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Learning environments can benefit from the enactive concept which considers human and technological aspects as coupled together so that interaction is seen as a cycle of perceptually guided actions. Although existing literature reviews have been conducted to address the use of technologies in enactive learning environments, we observe they do not address the relations of technology with core concepts of enactive systems and its social aspects. This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) to investigate if and how core concepts of enactive systems are being addressed by learning environments. The SLR was based on the PRISMA protocol, and considered relevant sources of studies (ACM DL, IEEE Xplore, SpringerLink, Scopus, Scielo). We based our analysis on a set of 104 selected articles (from 4514 raised), scrutinized with regards to contextual information, and a proposed set of categories of data related to subjects identified in the studies (e.g., embodiment, technology, social, among others). Our work reveals the types of technologies being used, the types of enactive interactions promoted by the technology-based environments, and the main challenges for a research agenda in the field. Our discussion raised open challenges related to a need for a common vocabulary, a framework to organize concepts in the field, and missing points that deserve further research, such as social aspects of enactive system.

There is only a very short reaction time for people to find the best way out of a building in a fire outbreak. Software applications can be used to assist the rapid evacuation of people from the building; however, this is an arduous task, which requires an understanding of advanced technologies. Since well-known pathway algorithms (such as, Dijkstra, Bellman–Ford, and A*) can lead to serious performance problems, when it comes to multi-objective problems, we decided to make use of deep reinforcement learning techniques. A wide range of strategies including a random initialization of replay buffer and transfer learning were assessed in three projects involving schools of different sizes. The results showed the proposal was viable and that in most cases the performance of transfer learning was superior, enabling the learning agent to be trained in times shorter than 1 min, with 100% accuracy in the routes. In addition, the study raised challenges that had to be faced in the future.

The current web technologies make intensive the use of colors in web pages. Nowadays, colors are essential in the design of interfaces and play a central role in the distinction and comprehension of information. However, this affects colorblind users, i.e., those who have difficulties in recognizing or distinguishing colors. This paper presents a user study involving colorblind people to empirically investigate several aspects related to the recoloring of web interfaces. We aim to detect limitations, barriers, and needs about these users’ interaction with web pages. Our employed evaluation investigates indicators of satisfaction (contentment) and pleasantness (enjoyable) for several scenarios of interface recoloring adaptation. We found a ranking of application for interface adaptation techniques with the use of recoloring algorithms. The obtained results reveal the advantages of considering the colorblind individual’s needs and preferences for the development of adaptive systems. Our contribution can enhance web interface accessibility based on user interface adaptation techniques.

The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein functions as a tetramer, interacting with partner proteins to form the “AIRE complex,” which relieves RNA Pol II stalling in the chromatin of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). AIRE is the primary mTEC transcriptional controller, promoting the expression of a large set of peripheral tissue antigen genes implicated in the negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes. Under normal conditions, the SIRT1 protein temporarily interacts with AIRE and deacetylates K residues of the AIRE SAND domain. Once the AIRE SAND domain is deacetylated, the binding with SIRT1 is undone, allowing the AIRE complex to proceed downstream with the RNA Pol II to the elongation phase of transcription. Considering that the in silico and in vitro binding of the AIRE SAND domain with SIRT1 provides a powerful model system for studying the dominant SAND G228W mutation mechanism, which causes the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome-1, we integrated computational molecular modeling, docking, dynamics between the whole SAND domain with SIRT1, and surface plasmon resonance using a peptide harboring the 211 to 230 residues of the SAND domain, to compare the structure and energetics of binding/release between AIRE G228 (wild-type) and W228 (mutant) SAND domain to SIRT1. We observed that the G228W mutation in the SAND domain negatively influences the AIRE-SIRT1 interaction. The disturbed interaction might cause a disruption in the binding of the AIRE SAND domain with the SIRT1 catalytic site, impairing the AIRE complex to proceed downstream with RNA Pol II.

The advance in Internet of Things technology has increased the opportunities for a healthcare system design, which is an urgent need owing to the growth in population among the older adults in many countries. This requires giving thought to the kind of innovative technological design methods that can find suitable solutions for home care. The application of Health Smart Homes by means of the technologies of the Internet of Things, can be used to support rehabilitation treatment and help the senior citizens to understand the importance of taking measures to maintain a healthy standard of living that can meet their needs. The aim of this article is to develop and assess a design method for the following purposes: (1) to determine and map out the physical and emotional state of the home care users, such as senior citizens; (2) to implement a participatory design that includes the user within its social, psychological and therapeutic context; (3) to explore the flexible method when applied to older users; (4) to provide a way for the users to be “personalized” through a wide range of solutions that involve analyzing the behavioral patterns of different individuals in a standardized manner and (5) to define a set of smart technologies for each problem and senior citizen. This article sets out a collaborative method called FlexPersonas, which is employed for the flexible mapping of users and to improve decision-making with the support of Internet of Things technologies. In this context, computing systems can identify the behavior of the user and issue warnings to the Carers about any abnormal event (for example falls or accidents). Studies with an interdisciplinary team point out the potential and drawbacks of the method.

Access to knowledge, information, and technology is a key element for the development of individuals and society as a whole. While computing systems play a fundamental role in this process, efforts aimed at diminishing the worldwide digital divide are still scarce. In this study, we propose a tailoring-based approach for personal systems design as a way to promote digital and social inclusion in contexts of highly unbalanced access to computing technology. Our approach uses theories and methods of participatory design and semiotics to tailor user interfaces according to principles of universal access. We propose the integration of the PLuRaL framework for the system conception and design with the FAN (flexibility through AJAX and norms) framework for implementation and deployment of tailorable user interfaces, reaching a complete approach for the creation of systems. The approach, frameworks, and methods were effectively analyzed during the design of an inclusive social network system in Brazil. In addition, we present an evaluation of the developed system and discuss possible impacts on digital inclusion.

Criminals use online social networks for various activities by including communication, planning, and execution of criminal acts. They often employ ciphered posts using slang expressions, which are restricted to specific groups. Although literature shows advances in analysis of posts in natural language messages, such as hate discourses, threats, and more notably in the sentiment analysis; research enabling intention analysis of posts using slang expressions is still underexplored. We propose a framework and construct software prototypes for the selection of social network posts with criminal slang expressions and automatic classification of these posts according to illocutionary classes. The developed framework explores computational ontologies and machine learning (ML) techniques. Our defined Ontology of Criminal Expressions represents crime concepts in a formal and flexible model, and associates them with criminal slang expressions. This ontology is used for selecting suspicious posts and decipher them. In our solution, the criminal intention in written posts is automatically classified relying on learned models from existing posts. This work carries out a case study to evaluate the framework with 8,835,290 tweets. The obtained results show its viability by demonstrating the benefits in deciphering posts and the effectiveness of detecting user’s intention in written criminal posts based on ML.

Computing systems have a tremendous influence on how we understand the world. Due to its ubiquity and pervasiveness over the past decade, computing technology has created societal challenges (e.g., related to justice, sustainability, ethics, peace) that demand we reexamine how we design computer-based systems. Drawing on a phenomenological understanding of the human-technology-society relation, this work contributes to the discussion on such challenges and to design practice with a framework we call socially aware design (SAwD). We developed this framework to bring awareness to the human-technology-society relation in the design process. In this paper, we present the framework’s main concepts, its underlying worldview, and its methodological base with reference to its origins. We illustrate the framework with design practices that we have experienced in designing systems in diverse situations. We also summarize key aspects of the proposed human-technology-society coupling relevant to the practice of technology design as a social phenomenon, which might open new agendas in the field.

Web technologies provide resources for the intensive use of colors in web pages. They are a core element in the design of interactive interfaces and are essential in the perception and understanding of information. However, color intensive design on the web affects the accessibility for users with color vision deficiency (CVD), who face difficulties in recognizing or distinguishing colors. CVD users may experience limitations and barriers in exploring web pages, even for simple tasks. Interface adaptation techniques may deal with several CVD visualization issues. Nevertheless, different situations and individual preferences turn choosing the most suitable recoloring technique into a complex task. Existing proposals in the literature fail in not considering various pathology types and individual preferences. This article defines a framework and techniques for the development of adaptive interfaces that facilitate the interaction of CVD people with web systems. The proposed research develops the FAIBOUD framework, which uses ontologies as artifacts for representing knowledge about CVD types, recoloring algorithms, and users’ access contexts and preferences. The FAIBOUD includes algorithms to support an adaptation decision process, which selects the most suited adaptation technique according to CVD type and access context. Our solution allows for the determination and automatic application of the best recoloring techniques to adapt interfaces for CVD users. Our experimental evaluation was conducted with fifteen CVD users. The results obtained from several illustrative scenarios demonstrate the benefits and enhancement of web interface accessibility based on our adaptive approach.