Technology-based Solutions Research Articles

Technology-based Solutions in Pandemic Era: A Deep Dive into COVID-19 Management with ChatGPT

Technology-based Solutions in Pandemic Era: A Deep Dive into COVID-19 Management with ChatGPT

Lessons From 3 Longitudinal Sensor-Based Human Behavior Assessment Field Studies and an Approach to Support Stakeholder Management: Content Analysis.

Pervasive technologies are used to investigate various phenomena outside the laboratory setting, providing valuable insights into real-world human behavior and interaction with the environment. However, conducting longitudinal field trials in natural settings remains challenging due to factors such as low recruitment success and high dropout rates due to participation burden or data quality issues with wireless sensing in changing environments. This study gathers insights and lessons from 3 real-world longitudinal field studies assessing human behavior and derives factors that impacted their research success. We aim to categorize challenges, observe how they were managed, and offer recommendations for designing and conducting studies involving human participants and pervasive technology in natural settings. We developed a qualitative coding framework to categorize and address the unique challenges encountered in real-life studies related to influential factor identification, stakeholder management, data harvesting and management, and analysis and interpretation. We applied inductive reasoning to identify issues and related mitigation actions in 3 separate field studies carried out between 2018 and 2022. These 3 field studies relied on gathering annotated sensor data. The topics involved stress and environmental assessment in an office and a school, collecting self-reports and wrist device and environmental sensor data from 27 participants for 3.5 to 7 months; work activity recognition at a construction site, collecting observations and wearable sensor data from 15 participants for 3 months; and stress recognition in location-independent knowledge work, collecting self-reports and computer use data from 57 participants for 2 to 5 months. Our key extension for the coding framework used a stakeholder identification method to identify the type and role of the involved stakeholder groups, evaluating the nature and degree of their involvement and influence on the field trial success. Our analysis identifies 17 key lessons related to planning, implementing, and managing a longitudinal, sensor-based field study on human behavior. The findings highlight the importance of recognizing different stakeholder groups, including those not directly involved but whose areas of responsibility are impacted by the study and therefore have the power to influence it. In general, customizing communication strategies to engage stakeholders on their terms and addressing their concerns and expectations is essential, while planning for dropouts, offering incentives for participants, conducting field tests to identify problems, and using tools for quality assurance are relevant for successful outcomes. Our findings suggest that field trial implementation should include additional effort to clarify the expectations of stakeholders and to communicate with them throughout the process. Our framework provides a structured approach that can be adopted by other researchers in the field, facilitating robust and comparable studies across different contexts. Constantly managing the possible challenges will lead to better success in longitudinal field trials and developing future technology-based solutions.

Techno-optimism versus techno-reality: an analysis of internationally funded technological solutions against illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Ghana and Guinea-Bissau

ABSTRACT Maritime governance has been immersed in growing techno-optimism. Technological developments have largely increased the capacity of states to render legible activities at sea and thus more effectively govern them. One area in which such techno-optimism has gained force but is yet to prove itself is the fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. While technology-aided international cooperation has been crucial in curbing piracy, it has been slower to tame IUU fishing. In this article, we study international projects introducing technology-based solutions against IUU fishing in West Africa. Triangulating project documentation, donor evaluations, interviews, and other secondary sources, we assess how the techno-optimism driving those initiatives meets the techno-reality of their contexts of implementation. We find that, while grounds for optimism are far from unwarranted, realizing the potential of technological solutions against IUU fishing requires securing parallel cooperation that allows states to transform technology-based awareness into action.

AI-CiciBot as Conversational Partners in EFL Education, focusing on Intelligent Technology Adoption (ITA) to Mollify Speaking Anxiety

This study examines the role of AI-CiciBot as a conversational partner in mitigating speaking anxiety among Indonesian EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students. The aim is to explore the integration of intelligent technology adoption (ITA) into classrooms to enhance language learning and reduce anxiety during speaking activities. The primary gap addressed in this research is the lack of technology-based solutions for oral language practice in Indonesia, where traditional curricula emphasize reading and writing over speaking. This study aims to fill the gap by introducing AI-CiciBot, a novel AI-powered conversational tool that provides a supportive, low-pressure environment for students to practice speaking English. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from pre-test and post-test scores and qualitative insights from student interviews. The research tools include a questionnaire and an AI-CiciBot platform for speaking practice. IBM SPSS Statistics analyzed the data, focusing on students' speaking performance and anxiety levels before and after using AI-CiciBot. Findings in this study show a significant improvement in students' speaking skills and a reduction in anxiety. The mean score for pre-tests was 49.17, which increased to 90.47 in post-tests, indicating AI-CiciBot's effectiveness. Interviews revealed that students initially hesitant to engage in speaking activities due to fear of judgment became more confident and willing to participate after practicing with the AI bot. This study contributes to the field of EFL education by demonstrating the potential of AI-driven tools like AI-CiciBot to address speaking anxiety and improve oral proficiency. It also highlights the importance of ITA in encouraging students to embrace AI-based learning solutions. To maximize learning outcomes, future research should investigate the long-term impact of AI-CiciBot on students' speaking proficiency and its integration with human instructors.

Adoption of mobile dementia prevention services for middle-aged and older adults: applying the theory of coping strategies for dementia risks.

The prevalence of dementia is increasing due to the aging population, leading to significant investments in information technology-based dementia care solutions such as mobile dementia prevention services (MDPS). These services aim to facilitate early diagnosis and prevent cognitive decline, with the ultimate goal of reducing medical costs. This study examines how aging individuals perceive and evaluate MDPS and how these perceptions influence their adoption intentions. Drawing from a coping perspective, we analyze the impact of susceptibility and severity dimensions in dementia risk perception on the perceived usefulness and self-incongruence in MDPS adoption. Focusing on middle-aged and older adults aged 55 and above, the study reveals significant but contrasting effects of susceptibility and severity. Perceived susceptibility of dementia is associated with emotion-focused coping, positively influencing self-incongruence with MDPS. Perceived severity of dementia is linked to problem-focused coping, negatively impacting self-incongruence but positively influencing the perceived usefulness of MDPS, promoting adoption. These findings provide insights into promoting MDPS by considering dementia risk perceptions and contribute to the development of effective dementia-related strategies for aging individuals.

Perceived Acceptability of Technology Modalities for the Provision of Universal Child and Family Health Nursing Support in the First 6-8 Months After Birth: Cross-Sectional Study.

Child and Family Health Nursing (CFHN) services provide universal care to families during the first 2000 days (conception: 5 years) to support optimal health and developmental outcomes of children in New South Wales, Australia. The use of technology represents a promising means to encourage family engagement with CFHN services and enable universal access to evidenced-based age and stage information. Currently, there is little evidence exploring the acceptability of various models of technology-based support provided during the first 2000 days, as well as the maternal characteristics that may influence this. This study aims to describe (1) the acceptability of technology-based models of CFHN support to families in the first 6 months, and (2) the association between the acceptability of technology-based support and maternal characteristics. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken between September and November 2021 with women who were 6-8 months post partum within the Hunter New England Local Health District of New South Wales, Australia. Survey questions collected information on maternal demographics and pregnancy characteristics, perceived stress, access to CFHN services, as well as preferences and acceptability of technology-based support. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the sample, the proportion of women accessing CFHN services, maternal acceptability of technology-based support from CFHN services, and the appropriateness of timing of support. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to assess the association between maternal characteristics and the acceptability of technology-based CFHN support. A total of 365 women participated in the study, most were 25 to 34 years old (n=242, 68%), had completed tertiary level education or higher (n=250, 71%), and were employed or on maternity leave (n=280, 78%). Almost all (n=305, 89%) women reported accessing CFHN services in the first 6 months following their child's birth. The majority of women (n=282-315, 82%-92%) "strongly agreed or agreed" that receiving information from CFHN via technology would be acceptable, and most (n=308) women "strongly agreed or agreed" with being provided information on a variety of relevant health topics. Acceptability of receiving information via websites was significantly associated with maternal employment status (P=.01). The acceptability of receiving support via telephone and email was significantly associated with maternal education level (adjusted odds ratio 2.64, 95% CI 1.07-6.51; P=.03 and adjusted odds ratio 2.90, 95% CI 1.20-7.00; P=.02, respectively). Maternal age was also associated with the acceptability of email support (P=.04). Technology-based CFHN support is generally acceptable to mothers. Maternal characteristics, including employment status, education level, and age, were found to modify the acceptability of specific technology modalities. The findings of this research should be considered when designing technology-based solutions to providing universal age and stage child health and developmental support for families during the first 2000 days.

Development Trends and Prospects of Technology-Based Solutions for Health Challenges in Aging Over the Past 25 Years: Bibliometric Analysis.

As the global population ages, we witness a broad scientific and technological revolution tailored to meet the health challenges of older adults. Over the past 25 years, technological innovations, ranging from advanced medical devices to user-friendly mobile apps, are transforming the way we address these challenges, offering new avenues to enhance the quality of life and well-being of the aging demographic. This study aimed to systematically review the development trends in technology for managing and caring for the health of older adults over the past 25 years and to project future development prospects. We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of literatures related to technology-based solutions for health challenges in aging, published up to March 18, 2024. The search was performed using the Web of Science Core Collection, covering a span from 1999 to 2024. Our search strategy was designed to capture a broad spectrum of terms associated with aging, health challenges specific to older adults, and technological interventions. A total of 1133 publications were found in the Web of Science Core Collection. The publication trend over these 25 years showed a gradual but fluctuating increase. The United States was the most productive country and participated in international collaboration most frequently. The predominant keywords identified through this analysis included "dementia," "telemedicine," "older-adults," "telehealth," and "care." The keywords with citation bursts included "telemedicine" and "digital health." The scientific and technological revolution has significantly improved older adult health management, particularly in chronic disease monitoring, mobility, and social connectivity. The momentum for innovation continues to build, with future research likely to focus on predictive analytics and personalized health care solutions, further enhancing older adults' independence and quality of life.

US urban land-use reform: a strategy for energy sufficiency

Policy approaches to the global energy transition often focus on technology-based solutions while ignoring challenges of overall energy demand. A sufficiency-first approach aims to limit superfluous consumption while achieving wellbeing for all. This study focuses on US built environment mechanisms of sufficiency under urban land-use policy. The historical context of US exclusionary and car-oriented planning is reviewed with an order-of-magnitude assessment of the effects on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). Using national vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) data derived from mobile device locations (Replica) and validated here with federal data, a hypothetical scenario explores the potential for state urban land-use reforms to enable energy sufficiency. Tenth percentile-VMT (per capita) neighborhoods are defined by state: in 47 states, the typical such neighborhood has less than 33% of its housing units in structures larger than four units. Assuming each state redresses its housing shortage while matching this VMT, 31 Mt CO2e (direct GHGE) and about 38 Mt CO2e (indirect and life-cycle GHGE) would be avoided in 2033. Texas, California, and Florida have the largest absolute emissions reduction opportunity. Urban land-use reforms comprise a logical starting point for a US sufficiency agenda. Key priorities for research, data collection, and technology and policy innovation are proposed. Policy relevance International climate policy is increasingly focused on enabling people to consume less energy: not just technological ‘efficiency’ but ‘sufficiency’ is needed. However, sufficiency has seen little uptake in the US. It may be more relevant to US policymakers if related to the growing momentum for reforming land-use planning and housing policy to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis. This crisis stems in part from the US prevalence of single-family zoning and car-centric planning, rooted in a history of racial segregation; these same laws effectively mandate people to maintain more polluting lifestyles. This study estimates how much climate pollution could be avoided with state-led land-use reform. If states committed to solving the housing shortage while building new housing in neighborhoods where people can drive less, the savings could be comparable with expanding electric vehicle policies. Policymakers and practitioners can enable these reforms while supporting complementary policy goals.

The state of (mis) trust: Human-centered technology development & implementation in intensive mental health settings

Innovative technology-based solutions in mental healthcare promise significant improvements in care quality and clinical outcomes. However, their successful implementation is profoundly influenced by the levels of trust patients hold toward their treatment providers, organizations, and the technology itself. This paper delves into the complexities of building and assessing patient trust within the intensive mental health care context, focusing on inpatient settings. We explore the multifaceted nature of trust, including interpersonal, institutional, and technological trust. We highlight the crucial role of therapeutic trust, which comprises both interpersonal trust between patients and providers, and institutional trust in treatment organizations. The manuscript identifies potential key barriers to trust, from sociocultural background to a patient's psychopathology. Furthermore, it examines the concept of technological trust, emphasizing the influence of digital literacy, socio-economic status, and user experience on patients' acceptance of digital health innovations. By emphasizing the importance of assessing and addressing the state of trust among patients, the overarching goal is to leverage digital innovations to enhance mental healthcare outcomes within intensive mental health settings.

Addressing Adolescent Smoking Cessation through Innovative Approaches: A Call for Action

The issue of adolescent smoking represents a significant challenge to global public health, contributing markedly to the burden of disease and mortality on a global scale. Despite the implementation of numerous strategies to reduce tobacco consumption, the prevalence of smoking among adolescents remains a significant concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The use of tobacco during adolescence not only increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer but also presents challenges to smoking cessation due to the addictive properties of nicotine and the sociocultural factors influencing youth behavior. This paper is expected to offer valuable insights into the potential of technology-based solutions to support smoking cessation among adolescents, contributing to broader efforts to reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality on a global scale.

Artificial intelligence and the politics of avoidance in global health

For decades, global health actors have centered technology in their interventions. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the latest technology-based solution in global health. Yet, AI, like other technological interventions, is not a comprehensive solution to the fundamental determinants of global health inequities. This article gathers and critically appraises grey and peer-reviewed literature on AI in global health to explore the question: What is avoided when global health prioritizes technological solutions to problems with deep-seated political, economic, and commercial determinants?Our literature search and selection yielded 34 documents, which we analyzed to develop seven areas where AI both continues and disrupts past legacies of technological interventions in global health, with significant implications for health equity and human rights. By focusing on the power dynamics that underpin AI's expansion in global health, we situate it as the latest in a long line of technological interventions that avoids addressing the fundamental determinants of health inequities, albeit at times differently than its technology-based predecessors. We call this phenomenon the ‘politics of avoidance.’ We conclude with reflections on how the literature we reviewed engages with and recognizes the politics of avoidance and with suggestions for future research, practice, and advocacy.

Ameliorating Racial Disparities in HIV Prevention via a Nurse-Led, AI-Enhanced Program for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Utilization Among Black Cisgender Women: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a critical biomedical strategy to prevent HIV transmission among cisgender women. Despite its proven effectiveness, Black cisgender women remain significantly underrepresented throughout the PrEP care continuum, facing barriers such as limited access to care, medical mistrust, and intersectional racial or HIV stigma. Addressing these disparities is vital to improving HIV prevention outcomes within this community. On the other hand, nurse practitioners (NPs) play a pivotal role in PrEP utilization but are underrepresented due to a lack of awareness, a lack of human resources, and insufficient support. Equipped with the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced large language models, chatbots effectively facilitate health care communication and linkage to care in various domains, including HIV prevention and PrEP care. Our study harnesses NPs' holistic care capabilities and the power of AI through natural language processing algorithms, providing targeted, patient-centered facilitation for PrEP care. Our overarching goal is to create a nurse-led, stakeholder-inclusive, and AI-powered program to facilitate PrEP utilization among Black cisgender women, ultimately enhancing HIV prevention efforts in this vulnerable group in 3 phases. This project aims to mitigate health disparities and advance innovative, technology-based solutions. The study uses a mixed methods design involving semistructured interviews with key stakeholders, including 50 PrEP-eligible Black women, 10 NPs, and a community advisory board representing various socioeconomic backgrounds. The AI-powered chatbot is developed using HumanX technology and SmartBot360's Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant framework to ensure data privacy and security. The study spans 18 months and consists of 3 phases: exploration, development, and evaluation. As of May 2024, the institutional review board protocol for phase 1 has been approved. We plan to start recruitment for Black cisgender women and NPs in September 2024, with the aim to collect information to understand their preferences regarding chatbot development. While institutional review board approval for phases 2 and 3 is still in progress, we have made significant strides in networking for participant recruitment. We plan to conduct data collection soon, and further updates on the recruitment and data collection progress will be provided as the study advances. The AI-powered chatbot offers a novel approach to improving PrEP care utilization among Black cisgender women, with opportunities to reduce barriers to care and facilitate a stigma-free environment. However, challenges remain regarding health equity and the digital divide, emphasizing the need for culturally competent design and robust data privacy protocols. The implications of this study extend beyond PrEP care, presenting a scalable model that can address broader health disparities. PRR1-10.2196/59975.

Generative AI and training employees with special needs

PurposeThe viewpoint paper aims to highlight the assistive role that Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) can play in the design of learning and development programs for employees with special needs. The article discusses the challenges, benefits and reasons why Gen AI should be used to manage diversity, equity and inclusion by creating personalized and customized training and development programs.Design/methodology/approachThe viewpoint paper is based on reviewing articles and videos on the application of Gen AI in learning and development.FindingsGen AI offers immense opportunities to design personalized learning solutions for employees with special needs due to disability that can be physical or cognitive. The AI-based solutions support special learners by customizing assistive technology-based solutions and content based on the level of disability and need of the learner. This paper also highlights the importance of synergy between the training department, government and technology solution providers.Originality/valueThe viewpoint paper fills in an important gap by discussing the role that Gen AI can play by facilitating the learning and development of employees with unique skills.

Interventions for Assessment and Enhancement of Pain Management Competencies among Healthcare Professionals

To pain management competencies among healthcare professionals is crucial for improving patient care and outcomes. Healthcare professionals must possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and techniques to effectively manage and treat pain in their patients. This includes understanding different types of pain, assessing pain levels, and utilizing appropriate interventions. By accurately assessing pain levels and implementing a multimodal approach to pain management, healthcare professionals can optimize patient outcomes and minimize risks. Effective communication skills and staying updated on the latest evidence-based practices are also essential. Continuous education and professional development are vital for healthcare professionals to enhance their pain management competencies and deliver the best possible care.Include training healthcare professionals in pain assessment techniques, educating them on the multidimensional nature of pain, providing resources and tools for accurate and comprehensive pain evaluation, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance pain management strategies, fostering a patient-centered approach that values the individual's self-reporting of pain, promoting ongoing education and professional development to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills, conducting regular assessments and evaluations to monitor the effectiveness of pain assessment training programs, and supporting a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in pain assessment practices. Additionally, technology-based solutions such as electronic pain diaries and telemedicine can be utilized to enhance pain assessment and monitoring capabilities.Include successful implementation and execution of transformative educational programs, catering to diverse learner needs. These initiatives foster holistic learning, instilling a love for knowledge in students. Outcomes show remarkable progress, enhanced critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Innovative teaching and cutting-edge technologies empower countless individuals, unlocking their potential and achieving academic excellence. Collaborative approach establishes a foundation for lifelong learning and personal development. Equipped with acquired knowledge and skills, individuals make a lasting impact in their fields, shaping a brighter future for themselves and society.Pain management is an incredibly crucial aspect of healthcare, and it is absolutely essential for healthcare professionals to possess the necessary competencies to accurately assess and greatly enhance their ability to provide highly effective pain management interventions. Ensuring that patients receive optimal pain relief and care should be a top priority for all healthcare providers, as it positively contributes to their overall wellbeing and enhances the quality of their medical treatment. Therefore, healthcare professionals must continuously invest time and effort in expanding their knowledge and skills related to pain management to ensure they can deliver the highest level of care to their patients. By doing so, we can strive towards a healthcare system that prioritizes pain management and empowers healthcare professionals to make a significant difference in their patients' lives.

Fintech for Sustainability in Business and Economics Research

Purpose: Fintech for sustainability is pivotal for business and economics as it harnesses technology to drive environmentally and socially responsible practices while enhancing economic efficiency and growth. This paper discusses the research trends and future research implications of fintech in sustainable economic operations. Methods: This study extracted scholarly articles from the Scopus database and adopted the PRISMA framework and bibliographic analysis to uncover publication trends, research, affiliation, geographical circumstances, keywords trends, thematic trends, and bibliographic coupling to assess current practices and pinpoint future research directions of fintech to adopt the wider sustainability practices in business and economy. Results: Steady progress has been made in developing fintech applications to achieve sustainability. There is notable research collaboration in both developing and developed economies. Recent keyword trends indicate a growing interest in sustainability and digital transformation. The thematic map demonstrates that the digital economy is a well-established topic. However, there is a need for new research in financial technology-based climate solutions to address significant sustainability gaps. This study identified the impact of emerging financial technologies on sustainability as a widely researched area. We suggested the connection between sustainability and the fintech ecosystem, sustainable financial inclusion, open fintech innovation, and fintech stability as potential areas for future research to expedite fintech adoption in sustainability goals. Implications: Researchers, regulators, and policymakers can utilize the conclusions drawn from the research questions to craft a distinctive framework outlining strategic approaches and actionable plans for developing fintech policies that facilitate faster adoption of sustainability practices.

The Development of Android Based on Legal Protection System for Women and Children

The issue of protecting women and children is becoming a concern in many parts of the world, including Indonesia. Applications can help women and children face dangerous conditions, increase public awareness, and empower them in handling cases of sexual harassment, requiring alternative technology-based solutions. The research method is juridical-empirical using a positivism paradigm, with a population of Pontianak city. Data was collected through literature study, documentation, and questionnaires. The legal protection for women and children in Pontianak City in terms of overcoming violence was found to be good, The community believed that the government was not adequately addressing incidences of abuse against women and children. Supporting factors suggest that the public can be helped by reporting acts of violence online.

Elderly patients' reactions to gamification-based digital therapeutics (DTx): The relevance of socialization tendency seeking

The acceptance of new technologies by elderly individuals has been long debated in literature, showing barriers in their adoption. However, recent technology features such as gamification have been promising a great deal of impact on their intention to use new technology-based solutions. Particularly in the healthcare sector, gamification has been suggested to increase elderly individuals' intention to use digital therapeutics. However, in the attempt to incentivize the adoption of these new technological innovations, the importance of socialization has been advanced as a further reinforcement mechanism by improving the social interactions of elderly patients thanks to the connections with young or expert people. In this paper, we aim to investigate whether the use of gamification affects elderly patients' intention to use new digital therapeutics (DTx) trying to shed lights on the importance of socialization as a winning strategy to boost their adoption. Through an explorative research design, we conducted a study among a selected group of 168 elderly participants. Our findings reveal that these patients' perceived ease of use gamification-based digital therapeutics positively affects their intention to use, via the perceived usefulness of such new technological features. More importantly, we find that this effect increases in magnitude as elderly patients' socialization tendency seeking increases, revealing the importance of socialization-oriented strategies in stimulating elderly's positive reactions to technological tools. This results in a higher willingness to adopt new digital healthcare therapeutics. Implications for both theory and practices emerge from this research.

Blockchain Solutions for Authorization and Authentication

Recently, most people have been looking for smart services that allow them to do their daily services directly without having to visit local businesses and providers [1]. As observed in recent times, citizens can now apply to open their own commercial file or obtain a passport without having to visit the country's economic institution or the Immigration and Passports headquarters. Additionally, applying or opening accounts in virtual banks also added a lot of services and facilities for users and transactions between countries that can be rapidly provisioned with minimal effort [2]. All these transactions require the user's authentication and identity verification to avoid any personal fraud and save the user's rightsBlockchain technology stands out as one of the most secure technologies available enabling secure transactions without the need for a central authority. Starting in 2009 1, with Bitcoin leveraging blockchain technology, there has been an increasing number of blockchain technology-based solutions. The significance of this work compared to its predecessors is that it uses an existing product and technology to prove the solutions offered by Blockchain and find a solution for authorization and authentication.

Revitalising Endangered Languages: Challenges, Successes, and Cultural Implications

Language is a cornerstone of cultural identity, yet many of the world's languages are at risk of disappearing, either historically or as a result of deliberate actions by aggressive neighboring states, if not appropriately addressed. This paper examined worldwide endeavors to safeguard endangered languages and the cultural customs interwoven with them, using a case study of Ukraine and Russia. By conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses of the obtained data, the study focused on the case study design, based on document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and structured surveys. The findings highlighted the key successes in language revitalisation, mainly focusing on educational initiatives and technology-based solutions. Efforts such as community-led language schools, language documentation projects, and digital platforms have demonstrated potential in maintaining Ukrainian as a presently endangered language in territories militarily occupied by Russia and previously annexed areas, providing direct communication channels to counter an aggressor's objectives. Additionally, the role of government policies and international organisations in supporting language preservation was analysed, revealing how collaborative approaches can foster linguistic and cultural resilience. Significant challenges were identified. These challenges encompassed inadequate funding and limited local and global community engagement, and the complex dynamics of cultural assimilation because of fear and threat to life in the occupied lands. Moreover, the impact of language extinction on the cultural survival of minority groups (those few Ukrainian speaking or bilingual – Ukrainian and Russian, speaking people with the core values of the Ukrainian culture and identity) is profound, often leading to a loss of unique worldviews, oral traditions, and identity. The paper concluded with recommendations for future initiatives in language revitalisation, emphasising the need for holistic approaches that integrate the cultural understanding, technology, and community empowerment. It was contended that by tackling these issues, stakeholders can play a role in preserving not just languages but also the diverse tapestry of cultures they embody.

Creating a Roadmap to Forecast Future Directions in Vertical Green Structures as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy: A Critical Review of Technology-Driven Applications

Urbanization exacerbates climate change impacts, making it crucial to develop innovative strategies for adaptation and mitigation. In this context, the “smartness” concept must be seen as the technical capability to forecast and adapt to changing conditions while maintaining livability and safety. This paper investigates the use of Vertical Green Structures (VGSs) as a mitigation strategy. Through a critical review of technology-driven applications, this research identifies key motivations and challenges in VGSs’ technological integration and implementation, governance frameworks, and community engagement. Methodologically, it employs a critical case analysis and categorizes the technologies based on multicriteria; it also explores the potential to implement smart green infrastructure (GI) in cities and the GI urban governance that was developed in previous decades to adopt these systems at an urban scale and increase the community’s awareness of them. The findings reveal diverse motivations driving technology and VGS integration, ranging from economic incentives to environmental sustainability. Additionally, this contribution explores possible future directions for VGSs and highlights three scenarios derived after the multidimensional impacts of climate change with their pros and cons in future cities. Multidisciplinary collaboration emerges as a crucial factor in optimizing technology implementations in VGSs and fostering a transition from nature-based solutions to technology-based solutions in urban sustainability initiatives.