Everyday Tasks Research Articles

Exploring Applications and User Experience with Generative AI Tools: A Content Analysis of Reddit Posts on ChatGPT

ABSTRACTAs part of a larger project, this paper reports on preliminary findings of a study exploring use cases of ChatGPT and associated behaviors and experiences among users of an online forum. Posts on a ChatGPT‐related forum on Reddit (n = 452) were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. This paper reports on themes relevant to this study, including the types of tasks for which users used ChatGPT, user experiences, and perceived impacts of ChatGPT. ChatGPT was often used to facilitate various writing tasks (e.g., writing an essay), academic tasks (e.g., finding scientific references for a research paper), everyday tasks (e.g., creating a meal plan), and conversational purposes (e.g., having a simulated conversation about a past event). Users expressed positive (e.g., excited, amazed) and negative (e.g., fooled, concerned) feelings toward the technology. They raised various issues and problems with ChatGPT at the content (e.g., inaccuracy, incompletes) and system (e.g., unavailability, instability) levels. Users discussed the perceived impacts of ChatGPT on individuals (e.g., unemployment) and society (e.g., AI divide). Study findings can inform the design of policies and guidelines for mitigating AI problems and promoting the effective and ethical use of emerging AI technologies.

Older Adults’ Attitudes toward Digital Technology and Perceptions of Its Usefulness: Example of the City of Osijek, Croatia

ABSTRACTDigital technology has a great potential for assisting older people in their everyday tasks and general well‐being. However, older adults are relatively slow to adopt the new technology and one of the obstacles may be their negative perception or perceived uselessness of the technology. The paper presents preliminary findings from a study into the attitudes toward digital technology and its perceived usefulness among the older adults in the city of Osijek, Croatia. Results show that majority of respondents have positive attitudes toward digital technology and majority perceives it as very useful. The study identified a number of factors, such as age, gender, education and quality of life that affect the respondents’ varying attitudes toward digital technology and its perceived usefulness. The research findings can help policy makers and local institutions such as libraries in designing digital literacy courses and provision of support to older adults.

Tactile Feedback in Upper Limb Prosthetics: A Pilot Study on Trans-Radial Amputees Comparing Different Haptic Modalities.

Despite technological advancements, upper limb prostheses still face high abandonment/rejection rates due to limitations in control interfaces and the absence of force/tactile feedback. Improving these aspects is crucial for enhancing user acceptance and optimizing functional performance. This pilot study, therefore, aims to understand which sensory feedback in combination with a soft robotic prosthetic hand could provide advantages for amputees, including performing everyday tasks. Tactile cues provided are contact information, grasping force, degree of hand opening, and combinations of this information. To transfer such feedback, different wearable systems are used, based on either vibrotactile or force stimulation in a non-invasive modality matching approach. Five volunteers with a trans-radial amputation controlling the new prosthetic hand SoftHand Pro performed a study protocol including everyday tasks. The results indicate the preference of amputees for a single, i.e. non-combined, feedback modality. The choice of appropriate haptic feedback seems to be subject and task-specific. Furthermore, in alignment with the participants' feedback, force feedback, with adequate granularity and clarity, could potentially be the most valuable feedback among those presented. Finally, the study suggests that prosthetic solutions should be preferred where amputees are able to choose their feedback system.

Using a digital tool to detect early changes in everyday functioning in older adults: A pilot study of the Assessment of Smartphone Everyday Tasks (ASSET).

To investigate the utility of a new digital tool for measuring everyday functioning in preclinical Alzheimer's disease, we piloted the Assessment of Smartphone Everyday Tasks (ASSET) application. Forty-six participants (50.3±27.1 years; 67% female; 20 young unimpaired, 17 old unimpaired, 9 mildly cognitively impaired) completed ASSET 7 times. ASSET comprises two main tasks, simulating a Patient Portal and a Calendar. We assessed ASSET's internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and user experience. ASSET main tasks correlated with each other (r=0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]=[0.58, 0.86]). Performance on ASSET's Patient Portal related to cognition (r=0.64, 95% CI=[0.42, 0.79]) and observer ratings of everyday functioning (r=0.57, 95% CI=[0.24, 0.79]). Test-retest reliability was good (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.87, 95% CI=[0.77, 0.93]). Most participants rated their experience with ASSET neutrally or positively. ASSET is a promising smartphone-based digital assessment of everyday functioning. Future studies may investigate its utility for early diagnosis and evaluation of treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Infographic: Developmental Coordination Disorder (Part II) – Recommendations for Motor Interventions

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have motor coordination below expectations for their chronologic age and are commonly described as clumsy 1. The goal of this infographic is to provide information on recommendations for motor intervention of DCD based on information available on a recent study 2. Overall, the literature affirms that children with a diagnosis of DCD should receive intervention. Both physical and occupational therapy are recommended and can help children perform everyday tasks. According to the international clinical practice guidelines 3, when planning a program of intervention, it is recommended that both the strengths and weaknesses of the individual in their environmental context should be taken into account in order to improve motor function, activity, and participation. Smits-Engelsman and colleagues 2 classified motor interventions with basis on the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework: 1) body function and structure (BF) oriented, where the activity engaged in is designed to improve targeted body functions considered to underlie the reported functional motor problem; 2) activity oriented where the activity engaged in is designed to improve performance in that activity; and 3) participation oriented, where the activity engaged in is designed to improve participation in that activity in an everyday life situation. Overall, positive benefits were evident for activity-oriented approaches, body function-oriented when combined with activities, active video games, and small group programs 2. However, the authors explained the need for more rigorous RCTs with follow-up to demonstrate sustained change rather than just short-term gains in performance. A specific approach that shows overall effectiveness is the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP), which is an individualized, task-specific (activity-oriented), cognitive-based, problem-solving approach for individuals experiencing difficulties performing the skills they want or need to do. A recent randomized waitlist-control trial showed that CO-OP was effective in achieving and maintaining functional motor goals after 3 months for children with DCD 4. Other specific recommendations involve the incorporation of physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness and functional strength) protocols, Neuromotor Task Training (NTT), and the use of motor imagery training 3. The severity of motor impairment affects not only the presentation of DCD but also participation, which has important implications for treatment 3. Different interventions may be required at key stages of development or periods of transition to target participation 5. Overall, it is recommended that individuals with DCD are given ample opportunity to practice movement skills to learn them and to participate in daily activities (e.g., at home, school, in community and leisure settings, and in sports).

Adult cervical spine deformity: a state-of-the-art review.

Adult cervical deformity is a structural malalignment of the cervical spine that may present with variety of significant symptomatology for patients. There are clear and substantial negative impacts of cervical spine deformity, including the increased burden of pain, limited mobility and functionality, and interference with patients' ability to work and perform everyday tasks. Primary cervical deformities develop as the result of a multitude of different etiologies, changing the normal mechanics and structure of the cervical region. In particular, degeneration of the cervical spine, inflammatory arthritides and neuromuscular changes are significant players in the development of disease. Additionally, cervical deformities, sometimes iatrogenically, may present secondary to malalignment or correction of the thoracic, lumbar or sacropelvic spine. Previously, classification systems were developed to help quantify disease burden and influence management of thoracic and lumbar spine deformities. Following up on these works and based on the relationship between the cervical and distal spine, Ames-ISSG developed a framework for a standardized tool for characterizing and quantifying cervical spine deformities. When surgical intervention is required to correct a cervical deformity, there are advantages and disadvantages to both anterior and posterior approaches. A stepwise approach may minimize the drawbacks of either an anterior or posterior approach alone, and patients should have a surgical plan tailored specifically to their cervical deformity based upon symptomatic and radiographic indications. This state-of-the-art review is based upon a comprehensive overview of literature seeking to highlight the normal cervical spine, etiologies of cervical deformity, current classification systems, and key surgical techniques.

On the inter-dataset generalization of machine learning approaches to Parkinson's disease detection from voice

Background and Objective: Parkinson's disease is the second-most-common neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor skills, cognitive processes, mood, and everyday tasks such as speaking and walking. The voices of people with Parkinson's disease may become weak, breathy, or hoarse and may sound emotionless, with slurred words and mumbling. Algorithms for computerized voice analysis have been proposed and have shown highly accurate results. However, these algorithms were developed on single, limited datasets, with participants possessing similar demographics. Such models are prone to overfitting and are unsuitable for generalization, which is essential in real-world applications.Methods: We evaluated the computerized Parkinson's disease diagnosis performance of various machine learning models and showed that these models degraded rapidly when used on different datasets. We evaluated two mainstream state-of-the-art approaches, one based on deep convolutional neural networks and another based on voice feature extraction followed by a shallow classifier (i.e., extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)).Results: An investigation with four datasets (CzechPD, PC-GITA, ITA, and RMIT-PD) proved that even if the algorithms yielded excellent performance on a single dataset, the results obtained on new data or even a mix of datasets were very unsatisfactory.Conclusions: More work needs to be done to make computerized voice analysis methods for Parkinson's disease diagnosis suitable for real-world applications.

BSEMS-A Blockchain-Based Smart Energy Measurement System.

The modern world's increasing reliance on automated systems for everyday tasks has resulted in a corresponding rise in power consumption. The demand is further augmented by increased sales of electric vehicles, smart cities, smart transportation, etc. This growing dependence underscores the critical necessity for a robust smart energy measurement and management system to ensure a continuous and efficient power supply. However, implementing such a system presents a set of challenges, particularly concerning the transparency, security, and trustworthiness of data storage and retrieval. Blockchain technology offers an innovative solution in the form of a distributed ledger, which guarantees secure and transparent transaction storage and retrieval. This research introduces a blockchain-based system, utilising Hyperledger Fabric and smart contracts, designed for the secure storage and retrieval of consumers' energy consumption data. Finally, a user-friendly web portal was designed and developed using the node.js framework, offering an accessible and intuitive interface to monitor and manage energy consumption effectively.

Признаки антропологической парадигмы в профессиональном образовании

The paper is of importance due to the developing poly-paradigmatic approach in the pedagogical theory and practice. Diverse content of numerous paradigms influences both, the methodology of bringing up educational issues and solving every-day practical tasks of the educational process. The purpose of the article is to reveal certain signs of the anthropological paradigm and indicate whether it is possible to develop them in professional education. It is mentioned that the dominant educational paradigm is set in accordance with the pattern of the society. Differing approaches to define the number and the content of paradigms in education are compared. It is shown that opposing classical paradigm (in all its variations) to the humanistic one is counter-productive. The idea of the anthropological paradigm having potential to bringing them together is expressed. Some signs of the anthropological paradigm are defined. They are the shift from information to knowledge, technology-advanced professional activity, and virtual occupation. It is shown that the signs mentioned are found in professional education. The conclusion is drawn that in accordance with the inner logic of the system development these spot changes, caused by the signs mentioned are to become the areas of the system’s growth.

Contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, and the effect of behavioural state on optokinetic gain in fiddler crabs.

Most animals rely on visual information for a variety of everyday tasks. The information available to a visual system depends in part on its spatial resolving power and contrast sensitivity. Due to their competing demands for physical space within an eye, these traits cannot simultaneously be improved without increasing overall eye size. The contrast sensitivity function is an integrated measure of visual performance that measures both resolution and contrast sensitivity. Its measurements helps us identify how different species have made a trade-off between contrast sensitivity and spatial resolution. It further allows us to identify the evolutionary drivers of sensory processing and visually mediated behaviour. Here, we measured the contrast sensitivity function of the fiddler crab Gelasimus dampieri using their optokinetic responses to wide-field, moving, sinusoidal intensity gratings of different orientations, spatial frequencies, contrasts, and speeds. We further tested whether the behavioural state of the crabs (i.e. whether crabs are actively walking or not) affects their optokinetic gain and contrast sensitivity. Our results from a group of five crabs suggest a minimum perceived contrast of 6%, and a horizontal and vertical visual acuity of 0.4 cyc/deg and 0.28 cyc/deg respectively in the crabs' region of maximum optomotor sensitivity. Optokinetic gain increased in moving crabs compared to restrained crabs, adding another example of the importance of naturalistic approaches when studying the performance of animals.

Qualidade de vida, capacidade funcional e física de pacientes com fibromialgia

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that manifests itself with the symptomatology of pain spread throughout the body (tender points), directly affecting the patient's quality of life, as it compromises functionality, physical and psychological well-being. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life, functional and physical capacity of patients with fibromyalgia. Methodology: This is a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study, in which 12 patients were interviewed, 3 from the city of Nanuque/MG, 4 from the city of Ecoporanga/ ES, 3 from the city of Ponto Belo/ES and 2 through google forms, from May 18, 2023 to June 7, 2023. Results: When asked about the impact of fibromyalgia on their ability to perform everyday tasks, the following results were obtained in the never category: vacuuming the carpet (83%), walking several blocks (75%) and working outside (58%). The following symptoms were found: intense pain (83.33%), tiredness (83.33%), stiffness (50%), tension (66.67%) and depression (50%), as well as altered sleep quality (33.33% have moderate sleep and 66.67% have very poor sleep). Conclusion: It can be concluded that due to the intense pain caused by fibromyalgia, there are important limitations in patients' lives, as it alters their functionality, interpersonal relationships and psychological state. However, physiotherapy plays a fundamental role, as it aims to treat symptoms such as pain, muscle shortening, muscle weakness, among others, thus promoting a better quality of life.

Can artificial intelligence replace biochemists? A study comparing interpretation of thyroid function test results by ChatGPT and Google Bard to practising biochemists.

Public awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing and this novel technology is being used for a range of everyday tasks and more specialist clinical applications. On a background of increasing waits for GP appointments alongside patient access to laboratory test results through the NHS app, this study aimed to assess the accuracy and safety of two AI tools, ChatGPT and Google Bard, in providing interpretation of thyroid function test results as if posed by laboratory scientists or patients. Fifteen fictional cases were presented to a team of clinicians and clinical scientists to produce a consensus opinion. The cases were then presented to ChatGPT and Google Bard as though from healthcare providers and from patients. The responses were categorized as correct, partially correct or incorrect compared to consensus opinion and the advice assessed for safety to patients. Of the 15 cases presented, ChatGPT and Google Bard correctly interpreted only 33.3% and 20.0% of cases, respectively. When queries were posed as a patient, 66.7% of ChatGPT responses were safe compared to 60.0% of Google Bard responses. Both AI tools were able to identify primary hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism but failed to identify subclinical presentations, non-thyroidal illness or secondary hypothyroidism. This study has demonstrated that AI tools do not currently have the capacity to generate consistently correct interpretation and safe advice to patients and should not be used as an alternative to a consultation with a qualified medical professional. Available AI in its current form cannot replace human clinical knowledge in this scenario.

A Comparison of Machine Learning Algorithms for Wi-Fi Sensing Using CSI Data

In today’s digital era, our lives are deeply intertwined with advancements in digital electronics and Radio Frequency (RF) communications. From cell phones to laptops, and from Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) to Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology, we rely on a range of electronic devices for everyday tasks. As technology continues to evolve, it presents innovative ways to harness existing resources more efficiently. One remarkable example of this adaptability is the utilization of Wi-Fi networks for Wi-Fi sensing. With Wi-Fi sensing, we can repurpose existing networking devices not only for connectivity but also for essential functions like motion detection for security systems, human motion tracking, fall detection, personal identification, and gesture recognition using Machine Learning (ML) techniques. Integrating Wi-Fi signals into sensing applications expands their potential across various domains. At the Gamgee, we are actively researching the utilization of Wi-Fi signals for Wi-Fi sensing, aiming to provide our clients with more valuable services alongside connectivity and control. This paper presents an orchestration of baseline experiments, analyzing a variety of machine learning algorithms to identify the most suitable one for Wi-Fi-based motion detection. We use a publicly available Wi-Fi dataset based on Channel State Information (CSI) for benchmarking and conduct a comprehensive comparison of different machine learning techniques in the classification domain. We evaluate nine distinct ML techniques, encompassing both shallow learning (SL) and deep learning (DL) methods, to determine the most effective approach for motion detection using Wi-Fi router CSI data. Our assessment involves six performance metrics to gauge the effectiveness of each machine learning technique.

Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with cortical thinning of primary motor cortex: A three cohort structural magnetic resonance imaging study

Psychomotor slowing (PS) is characterized by slowed movements and lower activity levels. PS is frequently observed in schizophrenia (SZ) and distressing because it impairs performance of everyday tasks and social activities. Studying brain topography contributing to PS in SZ can help to understand the underlying neurobiological mechanisms as well as help to develop more effective treatments that specifically target affected brain areas. Here, we conducted structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) of three independent cohorts of right-handed SZ patients (SZ#1: n = 72, SZ#2: n = 37, SZ#3: n = 25) and age, gender and education matched healthy controls (HC) (HC#1: n = 40, HC#2: n = 37, HC#3: n = 38). PS severity in the three SZ cohorts was determined using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) item #G7 (motor retardation) and Trail-Making-Test B (TMT-B). FreeSurfer v7.2 was used for automated parcellation and segmentation of cortical and subcortical regions. SZ#1 patients showed reduced cortical thickness in right precentral gyrus (M1; p = 0.04; Benjamini-Hochberg [BH] corr.). In SZ#1, cortical thinning in right M1 was associated with PANSS item #G7 (p = 0.04; BH corr.) and TMT-B performance (p = 0.002; BH corr.). In SZ#1, we found a significant correlation between PANSS item #G7 and TMT-B (p = 0.005, ρ=0.326). In conclusion, PANSS G#7 and TMT-B might have a surrogate value for predicting PS in SZ. Cortical thinning of M1 rather than alterations of subcortical structures may point towards cortical pathomechanism underlying PS in SZ.

The impact of display saturation on visual search performance in congenital colour vision deficiency.

Colour-related search tasks are common in many professional fields. The study investigated whether increasing chromatic saturation can enhance the visual performance of individuals with colour vision deficiency (CVD) in colour-related search tasks. 10 normal trichromats (5M, 5F; Mean (SD) age: 23.1 (3.3) years) and 15 individuals with CVD [8 deutans and 7 protans identified by HRR plates] (14M, 1F; aged 28.6 (8.7) years) participated in this study. Four naturalistic sceneries of everyday tasks/ birds, animals and flowers of 15 different colour combinations (1 pair of colours in each combination. e.g., 'brown/black' or 'red/green') were presented in 'low' saturation, 'original' (unaltered images) and 'high' saturation condition using the Psychopy program on a colour-calibrated monitor. On each trial, the subject was asked to identify a specific-coloured target. Overall, the visual search performance index (expressed as product of accuracy and a reciprocal of reaction time (%correct*s-1) of the normal trichromats [Mean (SD):77.76% correct*s-1 (16.32)] was significantly higher than CVD [45.71% correct*s-1 (18.95)] in the "original" test images (p = 0.001), but in individuals with CVD, there was no significant difference between 'original' [45.71% correct*s-1 (18.95)] and 'high' saturation condition ([47.43% correct*s-1 (20.07)]; p > 0.05). However, colour-wise, increased saturation showed improvements (≥ 10%) in protans mainly for 'red' combinations with other colours such as white (i.e., 'red/white'), purple, orange, grey, green, brown and black. The study suggests that increasing the saturation of certain colour combinations can potentially aid in the visual search performance of individuals with CVD. This knowledge will help in better counselling and management of the patients.

Large depth differences between target and flankers can increase crowding: Evidence from a multi-depth plane display.

Crowding occurs when the presence of nearby features causes highly visible objects to become unrecognizable. Although crowding has implications for many everyday tasks and the tremendous amounts of research reflect its importance, surprisingly little is known about how depth affects crowding. Most available studies show that stereoscopic disparity reduces crowding, indicating that crowding may be relatively unimportant in three-dimensional environments. However, most previous studies tested only small stereoscopic differences in depth in which disparity, defocus blur, and accommodation are inconsistent with the real world. Using a novel multi-depth plane display, this study investigated how large (0.54-2.25 diopters), real differences in target-flanker depth, representative of those experienced between many objects in the real world, affect crowding. Our findings show that large differences in target-flanker depth increased crowding in the majority of observers, contrary to previous work showing reduced crowding in the presence of small depth differences. Furthermore, when the target was at fixation depth, crowding was generally more pronounced when the flankers were behind the target as opposed to in front of it. However, when the flankers were at fixation depth, crowding was generally more pronounced when the target was behind the flankers. These findings suggest that crowding from clutter outside the limits of binocular fusion can still have a significant impact on object recognition and visual perception in the peripheral field.

Examining influential factors in newly diagnosed cancer patients and survivors: Emphasizing distress, self-care ability, peer support, health perception, daily life activity, and the role of time since diagnosis.

This study investigates the complex interrelationships between peer support, mental distress, self-care abilities, health perceptions, and daily life activities among cancer patients and survivors while considering the evolving nature of these experiences over time. A cross-sectional survey design is employed, utilizing de-identified data from the National Cancer Institute's 2022 nationally representative dataset, which comprises responses from 1234 participants, including 134 newly diagnosed patients undergoing cancer treatment. Partial least squares structural equation modeling is employed for data analysis. The results reveal that peer support significantly reduces mental distress and positively influences the perception of self-care abilities and health perceptions among cancer patients and survivors. Additionally, the study finds that mental distress negatively affects daily life activities and self-care abilities. This means that when cancer patients and survivors experience high levels of mental distress, they may struggle with everyday tasks and find it challenging to care for themselves effectively. The research also shows that mental distress tends to decrease as time passes since diagnosis and health perceptions improve, highlighting the resilience of cancer patients and survivors over time. Furthermore, the study uncovers significant moderating effects of age, education, and income on the relationships between daily life activity difficulties, perception of self-care ability, and perception of health. In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate associations between the variables of interest among cancer patients and survivors. The findings underscore the importance of peer support and targeted interventions for promoting well-being, resilience, and quality of life in this population, offering valuable insights for healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers. Identifying moderating effects further emphasizes the need to consider individual differences when designing and implementing support systems and interventions tailored to the unique needs of cancer patients and survivors.

Cross-cultural adaptation and test-retest reliability of the Italian version of the Pediatric Balance Scale in children with typical and atypical development.

Balance disorders in children are complex and disabling. The pediatric balance scale assesses functional balance in the contest of everyday tasks. It is recommended for balance assessment in children. The cross-cultural validation of an assessment instrument allows to assess individuals in the appropriate cultural context. We designed our study with the aim of translating and cross-cultural adapting the Pediatric Balance Scale into Italian, and investigating the reliability of the translated version. Two forward translation of the Pediatric Balance Scale were conducted. Two blind backward translations were subsequently performed. A multidisciplinary group compared the content of the translations with those of the original Pediatric Balance Scale. Ambiguities and discrepancies were amended. To assess conceptual equivalence of the translation, we conducted cognitive debriefing involving physiotherapists, parents, and children. Suggestions for rewording were sought and considered for eventual modification. The Italian Pediatric Balance Scale was administered to 18 children with typical development (age 4.7-7.9 years, female 61.1%, scores 51-56), and to 18 children with atypical development (age 4.9-15.0 years, female 44.4%, scores 38-56). Test-retest reliability (i.e., intrarater and interrater reliability, and agreement between raters) of the scale was assessed by mean of single-rating, absolute-agreement, two-way mixed effects model intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC<inf>3,1</inf>) and the Bland-Altman method. The standard error of measurement and the minimal detectable change were subsequently computed. The forward and backward translations showed no substantial differences in content; wording discrepancies were resolved by consensus. The multidisciplinary group proposed some minor changes. Twenty-three physiotherapists, 36 parents, and 36 children participated in cognitive interviewing and further changes were made. Perfect agreement was observed in test-retest reliability assessment of the Italian pediatric balance scale in children with typical development. High reliability (intrarater: ICC<inf>3,1</inf> 0.998, 95% CI 0.994 to 0.999; interrater: ICC<inf>3,1</inf> 0.994, 95% CI 0.984 to 0.998) and agreement among raters (Bland-Altman plots: 89%, 95% CI 67% to 97%, of the data within the 95% CI limits of the bias estimate) were found assessing children with atypical development. Very small standard error of measurement and the minimal detectable change values were observed (intrarater: 0.212 and 0.588; interrater: 0.368 and 1.019). The present study provides a translated and cross-culturally adapted Italian version of the Pediatric Balance Scale. The full cross-cultural validity of the tool requires further steps to complete the psychometric testing.

Sztuka jako potrzeba kształtowania pozytywnych zmian w przestrzeni społecznej

Nowadays we live in an unfavorable multicultural reality that generates a number of difficult situations that society must constantly get used to. This reality requires constant adaptation to it, causing various attitudes and behaviors. The main good for the entire society is the acquisition of appropriate skills and dispositions, so that the everyday world becomes possible to carry out everyday tasks. In search of the positive patterns of behavior and conditions for the desired changes, art becomes helpful, the value and potential of which can contribute to modeling reality and social attitudes. Performing its social and educational functions, art significantly revitalizes social space, it just needs to be given a chance to do so. The aim of the research was an attempt to show the possibility of changes in the life of an individual, his/her attitudes, and in the social space under the influence of the presence of art. In the adopted orientation of qualitative research, such methods of data acquisition as free-targeted interviews and analysis of the content of the subject literature were used. An important method was also the opinion of artists/experts. The results of the research were presented in the form of the respondents’ statements, which show that the respondents mostly perceive the social and educational functions of art and are able to locate them in the space of social change. By fulfilling its artistic and, above all, social and educational functions, it allows for changes in the everyday functioning of a person, the implementation of his/her attitudes, and the perception of the need to shape social reality through positive own activity. Art is conducive to building social awareness, which contributes to compensating the area of social life. Reaching the recipient, not only allows them to become interested in it but also awakens their sensitivity and willingness to introduce the proposed solutions into everyday social life. It has an integrating and revitalizing function.

Pseudoneglect during object search in naturalistic scenes

Pseudoneglect, that is the tendency to pay more attention to the left side of space, is typically assessed with paper-and-pencil tasks, particularly line bisection. In the present study, we used an everyday task with more complex stimuli. Subjects’ task was to look for pre-specified objects in images of real-world scenes. In half of the scenes, the search object was located on the left side of the image (L-target); in the other half of the scenes, the target was on the right side (R-target). To control for left–right differences in the composition of the scenes, half of the scenes were mirrored horizontally. Eye-movement recordings were used to track the course of pseudoneglect on a millisecond timescale. Subjects’ initial eye movements were biased to the left of the scene, but less so for R-targets than for L-targets, indicating that pseudoneglect was modulated by task demands and scene guidance. We further analyzed how horizontal gaze positions changed over time. When the data for L- and R-targets were pooled, the leftward bias lasted, on average, until the first second of the search process came to an end. Even for right-side targets, the gaze data showed an early left-bias, which was compensated by adjustments in the direction and amplitude of later saccades. Importantly, we found that pseudoneglect affected search efficiency by leading to less efficient scan paths and consequently longer search times for R-targets compared with L-targets. It may therefore be prudent to take spatial asymmetries into account when studying visual search in scenes.