Cognitive Analyses for Interface Design Using Dual N-Back Tasks for Mental Workload (MWL) Evaluation.

In the manufacturing environments of today, human-machine systems are constituted with complex and advanced technology, which demands workers' considerable mental workload. This work aims to design and evaluate a Graphical User Interface developed to induce mental workload based on Dual N-Back tasks for further analysis of human performance. This study's contribution lies in developing proper cognitive analyses of the graphical user interface, identifying human error when the Dual N-Back tasks are presented in an interface, and seeking better user-system interaction. Hierarchical task analysis and the Task Analysis Method for Error Identification were used for the cognitive analysis. Ten subjects participated voluntarily in the study, answering the NASA-TLX questionnaire at the end of the task. The NASA-TLX results determined the subjective participants' mental workload proving that the subjects were induced to different levels of mental workload (Low, Medium, and High) based on the ANOVA statistical results using the mean scores obtained and cognitive analysis identified redesign opportunities for graphical user interface improvement.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the trust between People and Automation Scale (TPAS) in Chinese adults

Trust in automation plays a leading role in human-automation interaction. As there lack of scales measuring trust in automation in China, the purpose of this study was to adapt the trust between People and Automation Scale (TPAS) into Chinese and to demonstrate its psychometric properties among Chinese adults. A total of 310 Chinese adults were randomly selected as sample 1, and 508 Chinese adults as sample 2. Results of the item analysis revealed that each item had a good quality, and the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested that the two-factor model with 12 items was the best fitting model. In addition, the TPAS was positively correlated with Interpersonal Trust Scale (ITS), proving good evidence based on relations to other variables to support the TPAS. In sum, the study suggested that the Chinese version of the TPAS could be used as an effective tool to assess trust in automation in the Chinese context.

A novel way to validate UAS-based high-throughput phenotyping protocols using in silico experiments for plant breeding purposes.

KEY MESSAGE: It is possible to make inferences regarding the feasibility and applicability of plant high-throughput phenotyping via computer simulations. Protocol validation has been a key challenge to the establishment of high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) in breeding programs. We add to this matter by proposing an innovative way for designing and validating aerial imagery-based HTP approaches with in silico 3D experiments for plant breeding purposes. The algorithm is constructed following a pipeline composed of the simulation of phenotypic values, three-dimensional modeling of trials, and image rendering. Our tool is exemplified by testing a set of experimental setups that are of interest in the context of maize breeding using a comprehensive case study. We report on how the choice of (percentile of) points in dense clouds, the experimental repeatability (heritability), the treatment variance (genetic variability), and the flight altitude affect the accuracy of high-throughput plant height estimation based on conventional structure-from-motion (SfM) and multi-view stereo (MVS) pipelines. The evaluation of both the algorithm and the case study was driven by comparisons of the computer-simulated (ground truth) and the HTP-estimated values using correlations, regressions, and similarity indices. Our results showed that the 3D experiments can be adequately reconstructed, enabling inference-making. Moreover, it suggests that treatment variance, repeatability, and the choice of the percentile of points are highly influential over the accuracy of HTP. Conversely, flight altitude influenced the quality of reconstruction but not the accuracy of plant height estimation. Therefore, we believe that our tool can be of high value, enabling the promotion of new insights and further understanding of the events underlying the practice of high-throughput phenotyping.

Characterized Bioelectric Signals by Means of Neural Networks and Wavelets to Remotely Control a Human-Machine Interface.

Everyday, people interact with different types of human machine interfaces, and the use of them is increasing, thus, it is necessary to design interfaces which are capable of responding in an intelligent, natural, inexpensive, and accessible way, regardless of social, cultural, economic, or physical features of a user. In this sense, it has been sought out the development of small interfaces to avoid any type of user annoyance. In this paper, bioelectric signals have been analyzed and characterized in order to propose a more natural human-machine interaction system. The proposed scheme is controlled by electromyographic signals that a person can create through arm movements. Such arm signals have been analyzed and characterized by a back-propagation neural network, and by a wavelet analysis, in this way control commands were obtained from such arm electromyographic signals. The developed interface, uses Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) to send control commands remotely. In the experiment, it manipulated a vehicle that was approximately 52 km away from the user, with which it can be showed that a characterized electromyographic signal can be sufficient for controlling embedded devices such as a Raspberri Pi, and in this way we can use the neural network and the wavelet analysis to generate control words which can be used inside the Internet of Things too. A Tiva-C board has been used to acquire data instead of more popular development boards, with an adequate response. One of the most important aspects related to the proposed interface is that it can be used by almost anyone, including people with different abilities and even illiterate people. Due to the existence of individual efforts to characterize different types of bioelectric signals, we propose the generation of free access Bioelectric Control Dictionary, to define and consult each characterized biosignal.

Acciones estratégicas para la integración endógena de las funciones sustantivas universitarias desde la gestión del conocimiento / Strategic tasks for the endogenous integrality of the university substantive functions from the knowledge management

La integración de las funciones sustantivas de las universidades deviene un reto actualmente y la gestión del conocimiento constituye la misión social, la razón de ser de los diferentes centros de altos estudios, por medio de la cual logran difundir sus saberes y experiencias, así como contribuir al desarrollo socioproductivo y cultural de la colectividad. En el presente artículo se proponen acciones necesarias para endogenizar las funciones sustantivas universitarias desde ese tipo de gestión, a partir de la aplicación de métodos empíricos que permitieron conocer los criterios de educandos y docentes en relación con el problema objeto de esta investigación y revelaron a través de los resultados obtenidos,la fragmentación de los procesos sustantivos universitarios que ha estado limitando la producción del conocimiento científico en las instituciones de educación superior

The integration of the substantive functions of the universities becomes a challenge at present and the knowledge management constitutes the social mission, the reason of the different high studies institutions, by means of which they are able to diffuse their knowledge and experiences, as well as to contribute to the social, productive and cultural development of the collectivity. In this work, necessary tasks for endogenize the university substantive functions from that type of management are proposed, with the use of empiric methods that allowed to know the students and teaching staff criteria related to the object of this investigation, and they revealed through the results obtained, the fragmentation of the university substantive processes which have been limiting the production of the scientific knowledge in the higher education institutions

The influence of axle position and the use of accessories on the activity of upper limb muscles during manual wheelchair propulsion.

INTRODUCTION: Wheelchair configuration is an important factor influencing the ergonomics of the user-device interface and, from a biomechanical point of view, small changes in chair setup may have a positive influence on the demand on the upper limbs during manual propulsion. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the position of the rear wheels' axle and the use of accessories on the activity of upper limb muscles during manual wheelchair propulsion. METHODS: Electromyography signals of the biceps, triceps, anterior deltoids and pectoralis major were collected for 11 able-bodied subjects in a wheelchair propulsion protocol with four different wheelchair configurations (differing in axle position and the use of accessories) on a straightforward sprint and a slalom course. RESULTS: With accessories, moving the axle forward led to a decrease in the activity of all muscles in both the straightforward sprint (significant differences in triceps, anterior deltoids and biceps) and the slalom course (significant difference in anterior deltoids and biceps). However, when propelling the chair without accessories, no difference was found related to axle position. CONCLUSION: Changes in wheelchair configuration can influence the ergonomics of manual wheelchair propulsion. Reducing the biomechanical loads may benefit users' mobility, independence and social participation.

Design requirements of a human-powered planter / Requisitos de projeto de uma semeadora acionada por força humana

This study aimed to establish client and design requirements of a human-powered planter. A total of 13 client requirements and 13 design requirements were established for prioritizing planter performance, thus providing benefits to users.

Este trabalho objetivou estabelecer os requisitos de clientes e de projeto de uma semeadora à tração humana. Foram estabelecidos 13 requisitos de clientes e 13 requisitos de projeto, priorizando o desempenho da semeadora, proporcionando benefícios aos seus usuários.

Design requirements of a human-powered planter / Requisitos de projeto de uma semeadora acionada por força humana

This study aimed to establish client and design requirements of a human-powered planter. A total of 13 client requirements and 13 design requirements were established for prioritizing planter performance, thus providing benefits to users.(AU)

Este trabalho objetivou estabelecer os requisitos de clientes e de projeto de uma semeadora à tração humana. Foram estabelecidos 13 requisitos de clientes e 13 requisitos de projeto, priorizando o desempenho da semeadora, proporcionando benefícios aos seus usuários.(AU)

Acoplamentos Louco-Formiga: qual o impostergável para umcorpociborgue? / Madman-Ant Linkages: which the unpostponable for a cyborgbody? / Acoplamientos loco-hormiga: cual lo impostergable para um cuerpocyborg?

Aportando para o campo dos estudos científicos da saúde provocações sobre o corpociborgue, o artigo traça um percurso textual inusitado para estudar a saúde na contemporaneidade. Produzindo acoplamentos do conto de ficção-científica "A Formiga Elétrica", de Philip K. Dick, com as (des)construções poéticas do Corpo-sem-Orgãos, de Antonin Artaud, apreendeu-se que, após tornar o corpo máquina, insurge impostergável um potente desejo de retorno, pois o andróide (vir-a-ser do ciborgue) luta - após atingir sua perfeição como máquina - para conquistar a vida e suas sensações (memórias, inscrições, riscos). Buscou-se pensar os movimentos de corpos (im)possíveis que se rebelam contra sua ciborguização para que a vida possa escapar: rasgos nos territórios da clínica; deslocamentos de realidade; imaginação; subversão da norma e desconstrução do controle sobre o corpo; fabulação de corpos-humanos-outros na saúde coletiva. Corpo-sem-Órgãos para outras clínicas (im)possíveis. (AU)

Contributing to the field of health scientific studies with provocations on cyborgbody, the article provides an unusual textual route to study health in contemporary society. Producing linkages between science-fiction short story "The Electric Ant" by Philip K. Dick, with the Antonin Artaud‘s poetic (dis)constructions of the Body-withoutOrgans, was apprehended that, after rendering the body as a machine, protested postponed a powerful desire of return, as the android (the cyborg becoming) struggles - after reaching its perfection as a machine - to conquer life and its sensations (memories, inscriptions, risks). Was quested to think the movements of (im)possible bodies who rebel against their cyborgzation so that life can escape: tears in the clinic territories; reality shifts; imagination; standards subversion and deconstruction of control over the body; other-human-bodies fabulation in collective health. Body-without-Organs to other (im)possible clinics. (AU)

Trayendo provocaciones al campo de los estudios científicos sobre corpociborgue, el artículo proporciona una ruta textual inusual para estudiar la salud en la sociedad contemporánea. La producción de acoplamientos del cuento de ciencia ficción "La hormiga eléctrica" de Philip K. Dick, con (des)construcciones poéticas del Cuerpo-sin- Órganos, de Antonin Artaud se aprendió que después de hacer el cuerpo máquina, surge impostergable un potente deseo de retorno, pues el androide (venir-a-ser del cyborg) lucha - después de alcanzar su perfección como máquina - para conquistar la vida y sus sentimientos (memorias, inscripciones, riesgos). Intentando pensar en los movimientos de cuerpos (im)posibles que se rebelan contra su ciborguización para que la vida puede escapar: ragos en los territorios de la clínica; deslocamiento de realidad; imaginación; subversión de la norma y deconstrucción del control sobre el cuerpo; la fabulación de cuerpos-humanos-otros en la salud colectiva. Cuerpo-sin- Órganos hacia otras clínicas (im)posibles. (AU)

Acoplamentos Louco-Formiga: qual o impostergável para um corpociborgue? / Madman-Ant Linkages: which the unpostponable for a cyborgbody? / Acoplamientos Loco-Hormiga: cual lo impostergable para um cuerpocyborg?

Aportando para o campo dos estudos científicos da saúde provocações sobre o corpociborgue, o artigo traça um percurso textual inusitado para estudar a saúde na contemporaneidade. Produzindo acoplamentos do conto de ficção-científica "A Formiga Elétrica", de Philip K. Dick, com as (des)construções poéticas do Corpo-sem-Orgãos, de Antonin Artaud, apreendeu-se que, após tornar o corpo máquina, insurge impostergável um potente desejo de retorno, pois o andróide (vir-a-ser do ciborgue) luta - após atingir sua perfeição como máquina - para conquistar a vida e suas sensações (memórias, inscrições, riscos). Buscou-se pensar os movimentos de corpos (im)possíveis que se rebelam contra sua ciborguização para que a vida possa escapar: rasgos nos territórios da clínica; deslocamentos de realidade; imaginação; subversão da norma e desconstrução do controle sobre o corpo; fabulação de corpos-humanos-outros na saúde coletiva. Corpo-sem-Órgãos para outras clínicas (im)possíveis.

Contributing to the field of health scientific studies with provocations on cyborgbody, the article provides an unusual textual route to study health in contemporary society. Producing linkages between science-fiction short story "The Electric Ant" by Philip K. Dick, with the Antonin Artaud‘s poetic (dis)constructions of the Body-withoutOrgans, was apprehended that, after rendering the body as a machine, protested postponed a powerful desire of return, as the android (the cyborg becoming) struggles - after reaching its perfection as a machine - to conquer life and its sensations (memories, inscriptions, risks). Was quested to think the movements of (im)possible bodies who rebel against their cyborgzation so that life can escape: tears in the clinic territories; reality shifts; imagination; standards subversion and deconstruction of control over the body; other-human-bodies fabulation in collective health. Body-without-Organs to other (im)possible clinics.

Trayendo provocaciones al campo de los estudios científicos sobre corpociborgue, el artículo proporciona una ruta textual inusual para estudiar la salud en la sociedad contemporánea. La producción de acoplamientos del cuento de ciencia ficción "La hormiga eléctrica" de Philip K. Dick, con (des)construcciones poéticas del Cuerpo-sin- Órganos, de Antonin Artaud se aprendió que después de hacer el cuerpo máquina, surge impostergable un potente deseo de retorno, pues el androide (venir-a-ser del cyborg) lucha - después de alcanzar su perfección como máquina - para conquistar la vida y sus sentimientos (memorias, inscripciones, riesgos). Intentando pensar en los movimientos de cuerpos (im)posibles que se rebelan contra su ciborguización para que la vida puede escapar: ragos en los territorios de la clínica; deslocamiento de realidad; imaginación; subversión de la norma y deconstrucción del control sobre el cuerpo; la fabulación de cuerpos-humanos-otros en la salud colectiva. Cuerpo-sin- Órganos hacia otras clínicas (im)posibles.

Real-Time Hand Posture Recognition for Human-Robot Interaction Tasks.

In this work, we present a multiclass hand posture classifier useful for human-robot interaction tasks. The proposed system is based exclusively on visual sensors, and it achieves a real-time performance, whilst detecting and recognizing an alphabet of four hand postures. The proposed approach is based on the real-time deformable detector, a boosting trained classifier. We describe a methodology to design the ensemble of real-time deformable detectors (one for each hand posture that can be classified). Given the lack of standard procedures for performance evaluation, we also propose the use of full image evaluation for this purpose. Such an evaluation methodology provides us with a more realistic estimation of the performance of the method. We have measured the performance of the proposed system and compared it to the one obtained by using only the sampled window approach. We present detailed results of such tests using a benchmark dataset. Our results show that the system can operate in real time at about a 10-fps frame rate.

RoboFish: increased acceptance of interactive robotic fish with realistic eyes and natural motion patterns by live Trinidadian guppies.

In recent years, simple biomimetic robots have been increasingly used in biological studies to investigate social behavior, for example collective movement. Nevertheless, a big challenge in developing biomimetic robots is the acceptance of the robotic agents by live animals. In this contribution, we describe our recent advances with regard to the acceptance of our biomimetic RoboFish by live Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata). We provide a detailed technical description of the RoboFish system and show the effect of different appearance, motion patterns and interaction modes on the acceptance of the artificial fish replica. Our results indicate that realistic eye dummies along with natural motion patterns significantly improve the acceptance level of the RoboFish. Through the interactive behaviors, our system can be adjusted to imitate different individual characteristics of live animals, which further increases the bandwidth of possible applications of our RoboFish for the study of animal behavior.

Safety challenges of medical equipment in nurse anaesthetist training in Haiti.

Safety challenges related to the use of medical equipment were investigated during the training of nurse anaesthetists in Haiti, using a systems approach to Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE). The Observable Performance Obstacles tool, based on the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model, was used in combination with exploratory observations during 13 surgical procedures, to identify performance obstacles created by the systemic interrelationships of medical equipment. The identification of performance obstacles is an effective way to study the accumulation of latent factors and risk hazards, and understand its implications in practice and behaviour of healthcare practitioners. In total, 123 performance obstacles were identified, of which the majority was related to environmental and organizational aspects. These findings show how the performance of nurse anaesthetists and their relation to medical equipment is continuously affected by more than user-related aspects. The contribution of systemic performance obstacles and coping strategies to enrich system design interventions and improve healthcare system is highlighted. In addition, methodological challenges of HFE research in low-resource settings related to professional culture and habits, and the potential of community ergonomics as a problem-managing approach are described.

Human-inspired sound environment recognition system for assistive vehicles.

OBJECTIVE: The human auditory system acquires environmental information under sound stimuli faster than visual or touch systems, which in turn, allows for faster human responses to such stimuli. It also complements senses such as sight, where direct line-of-view is necessary to identify objects, in the environment recognition process. This work focuses on implementing human reaction to sound stimuli and environment recognition on assistive robotic devices, such as robotic wheelchairs or robotized cars. These vehicles need environment information to ensure safe navigation. APPROACH: In the field of environment recognition, range sensors (such as LiDAR and ultrasonic systems) and artificial vision devices are widely used; however, these sensors depend on environment constraints (such as lighting variability or color of objects), and sound can provide important information for the characterization of an environment. In this work, we propose a sound-based approach to enhance the environment recognition process, mainly for cases that compromise human integrity, according to the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). Our proposal is based on a neural network implementation that is able to classify up to 15 different environments, each selected according to the ICF considerations on environment factors in the community-based physical activities of people with disabilities. MAIN RESULTS: The accuracy rates in environment classification ranges from 84% to 93%. This classification is later used to constrain assistive vehicle navigation in order to protect the user during daily activities. This work also includes real-time outdoor experimentation (performed on an assistive vehicle) by seven volunteers with different disabilities (but without cognitive impairment and experienced in the use of wheelchairs), statistical validation, comparison with previously published work, and a discussion section where the pros and cons of our system are evaluated. SIGNIFICANCE: The proposed sound-based system is very efficient at providing general descriptions of the environment. Such descriptions are focused on vulnerable situations described by the ICF. The volunteers answered a questionnaire regarding the importance of constraining the vehicle velocities in risky environments, showing that all the volunteers felt comfortable with the system and its performance.

Ciberespaço: uma nova configuração do ser no mundo / Cyberspace: a new configuration of being in the world / Ciberespacio: una nueva configuración del ser en el mundo

Através do movimento dialético, o homem sartriano, histórico e social, constrói sua existência. Cada era elucida a maneira como ele a manufaturou, e as posteriores revelam o projeto perseguido até então. Na Pós-Modernidade, uma nova síntese entre liberdade e facticidade é realizada: a criação do ciberespaço. Neste artigo, buscamos refletir, à luz do existencialismo sartriano, sobre o ciberespaço como o resultado de mais uma transcendência humana da facticidade que o determina, haja vista ser esse espaço virtual a objetivação de práxis que superam limites espaçotemporais, relacionais e materiais que se impõem à liberdade humana. Contudo, hoje, a Era do Conhecimento já se fez história, logo tudo que a identifica, como o ciberespaço, apresenta-se como contradição a ser superada e, a cada transcendência, novas sínteses são criadas, o que configura novos estilos de projetos de ser no mundo.

Through the dialectic movement of Sartrean man, historical and social, constructs his existence. Each age elucidates the way it was manufactured, and later reveal pursued project so far. In postmodernity a new synthesis between freedom and facticity is performed: the creation of cyberspace. In this article we examine, based on Sartre's existentialism, about cyberspace as the result of another human transcendence of factuality that determines, virtual space as this objectification of praxis that exceed limits of spatiotemporal relational and materials confronting human freedom. But today, the Knowledge Age has already become history and all that identifies it, as cyberspace, is presented as a contradiction to overcome transcendence, new synthesis is created, establishing new styles of projects in the world.

Por medio del movimiento dialectico el hombre sartreano, histórico y social, construye su existencia. Cada era desvela la manera como él la manufacturó, y las posteriores revelan el proyecto perseguido hasta entonces. En la Posmodernidad se realiza una nueva síntesis entre libertad y facticidad: la creación del ciberespacio. En este artículo se reflexiona, con base en el existencialismo sartreano, sobre el ciberespacio como el resultado de más una trascendencia humana de la facticidad que lo determina, considerando este espacio virtual como la objetivación de praxis que superan límites espacio-temporales, relacionales y materiales que se imponen a la libertad humana. Sin embargo, hoy en día, la Era del Conocimiento ya pasó a la historia, así, todo que la identifica, como el ciberespacio, se presenta como contradicción a superar y a cada trascendencia, nuevas síntesis se crean, lo que configura nuevos estilos de proyectos de ser en el mundo.

Ciberespaço: uma nova configuração do ser no mundo / Cyberspace: a new configuration of being in the world / Ciberespacio: una nueva configuración del ser en el mundo

Através do movimento dialético, o homem sartriano, histórico e social, constrói sua existência. Cada era elucida a maneira como ele a manufaturou, e as posteriores revelam o projeto perseguido até então. Na Pós-Modernidade, uma nova síntese entre liberdade e facticidade é realizada: a criação do ciberespaço. Neste artigo, buscamos refletir, à luz do existencialismo sartriano, sobre o ciberespaço como o resultado de mais uma transcendência humana da facticidade que o determina, haja vista ser esse espaço virtual a objetivação de práxis que superam limites espaçotemporais, relacionais e materiais que se impõem à liberdade humana. Contudo, hoje, a Era do Conhecimento já se fez história, logo tudo que a identifica, como o ciberespaço, apresenta-se como contradição a ser superada e, a cada transcendência, novas sínteses são criadas, o que configura novos estilos de projetos de ser no mundo.

Through the dialectic movement of Sartrean man, historical and social, constructs his existence. Each age elucidates the way it was manufactured, and later reveal pursued project so far. In postmodernity a new synthesis between freedom and facticity is performed: the creation of cyberspace. In this article we examine, based on Sartre’s existentialism, about cyberspace as the result of another human transcendence of factuality that determines, virtual space as this objectification of praxis that exceed limits of spatiotemporal relational and materials confronting human freedom. But today, the Knowledge Age has already become history and all that identifies it, as cyberspace, is presented as a contradiction to overcome transcendence, new synthesis is created, establishing new styles of projects in the world.

Por medio del movimiento dialectico el hombre sartreano, histórico y social, construye su existencia. Cada era desvela la manera como él la manufacturó, y las posteriores revelan el proyecto perseguido hasta entonces. En la Posmodernidad se realiza una nueva síntesis entre libertad y facticidad: la creación del ciberespacio. En este artículo se reflexiona, con base en el existencialismo sartreano, sobre el ciberespacio como el resultado de más una trascendencia humana de la facticidad que lo determina, considerando este espacio virtual como la objetivación de praxis que superan límites espacio-temporales, relacionales y materiales que se imponen a la libertad humana. Sin embargo, hoy en día, la Era del Conocimiento ya pasó a la historia, así, todo que la identifica, como el ciberespacio, se presenta como contradicción a superar y a cada trascendencia, nuevas síntesis se crean, lo que configura nuevos estilos de proyectos de ser en el mundo.

Telementoring systems in the operating room: a new approach in medical training.

This paper discusses the challenges and innovations related to the use of telementoring systems in the operating room. Most of the systems presented leverage on three types of interaction channels: audio, visual and physical. The audio channel enables the mentor to verbally instruct the trainee, and allows the trainee to ask questions. The visual channel is used to deliver annotations, alerts and other messages graphically to the trainee during the surgery. These visual representations are often displayed through a telestrator. The physical channel has been used in laparoscopic procedures by partially controlling the laparoscope through force-feedback. While in face to face instruction, the mentor produces gestures to convey certain aspects of the surgical instruction, there is not equivalent of this form of physical interaction between the mentor and trainee in open surgical procedures in telementoring systems. Even that the trend is to perform more minimally invasive surgery (MIS), trauma surgeries are still necessary, where initial resuscitation and stabilization of the patient in a timely manner is crucial. This paper presents a preliminary study conducted at the Indiana University Medical School and Purdue University, where initial lexicons of surgical instructive gestures (SIGs) were determined through systematic observation when mentor and trainee operate together. The paper concludes with potential ways to convey gestural information through surgical robots.

Telementoring systems in the operating room: a new approach in medical training / "Telementoring" en el quirófano: un nuevo enfoque en la formación médica

This paper discusses the challenges and innovations related to the use of telementoring systems in the operating room. Most of the systems presented leverage on three types of interaction channels: audio, visual and physical. The audio channel enables the mentor to verbally instruct the trainee, and allows the trainee to ask questions. The visual channel is used to deliver annotations, alerts and other messages graphically to the trainee during the surgery. These visual representations are often displayed through a telestrator. The physical channel has been used in laparoscopic procedures by partially controlling the laparoscope through force-feedback. While in face to face instruction, the mentor produces gestures to convey certain aspects of the surgical instruction, there is not equivalent of this form of physical interaction between the mentor and trainee in open surgical procedures in telementoring systems. Even that the trend is to perform more minimally invasive surgery (MIS), trauma surgeries are still necessary, where initial resuscitation and stabilization of the patient in a timely manner is crucial. This paper presents a preliminary study conducted at the Indiana University Medical School and Purdue University, where initial lexicons of surgical instructive gestures (SIGs) were determined through systematic observation when mentor and trainee operate together. The paper concludes with potential ways to convey gestural information through surgical robots.

Este artículo discute los desafíos e innovaciones relacionadas al uso de sistemas de tutoría en telecirugía (telementoring). La mayoría de los sistemas presentados se basan en tres tipos de canales de interacción: auditivo, visual y físico. El canal auditivo permite al instructor instruir verbalmente al alumno, y a este último hacer preguntas. El canal visual es usado para transmitir al alumno anotaciones, alertas y otro tipo de mensajes gráficos durante la cirugía. Estas representaciones visuales aparecen en un marcador de vídeo (telestrator). El canal físico ha sido usado en cirugías laparoscópicas por medio de retroalimentador de fuerza (forcefeedback). Mientras que en la instrucción cara a cara, el instructor hace gestos para transmitir ciertos aspectos de la instrucción quirúrgica, esta forma de interacción no tiene un equivalente en la interacción entre instructor y alumno en sistemas de telementoring. Si bien la tendencia es conducir procedimientos mínimamente invasivos (MIS) con estos sistemas, se deben tener en cuenta cirugías de trauma, todavía necesarias, especialmente donde la resucitación inicial y estabilización del paciente es un tema crítico y urgente. Este artículo presenta un estudio preliminar conducido en la Escuela de Medicina de Indiana (EE.UU.) y en la Universidad Purdue, donde el vocabulario de gestos (lexicons) usados en instrucción quirúrgica (SIGs) se determinaron por medio de observaciones sistemáticas mientras el instructor y el alumno operaban juntos. Se concluye discutiendo maneras alternativas de presentar esta información de gestos por medio de robots quirúrgicos.

Telementoring systems in the operating room: a new approach in medical training / "Telementoring" en el quirófano: un nuevo enfoque en la formación médica

This paper discusses the challenges and innovations related to the use of telementoring systems in the operating room. Most of the systems presented leverage on three types of interaction channels: audio, visual and physical. The audio channel enables the mentor to verbally instruct the trainee, and allows the trainee to ask questions. The visual channel is used to deliver annotations, alerts and other messages graphically to the trainee during the surgery. These visual representations are often displayed through a telestrator. The physical channel has been used in laparoscopic procedures by partially controlling the laparoscope through force-feedback. While in face to face instruction, the mentor produces gestures to convey certain aspects of the surgical instruction, there is not equivalent of this form of physical interaction between the mentor and trainee in open surgical procedures in telementoring systems. Even that the trend is to perform more minimally invasive surgery (MIS), trauma surgeries are still necessary, where initial resuscitation and stabilization of the patient in a timely manner is crucial. This paper presents a preliminary study conducted at the Indiana University Medical School and Purdue University, where initial lexicons of surgical instructive gestures (SIGs) were determined through systematic observation when mentor and trainee operate together. The paper concludes with potential ways to convey gestural information through surgical robots.(AU)

Este artículo discute los desafíos e innovaciones relacionadas al uso de sistemas de tutoría en telecirugía (telementoring). La mayoría de los sistemas presentados se basan en tres tipos de canales de interacción: auditivo, visual y físico. El canal auditivo permite al instructor instruir verbalmente al alumno, y a este último hacer preguntas. El canal visual es usado para transmitir al alumno anotaciones, alertas y otro tipo de mensajes gráficos durante la cirugía. Estas representaciones visuales aparecen en un marcador de vídeo (telestrator). El canal físico ha sido usado en cirugías laparoscópicas por medio de retroalimentador de fuerza (forcefeedback). Mientras que en la instrucción cara a cara, el instructor hace gestos para transmitir ciertos aspectos de la instrucción quirúrgica, esta forma de interacción no tiene un equivalente en la interacción entre instructor y alumno en sistemas de telementoring. Si bien la tendencia es conducir procedimientos mínimamente invasivos (MIS) con estos sistemas, se deben tener en cuenta cirugías de trauma, todavía necesarias, especialmente donde la resucitación inicial y estabilización del paciente es un tema crítico y urgente. Este artículo presenta un estudio preliminar conducido en la Escuela de Medicina de Indiana (EE.UU.) y en la Universidad Purdue, donde el vocabulario de gestos (lexicons) usados en instrucción quirúrgica (SIGs) se determinaron por medio de observaciones sistemáticas mientras el instructor y el alumno operaban juntos. Se concluye discutiendo maneras alternativas de presentar esta información de gestos por medio de robots quirúrgicos.(AU)

Assessing the compatibility of the management of standardized procedures with the complexity of a sociotechnical system: case study of a control room in an oil refinery.

Although the need for the management of complex socio-technical systems (STS) to be compatible with the nature of those systems is widely recognized, there are few guidelines on how to determine the actual extent of this compatibility. The purpose of this study is to assess how compatible the management of standardized procedures (SPs) is with the nature of a complex STS. To this end, a case study was made of a control room in an oil refinery, involving the following stages: (a) delimitation of the investigated STS; (b) description of the STS according to a set of characteristics of complex STS; (c) application of two types of questionnaires to thirty workers - one of them to assess their perceptions about the applicability of seven principles of SPs management in complex STS and the other to determine their perceptions about the actual use of these principles; and (d) a feedback meeting with workers to discuss the results of the assessment. The assessment is discussed in terms of its limitations, usefulness and ease of use of the data collection and analysis tools.