Results Of Subjective Ratings Research Articles

Influence of the crossmodal congruency between color and flavor on product evaluations: Evidence from behavioral and oscillatory brain responses

People often associate features or stimuli across senses, and these crossmodal correspondences also function as criteria for judging whether a pair of features or stimuli is crossmodally congruent or incongruent. We conducted two studies to examine whether the crossmodal congruency between a drink color and a flavor could also elicit more positive ratings of this drink. In Study 1, the experimental task was to simultaneously view a photo of a colored drink and to taste a beverage whose flavor was either congruent or incongruent with the color. Consequently, the color-flavor congruent drinks received more positive ratings than the color-flavor incongruent ones. In Study 2, we conducted an EEG experiment to investigate both behavioral and oscillatory brain responses to the crossmodal congruency between the successively presented color and flavor. The results of subjective ratings did not reveal any significant difference between the color-flavor congruent and incongruent stimuli. However, the time–frequency analyses on the EEG data revealed that rating the color-flavor incongruent beverages elicited greater alpha band power in the parietal region, compared to the color-flavor congruent stimuli. Collectively, these findings revealed the influence of color-flavor congruency on the subjective ratings of beverages, and demonstrated how this effect was modulated by the temporal synchrony of the color and flavor cues.

The Role of Gesture Types and Spatial Feedback in Haptic Communication.

The sense of touch is a fundamental part of social interaction as even a short touch from another person can elicit emotional experiences. Previous studies on haptic communication indicate that the benefits of interpersonal touch exist even when touch is artificially mediated between people that are physically apart. In the current study an evaluation of three input gestures (i.e., moving, squeezing, and stroking) was conducted to identify preferred methods for creating haptic messages using a hand-held device. Furthermore, two output methods (i.e., one or four haptic actuators) were investigated in order to determine whether representing spatial properties of input gestures haptically provides additional benefit for communication. Participants created haptic messages in four example communication scenarios. The results of subjective ratings, postexperimental interviews, and observations showed that squeezing and stroking were the preferred ways to interact with the device. Squeezing was an unobtrusive and quick way to create haptic content. Stroking, on the other hand, enabled crafting of more detailed haptic messages. Spatial haptic output was appreciated especially when using the stroking method. These findings can help in designing haptic communication methods for hand-held devices.

Image Quality of a Mobile Display under Different Illuminations

This study constructed the image quality models for a small mobile display under different ambient illumination levels using Group Method and Data Handling (GMDH) and described the relationship between perceived image quality and physical measurements. 33 college students took part in this experiment and were asked to evaluate the image quality under 1500 lux (typical indoor office illumination) and 7000 lux (simulated outdoor environment) in Stage One and Stage Two, respectively. In each stage, the participants had to evaluate 21 images. 17 sets of the data as a training set were used to build the model and four sets of the data as a testing set were used to verify the model. The results indicated that the effects of luminance, contrast, correlated color temperature (CCT), and resolution were significant on perceived image quality under 1500 lux. However, color temperature was not a significant physical characteristic, and an interaction between luminance and contrast was found below 7000 lux. From the results of the experiment, it is considered that the outdoor environment (7000 lux) is not suitable for using mobile displays. Finally, once a valid image quality model is built, the subjective image quality can be established when the measurements of significant physical characteristics are provided. The results of subjective ratings can also be provided for mobile display manufacturers to improve the product quality so that their products can meet customers' requirements.

Early Symptomatic Presbyopes—What Correction Modality Works Best?

To compare the performance of a low-addition silicone hydrogel multifocal soft lens with other soft lens correction options in a group of habitual soft lens wearers of distance correction who are symptomatic of early presbyopia. This clinical study was designed as a prospective, double-masked, randomized, crossover, dispensing trial consisting of four 1-week phases, one for each of the correction modalities: a low-addition silicone hydrogel multifocal soft lens, monovision, habitual correction, and optimized distance visual correction. The prescriptions of all modalities were finalized at a single fitting visit, and the lenses were worn according to a randomized schedule. All lenses were made from lotrafilcon B material. A series of objective vision tests were conducted: high- and low-contrast LogMAR under high- and low-room lighting conditions, stereopsis, and critical print size. A number of other data collection methods used were novel: some data were collected under controlled laboratory-based conditions and others under "real-world" conditions, some of which were completed on a BlackBerry hand-held communication device. All participants were able to be fit with all four correction modalities. Objective vision tests showed no statistical difference between the lens modalities except in the case of low-contrast near LogMAR acuity under low-lighting levels where monovision (+0.29 +/- 0.10) performed better than the multifocal (+0.33 +/- 0.11, P=0.027) and the habitual (+0.37 +/- 0.12, P<0.001) modalities. Subjective ratings indicated a statistically better performance provided by the multifocal correction compared with monovision, particularly for the vision associated with driving tasks such as driving during the daytime (93.3 +/- 8.8 vs. 84.2 +/- 23.7, P=0.05), at nighttime (88.8 +/- 11.7 vs. 74.9 +/- 23.6, P=0.001), any associated haloes or glare (92.0 +/- 10.6 vs. 78.0 +/- 22.8, P=0.003), and observing road signs (90.1 +/- 11.8 vs. 79.4 +/- 20.2, P=0.027). Preference for the multifocal compared with monovision was also reported when watching television (95.0 +/- 6.4 vs. 82.6 +/- 20.1, P=0.001) and when changing focus from distance to near (87.0 +/- 13.4 vs. 66.1 +/- 32.2, P<0.001). For this group of early presbyopes, the AIR OPTIX AQUA MULTIFOCAL--Low Add provided a successful option for visual correction, which was supported by the results of subjective ratings, many of which were made during or immediately after performing such activities as reading, using a computer, watching television, and driving. These results suggest that making a prediction of "success or not" based on consulting room acuity tests alone is probably unwise.

동적 체압 분포를 이용한 운전 자세 변화와 요추지지대의 정량적 평가

Although body pressure distribution is sensitive to movements and is relatively simple to measure even in small space, there are few researches involving applications to driver's posture and its change. The main objective in this study is the application of body pressure distribution measurements for the prediction of the driver's posture and its change. This requires quantitative analyses of the dynamic body pressure distribution, which is the change of body pressure distribution with time. The experiment involved 16 male subjects who drove for 45 minutes in a seating buck. Measurement time, stature group, and lumbar support prominence were selected as independent variables, with subjective ratings of driver's discomfort, body posture data of hip, torso. knee angle, and body pressure data variables as dependent variables. The body pressure change variables and subjective ratings were found to increase as the measurement time increased and body pressure ratio variables reflected the torso angle. From the results and analysis of the body posture data and subjective rating results, it was predicted that the seats and the design of the lumbar supports used in the experiment was not fit for tall subjects, which could also be confirmed through the body pressure distribution data.

AN ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF FOUR FEMALE SHOES: FRICTION COEFFICIENTS OF THE SOLES ON THE FLOORS AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ACTIVITIES IN THE SHANK WHEN WALKING

ABSTRACT There are two commonly held beliefs concerning high-heeled shoes for females. The first is that high-heeled shoes are prone to cause slipping accidents. The second is that high-heeled shoes heighten the muscular load on the lower legs more than low-heeled shoes. Reports on high-heeled shoe slip resistance assessment together with a discussion on leg muscular activities when wearing high heels are, however, rare in the literature. This study assessed four commonly used female shoes, two high heels and two flat-soled shoes on four floor tiles via friction measurements and a gait experiment. In the gait experiment, the electromyographic (EMG) activities of the four muscles on the right shank of the subjects were recorded. Subjective ratings for shoe/floor slipperiness and the muscular effort in the right shank were also collected. The friction measurement results showed that the coefficient of friction (COF) for the rubber-soled high-heeled shoes was significantly lower than that for the other three shoes. Conversely, the COF for the polyurethane-soled high-heeled shoes was significantly greater than that for the other three shoes. The gait experiment results showed that high-heeled shoes resulted in significantly greater normalized EMG for the tibialis anterior, peroneus longus and soleus in the right shank during walking. The subjective rating results showed that high heels were unfavorable in terms of both slip-resistance and muscular effort in the right shank. Based on assessment of the four shoes, wearing flat-soled shoes, compared to the high heels, has the benefits of lower shank muscular load and proper slip resistance. This study provides a scientific basis for shoe designers when designing suitable female footwear concerning slip resistance and the muscular load on the lower legs.

Determination of Optimal Handle Sizes by use of Normalized Hand Sizes in a Pulling Task

Two handle shapes (double frustum and oval) with different sizes, resulting in a total of 10 handles were tested to determine optimal handle sizes in a pulling task. Force data were collected by force sensitive resistors (FSR), which were placed on the palmar surface of the fingers. Subjective ratings of discomfort were also recorded for each handle. The results of subjective ratings showed that medium sized-handles were described as being more comfortable than the other sizes, and double frustum handles required less finger forces than oval handles. ‘Normalized Hand Size (NHS)’, which is the ratio of handle circumference to user's hand length was applied to predict the optimum handle size for the subjective ratings as well as finger forces in a pulling task according to the user's hand size. in oval handles, generally medium handles showed higher preference and required less finger forces than large handles. in case of the double frustum handles, the 60.9% NHS was the best ratio for the least subjective discomfort ratings and the 58.1% NHS was recommendable for the least finger force requiring in a pulling task. Based on the results of NHS study, 34.4∼38.1 mm and 31.4∼35.0 mm were recommended for middle hand size groups of male and female, respectively. The optimum handle sizes for the males were about 8.1∼8.7% larger than that of the female.

Psychophysical RMS Granularity for the Evaluation of Radiographic Mottle

AbstractThe psychophysical RMS (root mean square) granularity ap is proposed for the evaluation of radiographic mottle, i.e., the granularity appearing in a radiograph made with an X-ray screen-film system. The value of is calculated from the Wiener spectrum of the radiographic mottle and the frequency dependence of the minimum perceptible contrast, which expresses a psychophysical property of human vision. Examples are presen ted for three typical X-ray films. The density dependence of a,, is in close agreement with the results of subjective rating that (V the most perceptible density is 1.0 and (2) the perceptibility at density 2.5 is much worse than that at 0.6. Whereas the Selwyn granularity coefficient, which relates to the physical RMS granularity, does not correlate with the results of subjective rating.

The use of subjective rating.

Abstract To evaluate work load in ATC-tasks the method of subjective rating has been applied in addition to the recording of physiological data and objective work factors. A scoring method and a procedure for observer rating have been used to record variations in the subjective feeling of work load. The results of subjective rating have been related to different measures of information processing. Some problems concerning the influence of individual capacity in the procedure of observer rating for the evaluation of work load and the difficulties in defining ‘ difficulty of the control task ’ are discussed.