Mobile Information Terminals Research Articles

Public Attitudes Regarding Trade-offs Between the Functional Aspects of a Contact-Confirming App for COVID-19 Infection Control and the Benefits to Individuals and Public Health: Cross-sectional Survey.

BackgroundIt is expected that personal health information collected through mobile information terminals will be used to develop health strategies that benefit the public. Against this background, several countries have actively attempted to use mobile phones to control infectious diseases. These collected data, such as activity logs and contact history, are countermeasures against diseases such as COVID-19. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has developed and disseminated a contact-confirming app (COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application [COCOA]) to the public, which detects and notifies individuals whether they have been near someone who had subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. However, there are concerns about leakage and misuse of the personal information collected by such information terminals.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the possible trade-off between effectiveness in preventing infectious diseases and infringement of personal privacy in COCOA. In addition, we analyzed whether resistance to COCOA would reduce if the app contributed to public health or if a discount was provided on mobile phone charges.MethodsA cross-sectional, quantitative survey of Japanese citizens was conducted using Survey Monkey, a general-purpose web-based survey platform. When developing the questions for the questionnaire, we included the installation status of COCOA and recorded the anxiety stemming from the potential leakage or misuse of personal information collected for COVID-19 infection control. The respondents were asked to rate various factors to determine their perceptions on a 5-point scale.ResultsIn total, 1058 participants were included in the final analysis. In response to the question of whether the spread of the disease was being controlled by the infection control measures taken by the government, 25.71% (272/1058) of the respondents answered that they strongly agreed or agreed. One-quarter of the respondents indicated that they had already installed COCOA. This study found that the sense of resistance to government intervention was not alleviated by the benefits provided to individuals when using the app. The only factors that were positively associated with the response absolutely opposed to use of the app, even with a discount on mobile phone use charges, were those regarding leaks and misuse of personal information, which was true for all functions (function A: odds ratio [OR] 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.4; function B: OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5-2.6; function C: OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.4).ConclusionsPublic organizations need to emphasize the general benefits of allowing them to manage personal information and assure users that this information is being managed safely rather than offering incentives to individuals to provide such personal information. When collecting and using citizens’ health information, it is essential that governments and other entities focus on contributing to the public good and ensuring safety rather than returning benefits to individual citizens.

Detection of surface cutting defect on magnet using Fourier image reconstruction

A magnet is an important component of a speaker, as it makes the coil move back forth, and it is commonly used in mobile information terminals. Defects may appear on the surface of the magnet while cutting it into smaller slices, and hence, automatic detection of surface cutting defect detection becomes an important task for magnet production. In this work, an image-based detection system for magnet surface defect was constructed, a Fourier image reconstruction based on the magnet surface image processing method was proposed. The Fourier transform was used to get the spectrum image of the magnet image, and the defect was shown as a bright line in it. The Hough transform was used to detect the angle of the bright line, and this line was removed to eliminate the defect from the original gray image; then the inverse Fourier transform was applied to get the background gray image. The defect region was obtained by evaluating the gray-level differences between the original image and the background gray image. Further, the effects of several parameters in this method were studied and the optimized values were obtained. Experiment results show that the proposed method can detect surface cutting defects in a magnet automatically and efficiently.

Development of the System to Support Tourists’ Excursion Behavior using Augmented Reality

The purpose of this study is to develop an information system (AR recommended GIS) to support tourists’ excursion behavior by making the accumulating, sharing, and recommending of information concerning urban tourist spots possible. The conclusion of this study can be summarized into three points as shown below. (1) In order to support tourists’ excursion behaviors by integrating SNS, Twitter, Web-GIS, recommendation system, and Smart Eyeglass, in addition to making the accumulating, sharing, and recommending of information regarding urban tourist spots possible, the AR recommended GIS was designed and developed. (2) 91% were between the age of 20-40 among the 91 users, and the ultimate number of submitted information was 161. In addition, concerning the operation using Smart Eyeglass, which was conducted with tourists in the Minato Mirai area, the total number of users were 34, age of users were spread out, and all users had no experience in using Smart Eyeglasses. (3) From the results of the Web questionnaire survey, the system is compatible for the collection method of tourist spot information for users, and is mainly used to collect tourist spot information using the viewing and recommendation functions. From the results of the access analysis using the log data form during the operation, the utilization method of the system with PCs and mobile information terminals were very similar. Additionally, as the system using AR Smart Eyeglass was rated extremely highly, it was evident that it is possible to support tourists’ excursion behavior using PCs, mobile information terminals, and AR Smart Eyeglasses are possible.

Development of Dynamic Real-Time Navigation System

This study aimed to develop a system that considers dynamic real-time situations to provide effective support for tourist activities. The conclusions of this study are summarized in the following three points: (1) The system was developed by integrating Web-GIS, social media, recommendation systems and AR terminals (smart glasses) into a single system, and operated in the center part of Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It enabled the accumulation, sharing and recommendation of information and navigation to guide users to their goals both in normal conditions and in the event of disasters. (2) The web-based system was aimed at members of the general public over 18 years old and operated for seven weeks. The total number of users was 86, and 170 items of information were contributed. A system using smart glasses operated for two days, and the total number of users was 34. (3) Evaluation results clarified that it was possible to support user behavior both in normal conditions and in the event of disasters, and to efficiently and safety conduct navigation using smart glasses. Operation premised on disaster conditions showed that users who accessed the system via mobile information terminals increased, and actively used functions requiring location information.

AT90s8535D CHIP APPLICATION FOR HEART RATE VARIABILITY DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS

By using wireless mobile communications and mobile information terminals, Internet and the linking of computers and information technology to human bodies effectively, mobile computing can play an important role in modern technology that can be used by anybody anytime, anywhere, and can reconsider new technology with physiological measurements and reconstruct it creatively. In particular, mobile computing can intervene in the process of inducing biometric changes before diseased symptoms develop into diseases in an aging society. Nevertheless, there are difficulties, such as data, treatment by many parameters, ambiguity of data standardization and difficulty of the simultaneous collection of data etc. Therefore, in this study, a system was embodied by excluding time limiting factors using mobile computing and selecting the mobile neural dynamic coding method based on bioelectric signals. As a result of the experiment, it could be a model for biomedical Signal Mobile Analysis Devices and mobile biometric measuring devices, whose self-measurement can be made possible by an academic approach. Furthermore, it became the research foundation of the atypical characteristics of the formation of bioelectrical signals based on mobile applications and could be modeled in the structure circuit form of a biosignal.

Development of Social Recommendation GIS for Tourist Spots

This study aims to develop a social recommendation media GIS (Geographic Information Systems) specially tailored to recommend tourist spots. The conclusions of this study are summarized in the following three points. (1) Social media GIS, an information system which integrates Web-GIS, SNS and recommendation system into a single system, was conducted in the central part of Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The social media GIS uses a design which displays its usefulness in reducing the constraints of information inspection, time and space, and continuity, making it possible to redesign systems in accordance with target cases. (2) The social media GIS was operated for two months for members of the general public who are more than 18 years old. The total numbers of users was 98, and the number of pieces of information submitted was 232. (3) The web questionnaires of users showed the usefulness of the integration of Web-GIS, SNS and recommendation systems, because the functions of reference and recommendation can be expected to support tourists’ excursion behavior. Since the access survey of log data showed that about 35% of accesses were from mobile information terminals, it can be said that the preparation of an optimal interface for such terminals was effective.

Development and Testing of a Mobile Application for Recording and Analyzing Seismic Data

i-jishin, an app that measures earthquakes using MEMS acceleration sensors built in mobile information terminals such as smartphones and geonavi that receives, stores, and displays seismic records on a cloud server is developed. The test results for the performance validation of the system, an example of the application to strong-motion observation of buildings, and approach of field test for local communities are introduced.

Usability Evaluation

Usability evaluations are necessary to determine the feasibility of nurses' interactions with computerized clinical decision-support systems. Limitations and challenges of operations that inhibit or facilitate utilization in clinical practice can be identified. This study provided nurses with mobile information terminals, PDAs and tablet PCs, to improve point-of-care access to information. The purpose of this study was to determine usability issues associated with point-of-care technology. Eleven nurses were self-selected. Nurses were videotaped and audiotaped completing four tasks, including setting up the device and three resource search exercises. A research team member completed a usability checklist. Completion times for each task, success rate, and challenges experienced were documented. Four participants completed all tasks, with an average time of 3 minutes 22 seconds. Three participants were unable to complete any of the three tasks. Navigating within resources caused the greatest occurrence of deviations with 39 issues among all participants. Results of the usability evaluation suggest that nurses require a device that (1) is manageable to navigate and (2) utilizes a user-friendly interface, such as a one-time log-in system. Usability testing can be helpful to organizations as they document issues to be cognizant of during the implementation process, increasing the potential for successful implementation and sustained usability.

Supporting Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses through Information Technologies

To evaluate the usability of mobile information terminals, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) or Tablet personal computers, to improve access to information resources for nurses and to explore the relationship between PDA or Tablet-supported information resources and outcomes. The authors evaluated an initiative of the Nursing Secretariat, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, which provided nurses with PDAs and Tablet PCs, to enable Internet access to information resources. Nurses had access to drug and medical reference information, best practice guidelines (BPGs), and to abstracts of recent research studies. The authors took place over a 12-month period. Diffusion of Innovation theory and the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) model guided the selection of variables for study. A longitudinal design involving questionnaires was used to evaluate the impact of the mobile technologies on barriers to research utilization, perceived quality of care, and on nurses' job satisfaction. The setting was 29 acute care, long-term care, home care, and correctional organizations in Ontario, Canada. The sample consisted of 488 frontline-nurses. Nurses most frequently consulted drug and medical reference information, Google, and Nursing PLUS. Overall, nurses were most satisfied with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) BPGs and rated the RNAO BPGs as the easiest resource to use. Among the PDA and Tablet users, there was a significant improvement in research awareness/values, and in communication of research. There was also, for the PDA users only, a significant improvement over time in perceived quality of care and job satisfaction, but primarily in long-term care settings. It is feasible to provide nurses with access to evidence-based practice resources via mobile information technologies to reduce the barriers to research utilization.

The emerging role of PDAs in information use and clinical decision making

One of the great challenges facing healthcare professionals today is the effective and efficient management of an ever-increasing amount of clinically related health information. An important dimension of this challenge...

Effective search results summary size and device screen size: Is there a relationship?

In recent years, small screen devices have seen widespread increase in their acceptance and use. Combining mobility with increased technological advances many such devices can now be considered mobile information terminals. However, user interactions with small display devices remain a challenge due to the inherent input restrictions and limited display capabilities. These challenges are particularly evident for tasks, such as information seeking. For the presentation of retrieval results we consider that a personalised and context dependent approach could offer benefits, particularly for retrieving information in a non-traditional environment. As a starting point, in this paper we report an investigation into the effects of summary length as a function of screen size, where query-biased summaries are used to present retrieval results. Following a brief description of our proposed system, we report a user study aimed at exploring whether there is an optimal summary size for three types of device (smartphone, PDA and laptop), given their different screen sizes.

Experimental study on the thermal performance of micro-heat pipe with cross-section of polygon

The electronic industries have been tried to develop the electronic packaging technology for high-density, light weight, and miniaturization of mobile personal information terminals such as notebook PC, personal digital assistant (PDA), or handheld PC as the performance and the portability of the system have been become important more and more. The generated heat from the CPU of the electronic system should be dissipated effectively for the stability in operation and the long life-time of the system. In the present study, micro-heat pipes (MHPs) with cross-section of polygon have been manufactured and tested for operating characteristics and heat transfer limit. An additional process for installing a wick that is an inevitable component of heat pipes is not required for the MHP. For a small-sized heat pipe in the present study, a high precision technology is needed in manufacturing process. The MHPs tested in this paper have a triangular cross-section with curved sides and a rectangular cross-section with curved sides. The material of the MHP is copper and the working fluid of it is pure water. The test was performed in a vacuum chamber to minimize heat loss. The operating temperatures of the MHP were considered from 60 to 90 °C. From the test results, the MHP with triangular cross-section can dissipate up to a thermal load of 7 W.

モバイル環境におけるコミュニケーション支援のための位置依存情報配信システム

In this paper, we propose a position-aware information delivery system for communication in mobile environments. Recently, mobile information terminals such as PDAs and cellular phones are widely spreaded. Therefore, it is important that the method to exchange and share information which is provided by users in mobile environments using their mobile information terminals. Our proposed system consists of a bulletin board system (BBS) which extended the function by the position information. We add the position information to comments and rooms in BBS, and calculate the fitness of a comment from the position information of a user and a comment. Moreover, the presentation priority of a room is calculated by the fitness of comments in a same room. A user can get rooms and comments which are suitable for his position. Furthermore, we explain our prototype system based on our proposed method.

A perspective on ITS deployment

The intelligent transport systems (ITS) deployment begins with implementation of traffic control signals and traffic management on a road network. The next stage is the provision of traffic information to drivers. The third stage is the decision and operation assistance to drivers for safe driving. It will take time to reach the final stage of a fully automated driving because of the difficulties of getting social acceptance. Another final figure of ITS is that all transportation modes are integrated and provide continuous transportation service to users from door to door. Mobile information terminals such as cellular phones and motor vehicles will function as well as ordinary offices and homes. Then the ITS as an information system will be integrated into a general social information system.

2-V/100-ns 1T/1C nonvolatile ferroelectric memory architecture with bitline-driven read scheme and nonrelaxation reference cell

Nonvolatile memory embedded in microcontrollers has required a 100 ns access time at 2.0 V for mobile information terminals operating with a rechargeable battery. To achieve this, this paper proposes a new ferroelectric nonvolatile memory (FeRAM) architecture that utilizes a bitline-driven read scheme and a nonrelaxation reference cell for high-speed and low-voltage operations, respectively. Using this architecture, FeRAM with a one transistor and one capacitor per bit (1T/1C) cell can achieve 100 ns access time at 2.0 V.