Peripheral Awareness Research Articles

Therapist-assisted vision therapy improves outcome for stroke patients with homonymous hemianopia alone or combined with oculomotor dysfunction

ABSTRACTObjective: To improve visual performance and perception in stroke patients suffering from visual impairments by the use of therapist-assisted vision therapy.Methods: This study was an interventional efficacy open-label investigation. The vision therapy was designed to enhance binocular vision, and saccadic ability, and vergence ranges maximally, and for patients with hemianopia also to improve peripheral awareness. The vision training consisted of one lesson a week for 12 weeks carried out by an optometrist and a vision therapist. Between lessons, patients were to train at home for a minimum of 15–20 min daily.Results: Twenty-four patients completed the course. Significant improvements in visual performance were measured for all test parameters from the baseline to the evaluation after the last lesson of vision training. The COPM results improved both in terms of satisfaction with the completion of a task and with the way the task was carried out (p = 0.001). Groffman tracing test results improved from median 7.5 to 16 (p = 0.002), reading speed in words increased (p = 0.0004), and peripheral awareness of visual markers improved (p = 0.002).Conclusion: Therapist-assisted vision therapy increased peripheral visual awareness. Furthermore patients felt safer in the traffic and in outdoor activities. Reading speed significantly increased, and the ability to keep a moving object in focus improved.

Open Awareness: Holding the Liminal Space in Transpersonal Coaching and Therapy

“Holding The Space” is the metaphorical container for the therapeutic interaction between the coach or therapist and client. Although the held space is largely intuitive, transpersonal practitioners who wish to teach, apply and develop its practice are faced with the challenge of reproducing it consistently and intentionally. Some important aspects of the held space include energetic resonance and rapport, a participatory perspective, mindfulness, intentionally cultivated attitudes of acceptance, compassion and interconnectedness, and induction of a state of awareness of wider perspective and receptivity. We propose a unique mode of mindful perception ideally suited to Holding The Space, called “Open Awareness”. The characteristics of this state are a mindful mode of perception; metacognitive introspective awareness; extrospective and somatic awareness; a reframe of personal identification leading to a sense of interconnectedness; and a fluid, dynamic balance between conscious focus and peripheral awareness. Open Awareness is simple enough to learn and apply quickly, and profound enough to evolve consciousness through regular practice. In general, the process begins with a shift of awareness to the physical senses, expansion and deepening to more subtle mental objects, and intentional resonance with the metaphorical space in between people and objects. The expansion of awareness is both inward (deep personal) and outward (interpersonal and transpersonal). Open Awareness is a distinct state, but shares characteristics with other disciplines such as Open Focus, Open Monitoring, Focused Attention meditation, and Focus-defocus practice. We advocate Open Awareness as a useful tool for coaches and therapists and suggest research to develop further applications. KEYWORDS Holding the Space, Transpersonal Coaching, Transpersonal Therapy, Mindfulness, Open Awareness.

“Mesmeric Revelation”: Art as Hypnosis

Abstract This article explores the relationship between reader and narrative purpose in Poe's “Mesmeric Revelation,” arguing that this relationship bears resemblance to altered-state theories of hypnosis. It challenges predictable interpretations to open a new avenue for understanding the art of fiction. Primary emphasis is given to the reduced peripheral awareness experienced by readers. The cultivation of this focused attention, according to Poe's “The Philosophy of Composition,” is essential for creating effective artistic products.

“Mesmeric Revelation”: Art as Hypnosis

Abstract This article explores the relationship between reader and narrative purpose in Poe's “Mesmeric Revelation,” arguing that this relationship bears resemblance to altered-state theories of hypnosis. It challenges predictable interpretations to open a new avenue for understanding the art of fiction. Primary emphasis is given to the reduced peripheral awareness experienced by readers. The cultivation of this focused attention, according to Poe's “The Philosophy of Composition,” is essential for creating effective artistic products.

Methods for Prism Placement for Hemianopic Visual Field Loss in Adults with Low Vision

Several adult patients with low vision have come to the Advanced Low Vision Clinic at the Corporal Michael Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (CMCVAMC), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and to the Bucks County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, in Newton, Pennsylvania, with a diagnosis of hemianopic loss secondary to a stroke in the visual cortex; brain tumors; or traumatic brain injury. Prism placement for peripheral field loss allows patients to have enhanced peripheral awareness and an increased peripheral field depending on the type of prism used (Brillant, 1999). To determine prism placement, a low vision optometrist evaluates the patient. The evaluation consists of trials of different types of prism systems, including Fresnel, Gottlieb, Onufryk, and Eli Peli. When a preference for a particular prism system is shown, it is temporarily placed. The optometrist confers with the orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist to discuss patient goals and a plan of care. The O&M specialist performs an evaluation and provides visual scanning training as well as instruction in the functional use of prisms. This report describes the process used in these centers for assessing and placing the prism for these individuals. Prior to prism placement, a full visual field test is completed using a Zeiss, Octopus, or Goldman perimeter, which accurately define the visual field loss. The optometrist and O&M specialist review the results of this test to determine the plan of care for the patient. An Esterman visual field test is completed if the patient is interested in driving again. The Esterman test measures the visual field with both eyes open, as this is required by states that permit driving only if an individual has a visual field of 120 degrees across the horizontal meridian. Prism placement is first tested with a 20-40D Fresnel prism cut to the shape of the spectacle lens in the area of field loss with the prism's base facing in the direction of vision loss. The prism is placed by the optometrist to bisect the pupil so its edge can be seen without scanning into the prism. The edge is then trimmed with iridectomy scissors to the edge of the pupil. The patient then scans into the edge and is asked to count fingers within 10-15 degrees of the non-seeing field. The individual is then asked to ambulate and to detect objects in the non-seeing field. For example, if the non-seeing field is temporal, the scan would be to the left or right to view a painting on the wall, a doorway, or a person passing to the side. If the prism edge is causing diplopia, it is trimmed again to the edge of the dilated pupil. In another method of prism placement, an individual is asked to look straight ahead at his or her nose (if the nose can be seen). If they cannot see their nose, then they are asked to look towards the center of their face, then bring a Post-it note (a small self-adhesive piece of paper) along the plane of their glasses from the non-seeing area into the plane of where they can just see the edge of the Post-it note. They then move the Post-it note back 1 millimeter (mm) until they can no longer see it. When viewing straight ahead, they should not see the edge of the Post-it note. A permanent marker pen such as a Sharpie can then be used to mark the eyeglass lens for later placement of the Fresnel prism (Giorgi, Woods, & Peli, 2009). Choosing the strength of the prism depends on the size of the defect and the individual's tolerance. As a general rule of thumb, the number of degrees the image is moved is half the dioptric power of the prism. Therefore, a 30-diopter prism will move the image approximately 15 degrees. The base of the prism is always placed towards the area of the defect in order to move the image towards the seeing area. The base is marked on the Fresnel prism for orientation. The clinician places the prism to the edge of the defect as described above (Warren & Barstow, 2011). …

Ambient co-presence: transnational family practices in polymedia environments

In this article, I develop an argument about a new type of mediated co-presence termed ‘ambient co-presence’, which is the peripheral, yet intense awareness of distant others made possible through the affordances of ubiquitous media environments. Drawing on a long-term ethnography of UK-based Filipino migrants and their communication practices with their transnational families, I observe the increasing prevalence of an ‘always on’ culture of ubiquitous connectivity. The functions of a social networking site (SNS) such as the ‘news feed’, combined with the portability of internet-enabled devices and locative services, mean that users can be peripherally, yet constantly aware of the actions and daily rhythms of their peers. This peripheral awareness, which can be pervasive, complements other types of mediated co-presence and has powerful emotional consequences – both positive and negative – for relationships at a distance. Participants with weak relationships reported an increase in conflict especially through opportunities for surveillance. By contrast, those who enjoyed strong relationships associated ambient co-presence with low-level emotional reassurance. In this article, I also observe that ambient co-presence has implications for community and belonging. Notwithstanding the development of online norms that are culturally specific, I argue that the concept of ambient co-presence can have cross-cultural relevance for understanding the consequences of mediated communication.

Commentary: How Long Do We Need to Follow-Up Our Hernia Patients to Find the Real Recurrence Rate?

It was a pleasure to go through the manuscript by Ferdinand Kockerling focusing on hernia recurrence in Frontiers in Surgery (1). We would like to applaud the authors on two fronts. We had very peripheral awareness of the Herniamed registry, but having read this paper, we believe that the registry is a brilliant initiative by the German surgical society. Such data sharing will most definitely help to evolve and standardize practices in hernia surgery across the board. Second, the results and recommendations of this study are novel in nature. The recurrence rates followed over such a long interval have important implications for managing follow-up care for hernia patients. Recurrence and wound infection rates, postoperative neuralgia, hospital length of stay, and return to normal activity are important metrics that define the success of any incisional or inguinal hernia repair. Outcomes in hernia repair can not only be attributed to its inherent anatomy (size, location, severity) but also strongly influenced by the type of repair. There is sufficient literature that favors the superiority of mesh repair over suture repair (2–4). Similarly, Bassini repairs have higher recurrence rates when compared to the non-Bassini repairs (4). No significant difference in hernia recurrence has been found between open and laparoscopic techniques that utilized mesh (5), but differences still exist in return to normal activity and hospital length of stay. Another obstacle to the success of any herniorrhaphy is the experience of the surgeon. Aquina et al. found differences in surgeon experience contributing to the hernia recurrence rates, i.e., surgeons performing <25 cases annually were associated with a higher rate of recurrence [hazard ratio 1.23, 95% CI (1.11–1.36)] (6). Cumulative recurrence rates as presented by the author for inguinal and incisional hernias (1) are definitely useful, but we fear it might be an over-simplification. In light of the potential confounders, we would like to request the authors to present a subset analysis of recurrences over time compared between repairs with and without mesh, and also between herniorrhaphy done by high volume and low volume surgeons from their study cohort. Our hypothesis is that a suture repair or any hernia repair in the hands of an inexperienced surgeon has a greater potential of being technically inadequate, and might require a close interval follow-up. On the contrary, a superior mesh repair done by an experienced surgeon could likely require a longer interval follow-up. In a subset analysis, Burger et al. (7) found that 67% of their incisional hernias recurred within 10 years in their suture repair group compared to 17% in the mesh group. Our concern is that in addition to the type of hernia, the type of repair should significantly influence recurrence patterns as well. Nicolas Jean Marjolin stated back in 1828 that surgery has reached such a level of improvement that nothing further can be expected. That judgment may be far from the truth, but unfortunately the paragon of surgical precision still eludes us in this day and age. Inguinal herniorrhaphy is one of the most commonly performed general surgical procedures but it can still be technically challenging. Continuous training is essential to achieve proficiency. Part of the reason why hernia recurrences continue to plague us is because we continue to employ redundant techniques. As health care delivery systems become increasingly patient centered, patient outcomes, which in turn reflect on the quality of care delivered, will drive health care economics. This provides strong incentive to move forward with best care practices supported by evidence-based medicine guidelines in hernia surgery. The findings of the Herniamed registry are definitely a step in the right direction. In the future, such registries can potentially help us generate predictive models for complications, which include recurrence, and tackle them in a timely and more effective manner, if not completely avoid them altogether.

Peripheral Detection for Abrupt Onset Stimuli Presented via Head-Worn Display

Head-worn displays have the potential to assist professionals in a wide variety of contexts by providing heads-up and hands-off information in real-time. For instance, nurses may be able to use head-worn displays to maintain peripheral awareness of the well-being of multiple patients while away from the nurses’ station and the patients’ beds. However, little is known about the advantages and disadvantages of head-worn displays in such contexts. In fact, many studies have shown that head-worn displays can lead to detriments in attention and visual performance. In three experiments, we tested people’s ability to detect simple, abrupt onset stimuli in peripheral vision when using a traditional computer monitor or Google Glass™. When using Google Glass, participants were significantly less likely to detect peripheral events. These data indicate that monocular optical see-through head-worn displays can make it harder to see peripheral stimuli. Stimuli need to be developed for head-worn displays that preserve their benefits for mobile users, while overcoming some of their disadvantages.

“Mesmeric Revelation”: Art as Hypnosis

This article explores the relationship between percipient and the narrative purpose in Poe’s “Mesmeric Revelation”, arguing ultimately that the various questions raised by this relationship have a great deal in common with altered-state theories of hypnosis. It challenges predictable interpretations of this short story in an effort to open up a new avenue for exploring not only the art of fiction, but, by logical extension, all other branches of creative activity as well. Primary emphasis is given to the nature of the percipient's reduced peripheral awareness as (s)he appreciates a work of art, in this case, “Mesmeric Revelation”, and how, according to Poe’s “The Philosophy of Composition”, the cultivation of this focused attention lies at the heart of the most effective artistic products.

Hypnosis Offers Alternative Path to Control Pain, Anxiety

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical and Research NewsFull AccessHypnosis Offers Alternative Path to Control Pain, AnxietyAaron LevinAaron LevinSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:30 Apr 2015https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2015.5a2AbstractHypnosis may have a role in psychiatric treatment since it can serve as an anxiolytic by inducing relaxation or dissociation or by altering sensory perception.Hypnosis is not just a mysterious parlor trick but can play a role in clinical practice in the hands of a trained practitioner, said David Spiegel, M.D., a professor and associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, director of the Center on Stress and Health, and medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.“Hypnotism is not taking away control from people,” says Stanford psychiatrist David Spiegel, M.D. “It’s teaching people control.”Justin Cates“Hypnosis may be the oldest Western conception of psychotherapy,” said Spiegel in a recent lecture sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the National Institutes of Health. Sigmund Freud, for example, experimented with hypnotism before switching to free association.Hypnosis, despite the origins of the word, is not sleep, Spiegel said. “Hypnosis is a state of aroused, attentive, focal concentration with diminished peripheral awareness.” The subject focuses attention and is less aware of context.“Suggestibility in hypnosis has been overstated, but subjects are less likely to critically judge what you say to them,” said Spiegel, comparing the state to the “imagery” and “visualization” that athletes often engage in prior to an event.Not everyone can be hypnotized easily, he noted. One in three adults cannot be hypnotized at all, but 10 percent to 15 percent are very hypnotizable, he said.That difference has permitted scientific investigation of the phenomenon. Imaging studies have shown increased functional activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in subjects who are highly hypnotizable. The ACC is involved in attention, self-monitoring, and executive control—all functions that are critical for the hypnotic experience.“We respond to perceptions in the posterior portion of the brain and manipulate language in the anterior,” said Spiegel. “Under hypnosis, we respond to language and manipulate perception.”That control of the perceptual process is useful in clinical work by reducing pain and anxiety, as several of Spiegel’s studies have shown. One trial in women with metastatic breast cancer found that after one year, those trained in self-hypnosis recorded half the pain levels of a control group.Another trial was conducted in patients undergoing a painful invasive renal procedure. Patients were divided into three groups. One group received standard treatment while the second got structured attention from a friendly nurse who provided encouragement and avoided negative language. The third group received a course of hypnotic relaxation.Patients in the hypnosis group used just half the pain medication of those getting standard care, said Spiegel. “Their procedures also were completed an average of 17 minutes sooner and had fewer complications.”Hypnosis had other benefits in this trial. The teams treating the hypnotized patients were less anxious, incurred fewer intraoperative negative events, and saved money, he said.Hypnosis can also serve as an anxiolytic by inducing relaxation or dissociation or by alteration of sensory perception. The patient can be induced to feel warmer or cooler, for example, or to focus sensations on another part of the body.Telling patients that “it’s all in your head” is a poor choice, he noted. Better to explain that coping with the situation at hand is a matter of how they manage the interaction between their mind and their body.“Hypnotism is not taking away control from people,” he said. “It’s teaching people control.” ■Spiegel’s lecture “Tranceformation: Hypnosis in Brain and Body” can be accessed here. ISSUES NewArchived

Dynamic equipment workspace generation for improving earthwork safety using real-time location system

Earthwork equipment accounts for a large proportion of the fatalities on construction sites. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the period between 1992 and 2002, struck by vehicles and struck by objects (e.g., vehicle parts, vehicle loads, or falling vehicles) were identified as the causes of 30% and 24% of fatal equipment-related accidents on excavations sites, respectively. It is therefore of a paramount importance to improve the safety of construction sites by increasing the peripheral awareness of the operators of earthwork equipment. Several research works have investigated numerous collision avoidance systems that exploit real-time location systems and proximity measurements to mitigate the risk of accidents on excavation sites. However, these systems often detect collisions based on using the workspaces that only account for the geometry and the degrees of freedom of the equipment, and thus disregard the state-dependent characteristics of equipment. This results in reserving a large space for every piece of equipment, which reduces the applicability of these systems in congested sites. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel method for generating dynamic equipment workspaces based on the continuous monitoring of a spectrum of equipment-related information, i.e., the current pose/state of the equipment, and the speed characteristics of each movement. This method uses the required operation stoppage time to determine how much space needs to be reserved for each piece of equipment. A case study is conducted to validate the proposed method. It is shown that the proposed method has a strong potential in capturing the hazardous areas around the equipment and triggering warnings in view of the impending movements of various pieces of equipment. Also, the proposed method proved to have potential applications in actual projects in congested sites where space is limited.

Dallos Award 2014: Effects on binocular and peripheral visual functions of distance center multifocal soft contact lens designs and significance of add power

Purpose: To investigate the effects on binocular vision and peripheral awareness of distance center multifocal soft contact lenses (MF SCLs) used for myopia control. Method: Twenty-four young adult myopes (18.1–28.6 years; 20 females, 4 males) participated. Baseline acuity, accommodation, near phoria, AC/A, fixation disparity and stereopsis data were collected with single vision distance SCLs. Peripheral visual field detection ability was also assessed using the Useful Field of View test. The samesetofmeasurementswas repeated immediatelyafter subjects were fitted with each of two Proclear distance centre MF SCLs (+1.50 & +3.00 D near adds respectively), and after a 2 week adaptation period of daily wear in each case. The order of testing was randomized and a one-week washout period was allowed between the first and second lens trials. Results: The +3.00 D MF SCLs slightly but significantly reduced both high and low contrast distance acuity by 0.07±0.11 and 0.08±0.11, respectively, while +1.50 D MF SCLs had no significant effect, and near visual acuity was not impaired by either lens design. BothMF lenses also significantly increased accommodative lags, initially by 0.49 D and 0.19 D for the +3.00 and +1.50 D adds respectively, these changes being no longer apparent after 2 weeks of adaptation. The +3.00 D MF SCLs but not the +1.50 D MF SCLs also resulted in significant near exophoric shifts of 3.69 . BothMF SCL designs improved peripheral field detection and were without effect on central field detection. Conclusion: The MF SCL-induced changes in visual acuity were small and do not in themselves argue against the use of the lenses for myopia control. Furthermore, these lenses improved peripheral detection ability, suggesting that the subjects had peripheral hyperopic errors that were reduced or eliminated with the lenses, although peripheral refractions were not measured. Finally given the MF SCL exo shifts in near phoria, myopes with near esophorias and/or fixation disparities are expected to benefitmost, in terms of visual comfort, andperhaps also in terms of improved retinal image quality and myopia control.

Prevalence and correlates of cell phone use among Texas drivers

IntroductionCell phone use while driving restricts peripheral awareness and impairs reaction time. This study assessed the 3-year prevalence of cell phone use (CPU) of drivers and characteristics associated with its use in six cities across Texas, 2011–2013. MethodsCPU and driver characteristics were observed among motor vehicles (n=1280) stopped at major intersections in medical and academic campuses. A multivariable logistic regression model described the association between driver characteristics and CPU. ResultsThe overall prevalence of any CPU was 18.7%. Any type of CPU and talking tended to decline, while texting seemed to increase from 2011 to 2013. CPU was more likely among female drivers (OR=1.63; 95% CI=1.21, 2.20), drivers <25years of age (OR=4.12; 95% CI=2.29, 7.39), and drivers without passengers (OR=4.40; 95% CI=2.82, 6.88). ConclusionDespite its dangers, CPU remains popular among Texas drivers. CPU and texting bans should target public health campaigns towards female and younger drivers.

Mindfulness-based hypnotherapy for common psychological disorders

'Mindfulness' is an essential element of Buddhist meditative practices. It is paying attention to the present moment and to what we experience. Hypnosis is a state of a state of increased suggestibility with constriction of peripheral awareness and increased focal concentration on task at hand. Thus there are many similarities between hypnosis and mindfulness and they are, many a times, complementary. This review article focuses on the applications and evidences for using mindfulness- based hypnotherapy in the management of psychological disorders.

Editorial: Our Enthusiasm for “Related Research”

At Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®, we believe that the effective, complete clinician is one who stays current on the major developments in orthopaedic science. Likewise, the thoughtful bone biologist maintains at least a peripheral awareness of the major breakthroughs in orthopaedic engineering and other related areas of basic science. Unfortunately, our lives are busy, time is short, and it is not always possible for us to keep up with the latest advances. Our goal is to make this task easier for you by publishing the best quality basic science research, and using features and commentaries to make this material as enjoyable and usable as possible. Basic research submitted to CORR® is evaluated by experts. We are fortunate to have among our five senior editors Clare M. Rimnac PhD, who is both an internationally known engineer, and an experienced, skillful medical editor. Dr. Rimnac, a recent past president of the Orthopaedic Research Society and the Associate Dean for Research at Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering, participates in every stage of the basic science article’s “life cycle”—from initial evaluation, through reviewer selection and decision-making, to the final editorial process. Our “related research” standards are no different from those we use for our “clinical orthopaedics.” Our goal is to publish articles—whether clinical or basic—that will affect how we think about important problems that influence our specialty. We take steps to promote the best of these published papers, ensuring that as many readers as possible will enjoy the content. To provide readers additional context, we emphasize some basic science articles with CORR Insights® commentaries, as we did recently highlighting a clinically relevant review of neuronal phenotypes in tendinopathy [4]. We regularly promote these commentaries on our Facebook page and through CORR®’s Twitter feed, which, combined, are seen by thousands of our followers every day. To further raise the visibility of basic science research, we feature the most important articles in our Editor’s Spotlight/Take 5 section, which includes an interview with one or more of the investigators on the research team of a manuscript we have chosen to be particularly interesting to our audience. We recently published an Editor’s Spotlight/Take 5 for a nanoscience article detailing bioreactors [3]; our tracking metrics show that our readers avidly read these features, and the long reach of our publishing partner, Springer©, puts our content at the fingertips of readers in more than 8,000 institutions worldwide. Publish your basic science work in CORR® and it will be seen. As should be evident, we are proud of the basic science research that we publish. We believe articles like the work of Kose et al. [2] and Gurkan et al. [1] will influence thought on the topics of infection prevention nanotechnology, and the signaling pathways associated with osteogenesis, respectively, for years to come. We are also proud to work for a sophisticated, scientifically literate audience. As I write this editorial, a basic science article about a biomaterial-based approach to promote bone formation is on our list of top-3 most-downloaded articles of the week [5]. Our basic science symposium (“Bone Quality – From Bench to Bedside,” CORR® August 2011) is among the most-downloaded symposia we have published in recent years, amassing, on average, nearly 500 downloads per article. For a general-interest orthopaedic journal, that gives you—our readers—some serious intellectual bragging rights. It also confirms what I have always believed: there is a place for well-presented good science in the lives and practices of orthopaedic surgeons and the scientists who work alongside them. If you are a scientist, send us your “related research.” This journal and its readers, are interested. If you are a clinician, look to CORR® for the best, most innovative papers in the orthopaedic basic sciences, along with insightful commentaries and features on these articles. They will help you practice more thoughtfully.

The Sensitivity Training Clown Workshop:Enhancing Therapeutic Communication Skills in Nursing Students

The aim of this study was to examine the long-term effectiveness of the Sensitivity Training Clown Workshop (STCW) provided to 131 baccalaureate nursing students. The STCW was designed and implemented through a collaboration between the artistic director of the Big Apple Circus and nurse faculty to help students understand emotions, learn peripheral awareness skills, and become engaged with patients. Forty participants responded to an 18-month follow-up evaluation survey. The majority of participants reported applying lessons learned in the workshop in their current practice, regardless of their area of nursing employment. The STCW is an effective method of educating nursing students for pediatric practice. The techniques used in the workshop are applicable to other practice settings.

Use of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Pain

Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness that comprises of heightened absorption in focal attention, dissociation of peripheral awareness, and enhanced responsiveness to social cues. Hypnosis has a long tradition of effectiveness in controlling somatic symptoms, such as pain. Pain, the most common symptom in clinical practice, is a multi-dimensional experience, which includes sensory-discriminative, affective-emotional, cognitive and behavioral components. There is a growing recognition for hypnosis and related techniques in pain management. Psychological approaches to pain control, such as hypnosis, can be highly effective analgesics, but are underused in Korea. In this article, we would like to review the basic concepts of hypnosis, the mechanism, and the outcome data of the analgesic effects of hypnosis, and also, its limitations.

Intra-Family Mediated Awareness

The research presented examines how pervasive technology can support intra-family communication, supporting existing practices and complimenting them by addressing communication needs currently unmet by current communication media like mobile phones, social networking systems, and so forth. Specifically the investigation focused on busy families, understood here to be families with two working parents and at least one child sharing the same roof. The class of technologies the authors consider are awareness systems, defined as communication systems that support individuals to maintain, with low effort, a peripheral awareness of each other’s activities and whereabouts. This research combined a variety of research methods including interviews, web surveys, experience sampling, and field testing of functional prototypes of mobile awareness systems. It also involved the development of several applications, which were either seen as research tools in support of the methods applied or as prototypes of awareness systems that embody some of the envisioned characteristics of this emerging class of technologies. The contribution of this research is along two main dimensions. First in identifying intra-family communication needs that drive the adoption of awareness systems and second in providing directions for the design of such systems.

Effects of Age and Soccer Expertise on General Tests of Perceptual and Motor Performance among Adolescent Soccer Players

This study of perceptual and motor skills in soccer players was conducted on adolescent males. The goals were to monitor the development of general perceptual motor skills in nonsoccer-playing and soccer-playing groups (n = 245), to examine the relationship between physical maturity and general perceptual motor skills (n = 41), and to compare the differences in general perceptual motor skills between groups with different soccer expertise (n = 142). The measured variables were simple reaction time, peripheral awareness, eye-hand-foot coordination, and testosterone blood level. The results suggested that general perceptual motor skills improved with age, the development of these skills was related to participants' blood testosterone concentration (especially between 12 and 14 years), and general perceptual motor skills improved with soccer expertise. However, the differences between subelite and elite soccer players were not meaningful enough to encourage practitioners to test general perceptual motor skills on a large scale when evaluating the potential of young players.

GeoHealth: a location-based service for home healthcare workers

We describe a map-based location-based service ‘GeoHealth’ for home healthcare workers who attend patients at home within a large geographical area. Informed by field studies of work activities and interviews with care providers, we have designed a mobile location-based service prototype supporting collaboration through information sharing and distributed electronic patient records. The GeoHealth prototype gives the users live contextual information about patients, coworkers, current and scheduled work activities and alarms adapted to their geographical location. The application is web-based and uses Google Maps, Global Positioning System (GPS) and Web 2.0 technology to provide a lightweight, dynamic and interactive representation of the work domain supporting distributed collaboration, communication and peripheral awareness among nomadic workers. Through a user-based evaluation, we found that the healthcare workers were positive towards the use of location-based services in their work, and that the dynamic and interactive geospatial representation of the work domain provided by GeoHealth supported distributed collaboration, communication and peripheral awareness. We also identified areas for improvements.