2016
Cramer, Emily S., Antle, Alissa N., Fan, Min
The Code of Many Colours: Evaluating the Effects of a Dynamic Colour-Coding Scheme on Children's Spelling in a Tangible Software System Proceedings Article
In: Proceedings of the The 15th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children, pp. 473–485, Association for Computing Machinery, Manchester, United Kingdom, 2016, ISBN: 9781450343138.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: children, design, Dyslexia, evaluation, phonoblocks, spelling, tangibles
@inproceedings{10.1145/2930674.2930692,
title = {The Code of Many Colours: Evaluating the Effects of a Dynamic Colour-Coding Scheme on Children's Spelling in a Tangible Software System},
author = {Emily S. Cramer and Alissa N. Antle and Min Fan},
url = {https://doi-org.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/10.1145/2930674.2930692},
doi = {10.1145/2930674.2930692},
isbn = {9781450343138},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
urldate = {2016-01-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the The 15th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children},
pages = {473–485},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
address = {Manchester, United Kingdom},
series = {IDC '16},
abstract = {Dyslexia is a severe impairment in reading and spelling that affects 10% of children in English-speaking countries. One area of difficulty is learning spelling rules that require attention to other letters within a word (i.e., context): for example, why grapple requires two ps while staple requires one. Poor visual attention contributes to children's difficulties. Computer-based programs that use multisensory cues have helped children learn simple letter-sound relations, but not contextual spelling rules. In this paper we present three theoretically derived principles that can be used to design dynamic colour codes for a variety of contextual spelling rules in software systems. We discuss how we used our principles to design the colour scheme for a single contextual spelling rule in our tangible software system, called PhonoBlocks. We evaluate its effectiveness in a field study with nine dyslexic children. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that our approach to using dynamic colour may help children with dyslexia to learn contextual spelling rules, but that individual factors impact the colours' effectiveness. We conclude by suggesting ways our dynamic colour-coding principles can be implemented in other systems taking into consideration individual factors that also impact their effectiveness.},
keywords = {children, design, Dyslexia, evaluation, phonoblocks, spelling, tangibles},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Dyslexia is a severe impairment in reading and spelling that affects 10% of children in English-speaking countries. One area of difficulty is learning spelling rules that require attention to other letters within a word (i.e., context): for example, why grapple requires two ps while staple requires one. Poor visual attention contributes to children's difficulties. Computer-based programs that use multisensory cues have helped children learn simple letter-sound relations, but not contextual spelling rules. In this paper we present three theoretically derived principles that can be used to design dynamic colour codes for a variety of contextual spelling rules in software systems. We discuss how we used our principles to design the colour scheme for a single contextual spelling rule in our tangible software system, called PhonoBlocks. We evaluate its effectiveness in a field study with nine dyslexic children. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that our approach to using dynamic colour may help children with dyslexia to learn contextual spelling rules, but that individual factors impact the colours' effectiveness. We conclude by suggesting ways our dynamic colour-coding principles can be implemented in other systems taking into consideration individual factors that also impact their effectiveness.
2015
Antle, Alissa N., Chesick, Leslie, Levisohn, Aaron, Sridharan, Srilekha Kirshnamachari, Tan, Perry
Using Neurofeedback to Teach Self-Regulation to Children Living in Poverty Proceedings Article
In: Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children, pp. 119–128, Association for Computing Machinery, Boston, Massachusetts, 2015, ISBN: 9781450335904.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: brain computer interfaces, children, developing countries, evaluation, games for learning, mindfull, neurofeedback, self-regulation
@inproceedings{10.1145/2771839.2771852,
title = {Using Neurofeedback to Teach Self-Regulation to Children Living in Poverty},
author = {Alissa N. Antle and Leslie Chesick and Aaron Levisohn and Srilekha Kirshnamachari Sridharan and Perry Tan},
url = {https://doi-org.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/10.1145/2771839.2771852},
doi = {10.1145/2771839.2771852},
isbn = {9781450335904},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-01},
urldate = {2015-01-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children},
pages = {119–128},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
address = {Boston, Massachusetts},
series = {IDC '15},
abstract = {In this paper we describe a neuro-feedback system and applications we designed and deployed to help vulnerable children at an NGO-funded school, called Nepal House Kaski, in Pokhara, Nepal. The system, called Mind-Full, enables traumatized children to learn and practice self-regulation by playing simple, culturally appropriate games using an EEG headset connected to an interactive tablet. Children can interact with Mind-Full using body actions that may change their physiology and brain states, which are sensed by the EEG headset and used as input to the games. One of the key challenges was to build an application that the children could immediately understand how to use when they are illiterate, don't speak English and have no computer experience. We describe Mind-Full and highlight the design principles we used to meet these constraints. We report on a subset of findings from a 14-week field experiment in which we use a mixed-methods approach to determine if children improved their ability to self-regulate during gameplay as well as in the classroom, playground and in therapy sessions. Findings from quantitative and qualitative assessment measures suggest that the treatment group significantly improved their ability to calm down and focus in a variety of contexts.},
keywords = {brain computer interfaces, children, developing countries, evaluation, games for learning, mindfull, neurofeedback, self-regulation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
In this paper we describe a neuro-feedback system and applications we designed and deployed to help vulnerable children at an NGO-funded school, called Nepal House Kaski, in Pokhara, Nepal. The system, called Mind-Full, enables traumatized children to learn and practice self-regulation by playing simple, culturally appropriate games using an EEG headset connected to an interactive tablet. Children can interact with Mind-Full using body actions that may change their physiology and brain states, which are sensed by the EEG headset and used as input to the games. One of the key challenges was to build an application that the children could immediately understand how to use when they are illiterate, don't speak English and have no computer experience. We describe Mind-Full and highlight the design principles we used to meet these constraints. We report on a subset of findings from a 14-week field experiment in which we use a mixed-methods approach to determine if children improved their ability to self-regulate during gameplay as well as in the classroom, playground and in therapy sessions. Findings from quantitative and qualitative assessment measures suggest that the treatment group significantly improved their ability to calm down and focus in a variety of contexts.
2009
Antle, Alissa N., Droumeva, Milena, Ha, Daniel
Hands on What? Comparing Children's Mouse-Based and Tangible-Based Interaction Proceedings Article
In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children, pp. 80–88, Association for Computing Machinery, Como, Italy, 2009, ISBN: 9781605583952.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: children, comparative experiment, digital tabletop, embodied interaction, evaluation, event table, input methods, interaction styles, jigsaw puzzle, Methodology, object manipulation, tangible computing, tangible interaction, video analysis
@inproceedings{10.1145/1551788.1551803,
title = {Hands on What? Comparing Children's Mouse-Based and Tangible-Based Interaction},
author = {Alissa N. Antle and Milena Droumeva and Daniel Ha},
url = {https://doi-org.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/10.1145/1551788.1551803},
doi = {10.1145/1551788.1551803},
isbn = {9781605583952},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-01-01},
urldate = {2009-01-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children},
pages = {80–88},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
address = {Como, Italy},
series = {IDC '09},
abstract = {We investigate the similarities and differences -- in terms of quantitative performance and qualitative behaviors -- between how children solve an object manipulation task using mouse-based input versus tangible-based input. This work examines the assumption common in tangible computing that direct physical manipulation is beneficial for certain spatial tasks. We describe an ecologically valid comparison of mouse-based versus tangible-based input for a jigsaw puzzle task in order to better understand the tradeoffs in choosing input and interaction styles. We include a traditional cardboard puzzle for comparative purposes. The results of an experiment with 132 children indicate children are more successful and faster at solving puzzles using a tangible-based approach. Detailed temporal analysis indicates that pairs in the tangible group spend most of their time using a combination of epistemic and pragmatic actions which support mental problem solving. Conversely, pairs in the mouse group use an ineffective trial and error strategy.},
keywords = {children, comparative experiment, digital tabletop, embodied interaction, evaluation, event table, input methods, interaction styles, jigsaw puzzle, Methodology, object manipulation, tangible computing, tangible interaction, video analysis},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
We investigate the similarities and differences -- in terms of quantitative performance and qualitative behaviors -- between how children solve an object manipulation task using mouse-based input versus tangible-based input. This work examines the assumption common in tangible computing that direct physical manipulation is beneficial for certain spatial tasks. We describe an ecologically valid comparison of mouse-based versus tangible-based input for a jigsaw puzzle task in order to better understand the tradeoffs in choosing input and interaction styles. We include a traditional cardboard puzzle for comparative purposes. The results of an experiment with 132 children indicate children are more successful and faster at solving puzzles using a tangible-based approach. Detailed temporal analysis indicates that pairs in the tangible group spend most of their time using a combination of epistemic and pragmatic actions which support mental problem solving. Conversely, pairs in the mouse group use an ineffective trial and error strategy.