Current Search: Humanism (x)
Pages
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Title
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Digital Dissonance: Horror Cultures in the Age of Convergent Technologies.
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Creator
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Powell, Daniel, McDaniel, Rudy, Campbell, James, Brenckle, Martha, Arnzen, Michael, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The first two decades of the new millennium have witnessed an abundance of change in the areas of textual production, digital communication, and our collective engagement with the Internet. This study explores these changes, which have yielded both positive and negative cultural and developmental outcomes, as products of digital dissonance. Dissonance is characterized by the disruptive consequences inherent in technology's incursion into the print publication cultures of the twentieth century...
Show moreThe first two decades of the new millennium have witnessed an abundance of change in the areas of textual production, digital communication, and our collective engagement with the Internet. This study explores these changes, which have yielded both positive and negative cultural and developmental outcomes, as products of digital dissonance. Dissonance is characterized by the disruptive consequences inherent in technology's incursion into the print publication cultures of the twentieth century, the explosion in social-media interaction that is changing the complexion of human contact, and our expanding reliance on the World Wide Web for negotiating commerce, culture, and communication.This study explores digital dissonance through the prism of an emerging literary subgenre called technohorror. Artists working in the area of technohorror are creating works that leverage the qualities of plausibility, mundanity, and surprise to tell important stories about how technology is altering the human experience in the twenty-first century. This study explores such subjects as paradigmatic changes in textual production methods, dynamic authorial hybridity, digital materiality in folklore studies, posthumanism, transhumanism, cognitive diminution, and physical degeneration as explored in works of technohorror.The work's rhetorical architecture includes elements of both theoretical and qualitative research. This project expands on City University of New York philosophy professor No(&)#235;l Carroll's definition of art-horror in developing a formal explanation of technohorror and then exploring that literary subgenre through the analysis of a series of contemporary texts and industry-related trends. The study also contains original interviews with active scholars, artists, editors, and librarians in the horror field to gain a variety of perspectives on these complicated subjects.
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Date Issued
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2017
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Identifier
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CFE0006642, ucf:51231
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006642
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Title
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EXPLORING TEACHING METHODS CORRESPONDING WITH THE THEORY OF BASIC HUMAN VALUES IN LATE CHILDHOOD AND EARLY ADOLESCENCE CLASSROOMS.
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Creator
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Daly, Nicole, Roberts, Sherron-Killingsworth, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Recent research that indicates ten universal values are shared across cultures has developed into the Schwartz Value Systems Theory. This theory describes the ten basic human values that derive from different motivational forces such as social superiority, an inner desire in novelty, and loyalty to one's group. The values and corresponding motivational forces guide an individual's decisions. After the Schwartz Value Systems Theory had been developed, two surveys have been created in order to...
Show moreRecent research that indicates ten universal values are shared across cultures has developed into the Schwartz Value Systems Theory. This theory describes the ten basic human values that derive from different motivational forces such as social superiority, an inner desire in novelty, and loyalty to one's group. The values and corresponding motivational forces guide an individual's decisions. After the Schwartz Value Systems Theory had been developed, two surveys have been created in order to assess an individual's value hierarchy. While both of these surveys accurately measure an adult's values, further research has indicated children possess individual values similarly to adults. As a result, the Picture Based Values Survey for Children was created in order to consider children's values. The results from the children who took the Picture Based Values Survey For Children revealed that those children as a group acquired the same value hierarchy as adults. Since motivational forces determine an individual's values, it would seem predictable that values might have an effect on a student's level of motivation to succeed in the classroom. When a student's motivational goals are met in the classroom, then they will become engaged in the lesson by aligning students' values to the teaching methods incorporated in the lesson. This thesis therefore integrates prior research on children's value development, the effects these values have on society and the classroom, and ways to exhibit values through discourse and teaching methods. Further, this seeks to apply this research in late childhood and early adolescence classrooms by examining the effects that may result from teachers exhibiting each of the ten universal values through their teaching methods through publicly shared videos.
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Date Issued
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2017
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Identifier
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CFH2000267, ucf:45995
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000267
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Title
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AFFORDANCES IN THE DESIGN OF VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS.
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Creator
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Gross, David Charles, 4., Stannry, Kay M., University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Human-computer interaction design principles largely focus on static representations and have yet to fully incorporate theories of perception appropriate for the dynamic multimodal interactions inherent to virtual environment (VE) interaction. Theories of direct perception, in particular affordance theory, may prove particularly relevant to enhancing VE interaction design. The present research constructs a conceptual model of how affordances are realized in the natural world and how lack of...
Show moreHuman-computer interaction design principles largely focus on static representations and have yet to fully incorporate theories of perception appropriate for the dynamic multimodal interactions inherent to virtual environment (VE) interaction. Theories of direct perception, in particular affordance theory, may prove particularly relevant to enhancing VE interaction design. The present research constructs a conceptual model of how affordances are realized in the natural world and how lack of sensory stimuli may lead to realization failures in virtual environments. Implications of the model were empirically investigated by examining three affordances: passability, catchability, and flyability. The experimental design involved four factors for each of the three affordances and was implemented as a fractional factorial design. The results demonstrated that providing affording cues led to behavior closely in-line with real-world behavior. More specifically, when given affording cues participants tended to rotate their virtual bodies when entering narrow passageways, accurately judge balls as catchable, and fly when conditions warranted it. The results support the conceptual model and demonstrate 1) that substituting designed cues via sensory stimuli in available sensory modalities for absent or impoverished modalities may enable the perception of affordances in VEs; 2) that sensory stimuli substitutions provide potential approaches for enabling the perception of affordances in a VE which in the real world are cross-modal; and 3) that affordances relating to specific action capabilities may be enabled by designed sensory stimuli. This research lays an empirical foundation for a science of VE design based on choosing and implementing design properties so as to evoke targeted user behavior
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Date Issued
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2004
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Identifier
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CFE0000061, ucf:46108
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000061
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Title
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EVOLVING MODELS FROM OBSERVED HUMAN PERFORMANCE.
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Creator
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Fernlund, Hans Karl Gustav, Gonzalez, Avelino J., University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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To create a realistic environment, many simulations require simulated agents with human behavior patterns. Manually creating such agents with realistic behavior is often a tedious and time-consuming task. This dissertation describes a new approach that automatically builds human behavior models for simulated agents by observing human performance. The research described in this dissertation synergistically combines Context-Based Reasoning, a paradigm especially developed to model tactical...
Show moreTo create a realistic environment, many simulations require simulated agents with human behavior patterns. Manually creating such agents with realistic behavior is often a tedious and time-consuming task. This dissertation describes a new approach that automatically builds human behavior models for simulated agents by observing human performance. The research described in this dissertation synergistically combines Context-Based Reasoning, a paradigm especially developed to model tactical human performance within simulated agents, with Genetic Programming, a machine learning algorithm to construct the behavior knowledge in accordance to the paradigm. This synergistic combination of well-documented AI methodologies has resulted in a new algorithm that effectively and automatically builds simulated agents with human behavior. This algorithm was tested extensively with five different simulated agents created by observing the performance of five humans driving an automobile simulator. The agents show not only the ability/capability to automatically learn and generalize the behavior of the human observed, but they also capture some of the personal behavior patterns observed among the five humans. Furthermore, the agents exhibited a performance that was at least as good as agents developed manually by a knowledgeable engineer.
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Date Issued
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2004
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Identifier
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CFE0000013, ucf:46068
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000013
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Title
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EFFECT OF OPERATOR CONTROL CONFIGURATION ON UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM TRAINABILITY.
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Creator
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Neumann, John, Kincaid, Peter, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) carry no pilot on board, yet they still require live operators to handle critical functions such as mission planning and execution. Humans also interpret the sensor information provided by these platforms. This applies to all classes of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's), including the smaller portable systems used for gathering real-time reconnaissance during military operations in urban terrain. The need to quickly and reliably train soldiers to control small...
Show moreUnmanned aerial systems (UAS) carry no pilot on board, yet they still require live operators to handle critical functions such as mission planning and execution. Humans also interpret the sensor information provided by these platforms. This applies to all classes of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's), including the smaller portable systems used for gathering real-time reconnaissance during military operations in urban terrain. The need to quickly and reliably train soldiers to control small UAS operations demands that the human-system interface be intuitive and easy to master. In this study, participants completed a series of tests of spatial ability and were then trained (in simulation) to teleoperate a micro-unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with forward and downward fixed cameras. Three aspects of the human-system interface were manipulated to assess the effects on manual control mastery and target detection. One factor was the input device. Participants used either a mouse or a specially programmed game controller (similar to that used with the Sony Playstation 2 video game console). A second factor was the nature of the flight control displays as either continuous or discrete (analog v. digital). The third factor involved the presentation of sensor imagery. The display could either provide streaming video from one camera at a time, or present the imagery from both cameras simultaneously in separate windows. The primary dependent variables included: 1) time to complete assigned missions, 2) number of collisions, 3) number of targets detected, and 4) operator workload. In general, operator performance was better with the game controller than with the mouse, but significant improvement in time to complete occurred over repeated trials regardless of the device used. Time to complete missions was significantly faster with the game controller, and operators also detected more targets without any significant differences in workload compared to mouse users. Workload on repeated trials decreased with practice, and spatial ability was a significant covariate of workload. Lower spatial ability associated with higher workload scores. In addition, demographic data including computer usage and video gaming experience were collected and analyzed, and correlated with performance. Higher video gaming experience was also associated with lower workload.
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Date Issued
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2006
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Identifier
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CFE0001496, ucf:47080
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001496
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Title
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THE EFFECTS OF VIDEO FRAME DELAY AND SPATIAL ABILITY ON THE OPERATION OF MULTIPLE SEMIAUTONOMOUS AND TELE-OPERATED ROBOTS.
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Creator
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Sloan, Jared, Stanney, Kay, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The United States Army has moved into the 21st century with the intent of redesigning not only the force structure but also the methods by which we will fight and win our nation's wars. Fundamental in this restructuring is the development of the Future Combat Systems (FCS). In an effort to minimize exposure of front line soldiers the future Army will utilize unmanned assets for both information gathering and when necessary engagements. Yet this must be done judiciously, as the bandwidth for...
Show moreThe United States Army has moved into the 21st century with the intent of redesigning not only the force structure but also the methods by which we will fight and win our nation's wars. Fundamental in this restructuring is the development of the Future Combat Systems (FCS). In an effort to minimize exposure of front line soldiers the future Army will utilize unmanned assets for both information gathering and when necessary engagements. Yet this must be done judiciously, as the bandwidth for net-centric warfare is limited. The implication is that the FCS must be designed to leverage bandwidth in a manner that does not overtax computational resources. In this study alternatives for improving human performance during operation of teleoperated and semi-autonomous robots were examined. It was predicted that when operating both types of robots, frame delay of the semi-autonomous robot would improve performance because it would allow operators to concentrate on the constant workload imposed by the teleoperated while only allocating resources to the semi-autonomous during critical tasks. An additional prediction was that operators with high spatial ability would perform better than those with low spatial ability, especially when operating an aerial vehicle. The results can not confirm that frame delay has a positive effect on operator performance, though power may have been an issue, but clearly show that spatial ability is a strong predictor of performance on robotic asset control, particularly with aerial vehicles. In operating the UAV, the high spatial group was, on average, 30% faster, lazed 12% more targets, and made 43% more location reports than the low spatial group. The implications of this study indicate that system design should judiciously manage workload and capitalize on individual ability to improve performance and are relevant to system designers, especially in the military community.
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Date Issued
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2005
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Identifier
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CFE0000430, ucf:46379
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000430
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Title
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FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE TRANSFER OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TRAINING: THE PERCEPTION OF SELECTED FIRE-FIGHTER TRAINEES AND SUPERVISORS.
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Creator
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Bhati, Divya, Gary Orwig, Stephen A. Sivo,, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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This study examined the influence of factors on transfer of training and was based on the work of Broad and Newstrom (1992). For the purpose of this study the Broad and Newstrom (1992) transfer of training barriers are rephrased into positive statements. The nine transfer of training factors are: (1) reinforcement on the job; (2) little interference from immediate (work) environment; (3) supportive organizational culture; (4) trainees' perception of training programs being practical; (5)...
Show moreThis study examined the influence of factors on transfer of training and was based on the work of Broad and Newstrom (1992). For the purpose of this study the Broad and Newstrom (1992) transfer of training barriers are rephrased into positive statements. The nine transfer of training factors are: (1) reinforcement on the job; (2) little interference from immediate (work) environment; (3) supportive organizational culture; (4) trainees' perception of training programs being practical; (5) trainees' perception of relevant training content; (6) trainees' being comfortable with change and associated effort; (7) trainer being supportive and inspiring; (8) trainees' perception of training being well designed/delivered, and (9) peer support. This study explored the degree to which these factors influenced transfer of training in terms of on-the-job application. The study found supportive organizational culture to be the strongest predictor of transfer of training to on-the-job application. In addition, the degree of influence of Broad and Newstrom's (1992) nine factors varied with the thirteen locations. The study also found perception gaps between fire fighter trainees and their supervisor on factors influencing transfer of training. They differed on four factors: Supportive organizational culture, Perception of training programs being practical, Trainer being supportive and inspiring, and Perception of training being well designed/delivered.
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Date Issued
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2007
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Identifier
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CFE0001850, ucf:47353
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001850
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Title
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A REINFORCEMENT LEARNING TECHNIQUE FOR ENHANCING HUMAN BEHAVIOR MODELS IN A CONTEXT-BASED ARCHITECTURE.
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Creator
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Aihe, David, Gonzalez, Avelino, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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A reinforcement-learning technique for enhancing human behavior models in a context-based learning architecture is presented. Prior to the introduction of this technique, human models built and developed in a Context-Based reasoning framework lacked learning capabilities. As such, their performance and quality of behavior was always limited by what the subject matter expert whose knowledge is modeled was able to articulate or demonstrate. Results from experiments performed show that subject...
Show moreA reinforcement-learning technique for enhancing human behavior models in a context-based learning architecture is presented. Prior to the introduction of this technique, human models built and developed in a Context-Based reasoning framework lacked learning capabilities. As such, their performance and quality of behavior was always limited by what the subject matter expert whose knowledge is modeled was able to articulate or demonstrate. Results from experiments performed show that subject matter experts are prone to making errors and at times they lack information on situations that are inherently necessary for the human models to behave appropriately and optimally in those situations. The benefits of the technique presented is two fold; 1) It shows how human models built in a context-based framework can be modified to correctly reflect the knowledge learnt in a simulator; and 2) It presents a way for subject matter experts to verify and validate the knowledge they share. The results obtained from this research show that behavior models built in a context-based framework can be enhanced by learning and reflecting the constraints in the environment. From the results obtained, it was shown that after the models are enhanced, the agents performed better based on the metrics evaluated. Furthermore, after learning, the agent was shown to recognize unknown situations and behave appropriately in previously unknown situations. The overall performance and quality of behavior of the agent improved significantly.
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Date Issued
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2008
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Identifier
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CFE0002466, ucf:47715
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002466
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Title
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THE EFFECTS ON OPERATOR PERFORMANCE AND WORKLOAD WHEN GUNNERY AND ROBOTIC CONTROL TASKS ARE PERFORMED CONCURRENTLY.
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Creator
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Joyner, Carla, McCauley-Bell, Pamela, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The purpose of this research was to examine operator workload and performance in a high risk, multi-task environment. Specifically, the research examined if a gunner of a Future Combat System, such as a Mounted Combat System, could effectively detect targets in the immediate environment while concurrently operating robotic assets in a remote environment. It also analyzed possible effects of individual difference factors, such as spatial ability and attentional control, on operator performance...
Show moreThe purpose of this research was to examine operator workload and performance in a high risk, multi-task environment. Specifically, the research examined if a gunner of a Future Combat System, such as a Mounted Combat System, could effectively detect targets in the immediate environment while concurrently operating robotic assets in a remote environment. It also analyzed possible effects of individual difference factors, such as spatial ability and attentional control, on operator performance and workload. The experimental conditions included a gunner baseline and concurrent task conditions where participants simultaneously performed gunnery tasks and one of the following tasks: monitor an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) via a video feed (Monitor), manage a semi-autonomous UGV, and teleoperate a UGV (Teleop). The analysis showed that the asset condition significantly impacted gunnery performance with the gunner baseline having the highest number of targets detected (M = 13.600 , SD = 2.353), and concurrent Teleop condition the lowest (M = 9.325 , SD = 2.424). The research also found that high spatial ability participants tended to detect more targets than low spatial ability participants. Robotic task performance was also affect by the asset condition. The results showed that the robotic target detection rate was lower for the concurrent task conditions. A significant difference was seen between the UGV-baseline (80.1%) when participants performed UGV tasks only and UGV-concurrent conditions (67.5%) when the participants performed UGV tasks concurrently with gunnery tasks. Overall, this study revealed that there were performance decrements for the gunnery tasks as well as the robotic tasks when the tasks were performed concurrently.
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Date Issued
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2006
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Identifier
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CFE0000979, ucf:46704
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000979
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Title
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PERFORMANCE SUPPORT AND USABILITY:AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OFELECTRONIC PERFORMANCE SUPPORT INTERFACES.
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Creator
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Rawls, Charles, Hirumi, Atsusi, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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This study evaluated the usability of two types of performance-support interfaces that were designed using informational and experiential approaches. The experiment sought to determine whether there is a relationship between usability and the informational and experiential approaches. The general population under study was undergraduate education major students from the University of Central Florida. From the general population of three educational technology instructor-led classes, 83...
Show moreThis study evaluated the usability of two types of performance-support interfaces that were designed using informational and experiential approaches. The experiment sought to determine whether there is a relationship between usability and the informational and experiential approaches. The general population under study was undergraduate education major students from the University of Central Florida. From the general population of three educational technology instructor-led classes, 83 students were solicited to participate in the study by completing a class activity. From the general population, a total of 63 students participated in the study. By participating in the study, the students completed a task and a questionnaire. Students were predominantly English-speaking Caucasian female education majors between the ages of 19 and 20; most of them were sophomores or juniors working part time. They possessed moderately low to high computer skills and most considered themselves to have intermediate or expert Internet skills. An experimental posttest-only comparison group research design was used to test the hypotheses posited for this study. The participants were randomly assigned to either the informational interface group (X1) or the experiential interface group (X2), and the experiment was conducted electronically via a Web-based Content Management System (CMS). The observed data consisted of five outcome measures: efficiency, errors, intuitiveness, satisfaction, and student performance. Two instruments--a checklist and an online usability questionnaire--were used to measure the five dependent variables: efficiency, intuitiveness, errors, satisfaction, and student performance. The CMS was used as the vehicle to distribute and randomize the two interfaces, obtain informed consent, distribute the instructions, distribute the online questionnaire, and collect data. First, a checklist was used to assess the students' performance completing their task, which was a copyright issue request letter. The checklist was designed as a performance criterion tool for the researcher, instructor, and participants to use. The researcher and instructor constructed the checklist to grade copyright request letters and determine students' performance. The participants had the opportunity to use the checklist as a performance criterion to create the task document (copyright request letter). The checklist consisted of ten basic yet critical sections of a successful copyright request letter. Second, an online usability questionnaire was constructed based on the Purdue Usability Testing Questionnaire (PUTQ) questions to measure interface efficiency, intuitiveness, errors, and satisfaction. While these test items have been deemed important for testing the usability of a particular system, for purposes of this study, test items were modified, deleted, and added to ensure content validity. The new survey, University of Central Florida Usability Questionnaire (UCFUQ), consisting of 20 items, was implemented in a pilot study to ensure reliability and content validity. Changes to the PUTQ were modified to fulfill a blueprint. A pilot study of the instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of .9450, and the final online usability instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of .9321. This study tested two approaches to user interface design for the Electronic Performance Support (EPS) using two HTML interface templates and the information from an existing training module. There were two interventions consisting of two interface types: informational and experiential. The SPSS Graduate Pack 10.0 for Windows was used for data analysis and statistical reporting in this study. A t test was conducted to determine if a difference existed between the two interface means. ANOVA was conducted to determine if there was an interaction between the interface group means and the demographic data factored among the five dependent variables. Results of this study indicated that students at the University of Central Florida reported no differences between the two interface types. It was postulated that the informational interface would yield a higher mean score because of its implementation of HCI guidelines, conventions, and standards. However, it was concluded that the informational interface may not be a more usable interface. Users may be as inclined to use the experiential interface as the informational interface.
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Date Issued
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2005
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Identifier
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CFE0000807, ucf:46678
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000807
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Title
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THE INTEGRATION OF AUDIO INTO MULTIMODAL INTERFACES: GUIDELINES AND APPLICATIONS OF INTEGRATING SPEECH, EARCONS, AUDITORY ICONS, AND SPATIAL AUDIO (SEAS).
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Creator
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Jones, David, Stanney, Kay, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The current research is directed at providing validated guidelines to direct the integration of audio into human-system interfaces. This work first discusses the utility of integrating audio to support multimodal human-information processing. Next, an auditory interactive computing paradigm utilizing Speech, Earcons, Auditory icons, and Spatial audio (SEAS) cues is proposed and guidelines for the integration of SEAS cues into multimodal systems are presented. Finally, the results of two...
Show moreThe current research is directed at providing validated guidelines to direct the integration of audio into human-system interfaces. This work first discusses the utility of integrating audio to support multimodal human-information processing. Next, an auditory interactive computing paradigm utilizing Speech, Earcons, Auditory icons, and Spatial audio (SEAS) cues is proposed and guidelines for the integration of SEAS cues into multimodal systems are presented. Finally, the results of two studies are presented that evaluate the utility of using SEAS cues, developed following the proposed guidelines, in relieving perceptual and attention processing bottlenecks when conducting Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) control tasks. The results demonstrate that SEAS cues significantly enhance human performance on UAV control tasks, particularly response accuracy and reaction time on a secondary monitoring task. The results suggest that SEAS cues may be effective in overcoming perceptual and attentional bottlenecks, with the advantages being most revealing during high workload conditions. The theories and principles provided in this paper should be of interest to audio system designers and anyone involved in the design of multimodal human-computer systems.
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Date Issued
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2005
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Identifier
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CFE0000810, ucf:46689
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000810
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Title
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A SURVEY OF PROGRESSIVE AND AFFIRMATIVE EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA'S HOSPITALS.
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Creator
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Johnson, Mark, Fottler, Myron, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Conflict between managers and employees is inevitable in any organization, whether public or private. Often, the source of the conflict is employee non-compliance. Managers are responsible for disciplining those employees whose performance or conduct is sub-standard or inappropriate. Therefore, the ability to effectively address employee non-compliance is an essential skill for all managers. Most employee discipline systems fall into one of three categories: traditional, progressive, and...
Show moreConflict between managers and employees is inevitable in any organization, whether public or private. Often, the source of the conflict is employee non-compliance. Managers are responsible for disciplining those employees whose performance or conduct is sub-standard or inappropriate. Therefore, the ability to effectively address employee non-compliance is an essential skill for all managers. Most employee discipline systems fall into one of three categories: traditional, progressive, and affirmative. Traditional systems were prevalent in the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. An autocratic, demanding manager would mete out punishment to non-compliant employees both as an action against the employee and as a warning to other employees. Employees were often terminated for their first offense. With the advent of labor unionism and fair labor practices in the first half of the twentieth century, organizational leaders were required to develop more progressive employee discipline systems which protected employee "due process" and which allowed time and opportunity for improvement by the non-compliant employee. Progressive employee discipline systems are the most prevalent discipline systems in America's workforce today. These systems entail three or four steps, with each successive step usually resulting in more severe penalties for the same offense or more severe offenses. Progressive employee discipline allows the employee an opportunity to respond to non-compliance issues and to try to improve it to the extent required to maintain their position. A new employee discipline system, affirmative discipline, has gained adherents in the private sector primarily. Affirmative employee discipline systems do not use punishment to correct employee non-compliance but instead, ask managers to "coach" and "counsel" the non-compliant employee to better behavior and performance. Rehabilitating the employee's non-compliance is the primary goal of affirmative systems. The emphasis is not only upon the non-compliant employee, but on rehabilitating the "marriage" of non-compliant employee and direct supervisor. Little evidence exists to determine the extent to which progressive and affirmative employee discipline systems are being utilized in the modern organization. No evidence exists that indicates the prevalence of these systems in Florida's healthcare institutions. A survey-based analysis of the use of progressive and affirmative employee discipline systems in Florida's hospitals resulted in respondents indicating frequent utilization of formal progressive employee discipline systems. Designed in three or four steps, these progressive systems allow the employee to improve his/her behavior. Two common tools in progressive systems, the verbal warning and the performance counseling statement, are utilized frequently based upon those respondents surveyed. The use of affirmative employee discipline systems, on the other hand, is relatively rare. The use of written behavior contracts to elicit improved employee compliance is also quite rare. The vast majority of respondents appear to be unfamiliar with the use of written behavior contracts to elicit improved employee compliance.
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Date Issued
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2005
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Identifier
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CFE0000738, ucf:46580
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000738
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Title
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THE ROLE OF THEORY OF MIND IN HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION.
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Creator
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Jaramillo, Isabella, McConnell, Daniel, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Theory of Mind (ToM) has repeatedly been defined as the ability to understand that others believe their own things based on their own subjective interpretations and experiences, and that their thoughts are determined independently from your own. In this study, we wanted to see if individual differences in ToM are capable of causing different perceptions of an individual's interactions with human like robotics and highlight whether or not individual differences in ToM account for different...
Show moreTheory of Mind (ToM) has repeatedly been defined as the ability to understand that others believe their own things based on their own subjective interpretations and experiences, and that their thoughts are determined independently from your own. In this study, we wanted to see if individual differences in ToM are capable of causing different perceptions of an individual's interactions with human like robotics and highlight whether or not individual differences in ToM account for different levels of how individuals experience what is called the "Uncanny Valley phenomenon" and to see whether or not having a fully developed theory of mind is essential to the perception of the interaction. This was assessed by inquiring whether or not individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) perceive robotics and artificially intelligent technology in the same ways that typically developed individuals do; we focused on the growing use of social robotics in ASD therapies. Studies have indicated that differences of ToM exist between individuals with ASD and those who are typically developed. Comparably, we were also curious to see if differences in empathy levels also accounted for differences in ToM and thus a difference in the perceptions of human like robotics. A robotic image rating survey was administered to a group of University of central Florida students, as well as 2 surveys - the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ) and the Basic Empathy Scale (BES), which helped optimize a measurement for theory of mind. Although the results of this study did not support the claim that individuals with ASD do not experience the uncanny valley differently than typically developed individuals, there were significant enough results to conclude that different levels of empathy may account for individual differences in the uncanny valley. People with low empathy seemed to have experienced less of an uncanny valley feeling, while people with higher recorded empathy showed to experience more of an uncanny valley sensitivity.
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Date Issued
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2015
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Identifier
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CFH0004858, ucf:45457
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004858
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Title
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IS PERCEIVED INTENTIONALITY OF A VIRTUAL ROBOT INFLUENCED BY THE KINEMATICS?.
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Creator
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Sasser, Jordan, McConnell, Daniel S., University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Research has shown that in Human-Human Interactions kinematic information reveals that competitive and cooperative intentions are perceivable and suggests the existence of a cooperation bias. The present study invokes the same question in a Human-Robot Interaction by investigating the relationship between the acceleration of a virtual robot within a virtual reality environment and the participants perception of the situation being cooperative or competitive by attempting to identify the...
Show moreResearch has shown that in Human-Human Interactions kinematic information reveals that competitive and cooperative intentions are perceivable and suggests the existence of a cooperation bias. The present study invokes the same question in a Human-Robot Interaction by investigating the relationship between the acceleration of a virtual robot within a virtual reality environment and the participants perception of the situation being cooperative or competitive by attempting to identify the social cues used for those perceptions. Five trials, which are mirrored, faster acceleration, slower acceleration, varied acceleration with a loss, and varied acceleration with a win, were experienced by the participant; randomized within two groups of five totaling in ten events. Results suggest that when the virtual robot's acceleration pattern were faster than the participant's acceleration the situation was perceived as more competitive. Additionally, results suggest that while the slower acceleration was perceived as more cooperative, the condition was not significantly different from mirrored acceleration. These results may indicate that there may be some kinematic information found in the faster accelerations that invoke stronger competitive perceptions whereas slower accelerations and mirrored acceleration may blend together during perception; furthermore, the models used in the slower acceleration conditions and the mirrored acceleration provide no single identifiable contributor towards perceived cooperativeness possibly due to a similar cooperative bias. These findings are used as a baseline for understanding movements that can be utilized in the design of better social robotic movements. These movements would improve the interactions between humans and these robots, ultimately improving the robot's ability to help during situations.
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Date Issued
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2019
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Identifier
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CFH2000524, ucf:45668
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000524
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Title
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INFLUENCE MAP METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATING SYSTEMIC SAFETY ISSUES.
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Creator
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Barth, Timothy, Pet-Armacost, Julia, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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"Raising the bar" in safety performance is a critical challenge for many organizations. Contributing factor taxonomies organize information on why accidents occur. Therefore, they are essential elements of accident investigations and safety reporting systems. Organizations must balance efforts to identify causes of specific accidents with efforts to evaluate systemic safety issues in order to become more proactive about improving safety. This research successfully addressed two problems: (1)...
Show more"Raising the bar" in safety performance is a critical challenge for many organizations. Contributing factor taxonomies organize information on why accidents occur. Therefore, they are essential elements of accident investigations and safety reporting systems. Organizations must balance efforts to identify causes of specific accidents with efforts to evaluate systemic safety issues in order to become more proactive about improving safety. This research successfully addressed two problems: (1) limited methods and metrics exist to support the design of effective taxonomies, and (2) influence relationships between contributing factors are not explicitly modeled within a taxonomy. The primary result of the taxonomic relationship modeling efforts was an innovative "dual role" contributing factor taxonomy with significant improvements in comprehensiveness and diagnosticity over existing taxonomies. The influence map methodology was the result of a unique graphical and analytical combination of the dual role taxonomy and influence relationship models. Influence maps were developed for several safety incidents at Kennedy Space Center. An independent assessment was conducted by a team of experts using the new dual role taxonomy and influence chain methodology to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of contributing factors identified during the formal incident investigations. One hundred and sixteen contributing factors were identified using the influence map methodology. Only 16% of these contributing factors were accurately identified with traditional tools, and over half of the 116 contributing factors were completely unaddressed by the findings and recommendations of the formal incident reports. The new methodology is being applied to improve spaceport operations and enhance designs of future NASA launch systems.
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Date Issued
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2006
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Identifier
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CFE0001274, ucf:46928
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001274
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Title
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THE EFFECT OF BULLYING AND THE MEDIATING ROLE OF ATTACHMENT AND HUMANITY-ESTEEM ON SELF-ESTEEM AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES.
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Creator
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Bater, Lovina, Renk, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Any type of bullying can become a traumatic event for a child, leading to lasting negative effects. Specifically, victimization may lead to numerous behavioral problems and lowered self-esteem. Also, the quality of attachment may have a predictive relationship with the victimization and the negative outcomes it may cause. Other research implied that a similar relationship may be found between retrospective bullying and humanity-esteem. Despite the collective research done on these variables,...
Show moreAny type of bullying can become a traumatic event for a child, leading to lasting negative effects. Specifically, victimization may lead to numerous behavioral problems and lowered self-esteem. Also, the quality of attachment may have a predictive relationship with the victimization and the negative outcomes it may cause. Other research implied that a similar relationship may be found between retrospective bullying and humanity-esteem. Despite the collective research done on these variables, no study, until now, has looked at retrospective bullying, humanity-esteem, attachment, behavior problems, and self-esteem all together. This study not only looked at the relationships among these variables but also the role that humanity-esteem and attachment served between victimization, later behavior problems, and later self-esteem. One hundred thirty-six participants completed five questionnaires assessing experiences of retrospective bullying, humanity-esteem, current attachment relationships, behavior problems, and self-esteem. The results of this study indicated that participants who reported having been bullied previously also endorsed internalizing and externalizing problems as well as low self-esteem. Further, humanity-esteem and attachment both served as significant predictors of victimized individuals' behavioral problems and self-esteem. Such findings suggested that a higher view of humanity and secure attachment may serve as a protective factor against the negative outcomes that may be related to having been bullied. The importance of studying the relationships among these variables is discussed further.
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Date Issued
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2013
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Identifier
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CFH0004489, ucf:45067
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004489
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Title
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FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN LATIN AMERICA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ADDRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN VENEZUELA, COLOMBIA, AND ARGENTINA.
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Creator
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Rios, Maria, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Over the last few decades the importance of human rights has increased considerably in international relations. With globalization and democratization, more states and individuals develop concerns about the fundamental rights every human is entitled to; regardless of sex, religion and ethnicity. Latin American countries began obtaining their independence over 200 years ago while progressing into becoming working democracies. Yet, they have been plagued by oscillating authoritarian regimes and...
Show moreOver the last few decades the importance of human rights has increased considerably in international relations. With globalization and democratization, more states and individuals develop concerns about the fundamental rights every human is entitled to; regardless of sex, religion and ethnicity. Latin American countries began obtaining their independence over 200 years ago while progressing into becoming working democracies. Yet, they have been plagued by oscillating authoritarian regimes and social conflicts that constrain and inhibit their hopeful development. The majority of the Latin American states have reached a point where further positive growth was expected; yet human violations have taken a backseat within the government of such countries. The case studies shed light on the three main causes of human right violations in Latin America. These are: the abuse of power by the government and the subsequent changes to the constitution to gain further control and authority; the government's inadequacy in dealing with subversive groups; and the deficiency of subsequent democratic governments to bring past offenders to trial for crimes against humanity while giving pardons to those who did face trial. By understanding why the violation of human rights occurred, future infringements can be avoided and fundamental rights will be awarded to all humans.
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Date Issued
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2011
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Identifier
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CFH0004115, ucf:44861
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004115
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Title
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A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF REFUGEES AND IDPS.
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Creator
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Sanchez, Laura, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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There is a grave concern for the life, liberty and security of individuals who have been forced to leave their homes and have become dispersed within their native countries and throughout the Asian continent. These internally displaced persons and refugees are the subject of this study. Some of the themes that will be discussed include: civil war, human rights violations and the economy, since these are the problems affecting the populations of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar. These case...
Show moreThere is a grave concern for the life, liberty and security of individuals who have been forced to leave their homes and have become dispersed within their native countries and throughout the Asian continent. These internally displaced persons and refugees are the subject of this study. Some of the themes that will be discussed include: civil war, human rights violations and the economy, since these are the problems affecting the populations of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar. These case studies are of particular interest because Afghanistan is where most refugees come from, Myanmar has the longest-running military regime and Pakistan hosts the most refugees in the world. All three case studies are currently in a state of civil war, are breeding grounds for violations of human rights and have corrupt economies. Thus, the goal is to end armed conflict, to put an end to the human rights violations that come with it and to restructure the economies in each of these nation states so that the internally displaced persons and refugees can be repatriated, since displacement has become too much of a burden for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar's neighboring countries, who have been taking in all of the refugees from said countries. Theoretically, if the issues causing displacement were to be solved, then the countries that host refugees would be able to concentrate on their own populations. This study can potentially address the gap between knowledge, policy formation, and policy implementation to realize the goals of the international community in dealing with the displacement crisis.
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Date Issued
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2011
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Identifier
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CFH0003829, ucf:44731
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0003829
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Title
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SOCIAL WORK STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF LABOR TRAFFICKING.
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Creator
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Mulhern, Margaret, Leon, Ana, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Human Trafficking in Florida is a growing issue that affects individuals and communities on a micro, mezzo, and macro level. Although legislative efforts and changes in agency policies have raised awareness about this problem, limited awareness and research examines awareness of labor trafficking as one form of human trafficking. This exploratory-descriptive study used a convenience sampling technique to explore the perceptions of 45 Bachelors (BSW) and Masters (MSW) level social work...
Show moreHuman Trafficking in Florida is a growing issue that affects individuals and communities on a micro, mezzo, and macro level. Although legislative efforts and changes in agency policies have raised awareness about this problem, limited awareness and research examines awareness of labor trafficking as one form of human trafficking. This exploratory-descriptive study used a convenience sampling technique to explore the perceptions of 45 Bachelors (BSW) and Masters (MSW) level social work students on the prevalence and nature of labor trafficking. The findings from the research show students have a general idea of labor trafficking and believe in equal access to human rights for victims. However, majority of students were unaware of current legislation to aid victims in Florida, and the prevalence of men as victims. Implications from this study show a need for further education within social work policies that aid labor trafficking victims, and a need for additional research to identify specific ways students can learn about human trafficking.
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Date Issued
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2014
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Identifier
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CFH0004581, ucf:45202
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004581
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Title
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PERCEPTION AND DISPLAYS FOR TELEOPERATED ROBOTS.
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Creator
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Upham Ellis, Linda, Sims, Valerie, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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In remote or teleoperational tasks involving humans and robots, various aspects of the remote display system may greatly influence the individual's interactions with the teleoperated entity. This dissertation examined various configurations of display systems on several measures of operator performance, physiological states, and perceptions of the task. Display configurations included altering the camera placement (attached to the robot or placed overhead), screen orientation (horizontal...
Show moreIn remote or teleoperational tasks involving humans and robots, various aspects of the remote display system may greatly influence the individual's interactions with the teleoperated entity. This dissertation examined various configurations of display systems on several measures of operator performance, physiological states, and perceptions of the task. Display configurations included altering the camera placement (attached to the robot or placed overhead), screen orientation (horizontal or vertical), and screen size (small or large). Performance was measured in terms of specific task goals, accuracies, strategies, and completion times. Physiological state was assessed through physiological markers of arousal, specifically heart rate and skin conductance. Operator perception of the task was measured with a self-reported perception of workload and frustration. Scale model live simulation was used to create a task driven environment to test the display configurations. Screen size influenced performance on complex tasks in mixed ways. Participants using a small screen exhibited better problem solving strategies in a complex driving task. However, participants using the large screen exhibited better driving precision when the task required continual attention. These findings have value in design decisions for teleoperated interfaces where the advantages and disadvantages of screen size must be considered carefully. Orientation of the visual information seems to have much less impact on the operator than the source of the information, though it was an important factor of the display system when taken together with screen size and camera view. Results show strong influence of camera placement on many of the performance variables. Interestingly, the participants rated a higher frustration in the overhead condition, but not a higher task load, indicating that while they realized that the task was frustrating and perhaps they could have done better, they did not recognize the task as overloading. This was the case even though they took longer to complete the task and experienced more errors related to turning in the overhead camera condition. This finding may indicate a potential danger for systems in which the operator is expected to recognize when he or she is being overloaded. This type of performance decrease due to added frames of reference may be too subtle to register in the operator's self awareness
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Date Issued
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2008
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Identifier
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CFE0002330, ucf:47818
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002330
Pages