Home Computer Use Research Articles

Headache Education Adaptation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education.

Purpose of ReviewOur goal was to describe the changes to headache and neurological education that occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact this had on medical learners. We also discuss subsequent implications for the future of education in the field of headache medicine.Recent FindingsBoth educators and learners faced many challenges during the pandemic. These include the following: cancellation of in-person educational meetings, limited in-person networking and wellness events, disengagement from virtual didactic curricula, limitations in procedure-based learning, redeployment to inpatient settings with a decrease in outpatient exposures, and blurred boundaries between home and work life due to more virtual collaboration and home computer use. The development of telehealth programs and trainee wellness initiatives, improved collaboration opportunities among geographically distant institutions, and greater access to conferences for learners are among the many improvements forged by these challenging times in medical education.SummaryGiven the high prevalence of headache disorders and the paucity of headache specialists, training new clinicians with competency in headache medicine is essential. There were many educational challenges and opportunities identified in the literature that resulted from the pressures of the pandemic. Educators need to develop assessments that capture any gaps in learning that may have occurred during this tumultuous time and be vigilant of remediation needs in our learners over the coming years. It is imperative to intentionally design curricula for the future by harnessing new pedagogical tools, innovations, and perspectives gleaned from our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis on the effect of home appliances use to electricity consumption during WFH

Various forms of quarantine and social restrictions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted lifestyle. WFH has emerged as a growing trend in this new normal era. The implementation of WFH results in all work-related activities becoming home-centred. This study aims to analyse the pheasant and find out the effect of household appliance use on energy consumption during the implementation of WFH. The questionnaire survey was conducted in April 2020 and it collected 215 responses from residents of Indonesia, during the pandemic which was distributed online. The data were analysed using a multiple regression analysis with SPSS to determine the relationship between variables. The results showed that the length of WFH time affected an increase of energy consumption especially from the use of home computer, internet, rice cooker, AC, and water needs. In addition, the increase that happened also depends on the population living and the size of the building they live in. If this continues, it could lead to the risk of an energy crisis. Strategies related to proper distribution and energy demand are needed to build resilience and form a sustainable society.

VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY'S NEW LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS) : STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Conventional education has taken on a new meaning in the last several years. It's no longer necessary to be in class to learn, due to the internet and modern technologies. If you're online, you can obtain a great education anytime and whenever you choose. A new age has dawned with the advent of online schooling. With the advent of learning management systems and a rise in home computer use, more and more students and teachers are turning to online learning environments. Learning management system implementation is a significant decision for every higher education institution. Student-faculty engagement may be encouraged through virtual chats, discussion forums and announcement publishing. The purpose of this study was to uncover issues caused by the new LMS, which affected student academic performance. This study was done utilising a quantitative research approach. Three campuses in Sahiwal were selected as the study population for the virtual university, which enrolled 200 students. As a study sample, 120 pupils were randomly selected. For data collection, a self-developed questionnaire was used. Findings of the study revealed that students must be notified before any changes are made to the Learning Management System (LMS). Some of their academic activities will also be affected by this new structure. There was a consensus among students that the new system was less user-friendly than the old one. Videos showing students how to use a new Learning Management System were also recommended by the researchers (LMS). KEYWORDS: LMS, Performance. Virtual university, academic activities

Passively-Measured Routine Home Computer Activity and Application Use Can Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment and Correlate with Important Cognitive Functions in Older Adulthood

Background: Computer use is a cognitively complex instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) that has been linked to cognitive functioning in older adulthood, yet little work has explored its capacity to detect incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective: To examine whether routine home computer use (general computer use as well as use of specific applications) could effectively discriminate between older adults with and without MCI, as well as explore associations between use of common computer applications and cognitive domains known to be important for IADL performance. Methods: A total of 60 community-dwelling older adults (39 cognitively healthy, 21 with MCI) completed a neuropsychological evaluation at study baseline and subsequently had their routine home computer use behaviors passively recorded for three months. Results: Compared to those with MCI, cognitively healthy participants spent more time using the computer, had a greater number of computer sessions, and had an earlier mean time of first daily computer session. They also spent more time using email and word processing applications, and used email, search, and word processing applications on a greater number of days. Better performance in several cognitive domains, but in particular memory and language, was associated with greater frequency of browser, word processing, search, and game application use. Conclusion: Computer and application use are useful in identifying older adults with MCI. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether decreases in overall computer use and specific computer application use are predictors of incident cognitive decline.

Socio-ecological predictors of non-organized physical activity participation and decline between childhood and adolescence

ABSTRACT Physical activity (PA) tends to decline during late childhood and adolescence. In Australia, this decline has been shown to particularly occur non-organized PA (e.g., active play, informal sport). This study aimed to explore predictors of non-organized PA at 13y; and decline between 11y and 13y. Data were sourced from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Non-organized PA was measured using time-use diaries. Analyses included Cragg hurdle and binary logistic regressions. The likelihood of non-organized PA at 13y was predicted by PA enjoyment (OR = 1.36, p = 0.007), number of siblings (OR = 1.11, p < 0.001), sex (females) (OR = 0.66, p < 0.001) and home computer use at 11y (OR = 0.98, p = 0.002) (n = 3,193). Females also engaged in less non-organized PA at 13y (β = −77.77, p = 0.048) (n = 3,193). Significant predictors of decline in non-organized PA were socioeconomic position (OR = 0.92, p = 0.047) and sugary drink consumption at 11y (OR = 1.06, p = 0.033) (n = 3,222). Strategies to promote non-organized PA may include targeting females and those of lower socioeconomic position, and focusing on types of PA that may replace the perceived benefits of computer use.

Re-Conceptualization of Digital Divide among Primary School Children in an Era of Saturated Access to Technology

This study conceptualizes among school children. The concept of digital divide is elaborated on basis of layers of technology adoption such as access, effective and the social envelope around children's use of home computers. In this study, a theoretical framework of is proposed consisting of social, economic, individual and cultural aspects of digital divide among children. This theoretical framework suggests that socio-economic status effect goes beyond ownership and extends into meaningful education use of home computers. We argue that inequalities among children can strongly be affected by economic/social/cultural environment around home computing i.e. parents’ computing practices at home and home learning environment. As a result, we argue that access to a supportive ‘social envelope’ is area in which most digital inequalities exist rather than physical access to hardware or even usage time.

Longitudinal Impacts of Home Computer Use in Early Years on Children s Social and Behavioral Development

This study presents a pattern for of Home Computer Use (HCU) and its relation to children’s social and behavioural development during primary education. This study answers whether and how HCU (either educational or recreational) during primary school is related to children’s social/behavioural development such as self-regulation, anti-social behaviour and pro-social behaviour. To do so, information about types and frequency of HCU from nearly 2000 children were analysed using hierarchical linear regression and path analysis on children ranging from 3 to 11 years old. Hierarchical linear regression was applied to study the main effects (i.e. direct effects) and the path analysis was used to investigate mediating (i.e. indirect effects) of HCU on children outcomes. The results showed that the use of HCU for playing games has a linear and negative association with children’s Pro-social behaviour as reported by class teachers in Year 6, while the effects of other background characteristics were partialled out. Two other social/behavioural outcomes – anti-social behaviour and self-regulation – were not associated with children’s HCU over and beyond what can be predicted based on children’s prior social/behavioural profile and their demographic background characteristics. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Longitudinal Impacts of Home Computer Use on Primary School Children s Reading and Mathematics Achievement

This study investigates the impact of children’s Home Computer Use (HCU), both educational and recreational, on their achievement in Reading and Mathematics during primary school. The data are taken from a longitudinal study in England called Effective Provision of Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education (EPPSE). Hierarchical linear regressions were employed to investigate the main (direct) effects, and path analyses were applied to study the mediation (indirect) effects of HCU on pupils’ school achievement. The main effect models indicated that HCU has very little ‘extra’ impact on children’s school results over and beyond their prior achievement and demographic background. By contrast, results from path analyses showed a statistically significant mediation effect, through the home learning environment and self-regulation, on children’s Reading and Mathematics scores. The implications of the findings for policy and practice are also discussed.

Temporal trends in sitting time by domain in a cohort of mid-age Australian men and women

There are few prospective data on temporal trends in overall sitting time for different domains of sitting. This study examined time trends over 6 years in total and domain-specific sitting time in mid-age Australian men and women. Self-report data from 5246 participants in four survey waves (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013) of the HABITAT study in Brisbane, Australia, were analysed. Overall trends in 'high' total sitting time (>8 h/day sitting) and five domains were examined: a) >5 h/day for TV; b) >2 h/day for travel; c) >2 h/day for home computer use; d) >2 h/day for leisure; and e) >6 h/day for work. Sitting to watch TV and sitting at work accounted for more than half of total sitting time. The proportions who reported high sitting for computer use at home increased from 25% in 2007 to 37% in 2013 in men and from 19% to 29% over the same period in women. High TV sitting time was reported by 11.8% of men and 10.2% of women. These estimates increased to 16.5% and 13.2% respectively over the six years. In conclusion, although overall total sitting time remained fairly stable, there were significant increases in sitting time in some domains (home computer use and TV viewing) and in some sub-groups (such as women, and the employed). These increases were countered by declines in work-related sitting due to retirement.

Missing Piece in Understanding Student Learning: Out-of-School Computer Use

Advancements in learning analytics allow teachers to track student learning progress and promote learning by providing necessary intervention and support. Multiple data sources are involved in learning analytics, and the major ones are systems that students use in school. To fully comprehend the progress of student learning, out-of-school learning behaviors should be considered an important part of the academic lives of students. In this study, out-of-school learning behaviors of students, particularly home computer use, were measured using four online behavior indicators of students, which were tracked and collected. The learning performance data of the students were analyzed. Results suggested that the out-of-school computer use behaviors of students, such as mutual follow-up and the sharing of learning experiences, were positively related to their academic performance level, regardless of the age and gender of the students. This study provides insight into what may be the missing piece in understanding student learning, that is, out-of-school computer use. With such insights, learning analytics may be enhanced to improve the understanding of learning without being restricted to schools.

Weekly observations of online survey metadata obtained through home computer use allow for detection of changes in everyday cognition before transition to mild cognitive impairment

IntroductionSubtle changes in instrumental activities of daily living often accompany the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but are difficult to measure using conventional tests. MethodsWeekly online survey metadata metrics, annual neuropsychological tests, and an instrumental activity of daily living questionnaire were examined in 110 healthy older adults with intact cognition (mean age = 85 years) followed up for up to 3.6 years; 29 transitioned to MCI during study follow-up. ResultsIn the baseline period, incident MCI participants completed their weekly surveys 1.4 hours later in the day than stable cognitively intact participants, P = .03, d = 0.47. Significant associations were found between earlier survey start time of day and higher memory (r = −0.34; P < .001) and visuospatial test scores (r = −0.37; P < .0001). Longitudinally, incident MCI participants showed an increase in survey completion time by 3 seconds per month for more than the year before diagnosis compared with stable cognitively intact participants (β = 0.12, SE = 0.04, t = 2.8; P = .006). DiscussionWeekly online survey metadata allowed for detection of changes in everyday cognition before transition to MCI.

Mortality Risk Reductions from Substituting Screen Time by Discretionary Activities.

Leisure screen time, including TV viewing, is associated with increased mortality risk. We estimated the all-cause mortality risk reductions associated with substituting leisure screen time with different discretionary physical activity types, and the change in mortality incidence associated with different substitution scenarios. A total of 423,659 UK Biobank participants, without stroke, myocardial infarction, or cancer history, were followed for 7.6 (1.4) yr, median (interquartile range [IQR]). They reported leisure screen time (TV watching and home computer use) and leisure/home activities, categorized as daily life activities (walking for pleasure, light do-it-yourself [DIY], and heavy DIY) and structured exercise (strenuous sports and other exercises). Isotemporal substitution modeling in Cox regression provided hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for all-cause mortality when substituting screen time (30 min·d) with different discretionary activity types of the same duration. Potential impact fractions estimated the proportional change in mortality incidence associated with different substitution scenarios. During 3,202,105 person-years of follow-up, 8928 participants died. Each 30-min·d difference in screen time was associated with lower mortality hazard when modeling substitution of screen time by an equal amount of daily life activities (0.95, 0.94-0.97), as well as structured exercise (0.87, 0.84-0.90). Reallocations from screen time into specific activity subtypes suggested different reductions in mortality hazard: walking for pleasure (0.95, 0.92-0.98), light DIY (0.97, 0.94-1.00), heavy DIY (0.93, 0.90-0.96), strenuous sports (0.87, 0.79-0.95), and other exercises (0.88, 0.84-0.91). The lowest hazard estimates were found when modeling replacement of TV viewing. Potential impact fractions ranged from 4.3% (30-min·d substitution of screen time into light DIY) to 14.9% (TV viewing into strenuous sports). Substantial public health benefits could be gained by replacing small amounts of screen time with daily life activities and structured exercise. Daily life activities may provide feasible screen time alternatives, if structured exercise is initially too ambitious.

Ethnic entrepreneurs and online home-based businesses: an exploratory study

This exploratory, qualitative study considers how online home-based businesses offer opportunities for ethnic entrepreneurs to ‘break out’ of traditional highly competitive and low margin sectors. Previous studies have found a positive association between ethnic minorities’ high levels of entrepreneurship and home computer use in ethnic groups. Despite these associations, previous studies have overlooked the particular opportunities offered by home-based online businesses to ethnic entrepreneurs. The study adopts mixed embeddedness as a theoretical lens to guide interviews with 22 ethnic entrepreneurs who have started online home-based businesses in the UK. We find online home-based businesses offer ethnic entrepreneurs novel opportunities to draw on their ethnic advantages and address the constraints they face. The unique affordances of this type of business allow entrepreneurs to develop the necessary IT skills by self-learning and experimentation and to sub-contract more difficult or time consuming aspects to others. The findings also show that, consistent with the theory of mixed embeddedness, whilst the entrepreneurs are influenced by social, economic and institutional forces, online businesses allow them to exert their own agency and provide opportunities to uniquely shape these forces.

The Association between Family and Parental Factors and Obesity among Children in Nanchang, China

With rapid economic development in China, traditional patterns of health behaviors are changing, concurrent with a rise in childhood obesity. While the home environment and parenting behaviors are modifiable factors that could be targeted for intervention, little is known about their relationship with children's health behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between obesity and home and parenting factors in Chinese children. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Nanchang, China in 2013 with caregivers (N = 470) of a child between the ages of 2 and 10 years. Regression analyses were conducted to determine risk factors for childhood obesity. Obesity prevalence (21.7%) did not differ by demographic variables. Eight physical activity, nutrition, and sedentary variables had significant relationships to obesity status. Logistic regression analysis revealed three significant predictors of obesity: the number of days the family eats meals together (odds ratio = 0.84, 95% CI 0.73-0.96) and parental home computer use time (odds ratio = 0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.96) were related to lower levels of obesity, while parental television time (odds ratio = 1.25 95% CI 1.07-1.47) was related to higher levels of obesity. The prevalence of obesity among children is high in Nanchang. Family and environmental risk factors are significantly related to obesity.

Access is not enough: the impact of emotional costs and self-efficacy on the changes in African-American students’ ICT use patterns

ABSTRACTPrevious research has examined the impact of computing interventions to reduce digital inequity. However, few studies focus on factors such as inequalities to material access, Internet use patterns, and affective or emotional anxiety. This paper investigates the potential role of emotional costs and computer self-efficacy in the connection between computer use at home and students’ computer use patterns. Data for this research come from pretest and posttest surveys administered to fourth- and fifth-grade African-American students. The results reveal that students’ home computer use is a significant predictor of the change in their information and entertainment usage over the course of the intervention. Students’ emotional costs partially mediate the relationship between home computer use and information-oriented usage over the intervention period. The findings suggest that providing students access to digital devices is not enough to close the digital divide.

PATTERNS OF HOME COMPUTER USE DIFFER OVER TIME BETWEEN OLDER ADULTS DESTINED TO DEVELOP MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND THOSE WHO REMAIN COGNITIVELY INTACT

Identification of pre-symptomatic changes in healthy older adults that signal future cognitive decline and transition to MCI and AD is an important goal for early detection and intervention. Subtle changes in behavior associated with less efficient or effective performance in routine daily activities may signal incidental MCI. These changes have been correlated with cognitive tests and medial temporal lobe brain structures often affected in early AD. In this study, we examined whether patterns of responding to an in-home weekly online health questionnaire differed between older adults who remained cognitively intact and those who were destined to transition to MCI over a study period of four years. Participants were 110 community dwelling older adults enrolled in a longitudinal study of in-home monitoring technologies. At baseline in 2011, all participants were non-depressed (GDS<5) and cognitively intact (mean age = 84.8 years; 77% female). Of these individuals, 29 (26%) were classified as MCI based on neuropsychological criteria (mean age=86.0; 79% female) at an annual clinical follow-up visit (mean follow-up = 2.1 years). During the study period, a short online health questionnaire was distributed weekly through the Internet on Monday mornings at 5 am on participants’ home computers. Longitudinal generalized linear mixed effects models were generated with three online questionnaire response variables: completion time, in seconds; start time in the day, in seconds from 5am; and whether staff assistance was needed (yes/no), as unique outcomes. Models were adjusted for age, education and number of items endorsed. On average, individuals destined to develop MCI completed their questionnaires 1.4 hours later in the day than cognitively stable participants (p=.029), after adjusting for covariates. Over time, more participants needed assistance to complete the online questionnaires and this increase was significantly steeper in those destined to convert to MCI (p=0.032). The longitudinal trajectories of ambiently assessed measures of weekly home computer use differed between those who remained cognitively stable and those who were destined to transition to MCI. Remote, high frequency assessment of routine activities is a promising approach for detecting the earliest changes associated with future cognitive decline in older adults.

Is computer availability at home causally related to reading achievement in grade 4? A longitudinal difference in differences approach to IEA data from 1991 to 2006

Research on effects of home computer use on children’s development of cognitive abilities and skills has yielded conflicting results, with some studies showing positive effects, others no effects, and yet others negative effects. These studies have typically used non-experimental designs and one of the main reasons for the conflicting results is that studies differ with respect to how well they control for selection bias in comparisons of children with different amounts of computer use. The current study takes advantage of data from international comparative studies of educational achievement and uses the trend design of these studies to conduct longitudinal analyses at the country level. This allows for a difference in differences approach which effectively controls for within-country selection bias, time-invariant country-level omitted variables, and random errors of measurement in the independent and dependent variables. The empirical investigations are based on data from the IEA 10-Year Trend Study and the PIRLS 2001 and 2006 studies. For these studies, information about frequency of home computer use is available in the student questionnaire. The main analytical approach employed in the paper is regression estimation based on micro-data, with fixed country effects and cluster-robust standard-errors. This approach allows estimation of main effects of home computer use and interaction effects with student characteristics (gender and socio-economic status). For both data sets negative effects of home computer use on achievement are found. Results are discussed in substantive and methodological terms, focusing particularly on possible threats to valid causal inference, such as omitted variables that are not time invariant.

Computer mouse movement patterns: A potential marker of mild cognitive impairment

IntroductionSubtle changes in cognitively demanding activities occur in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but are difficult to assess with conventional methods. In an exploratory study, we examined whether patterns of computer mouse movements obtained from routine home computer use discriminated between older adults with and without MCI. MethodsParticipants were 42 cognitively intact and 20 older adults with MCI enrolled in a longitudinal study of in-home monitoring technologies. Mouse pointer movement variables were computed during one week of routine home computer use using algorithms that identified and characterized mouse movements within each computer use session. ResultsMCI was associated with making significantly fewer total mouse moves (P < .01) and making mouse movements that were more variable, less efficient, and with longer pauses between movements (P < .05). Mouse movement measures were significantly associated with several cognitive domains (P values <.01–.05). DiscussionRemotely monitored computer mouse movement patterns are a potential early marker of real-world cognitive changes in MCI.

Exploring the Use of Technology among U.S. Military Service Members and Veterans

Healthcare outreach via the Internet requires users to have a working understanding of computers, the Internet, and the media source used (such as a social network). However, little is known about computer, Internet, and social networking (CISN) use among U.S. military service members and veterans. The aim of this investigation was to explore CISN use among U.S. military active duty and veteran service members. Volunteers completed a CISN self-report survey (n=203). Chi-square tests and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients revealed home computer use of 12 ± 14.1 hrs/wk and work computer use of 20.4 ± 18.4 hrs/wk. Self-reports revealed 85.2% operating at a self-reported intermediate, advanced, or expert computer skill level (n = 149), 91.2% with intermediate, advanced, or expert Internet proficiency, and 73.3% using social media. Older subjects 60+ used CISN less than those ≤ 59 (p&lt;.05). While the majority of participants appeared to have sufficient internet skills to participate in Internet health care outreach programs, about 15% did not have such skills. This unskilled population may not benefit from internet outreach programs. Additional research will provide information on CISN use among military subpopulations and assist with designing an integration of in-person and Internet outreach programs to reach those in need.

Reducing digital divide effects through student engagement in coordinated game design, online resource use, and social computing activities in school

Participating in online social, cultural, and political activities requires digital skill and knowledge. This study investigates how sustained student engagement in game design and social media use can attenuate the relations between socioeconomic factors and digital inequality among youth. This study of 242 middle and high school students participating in the Globaloria project shows that participation eliminates gender effects, and reduces parent education effects in home computer use. Further, students from schools with lower parent education show greater increases in frequency of school technology engagement. Globaloria participation also weakens the link between prior school achievement and advanced technology activities. Results offer evidence that school‐based digital literacy programs can attenuate digital divide effects known to occur cross‐sectionally in the general U.S. population.