Now showing 1 - 10 of 34
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Development of Behavior Profile of Users with Visual Impairment

2020 , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio , Varela Aldas, José , Castillo Salazar, David Ricardo , Borja M. , Fierro-Saltos W. , Rivera R. , Hidalgo-Guijarro J. , Yandún-Velasteguí M.

The interaction of the user with visual impairment with assistive technologies, and in particular with screen readers, generates a group of actions and events during their navigation. These interactions are defined as behavioral patterns, which have a sequence that occurs at specific time slot. Understanding user behavior by analyzing their interaction with applications, in addition, details the characteristics, relationships, structures and functions of the sequence of actions in a specific application domain. The objective of this document is to find activity patterns from a set of commands used by the user, combining data mining and a Bayesian model. This model calculates the probability of the functions used with the screen reader and generates a behavior profile to improve the user experience. For this study, the screen reader JAWS version 2018, the Open Journal Systems platform version 3.0.1 and a computer with Windows 10 operating system were used. During the first phase, command history used by the user by interacting with the Open Journal Systems platform were collected. The result is that the accessibility of users with visual impairment to interact with the computer and its applications has been improved by applying this model. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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Editorial design of interactive picture book with mobile application based on uxd user experience design

2020 , Borja Galeas, Carlos , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Amagua M.

This research presents an interactive human-computer learning system model applying adaptive editorial design. The proposal aims to generate an interactive picture book and a mobile application based on user experience design (UxD). The results will be obtained using UX metrics and will have the particularity of working with the technique of participatory design and reticular deconstruction. This book includes its presentation as an audiobook and an editorial composition with pop-ups and pages to paint. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: A Predictive Model for Academic Performance

2023 , Pacheco-Mendoza S. , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Mayorga-Albán A. , Fernández-Escobar J.

This research work evaluates the use of artificial intelligence and its impact on student’s academic performance at the University of Guayaquil (UG). The objective was to design and implement a predictive model to predict academic performance to anticipate student performance. This research presents a quantitative, non-experimental, projective, and predictive approach. A questionnaire was developed with the factors involved in academic performance, and the criterion of expert judgment was used to validate the questionnaire. The questionnaire and the Google Forms platform were used for data collection. In total, 1100 copies of the questionnaire were distributed, and 1012 responses were received, representing a response rate of 92%. The prediction model was designed in Gretl software, and the model fit was performed considering the mean square error (0.26), the mean absolute error (0.16), and a coefficient of determination of 0.9075. The results show the statistical significance of age, hours, days, and AI-based tools or applications, presenting p-values < 0.001 and positive coefficients close to zero, demonstrating a significant and direct effect on students’ academic performance. It was concluded that it is possible to implement a predictive model with theoretical support to adapt the variables based on artificial intelligence, thus generating an artificial intelligence-based mode. © 2023 by the authors.

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Accessibility assessment in mobile applications for android

2020 , Acosta-Vargas, P. , Salvador-Ullauri, L. , Jadán Guerrero, Janio , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Sanchez-Gordon, S. , Calle-Jimenez, T. , Lara Álvarez, Patricio , Medina, A. , Nunes, I.L.

At present, the lack of adequate methods to test whether a mobile application is accessible has become a major challenge for accessibility experts. This study was applied to ten mobile applications, the most popular according to PCMAG. We propose to use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 through manual review and automatic review with the Google Play Store Accessibility Scanner validator for the Android. The evaluation results of the mobile applications indicate that the applications are not accessible because they do not comply with the minimum required level proposed by WCAG 2.1. The research proposes suggestions to improve and raise awareness among the designers of mobile applications, in such a way that more inclusive mobile applications accessible to all types of users are built. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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COVID-19 spread algorithm in the international airport network-DetArpds

2023 , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Coronel D. , Maldonado B.E.S. , Flores J.E.S.

Due to COVID-19, the spread of diseases through air transport has become an important issue for public health in countries globally. Moreover, mass transportation (such as air travel) was a fundamental reason why infections spread to all countries within weeks. In the last 2 years in this research area, many studies have applied machine learning methods to predict the spread of COVID-19 in different environments with optimal results. These studies have implemented algorithms, methods, techniques, and other statistical models to analyze the information in accuracy form. Accordingly, this study focuses on analyzing the spread of COVID-19 in the international airport network. Initially, we conducted a review of the technical literature on algorithms, techniques, and theorems for generating routes between two points, comprising an analysis of 80 scientific papers that were published in indexed journals between 2017 and 2021. Subsequently, we analyzed the international airport database and information on the spread of COVID-19 from 2020 to 2022 to develop an algorithm for determining airport routes and the prevention of disease spread (DetARPDS). The main objective of this computational algorithm is to generate the routes taken by people infected with COVID-19 who transited the international airport network. The DetARPDS algorithm uses graph theory to map the international airport network using geographic allocations to position each terminal (vertex), while the distance between terminals was calculated with the Euclidian distance. Additionally, the proposed algorithm employs the Dijkstra algorithm to generate route simulations from a starting point to a destination air terminal. The generated routes are then compared with chronological contagion information to determine whether they meet the temporality in the spread of the virus. Finally, the obtained results are presented achieving a high probability of 93.46% accuracy for determining the entire route of how the disease spreads. Above all, the results of the algorithm proposed improved different computational aspects, such as time processing and detection of airports with a high rate of infection concentration, in comparison with other similar studies shown in the literature review. © 2023 Guevara et al.

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Editorial Design Based on User Experience Design

2020 , Borja Galeas, Carlos , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Castillo Salazar, David Ricardo , Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio , Fierro-Saltos, W. , Rivera, R. , Yandún-Velasteguí, M. , Varela Aldas, José , Hidalgo-Guijarro J.

This research deals with editorial design based on user experience design. The traditional editorial design has had to adapt to the new digital media composition, where multimedia audiovisual elements unthinkable a few years ago need to be integrated. The participation of the reader, as an external observer who only receives information through texts and images, now has new scenarios in which he can actively participate and decide what will come to his hands. In this study, a work methodology based on UxD User Experience Design is presented, in which will generate the editorial design of an educational book on environmental issues, which includes augmented reality for children from 6 to 8 years of age. The aim of this study is to know if an editorial product with augmented reality and developed from the user experience design can improve meaningful learning in a playful and active way. For its development, a composition model based on the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio will be used. Additionally, its graphic composition will be guided by the Massimo Vignelli canon and will be complemented by the reticular model of Beth Tondreau. The augmented reality markers position will also be based on the composition model previously mentioned, which will allow keeping the attention of the reader in the printed document and in the augmented reality animations. The user experience design will be applied with teachers, parents and students from 4 schools in Quito and Ambato. Once the production is completed, the impact on teaching-learning process will be evaluated with a control and a test group, and the methodology with which they will work in the classroom with the educational material developed will be defined. At the end of the study, copies of the book will be delivered to the participating schools of this research for its implementation. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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BackMov: Individualized Motion Capture-Based Test to Assess Low Back Pain Mobility Recovery after Treatment

2024 , Villalba-Meneses F. , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Velásquez-López P.A. , Arias-Serrano I. , Guerrero-Ligña S.A. , Valencia-Cevallos C.M. , Almeida-Galárraga D. , Cadena-Morejón C. , Marín J., Marín J.J.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common issue that negatively affects a person’s quality of life and imposes substantial healthcare expenses. In this study, we introduce the (Back-pain Movement) BackMov test, using inertial motion capture (MoCap) to assess lumbar movement changes in LBP patients. The test includes flexion–extension, rotation, and lateralization movements focused on the lumbar spine. To validate its reproducibility, we conducted a test-retest involving 37 healthy volunteers, yielding results to build a minimal detectable change (MDC) graph map that would allow us to see if changes in certain variables of LBP patients are significant in relation to their recovery. Subsequently, we evaluated its applicability by having 30 LBP patients perform the movement’s test before and after treatment (15 received deep oscillation therapy; 15 underwent conventional therapy) and compared the outcomes with a specialist’s evaluations. The test-retest results demonstrated high reproducibility, especially in variables such as range of motion, flexion and extension ranges, as well as velocities of lumbar movements, which stand as the more important variables that are correlated with LBP disability, thus changes in them may be important for patient recovery. Among the 30 patients, the specialist’s evaluations were confirmed using a low-back-specific Short Form (SF)-36 Physical Functioning scale, and agreement was observed, in which all patients improved their well-being after both treatments. The results from the specialist analysis coincided with changes exceeding MDC values in the expected variables. In conclusion, the BackMov test offers sensitive variables for tracking mobility recovery from LBP, enabling objective assessments of improvement. This test has the potential to enhance decision-making and personalized patient monitoring in LBP management. © 2024 by the authors.

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Development of an accessible video game to improve the understanding of the test of honey-alonso

2020 , Salvador-Ullauri, L. , Acosta-Vargas, P. , Jadán Guerrero, Janio , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Sanchez-Gordon, S. , Calle-Jimenez, T. , Lara Álvarez, Patricio

When evaluating the learning styles of several individuals using the Honey-Alonso test, some users did not understand the meaning of several of the questions. This may be due to problems of context, tiredness in front of the extension of the test, lack of understanding or disinterest. The Honey-Alonso test consists of four groups of twenty questions each. Each group of questions allows identifying the level that an individual possesses on each one of the four learning styles. These styles are: active, reflective, theoretical and pragmatic. Answering a questionnaire of eighty questions is not an easy task from an andragogical point of view. This article proposes the creation of an educational video game designed with a script based on the questions of the Honey-Alonso test. The answers selected by the player are taken as a condition to determine the order of the next questions presented to the player. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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Control of an Arm-Hand Prosthesis by Mental Commands and Blinking

2020 , Varela Aldas, José , Castillo Salazar, David Ricardo , Borja Galeas, Carlos , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio , Fierro-Saltos, W. , Rivera, R. , Hidalgo-Guijarro, J. , Yandún-Velasteguí, M.

Patients who lack upper and lower extremities have difficulties in carrying out their daily activities. The new technological advances have allowed the development of robotic applications to support people with disabilities, also, portable electroencephalographic (EEG) sensors are increasingly accessible and allow the development of new proposals which involve the mental control of electronic systems. This work presents the control by mental orders of an arm-hand prosthesis using low-cost devices, the objective is to command the arm using the user’s attention and blinking, where the components are a brain signal sensor, a prosthesis, an Arduino board, six servomotors, and a computer. The developed program in Matlab allows controlling the arm by means of an attention level y blinking. The results show the functioning of the system through experimental tests and a usability test is applied, finally, the conclusions establish adequate coordination in the movements of the prosthesis and the patient indicate satisfaction with the proposal. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

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Biomechanical Study of the Eye with Keratoconus-Type Corneal Ectasia Using a 3D Geometric Model

2023 , Sánchez-Real E. , Otuna-Hernández D., , Fajardo-Cabrera A. , Davies-Alcívar R. , Madrid-Pérez M. , Cadena-Morejón C. , Almeida-Galárraga D. , Guevara Maldonado, César Byron , Tirado-Espín A. , Villalba-Meneses F.

Keratoconus is an eye disease that distorts the shape of the cornea. This study aimed to analyze the effect of an increase in intraocular pressure applied to eyes with different severity of keratoconus disease using patient-specific models. Finite element models of the normal eye, eye with keratoconus, and eye with keratoglobus were constructed. The loading conditions considered the intraocular pressure increment as well as their physiological intraocular pressure. The analysis was performed with distinct materials for normal and keratoconic eyes. The finite element analysis revealed differences in the three models in terms of their deformation and maximum principal stress, and differences were observed in corneal curvature and thickness. These findings could enhance research in the biomechanical area, leading to more successful treatment options and a more individualized approach in the field of practical ophthalmology. Further investigation with larger sample sizes and more precise data on eye material would allow us to evaluate whether these disparities could inform the diagnosis of keratoconus. © 2023 by the authors.