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Publications

Publications by HumanISE

2023

Industry and innovation in the Alto Minho region: assessing regional performance

Authors
Abreu, M; Rodrigues, HS; Silva, Â; Garcia, JE;

Publication
Engineering Management in Production and Services

Abstract
Abstract As a tool, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) guide local and regional leaders in developing policy approaches for better social development. SDGs are 17 ambitious objectives towards a greener, healthier, more peaceful and equal planet, promoted by the United Nations to achieve by 2030. Having this performance in mind, countries and regions can measure their level of SDG implementation and rethink how they could promote prosperity, cooperation among regions and progress. This study focuses on SDG-9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure in ten municipalities of the Alto Minho region, Portugal. The main idea is to assess the level of each municipality in the achievement of the indicators related to this SDG. The similarities and differences between the municipalities can underline areas for joint efforts or investments in the development policy. This paper selected a performance analysis as a tool for informing on the amount of effort required to achieve SDG-9 at a local level, i.e., the Alto Minho region in the north of Portugal. If the trend of evolution is maintained, only Viana do Castelo will reach the full range of indicators for SDG-9, and Caminha will have 50 % of the indicators achieved. The remaining municipalities will reach at least half of the indicators, thus achieving a value lower than half of the target value. This approach could be replicated in other SDGs and other regions. This assessment allows the region’s stakeholders to indicate areas of required action to achieve the SDG.

2023

Lecturers' attitude towards the use of e-learning tools in higher education: A case of Portugal

Authors
Fonseca, MJ; Garcia, JE; Vieira, B; Teixeira, AS;

Publication
Engineering Management in Production and Services

Abstract
Abstract This study aims to assess the lecturers’ opinions about the use of e-learning tools to support distance and blended learning in higher education in Portugal, evidently reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was based on a qualitative methodology, specifically, a focus group with professors from five higher education institutions from different geographical areas in Portugal. The obtained results were analysed along four main dimensions: (1) the level of knowledge of e-learning tools, (2) the reasons for using or (3) not using them, and, finally, (4) the opinion of lecturers on the student assessment process using these tools. The results showed that in addition to the concerns with smooth running classes and the appropriate delivery of the syllabus, the lecturers considered the transition to the e-learning context to have been easy. They noted a high level of literacy in the used tools, believed in the continued use of e-learning in the post-pandemic context, indicated several advantages for those involved in the e-learning context and a majority of limitations related to the time required for the adoption of more tools; and, finally, underlined the student assessment issue, which was pointed out as the most sensitive topic in the whole e-learning context. The study informed on the lecturers’ perspective on e-learning and the used tools and provided insight into their perceived usefulness and benefits for lecturers and students. An especially strong concern was verified on the part of lecturers to optimise e-learning tools to provide better knowledge delivery to students.

2023

The Influence of Social Media on Voters’ Decision-Making Process in Portugal: A Case Study

Authors
Garcia J.E.; Vega E.G.; Purificação P.; Fonseca M.J.;

Publication
Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies

Abstract
Nowadays, social media are inevitably part of people's daily lives. Thus, political communication should also go through digital communication channels, particularly on social media. In such channels, it is important to define a digital marketing and communication strategy to attract new voters and consecutively more votes. As in offline communication channels and also in digital communication, one of the indispensable points in political communication is the candidate’s image. This image must show its own style and differentiate the candidate from his opponents. The main objective of this study is to understand the influence of social media on Portuguese voters’ decision-making process. Throughout the study, different research questions were also analyzed to access which social media are the most used to follow the online political campaign and which criteria influence the voting decision-making process. To achieve this purpose, exploratory research was carried out through questionnaire surveys. Three surveys were conducted based on the Portuguese presidential elections of January 24, 2021. The surveys were distributed before, during, and after the end of the electoral campaign, and 106 people were questioned and answered all 3 surveys. With the results of this study, it was possible to conclude that only 11% of respondents changed their voting intention due to the political communication made by political parties on social media during this electoral campaign. The social media most used by respondents was Facebook, which is also the one they consider the safest and most trustworthy to follow political communication in online media.

2023

Reducing Environmental Impact Using Vehicle Route Planning

Authors
de Oliveira, LC; Pavlenko, O; Garcia, JE;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering

Abstract
Companies focus on achieving high service levels and need to combine short service times with the dynamics between cost and quality. Their transportation systems are therefore a fundamental part; they must be reliable and efficient. This study was implemented in a company of the marine industry, and its final product has special characteristics that require special transportation, i.e., they need a truck with a special structure to be able to transport the boats. This situation causes the vehicle to return empty to the company, a route that the company must support economically. The company has already approached several options with logistic service providers (3PL) without obtaining positive solutions. It is in this sense that the present project arises, which aims to develop a tool for the creation of round-trip circuits, given that in the current context the company intends to acquire a vehicle with reduced environmental impact. In a first phase we analyze the company’s needs based on the unique characteristics of the final product, then we study the existing options on the market. Culminating in the proposal of a vehicle that allows performing a circuit in round trip (distribute the final product and return with raw material and not empty) powered by renewable energy. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

2023

O design e o Lúdico como instrumentos para a prevenção e tratamento da Anorexia Nervosa

Authors
Peçaibes, V; Cardoso, P; Giesteira, B; Castro, L;

Publication
?III SEVEN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF HEALTH

Abstract
A anorexia nervosa é uma perturbação mental que afeta diferentes áreas da vida do indivíduo, impactando o seu bem-estar físico, social e mental. A população-alvo desta doença são jovens. Os jogos são atrativos para estes, e tem recentemente havido um crescimento no uso de jogos como ferramentas de apoio ao tratamento de diferentes doenças mentais. Porém, a prevenção e tratamento da anorexia nervosa possui poucos jogos que contemplem a complexidade da doença. Neste contexto, este resumo refere-se a uma tese de doutoramento que propõe o desenvolvimento de princípios para o design de jogos para a prevenção e tratamento da anorexia nervosa.

2023

Designing a Multimodal Application for People with Brain Injuries to Manage Their Daily Routine: A User-Centered Approach

Authors
Giesteira, B; de Sousa, AP; dos Santos, TS; Vaz-Pires, C;

Publication
UNIVERSAL ACCESS IN HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION, UAHCI 2023, PT II

Abstract
Centro de Reabilitacao Profissional de Gaia (CRPG) is a Portuguese public association that promotes the social, educational, occupational, and rehabilitation aspects of people with disabilities. The CRPG project presented in this paper is directly related to the Rehabilitation and reintegration of labor accidents and occupational diseases (RAC/LCA) victims. The solution presented in this paper heavily relied on user research of the institution's procedures and the patients themselves. Their habits, goals, needs, and mental models allowed a better understanding of the heterogeneity of patient's injuries, which usually affected memory, motion, and cognition in different ways and severity. The User Centered-Design methodological approach also encompasses a comparative analysis of mobile applications in Google Play and Apple App Store related to disabilities and features some main features identified by CRPG; interviews with patients and with CRPG stakeholders; personas and contextual scenarios development, requirements, and features definition, workflow, wireflows, lo and high fidelity prototype, formative evaluation with end users. The usability and accessibility test results suggest the viability and efficacy of multiple interaction modalities in improving the accessibility of the application, ensuring a broader reach to the CRPG community with future implications as good practices in the inclusiveness of applications in other contexts.

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