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Publications

Publications by HumanISE

2026

Challenges and Opportunities for Designing Digital Communication Interfaces for Persons with Partial Locked-In Syndrome

Authors
Amado, P; Penedos-Santiago, E; Lima, C; Simoes, S; Giesteira, B; Peçaibes, V;

Publication
ARTSIT, INTERACTIVITY AND GAME CREATION, ARTSIT 2024, PT II

Abstract
This integrative literature review synthesizes insights from multiple disciplines to address the challenges and opportunities in designing digital communication interfaces for persons with Locked-In Syndrome (LIS). The paper highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that includes ethical co-design, visual design principles, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). It emphasizes how important it is to have user-friendly, visually appealing, and accessible interfaces to help persons with LIS to communicate more effectively. Important technologies are evaluated for their potential to improve communication, including Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR), Eye Tracking, and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). To guarantee that the emerging technologies are both efficient and considerate of user demands, the review emphasizes the significance of ethical considerations and patient-centered design. This study intends to direct future design-based action research in constructing functional digital communication systems, using head-mounted Extended Reality (XR) technologies, by combining the various research findings from the review.

2026

Before the Interface

Authors
Giesteira, B; Santiago, E; Sousa, A; Amado, P; Gonçalves, F;

Publication
Reshaping Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Through Digital Innovation

Abstract
This chapter explores the innovative development and integration of tailored user research instruments to inform digital health solutions for People Living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (PALS) exhibiting characteristics of partial Locked-In Syndrome (LIS). Addressing the complex interplay of motor, cognitive, and emotional impairments typical of this population, the study proposes a synergistic framework combining three adapted instruments: the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R/EX), the User Experience Questionnaire Plus (UEQ+), and a bespoke Cognitive-Motor-Emotional (CME) Observation Grid. These instruments were tailored to detect subtle variations in user function, affect, and interaction. Results show how embodied and sensory drawing participatory methods and customisation of instruments, along with semi-structured questionnaire and interviews with caregivers, can yield actionable insights for designing a model for solutions in neurodegenerative or communication-limiting contexts beyond Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

2026

Ikigai Play

Authors
Giesteira, B; Souza, T; Sousa, A; Rodrigues, L; Maior, GV;

Publication
Reshaping Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Through Digital Innovation

Abstract
This chapter is grounded in the results of the ERASMUS+ funded project SmartAgeCare, which investigated active and healthy ageing strategies across eight European countries. The project aims to foster digital inclusion, civic participation, and psychosocial well-being among older adults by exploring innovative models of engagement. This chapter introduces the concept of 'Ikigai Play' as a transdisciplinary framework rooted in a meta-narrative review and inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai—meaning 'reason for being'. Synthesising evidence from national studies and digital ageing strategies, the chapter identifies regional disparities, psychosocial drivers, and the transformative potential of inclusive technologies. 'Ikigai Play' is proposed as a culturally adaptive model to support autonomy, well-being, and digital health equity.

2026

Improving adherence to an online intervention for low mood by a virtual coach or personalized motivational feedback messages: A three-arm pilot randomized controlled trial

Authors
Amarti, K; Ciharová, M; Provoost, S; Schulte, HJ; Kleiboer, A; El Hassouni, A; Gonçalves, GC; Riper, H;

Publication
Internet Interventions

Abstract
Background: Online psychological interventions like behavioural activation (BA) can be provided with or without human support. Unguided online interventions require no human contact and are therefore easier to implement on a large scale than guided interventions. However, effectiveness and adherence rates to these interventions are generally lower. One way to increase adherence to unguided online interventions is to offer automated motivational support. Objective: This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) examined whether adherence to unguided online BA for low mood could be improved by adding automated support in the form of smartphone-delivered personalized motivational messages or a motivational virtual coach. Methods: A three-arm pilot RCT (n = 106) was conducted that compared an online intervention delivered with automated motivational support by a virtual coach (n = 35), or by automated personalized messages on their smartphone (n = 35), to the same intervention without support (control condition; n = 36). The primary outcome was level of adherence, operationalized as (1) the number of webpages of the intervention visited, and (2) the number of mood ratings completed on the smartphone application, both retrieved from participants' logfiles. Secondary outcomes were satisfaction with the intervention (CSQ-I), usability (SUS) depression scores (HADS), and motivation for treatment (SMFL), measured through online questionnaires administered at baseline or after 4 weeks. Results: Adherence was moderate overall, with participants visiting on average 23 pages of 55 webpages and completing on average 50 of 84 requested mood ratings. No evidence for differences in adherence rates were observed between the intervention conditions and the control condition. Satisfaction with the intervention was moderate to high. Usability scores were below the desirable threshold of 68. Depression symptoms did not change significantly across all participants (p = .053). No significant changes in motivation were found over time or between groups. Conclusions: Adding automated support to unguided online BA for depression did not improve overall adherence. The limited effectiveness may reflect a misalignment between the motivational strategies and the needs of the target population, who reported mild symptoms and high intrinsic motivation. The findings highlight the need to further improve both the quality of automated support and the usability of online platforms. Future research should explore additional adherence-related factors and investigate how personalization can better address different symptom severities in unguided mental health interventions. Trial registration: International Clinical Trials Registry Platform: trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NL8110. © 2025 The Authors

2026

Knowledge graphs and large language models for prompt-based scientometric inquiry

Authors
Correia, A; Saarela, M; Kärkkäinen, T;

Publication
Inf. Process. Manag.

Abstract

2026

Comparing LLM and expert assessments of journal quality

Authors
Saarela, M; Pölönen, J; Linna, AK; Wahlfors, L; Correia, A; Kärkkäinen, T;

Publication
Scientometrics

Abstract
Abstract Some performance-based research funding systems rely on expert-assigned journal rankings to allocate resources and guide research evaluation. In Finland, the JuFo system provides journal rankings, determined by experts who assess journals using available metadata, such as bibliometric indicators, alongside qualitative judgment. While prior work has explored machine learning approaches to approximate these rankings, the recent emergence of large language models (LLMs) offers new possibilities for automated, data-driven evaluation. In this study, we examine how well LLMs can replicate JuFo rankings when given the same structured information available to experts, including citation metrics, disciplinary assignments, and publisher metadata. We systematically compare LLM predictions to expert-assigned JuFo ranks using a confusion-matrix analysis to identify cases of alignment and deviation. Our research addresses two key questions: (1) how accurately LLMs estimate journal rankings, and (2) in which situations their predictions diverge from expert judgments and which factors explain these discrepancies. Our findings show that LLMs approximate expert-assigned rankings with high overall accuracy, with most errors occurring between adjacent levels. However, their performance varies systematically across disciplines, and they tend to under-predict top-tier journals, particularly in social sciences and humanities fields.

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