Papers by gabriella spinelli
Technology innovation to reduce health inequality in skin diagnosis and to improve patient outcomes for people of color: a thematic literature review and future research agenda
Frontiers in artificial intelligence, Jun 13, 2024
Frontiers in Sociology
Aging is continuously depicted as a force majeure event despite clear and robust premonitions of ... more Aging is continuously depicted as a force majeure event despite clear and robust premonitions of its coming. However, such depiction serves to justify the unpreparedness and inadequacy of policies manifesting in loneliness and isolation, unsatisfied demands in health and social care, lack of suitably inclusive residential and social facilities, and inequitable access to support and services. Recent years have seen an increase in social innovation that involves alternative transaction models, such as time-banks and circular economies. These initiatives represent collective responses to changes and challenges such as aging by identifying and innovatively capturing and exchanging locally-and freely-available assets with the intent to fulfill economic needs (more affordable goods and services), social ambitions (skills development and exchange, repurposing space, social inclusion, and cohesion) environmental aspirations (up-cycle) and psychological needs (sense of purpose, identity, belonging, recognition). Whilst it is often assumed that ad hoc measures are appropriate to resolve the challenges posed by an aging demographic, the learnt assumption that underpins this work is that aging is a systemic issue and ought to be understood, and resolved, in its context, not by producing niche-relevant policy and interventions, but considering the impacts it has on the whole society. Henceforth it is proposed that truly transformative social innovation for the aging population must consider and resolve the challenges of communities as these are where older adults can stay relevant socially and, in the presented approach, also economically. Through the review of four international case studies, a framework with four cornerstones has emerged. This includes the changing role of local and central governments, the models of value creation, co-creation mechanisms, and finally, technology, especially digital social currency. The concurrent presence of the four factors in the framework is not always a requirement for social innovation to emerge and flourish. However, the presented analysis suggests that all four themes have an impact even when not being direct agents of social innovation. The authors conclude by making a case for developing Living Labs for Aging-in-Place, to experiment and study proposed solutions for systemic challenges facing the aging population, grounded in community-led schemes.
Frontiers in Communication
coronavirus disease (COVID-), ecosystems, future of health and healthcare, international security... more coronavirus disease (COVID-), ecosystems, future of health and healthcare, international security, public health, public policy Editorial on the Research Topic Coronavirus disease (COVID-): Socio-economic systems in the post-pandemic world: Design thinking, strategic planning, management, and public policy The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, led to unprecedented events. All regions of the world participated in implementing preventive health measures such as physical distancing, travel restrictions, self-isolation, quarantines, and facility closures. The pandemic started global disruption of socio-economic systems, covering the postponement or cancellation of public events, supply shortages, schools and universities' closure, evacuation of foreign citizens, a rise in unemployment and inflation, misinformation, the anti-vaccine movement, and incidents of discrimination toward people affected by or suspected of having coronavirus disease. Attempts have been made to protect the oldest age group at risk, but in many cases, this has led to over-restriction and age discrimination. The rationale for working on the Research Topic "Socio-economic systems in the post-pandemic world: Design thinking, strategic planning, management, and public policy" was the need to start reflecting on resilience and lessons learned from this public health event that revealed the global unpreparedness in critical areas. Also, the pandemic triggered Frontiers in Communication frontiersin.org
Design For Health. 6th International Conference, Jul 1, 2020
The use of well-designed assistive devices may improve the quality of life of individuals living ... more The use of well-designed assistive devices may improve the quality of life of individuals living with severe and permanent impairments and reduce the burden on their caregivers. Interactive Smart Agents (ISA)s use the latest smart home technology to control devices around the house through voice interfaces. This study aims to investigate whether ISAs may be effective to support individuals who are affected by multiple sclerosis, stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI). The study's approach is user-centred to ensure inclusion. The study has achieved NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) and Health Regulatory Authority (HRA) approval (Project ID: 255096) and includes two main parts: 1. the initial development of an adoption model informed by secondary research and exploratory primary data, 2. a second in-depth investigation of the initially identified constructs and relationships through a multi-points qualitative study including prototype evaluation. The research is in collaboration with the North Thames Regional Environmental Control Services (NTRECES), an NHS organisation that provides Environmental Control (EC) devices to manage the patients' electrical and computing appliances. Clinical staff have indicated an increasing patients' demand of ISAs instead of traditional EC devices and have suggested that their clients are keen to experiment with more intuitive interfaces. This paper presents the findings from the first part of the study and it is structured as follows: in the first and second sections literatures on ISA and technology adoption are reviewed respectively. In the third section findings from the preliminary study are presented. In the fourth section a proposed model of adoption of ISAs among severely disabled patients is discussed.
Experimenting with a structured approach to building complementary economies for community resilience and positive social impact using digital social currencies and social valuation of transactions
RESEARCH ASSOCIATION ON MONETARY INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY AND COMPLEMENTARY CURRENCY SYSTEMS, Sep 11, 2019
Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative, SCORAI Europe, May 20, 2021
In a world that is ageing fast technology can really make a difference to keep people independent... more In a world that is ageing fast technology can really make a difference to keep people independent, healthy and socially connected. While the physical and sensorial signs of ageing have to some extent been considered in the design of technology for older people, much work is still needed to understand the impact of cognitive and emotional changes in the adoption, deferral or rejection of technology devices. Understanding the behavioral strategies of older people when dealing with technology-based products can help designers as well as marketers to reconsider product' attributes and market communication, respectively. A novel set of smart computational materials suggests application opportunities for the design of more immediate and intuitive technology products.
This research study has been supported by the EU-funded FP7 collaborative research project Light.... more This research study has been supported by the EU-funded FP7 collaborative research project Light.Touch.Matters (LTM), under agreement n°310311
Distributed cognition : artefacts and computational space for collaborative problem-solving
EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Unquestionably age affects a person’s ability to use technology, however, older people should not... more Unquestionably age affects a person’s ability to use technology, however, older people should not be bound by impairment. Mobile technology can help facilitate the independence of older people; unfortunately, designers often fail to understand their diver
Design of Assistive Technology for Ageing Populations, 2019
Products we purchase are much more than artefacts that fulfil functional needs in our life. We ha... more Products we purchase are much more than artefacts that fulfil functional needs in our life. We have grown to enact our consumer choices, even those regarding fast moving consumable goods, with careful considerations informed by numerous trials, recommendations and, growingly, environmental concerns in mind. Advanced manufacturing and progress in research and development are providing more choices for consumers even in quite specific and complex product markets. An exemption to this market trend is represented by assistive technologies (ATs). This is a relatively underdeveloped context despite the growing demands for assistive devices by those in later life who need either support in accomplishing everyday life to stay independent or have complex co-occurring conditions. In this chapter, we explore why ATs, especially for older adults, are underdeveloped by exploring issues related to design approaches and cultural and social perceptions that have contributed to making consumers more or less sensitive and demanding towards the role of ATs in their lives. The chapter will conclude with recommendations that may be able to shift the perception of assistive devices so as to facilitate the user's emotional investment in the devices, attachment to them, which, in return, may lead to better adherence and faster adoption.
Sustainability, 2019
Ethical consumption has increased as a result of a more pressing environmental agenda, allowing c... more Ethical consumption has increased as a result of a more pressing environmental agenda, allowing consumers to assert their core values through marketplace decisions. The progressive secularisation of society has opened a gap on how religion and spirituality, defined in this paper as constructs that underpin core values, affect individuals through their consumption choices. An exploratory approach was taken in this research to investigate how consumers negotiate their daily shopping habits, whether they align with or diverge from their religious or secular core values, and whether an internal or external locus of control (LoC) was demonstrated. This qualitative study used the theory of reasoned action and applied an interpretative paradigm, being most interested in the lived experience of the 25 participants. They were recruited from religious, spiritual, and secular backgrounds, following a purposeful sampling strategy. The participants kept a 2-week daily diary detailing spending de...
Book Review: Exploring Corporate Strategy: Texts and Cases
Designing and Evaluating Web Interaction for Older Users
Evaluating Websites and Web Services
With the unprecedented changes in demographic structure, the ageing population is becoming a more... more With the unprecedented changes in demographic structure, the ageing population is becoming a more powerful and attractive audience for Web-based services. To provide this group with satisfying user experiences, it is necessary to understand the impact that the ageing process has on abilities, needs, and expectations. While researchers and practitioners can apply inclusive design and methods to centre the development of Internet-based services around lifestyle and behaviours of the ageing population, it is also important to consider what innovations can be introduced to online services to make them more attractive and sustainably adopted among older people. The chapter is centred on issues affecting the online experience of users in later life: physical and cognitive abilities, aspirations, and constraints. It then provides an overview of the methods inspired by User-Centred Design. Finally, it considers challenges that go beyond the remit of design but still powerfully affect the We...
Landscaping police organisational and technological changes in crime recording and analysis
IEE and MOD HFI DTC Symposium on People and Systems - Who are we Designing for?, 2005
ABSTRACT Since 2000, the United Kingdom's (UK) police service has employed the national i... more ABSTRACT Since 2000, the United Kingdom's (UK) police service has employed the national intelligence model (NIM), as well as progressively implementing national technological and organisational tools to provide maximum effectiveness and consistent standards in the performance and delivery of intelligence-led policing to tackle crime. This paper presents the approach of distributed cognition (DCog) to elaborate a model of the components, the coordination and the flow of information within the 'crime recording and analysis' system. This paper also reports ethnographic fieldwork in police command and control rooms (CMCR), in addition to the review of organisational tools (e.g. code of practice) used to understand potential challenges to the intended transformation and associated innovation. This paper concludes by pointing out how technological and organisational components impact all police forces in recording crime, as well as further enhance intelligence-led policing.
HCI Research at Brunel University: the VIVID Research Centre
Journal of Intelligent Systems, 2006
Model (NIM). In the study, we disbanded the activities taking places in CMCRs and applied the com... more Model (NIM). In the study, we disbanded the activities taking places in CMCRs and applied the computational approach of Distributed Cognition (DCog) to analyze how information is represented, collected, and disseminated between people and across media. An ethnographically inspired methodology was applied to develop a thorough appreciation of the socio-technical work environment. The findings illustrate the diversity of technologies that police forces are already employing in the fight against crime and the large corpus of organizational and technological changes that are required for configuring a robust and consistent approach to intelligence-led policing.
Virtual Learning Environment Strategy Working Group (VLESWG)
blackboard.com
... Chair: Professor Peter Lunt - School of Social Sciences; Project Manager: Monique Ritchie - C... more ... Chair: Professor Peter Lunt - School of Social Sciences; Project Manager: Monique Ritchie - Copyright and Digital Resources Officer; Dr Phil ... Dr Alisa Lebow - School of Arts; Dr Tatiana Kalganova - School of Engineering and Design; Priya Pallan - VP Academic Representation ...
scs-europe.net
Effective collaboration is at the heart of simulation modelling. By looking at the investigations... more Effective collaboration is at the heart of simulation modelling. By looking at the investigations undertaken within other discipline domains, e.g. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), we highlight methodologies issues that could be applied in the area of simulation modelling to support a more effective project timeline and to stimulate a discussion about the next generation of tools for collaborative simulation.
Call centres in the police force are restrictive information systems which tend to present call o... more Call centres in the police force are restrictive information systems which tend to present call operators with constraints that they need to overcome using their experience in order to offer better services to the public. This paper is looking at how elements of human agency ...
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Papers by gabriella spinelli