Maintaining Eye Contact Research Articles

Vision-sharing system for android avatars to enable remote eye contact

Maintaining eye contact is a fundamental aspect of non-verbal communication, yet current remote communication tools, such as video calls, struggle to replicate the natural eye contact experienced in face-to-face interactions. This study presents a cutting-edge vision-sharing system for android avatars that enables remote eye contact by synchronizing the eye movements of the operator and the avatar. Our innovative system features an eyeball integrated with a wide-angle lens camera, meticulously designed to mimic human eyes in both appearance and functionality. This technology is seamlessly integrated into android avatars, enabling operators to perceive the avatar’s surroundings as if physically present. It provides a stable and immersive visual experience through a head-mounted display synchronized with the avatar’s gaze direction. Through rigorous experimental evaluations, we demonstrated the system’s ability to faithfully replicate the operator’s perspective through the avatar, making eye contact more intuitive and effortless compared with conventional methods. Subjective assessments further validated the system’s capacity to reduce operational workload and enhance user experience. These compelling findings underscore the potential of our vision-sharing system to elevate the realism and efficacy of remote communication using android avatars.

JAMOA OLDIDA NUTQ SO‘ZLASHNING LINGVISTIK VA EKSTRALINGVISTIK JIHATLARI

The art of public speaking involves a complex interplay of linguistic and extralinguistic elements that are crucial for effective communication. Linguistic aspects encompass the choice of words, sentence structure, grammar, and overall coherence of the message. These elements are essential for conveying the speaker's ideas clearly and effectively to the audience. Additionally, the tone, style, and register of language used play a significant role in engaging the listeners. Conversely, extralinguistic aspects encompass non-verbal components such as body language, facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye contact, and vocal delivery. These elements greatly influence how the audience perceives the speaker and the message being conveyed. For instance, maintaining eye contact can establish a connection with the audience, while appropriate gestures can enhance the impact of the spoken words.

The Impact of Nonverbal Communication on Effective Public Speaking in English

Nonverbal communication (NVC) plays a crucial role in effective public speaking, particularly for English language learners (ELLs) who may face unique challenges in navigating both linguistic and cultural aspects of communication. This study is carried out through a literature review method, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, to examine the impact of NVC on public speaking among ELLs in higher education settings, and synthesize findings from diverse studies. The review reveals that effective use of NVC significantly enhances perceived credibility, audience engagement, and message clarity for ELLs. Specific nonverbal behaviors, such as maintaining eye contact, using open gestures, and adopting a confident posture, are associated with increased speaker effectiveness. Additionally, the literature highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity in NVC instruction, as nonverbal cues can carry different meanings across cultures. The findings underscore the need for explicit instruction in NVC strategies within English language curricula, emphasizing cultural responsiveness and creating inclusive learning environments that empower ELLs to become confident and effective communicators. This review contributes to the growing body of research on NVC in educational contexts and offers practical implications for English language educators seeking to enhance their students' public speaking skills.

The Effect of Media Distractions on Women During Breastfeeding and Infant Care: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In modern world, the pervasive use of media technologies has seen a significant increase across various domains. The study aimed to assess the level of distraction among lactating women during feeding and infant care, along with exploring associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 120 lactating mothers who visited comprehensive health centers in Zanjan City in 2023. The inclusion criteria were lactating mothers older than 18 years, who were within 42 days postpartum. A multistage sampling method was used for participant selection. Data were gathered using a standard maternal distraction questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with a confidence level of 95%. Results: The study found that smartphone use (69.7%) was the most common source of distraction for mothers during breastfeeding, while reading books (17.5%) was the least distracting. In addition, 85% of mothers watched television while caring for their babies (except during breastfeeding), and a significant percentage used landline phones (92.5%) and mobile phones (79.2%). It was noted that older mothers tended to be less distracted during feeding or baby care compared with young mothers. Furthermore, maternal attention during baby feeding increased with higher education levels and having more children (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study concludes that young mothers with lower levels of education experience significantly high levels of distraction while caring for their babies or breastfeeding. Given the substantial availability of media products, interventions are needed to raise mothers' awareness about the importance of maintaining eye contact with their babies and implementing strategies for managing distractions.

Still face in pet dogs (Canis familiaris).

Dogs are able to cooperate in reciprocal exchange with humans but little is known about the extent of these abilities (Range & Virányi, 2015). In the Still Face paradigm, infants reply to a sudden nonreciprocal facial expression with gaze aversion and an increase in re-engagement and distress behaviors (E. Tronick et al., 1978). We directly adapted this method; the dog's owner talked to the dog, then abruptly switched to a still, neutral face, maintaining eye contact. In Study 1 (N = 20), we found that dogs showed a significant decrease in the amount of looking at the owner in the Still Face phase, paralleling the results found in gaze aversion in infants, and they performed fewer pawing and vocalizations toward the person in the Still Face phase. In Study 2 (N = 60), we included one condition of continuous physical contact, and one condition that was a direct replication of the initial study without physical contact. Similar to human infants, we found a significant decrease in looking from the Interaction phase to the Still Face phase. However, in contrast to human infants, re-engagement and stress behaviors were higher in the Interaction phase than the Still Face phase. Looking and re-engagement behaviors differed based on the condition, with a smaller difference between phases in the Petting condition. These results suggest that dogs are capable of perceiving these small changes in human affect. However, unlike human infants, dogs seem to have greater expectations about physical interactions than verbal interactions, as they reacted more strongly to an Interaction phase without physical contact than the Still Face. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Appropriate Use of Medical Interpreters in the Breast Imaging Clinic.

More than 25 million Americans have limited English-language proficiency (LEP) according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This population experiences challenges accessing health care and is least likely to receive preventive health care, including screening mammogram. In a setting where the breast radiologist does not speak the language of their patient, using certified medical interpreter services is fundamental. Medical interpreter use is associated with improved clinical care and patient satisfaction and can potentially increase adherence to screening mammograms and follow-up in patients with LEP. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act requires interpreter services for patients with LEP who are receiving federal financial assistance. Failure to provide interpretative services when necessary is considered discriminatory and illegal. The use of untrained medical interpreters, including ad hoc interpreters (eg, family, friends, or untrained staff), is associated with more medical errors, violation of confidentiality, and poor health outcomes. Types of medical interpretation services available to address language barriers include in-person interpretation, telephone and video remote interpretation, and qualified bilingual staff. Proper training and certification of medical interpreters is essential to prevent misinterpretations and ensure patient safety. When using an interpreter service, speak to and maintain eye contact with the patient, address the patient directly and seat the interpreter next to or slightly behind the patient, use visual aids whenever possible, and have the patient repeat the information to verify comprehension. Breast radiologists can address disparities in breast cancer screening and treatment by promoting effective communication.

АВА-терапія як сучасна технологія корекційної роботи з дітьми з РАС (переваги та недоліки)

The article deals with the essence, content, stages, advantages and disadvantages of the extremely popular among parents technology of corrective influence on children with ASD – ABA therapy, which is aimed at forming the necessary skills in a child that are absent due to developmental disorders. It has been determined that this approach can be used to solve a range of different tasks: the development of skills that can replace undesirable forms of behavior; the development of social and communication skills, such as maintaining eye contact, understanding the interlocutor’s facial expressions, the ability to ask for help, ask questions, play with other children; the development of academic skills (reading, arithmetic, writing) at a level accessible to the child; the development of household and self-care skills: independent toilet use, cooking and. Despite the fact that in the modern world ABA therapy is a scientifically proven and widespread method that has found its application in various areas of education and support for children with various developmental disorders, it has a number of significant drawbacks: The technique is ineffective if the child is afraid of strangers; the technique works only if it is used correctly and implemented by ABA therapists; breaks in classes or a reduction in their duration can affect the result; parents should take an active part in the work and, with the help of a specialist, organize a correct developmental system at home; children with ASD often have little effect on encouragement, it is important to understand what reward the child needs to get the desired result.

Rapport Building in community settings

Establishing good rapport and interpersonal relationship is crucial aspect for public health researcher to embark upon authentic information and concerns of local community that later might have a bigger public health impact in policy making. Despite of its importance, researchers often fail to favourably present themselves in front of participants. The active listening, maintaining eye contact, self disclosure, tuning in, sharing expectations and intentions, non verbal cues, persistent contact and being empathetic are some of the most common techniques of rapport building discussed in literatures. Despite the fact that they have been proved to be beneficial, they do not provide clarity on “what, when, or where”. As a result, this article suggests a step-by-step approach that a researcher might use when conducting community-based research.

Effects of Salespersons’ Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in Beauty Service Encounters on Brand Image and Store Loyalty

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of salespersons’ verbal and nonverbal communication in beauty-service encounters on customers’ store loyalty, focusing on the mediating effect of brand image.Methods: Analyses were conducted by employing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program to investigate how salespersons’ verbal and nonverbal communication in beauty-service encounters affect customers’ store loyalty and brand image.Results: Verbal and nonverbal communication of salespersons in beauty-service encounters were found to positively influence brand image and customers’ store loyalty. In particular, beautyservice salespersons’ kinesics and paralanguage was identified to have a significant effect on store loyalty through brand image.Conclusion: When customers positively perceive beauty-service salespersons’ verbal and nonverbal communication, they will be satisfied with the beauty service; therefore, education and management in verbal and nonverbal communication is required. Accordingly, if beauty-service salespersons make an effort to boost confidence; wear neat and fashionable clothes; and maintain eye contact, positive facial expressions, and gestures, they will increase a store’s brand image and customers’ store loyalty.

Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pakistani Teenager

The individual (K.N) seeking support was a 16-year-old female. She was referred due to concerns related to behaviors such as emitting loud noises, hitting and biting oneself, cranial self-impact, and limited social interaction. The assessment process involved conducting behavioral observations and compassionate clinical interviews with her parents, teacher, and a clinical psychologist. Additionally, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (C.A.R.S) (Schopler, Reichier, &amp;amp; Renner, 1988) was employed to evaluate the extent of the challenges. This assessment was conducted through observations of K.N and in collaboration with their teacher to comprehensively assess her condition and rule out the presence of other potential disabilities. K.N&amp;#39;s score on the C.A.R.S was 54, indicating placement within the severely autistic category. &amp;nbsp;Based on behavioral observation and assessment it has been hypothesized that K.N exhibits characteristics consistent with autism spectrum disorder, indicating a need for comprehensive support. To address the K.N&amp;#39;s challenges, we developed a tailored Individualized Intervention Program incorporating diverse behavior modification techniques. One of these approaches involved the implementation of Floortime (DIR) strategies to enrich the individual&amp;#39;s social interactions and broaden her communication network. Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) was used to reduce self-disruptive behaviors and encourage communication. By the end of therapeutic session eye-contact improved and she started maintaining eye contact for 4-5 seconds while before intervention plan, she had no eye-contact. she also displayed increased engagement in joint attention activities, allowing another person to interact with her 40% of the time. Furthermore, she demonstrated an 80% success rate in independently wearing her jacket or sweater when going outside. She started making requests when asked what she wants instead of indulging into self-injurious behavior 60% of the time. In the area of academic or cognitive skills K.N was able to identify opposites, differentiate between masculine and feminine forms, write five prepositions, compose three simple sentences about herself, type dictated words on an iPad, name the days of the week, perform basic addition on a calculator, and sequence numbers up to nine. In the area of motor skills, she was able to ride gym-bicycle for few minutes. K.N was also able to paint pots, stack matching boxes in a shelf. These remarkable advancements were achieved over the course of nineteen sessions.

The Art of Blending In Unveiling Camouflaging Traits in Adults with or Without Autism

Camouflaging a complex behavioral and social phenomenon commonly associated with individuals on the autism spectrum, takes center stage in this study. However, it doesn't stop at autism; it delves into the intriguing realm of camouflaging strategies employed by both adult individuals with and without autism. Additionally, the research further investigates the influence of gender on these camouflaging behaviors. This quantitative study exposes notable distinctions in camouflaging traits between adults with and without autism. Individuals with autism spectrum frequently utilize camouflaging to replicate socially accepted behaviors, such as maintaining eye contact and suppressing repetitive actions, in order to integrate into society and escaping potential stigmatization. Nevertheless, this adaptive coping strategy can exact a toll on their mental health &amp; well-being, resulting in heightened stress, anxiety, and mental exhaustion. Remarkably, the research also highlights that camouflaging isn't unique to autism; individuals without autism also harness these strategies in various social situations. These individuals may adjust their body language, behavior, emotional expressions, and appearance to align with dominant societal norms, foster social harmony, or seamlessly integrate into specific social circles. This indicates that camouflaging is a broader phenomenon rooted in the universal human impulse for social adaptation and compliance. Moreover, the study underscores the significance influence of gender expectations on the adoption of camouflaging strategies. It notes that camouflaging appears to be more prevalent among females, irrespective of their autism status, reflecting the unique social challenges and societal expectations faced by women across various cultural landscapes. In essence, this research illuminates the multifaceted nature of camouflaging behaviors and their far-reaching implications. It emphasizes the vital importance of comprehending these behaviors and their potential impacts on individuals' overall mental health &amp; well-being. Moreover, the study advocates for further exploration of the long-term effects of camouflaging and the creation of interventions focused on promoting authenticity in social interactions while alleviating the need for excessive camouflaging efforts.

I'm not burned out. This is how I write notes.

We describe an automated transcription system that addresses many documentation problems and fits within scheduled clinical hours. During visits, the provider listens to the patient while maintaining eye contact and making brief notes on paper. Immediately after the visit conclusion and before the next, the provider makes a short voice recording on a smartphone which is transmitted to the system. The system uses a public domain general language model, and a hypertuned provider-specific language model that is iteratively refined as each produced note is edited by the physician, followed by final automated processing steps to add any templated text to the note. The provider leaves the clinic having completed all voice files, median duration 3.4 minutes. Created notes are formatted as preferred and are a median of 363 words (range 125-1175). This approach permits documentation to occur almost entirely within scheduled clinic hours, without copy-forward errors, and without interference with patient-provider interaction. Though no documentation method is likely to appeal to all, this approach may appeal to many physicians and avoid many current problems with documentation.

Rescue dogs show few differences in behavior, cognitive abilities, and personality compared with non-rescue dogs

This study investigated differences in behavior and cognition between rescue dogs and non-rescue dogs using a series of cognitive tests. These tests were simple enough that they could be performed by owners in their own homes. Therefore, citizen science was used to collect behavioral data on rescue dogs (n = 30) and non-rescue dogs (n = 20). Owners of the dogs also completed questionnaires to assess the dog-owner relationship and personality of the dog. Results revealed that rescue dogs maintained eye contact for a significantly shorter duration compared to non-rescue dogs (U = 162.5, P = 0.029). However, they performed significantly better than non-rescue dogs in a simple memory test (χ2(1, N = 40) = 4.40, P = 0.036). Rescue dogs were significantly more fearful than non-rescue dogs (P < 0.05), but the groups did not differ in their dog-owner relationship questionnaire scores. Hence, there may be some differences between rescue and non-rescue dogs, and citizen science could be a viable method to collect behavioral data on rescue dogs after they are rehomed.

Correlations Between the Development of Social Anxiety and Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.

It is well established that people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have significantly higher rates of social anxiety, given that most autistic individuals experience socio-communication impairments, a deficit in social competence, and their experience in social engagement situations often leads to discomfort in social settings. Literature also finds that individuals on the spectrum are often at a higher risk of developing social anxiety, which is often misinterpreted as social anxiety disorder (SAD) leading to delays in the clinical diagnosis of ASD. Hence, an improved understanding of specific factors that put ASD individuals at risk of developing social anxiety will aid research to differentiate between social anxiety among individuals with ASD compared to non-ASD individuals facing social anxiety in general. This systematic review study focuses on empirical literature that provides evidence for reasons contributing to social anxiety among individuals with ASD. Following the systematic review methodology, the study evaluates 10 research papers. The results revealed several correlations that can be useful in helping explain why individuals with ASD are at a higher risk of developing SAD. Individuals with ASD often suffer severe social anxiety because they struggle to understand social cues, maintain eye contact, interpret non-verbal cues like facial expressions or body language, or participate in reciprocal conversation. Other cognitive factors include a preference toward predictable situations, intolerance for uncertainty, and a tendency toward rigid thinking patterns. Unpredictability in social settings often heightens anxiety levels in ASD individuals, making them avoid such situations. Other risk factors include emotional recognition impairments and reduced social competence. These findings serve as a guide to developing better intervention strategies to help individuals with ASD to overcome social anxiety.

Viewing zone expansion of a dual-viewer autostereoscopic display with inclined interleaved linear Fresnel lens arrays and a time-division quadruplexing directional backlight.

A novel autostereoscopic display with a directional backlight unit using a pair of inclined interleaved linear Fresnel lens arrays is designed and evaluated. Different high-resolution stereoscopic image pairs are provided to each of the two viewers simultaneously by applying time-division quadruplexing. The viewing zone is enlarged in the horizontal direction by inclining the lens array, which enables two viewers to have specific views corresponding to the positions of their own eyes without interfering with each other's view. Thus, two viewers with no special goggles on can share the same 3D world, which enables direct-manipulation style interaction and collaboration maintaining eye contact with each other.

The Art of Listening.

The Art of Listening.

Social gaze behavior and hyperarousal in young females with fragile X syndrome: A within-person approach.

Children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) often avoid eye contact, a behavior that is potentially related to hyperarousal. Prior studies, however, have focused on between-person associations rather than coupling of within-person changes in gaze behaviors and arousal. In addition, there is debate about whether prompts to maintain eye contact are beneficial for individuals with FXS. In a study of young females (ages 6-16), we used eye tracking to assess gaze behavior and pupil dilation during social interactions in a group with FXS (n = 32) and a developmentally similar comparison group (n = 23). Participants engaged in semi-structured conversations with a female examiner during blocks with and without verbal prompts to maintain eye contact. We identified a social-behavioral and psychophysiological profile that is specific to females with FXS; this group exhibited lower mean levels of eye contact, significantly increased mean pupil dilation during conversations that included prompts to maintain eye contact, and showed stronger positive coupling between eye contact and pupil dilation. Our findings strengthen support for the perspective that gaze aversion in FXS reflects negative reinforcement of social avoidance behavior. We also found that behavioral skills training may improve eye contact, but maintaining eye contact appears to be physiologically taxing for females with FXS.

Effect of Mirror talk on Self – Esteem in Students

Mirror talk is based on the principle that our reflection reflects back to us our inner feelings about ourselves. By recognising the resistance in our self-belief, we can use positive talk and affirmations to heal our negative self-view and learn to love ourselves. Although it may feel uncomfortable to maintain eye contact through a mirror for a sustained amount of time, the more we practice, the more benefits we will reap. Students who suffer from low self-esteem were selected and requested to practice mirror talk for ten consecutive days. Based on the observations before and after mirror talk, a profound hike in self-esteem was seen in all the students. Key Word: Self esteem, Mirror talk, Self compétence, Affirmations.

Tertiary Students’ Perceptions of Learning Oral Presentation Skills in In-Class and Online Learning Environment: A Case Study

Online learning is seen to be the solution to education throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Instructional sessions and assessments are conducted in the virtual setting which affects instructors and students alike. Oral assessments like presentation sessions are conducted on teleconferencing platforms which bring different dimensions in pedagogy and online learning strategies employed by students. Thus, this study aimed to determine undergraduates’ perceptions of online and in-class presentations. These undergraduates went through remote learning sessions and were not physically campus bound. For this study, the mixed-method approach was adopted and a set of questionnaires with two open-ended questions was distributed online to 1187 Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) undergraduates who were enrolled in the English for Professional Communication (UHL2432) course for Semester 2, session 2020/2021. Quantitative data were collected, and the descriptive statistics were calculated. The findings revealed students’ mixed perceptions towards the effectiveness of applying delivery skills and elements of professionalism in online and in-class oral presentations. Furthermore, although findings have shown that students have adapted to online learning and preferred certain elements of oral presentation in a virtual environment, they also indicated that students preferred to learn oral presentations in a face-to-face classroom. Students’ mixed perceptions were due to challenges in aspects such as maintaining eye contact, projecting voice, using visual aids, gestures and postures as well as interacting with the audience virtually. The findings of this study will provide a useful guide for the enhancement and development of online teaching and learning methodologies. Keywords: Covid-19; higher education; in-class oral presentation; virtual oral presentation; technology

Severe Eyelid Malformation With Facial Clefting and Amniotic Bands.

Amniotic bands can lead to eyelid colobomas contiguous with facial clefts, resulting in severe and highly variable eyelid malformations. There is no known underlying genetic cause of amniotic band sequence. Here, the authors review the case of an infant born with large, 4-eyelid colobomatous defects in the setting of facial clefts, amniotic bands and an underlying SMOC1 mutation, which has not previously been linked to amniotic band sequence or eyelid colobomas. Reconstructive technique and the postoperative course are described, and underlying etiologic theories of amniotic band sequence are reviewed and expanded upon. Although amblyopia prevention in this patient with poor visual potential was not a consideration, the goals of improving the patient's ocular surface and maintaining eye contact were achieved.