Search Results (3)

As technological advancements increase exponentially, mobile phones become smarter with machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms. These advancements have allowed mobile phone users to perform most of their daily routine tasks on mobile phones; tasks performed in daily routines are called repetitive tasks and are performed manually by the users themselves. However, machine learning and artificial intelligence have enabled those tasks to be performed automatically, known as task automation. The users can perform task automation, e.g., through creating automation rules or an intelligent agent, e.g., conversational agents, virtual personal assistants, etc. Several techniques to achieve task automation have been proposed, but this review shows that task automation by programming by demonstration has had massive developmental growth because of its user-centered approach. Apple Siri, Google Assistant, MS Cortana, and Amazon Alexa are the most known task automation agents. However, these agents are not widely adopted because of their usability issues. In this study, two research questions are evaluated through the available literature to expand the research on intelligent task automation agents: (1) What is the state-of-the-art in task automation agents? (2) What are the existing methods and techniques for developing usability heuristics, specifically for intelligent agents? Research shows groundbreaking developments have been made in mobile phone task automation recently. However, it must still be conducted per usability principles to achieve maximum usability and user satisfaction. The second research question further justifies developing a set of domain-specific usability heuristics for mobile task automation intelligent agents. Full article

Smart mirrors are devices that can display any kind of information and can interact with the user using touch and voice commands. Different kinds of smart mirrors exist: general purpose, medical, fashion, and other task specific ones. General purpose smart mirrors are suitable for home environments but the exiting ones offer similar, limited functionalities. In this paper, we present a general-purpose smart mirror that integrates several functionalities, standard and advanced, to support users in their everyday life. Among the advanced functionalities are the capabilities of detecting a person’s emotions, the short- and long-term monitoring and analysis of the emotions, a double authentication protocol to preserve the privacy, and the integration of Alexa Skills to extend the applications of the smart mirrors. We exploit a deep learning technique to develop most of the smart functionalities. The effectiveness of the device is demonstrated by the performances of the implemented functionalities, and the evaluation in terms of its usability with real users. Full article

Voice controlled virtual assistants, delivered via consumer devices such as smart speakers and tablets, are being trialled by local authorities across England as a convenient and low-cost supplement or potential alternative to “traditional” telecare. Few papers have explored this increasingly widespread phenomenon, despite its growing importance. This article looks at choices by some local authorities to trial Alexa, within the context of the ongoing care crisis in England, with councils facing depleted funds, a lack of expert guidance on care technologies, and an increasingly complex and fragmented care technology marketplace. It draws on interviews with managers from eight English local authorities involved in the commissioning and trialling of technologies for adult social care to examine how and why virtual assistants are being implemented, and what implications their use might hold for care. Scaling up the application of such technologies could shift the role of local authorities towards one of an app developer and data broker, while generating considerable risks of reliance on the precarious technological infrastructure of global corporations that may have little interest in or sensitivity towards local care concerns. The findings suggest an urgent need for a national social care technology strategy and increased support for local authorities. Full article