper aims to make an analysis for three main wireless sensing gesture recognition technologies, including their principles of work, implementation methods and technical characteristics. By collecting the recent development status of wireless sensing gesture recognition technology, this paper discusses the application of this technology. In addition, this paper also analyzes the limitations of the technology, Wi-Fi-based gesture recognition and RFID-based Gesture Recognition, and looks forward to the future development direction. The article focuses on radar-based gesture recognition, and its use in healthcare, smart homes, and car driving. This article also points out the challenges in terms of data scarcity, system adaptability and user diversity. The authors also suggest feasible developments for multimodal fusion, continuous learning algorithms, and adaptive algorithmic direction improvement. In the future, with the continuous progress and popularization of technology, wireless gesture recognition technology is expected to be widely used in more fields.

Comparing Echo Chamber Detection Metrics: A Cross-modeling and Cross-platform Analysis of Twitter and Reddit

Social media platforms have become central arenas for public discourse, enabling the exchange of ideas and information among diverse user groups. However, the rise of echo chambers, where individuals reinforce their existing beliefs through repeated interactions with like-minded users, poses significant challenges to the democratic exchange of ideas and the potential for polarization and information disorder. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the main metrics that have been proposed in the literature for echo chamber detection, with a focus on their application in a cross-platform scenario constituted by the two major social media platforms, i.e., Twitter (now renamed \(\mathbb {X} \) ) and Reddit. The echo chamber detection metrics considered encompass network analysis, content analysis, and hybrid solutions. The findings of this work shed light on the unique dynamics of echo chambers present on the two social media platforms, while also highlighting the strengths and limitations of various metrics employed to identify them, and their transversality to the different social graph modeling and domains considered.

Optimizing Scheduling Techniques for Enhanced Carrier Aggregation in LTE-Advanced Networks

In this study, we investigate resource scheduling strategies for the downlink in LTE-Advanced networks, focusing specifically on systems that employ Carrier Aggregation (CA) with multiple Component Carriers (CCs). Effective scheduling is crucial in CA-enabled LTE-Advanced to maximize efficiency and support diverse user needs. We examine three conventional scheduling schemes—Joint User Scheduling (JUS), Separated Random User Scheduling (SRUS), and Separated Burst-Level Scheduling (SBLS). Although JUS yields superior performance, it is complex and does not factor in Quality of Experience (QoE) metrics. In contrast, SRUS and SBLS, while less computationally intensive, underutilize CA and fall short in resource allocation fairness. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new scheduling scheme, Quality of Service and Channel Scheduling (QSCS), which dynamically adjusts CC allocations at the burst level based on user service priority and signal quality. Simulation results show that QSCS achieves throughput similar to JUS while selecting optimal CCs based on Quality of Service (QoS) and channel parameters, resulting in enhanced QoE compared to other methods. This proposed approach demonstrates significant potential for improving resource allocation and user satisfaction in LTE-Advanced networks.