Background:Current technology innovations, such as wearables, have caused surprising reactions and feelings of deep connection to devices. Some researchers are calling mobile and wearable technologies cognitive prostheses, which are intrinsically connected to individuals as if they are part of the body, similar to a physical prosthesis. Additionally, while several studies have been performed on the phenomenology of receiving and wearing a physical prosthesis, it is unknown whether similar subjective experiences arise with technology.Objective:In one of the first qualitative studies to track wearables in a longitudinal investigation, we explore whether a wearable can be embodied similar to a physical prosthesis. We hoped to gain insights and compare the phases of embodiment (ie, initial adjustment to the prosthesis) and the psychological responses (ie, accept the prosthesis as part of their body) between wearables and limb prostheses. This approach allowed us to find out whether this pattern was part of a cyclical (ie, period of different usage intensity) or asymptotic (ie, abandonment of the technology) pattern.Methods:We adapted a limb prosthesis methodological framework to be applied to wearables and conducted semistructured interviews over a span of several months to assess if, how, and to what extent individuals come to embody wearables similar to prosthetic devices. Twelve individuals wore fitness trackers for 9 months, during which time interviews were conducted in the following three phases: after 3 months, after 6 months, and at the end of the study after 9 months. A deductive thematic analysis based on Murray’s work was combined with an inductive approach in which new themes were discovered.Results:Overall, the individuals experienced technology embodiment similar to limb embodiment in terms of adjustment, wearability, awareness, and body extension. Furthermore, we discovered two additional themes of engagement/reengagement and comparison to another device or person. Interestingly, many participants experienced a rarely reported phenomenon in longitudinal studies where the feedback from the device was counterintuitive to their own beliefs. This created a blurring of self-perception and a dilemma of “whom” to believe, the machine or one’s self.Conclusions:There are many similarities between the embodiment of a limb prosthesis and a wearable. The large overlap between limb and wearable embodiment would suggest that insights from physical prostheses can be applied to wearables and vice versa. This is especially interesting as we are seeing the traditionally “dumb” body prosthesis becoming smarter and thus a natural merging of technology and body. Future longitudinal studies could focus on the dilemma people might experience of whether to believe the information of the device over their own thoughts and feelings. These studies might take into account constructs, such as technology reliance, autonomy, and levels of self-awareness.
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From Springer description: "We present the design considerations of an autonomous wireless sensor and discuss the fabrication and testing of the various components including the energy harvester, the active sensing devices and the power management and sensor interface circuits. A common materials platform, namely, nanowires, enables us to fabricate state-of-the-art components at reduced volume and show chemical sensing within the available energy budget. We demonstrate a photovoltaic mini-module made of silicon nanowire solar cells, each of 0.5 mm2 area, which delivers a power of 260 μW and an open circuit voltage of 2 V at one sun illumination. Using nanowire platforms two sensing applications are presented. Combining functionalised suspended Si nanowires with a novel microfluidic fluid delivery system, fully integrated microfluidic–sensor devices are examined as sensors for streptavidin and pH, whereas, using a microchip modified with Pd nanowires provides a power efficient and fast early hydrogen gas detection method. Finally, an ultra-low power, efficient solar energy harvesting and sensing microsystem augmented with a 6 mAh rechargeable battery allows for less than 20 μW power consumption and 425 h sensor operation even without energy harvesting."
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This study offers an overview of the natural development of the use of an activity tracker, as well as the relative importance of a range of determinants from literature. Decay is exponential but slower than may be expected from existing literature. Many factors have a small contribution to sustained use. The most important determinants are technical condition, age, user experience, and goal-related factors. This finding suggests that activity tracking is potentially beneficial for a broad range of target groups, but more attention should be paid to technical and user experience–related aspects of activity trackers.
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Cliënten, hun naasten en voedingsprofessionals (diëtisten en voedingskundigen) worden geconfronteerd met technologieën gericht op het verbeteren of behouden van gezondheid en/of kwaliteit van leven. Technologieën worden tevens ingezet om de efficiëntie en/of kosteneffectiviteit van zorg te verbeteren. Voorbeelden hiervan zijn beeldschermzorg en ziekte specifieke apps voor de smartphone. De perspectieven van alle betrokkenen in een praktijksituatie in de gezondheidszorg bepalen hoe technologieën gebruikt worden. In dit hoofdstuk worden verschillende perspectieven op technologie, gezondheid en zorg bediscussieerd en worden dilemma’s beschreven die hieruit kunnen ontstaan. Theorie en praktijk tonen het belang van bewust nadenken over de eigen, persoonlijke perspectieven op technologie, gezondheid, voeding en zorg en over perspectieven van anderen. Conclusie: diëtisten en voedingskundigen hebben de verantwoordelijkheid om sensitiviteit te ontwikkelen voor potentiële dilemma’s bij het gebruik van technologieën om daar in de praktijk zorgvuldig mee om te gaan.
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Hoofdstuk 10 in HRM Heden en Morgen. Dit hoofdstuk is geschreven vanuit de overtuiging dat een gemeenschappelijke taal en begrip van people analytics, evenals enkele basale wetenschappelijke principes waarop het gestoeld is, het jonge vakgebied in de praktijk naar een hoger niveau kunnen tillen. En daarmee de (toekomstige) HRM-professionals werkzaam op en rondom dit uitdagende thema in staat kunnen stellen (nog meer) impact te maken in hun organisatie. Het primaire doel van dit hoofdstuk is om de (toekomstige) professional die dit leest, aan het denken te zetten. Dit kan betekenen inspireren, verwarren, of duiden. Maar ook aanzetten tot het concreet aan de slag gaan met people analytics in de eigen organisatie, op de grens van wetenschap en praktijk, because that’s where the magic happens.
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Relatief kleine, gespecialiseerde bedrijven in de maakindustrie hebben behoefte aan flexibele assemblageprocessen en productielogistiek. Digitalisering biedt veel mogelijkheden om productieprocessen efficiënter en duurzamer te maken, innovatieve producten te fabriceren en over te schakelen op andere businessmodellen. Dit moet dan wel werken voor kleine series en enkelstuks. ‘Kunnen wij het maken?’ verwijst naar onderliggende vragen over: ‘Hoe beheersen we risico’s in complexe maakprocessen?’, ‘Hoe werken we samen in de keten?’ en ‘Wat moeten huidige en toekomstige engineers weten over ‘Industry 4.0’ en circulaire maakindustrie?’. Bijgaand essay, in verkorte vorm uitgesproken als Intreerede, legt uit hoe de onderzoekers van Smart Sustainable Manufacturing aan de slag gaan om een antwoord te vinden op deze vragen, door middel van cocreatie met de beroepspraktijk en het onderwijs in het Re/manufacturing lab.
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