The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts a... more The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation, University
Despite the burgeoning studies on student attrition and retention, many institutions continue to ... more Despite the burgeoning studies on student attrition and retention, many institutions continue to deal with related issues, including D, F, and W grades rates. The emerging and rapidly developing Learning Analytics (LA) field shows great potential for improving learning outcomes by monitoring and analyzing student performance to allow instructors to recommend specific interventions based on key performance indicators. Unfortunately, the important role of LA has not been fully recognized, and therefore higher education has been slow to implement it. We, therefore, provide the rationale and benefits of increased LA integration into courses and curriculum. We further identify and suggest ready-to-implement best practices, as well as tools available in Learning Management Systems (LMSs) and other helpful resources.
Few studies have explored haptic sensing on a finger pad as a means of transferring complex direc... more Few studies have explored haptic sensing on a finger pad as a means of transferring complex directional information. Stimuli presentation using Braille or tactile vibrators use binary (“on/off”) signals which require large areas to adequately represent data. Our research seems to support that tangential motion on a finger pad is a promising means of transmitting tactile information more compactly at
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2011
Human perception of haptic information is often complex and requires devices that are expensive a... more Human perception of haptic information is often complex and requires devices that are expensive and difficult to operate. We see increasing attention being given to finding simpler motions in haptic research to represent more complex haptic perception on the surface of ...
SUMMARYTangential motion on a finger pad is a promising method of transmitting directional tactil... more SUMMARYTangential motion on a finger pad is a promising method of transmitting directional tactile information to human users. This study examined the identification and discrimination of tangential force motion on an index finger pad. An experimental device was built to automatically and randomly move a small probe in eight radial directions (45° apart) and two distances (0.5 and 1.5 mm). Index fingers of 62 subjects were tested. The results showed that moving the probe at 1.5 mm was detected with more accuracy than the 0.5 mm one. And, the absolute direction was not a statistically significant variable affecting accuracy for 1.5 mm distance, but was a significant effect for 0.5 mm distance. Implications of these results are discussed and future developments are offered within the context of a proposed Braille design with tangential actuators.
Abstract Multi-directional tactile perception adds significant complexity when interpreting hapti... more Abstract Multi-directional tactile perception adds significant complexity when interpreting haptic experimental data. In perceiving tactile stimulus direction, we often observe a lack of one-to-one stimulus-response compatibility, mostly due to confounding sensations that ...
Abstract: The current design of Portable Lightweight GPS Receivers (PLGR) seems to be difficult t... more Abstract: The current design of Portable Lightweight GPS Receivers (PLGR) seems to be difficult to use in stressful military situations. Its use has contributed to a number of friendly fire incidents in military applications. This study consists of a user-centered evaluation of the existing PLGR interface design. It includes a user requirements analysis, a task analysis and a system data flow diagram. Through the application of these HCI tools, the proposed redesign is expected to improve screen layout, map display options, and grid coordinate display. 1.
Healthcare services provided in U.S. is offered through a fragmented system that in majority of c... more Healthcare services provided in U.S. is offered through a fragmented system that in majority of cases cannot provide patient population with access to care, high quality of care, or coordinated care, and cannot guarantee the safety of patients. To overcome these shortcomings there is a need to create a new model of care. This study suggests a systematic approach to implement an innovative package of system elements including patient safety interventions, high reliability principles, and care coordination which illustrates the role of human factors in improving health outcomes of our population, enhance their health status, and enrich their overall well-being. Human health in full spectrum is a balance between medical, oral, physical, and mental/behavioral health. In this study all four elements of health services are provided to patients and their health outcomes have been studied in conjunction with the health status of their family members. This research aims to assess and analyze...
Since the passage of ADA, the demand for paratransit service is steadily increasing. Paratransit ... more Since the passage of ADA, the demand for paratransit service is steadily increasing. Paratransit companies are relying on computer automation to streamline dispatch operations, increase productivity and reduce operator stress and error. Little research has been performed to understand the task complexity of dispatchers interacting with their computer systems. This research was conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of the task complexities and requirements for paratransit dispatchers. To achieve this, we organized, modeled, and analyzed a complete paratransit dispatching task sequence for a Los Angeles area paratransit service provider. Extensive field observations, video recordings, and expert dispatcher interviews were conducted to sketch out a dispatcher’s task sequence model during a high workload period. Using Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA), this skeleton model was further refined into a comprehensive decision hierarchy (decision tree). The HTA was further extended to...
We examine how establishing a competitive Joint Rail Conference Grand Challenges Initiatives can ... more We examine how establishing a competitive Joint Rail Conference Grand Challenges Initiatives can harness the potential of college and possibly high school students to develop solutions or new insight into technical and safety problems plaguing the rail industry, including safety. The rail industry has tended to solve issues internally. However, solutions can often be found in other industries that are either similar or have faced similar concerns. For example, the immediate predecessor of Positive Train Control (PTC), the Advanced Railroad Electronics System (ARES), was conceived in the mid 1980’s by then Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) CEO Richard Bressler, who had read how flight safety and efficiency had been improved by air traffic control systems and avionics developed by Rockwell Collins for the Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft. The information age has further increased the potential for sparking innovation as ideas can spread literally overnight via the internet. Some of the most talented and creative problems solvers are college and high school students, who have been greatly enabled by the “democratization” of information that has given them access to knowledge and skills as never before. Teens can learn nearly any skill watching reputable online videos or even “attend” classes offered by top universities around the world simply using a smart phone or tablet. This has prompted educators like Michigan Tech’s Dr. Pasi Lautala and other to develop extensive online rail educational resources to spark interest in the industry. However, simply passing on information has its limitation, which is why initiatives like the Grand Challenges, and Engineers without Borders have been instrumental in harnessing students to examine key global challenges in engineering, energy, and health care. Moreover, these initiatives have encouraged many students to pursue careers in those fields, even in low- and medium-income countries. For example, in 2012, a high school sophomore developed a new method to detect pancreatic cancer that is quick to administer and detects the disease much more quickly than previous methods, allowing much better chances for successful treatment. We will examine how establishing a competitive JRC Grand Challenges Initiatives can harness the potential of college and possibly high school students to develop solutions or establish new insight into technical and safety problems plaguing the rail industry, including safety. In addition, it will look at how developing a dialog among the rail industry, including the Class 1 railroads, students, and academia can encourage a more top notch, talented students to consider careers in the rail industry.
2019 Pacific Southwest Section Meeting, California State University, Los Angeles , California, 2019
The quality of course design and organization often affects student success in the classroom as m... more The quality of course design and organization often affects student success in the classroom as much as a student’s ability to learn and apply course material. Students frequently must overcome poorly organized classes, including those organized within Learning Management Systems (LMSs) such as Blackboard. Ideally, instructors utilize LMSs and similar learning portals to optimize the amount of knowledge transfer, while minimizing the time students need to reach subject proficiency and the time instructors need to administer and to assess students. For example, searching for misleadingly labeled documents by navigating folders within folders can stress students and cause negative instructor reviews. We relate this to issues with “signal – to – noise ratio addressed in a previous work. Lamentably, while institutions of higher education regularly survey students for course feedback, a critical component most often missing is student user feedback on how well course design and organizat...
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Innovative Pedagogy, 2018
Despite the burgeoning studies on student attrition and retention, many institutions continue to ... more Despite the burgeoning studies on student attrition and retention, many institutions continue to deal with related issues, including D, F, and W grades rates. The emerging and rapidly developing Learning Analytics (LA) field shows great potential for improving learning outcomes by monitoring and analyzing student performance to allow instructors to recommend specific interventions based on key performance indicators. Unfortunately, the important role of LA has not been fully recognized, and therefore higher education has been slow to implement it. We, therefore, provide the rationale and benefits of increased LA integration into courses and curriculum. We further identify and suggest ready-to-implement best practices, as well as tools available in Learning Management Systems (LMSs) and other helpful resources.
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in HealthCare, 2015
Healthcare services provided in U.S. is offered through a fragmented system that in majority of c... more Healthcare services provided in U.S. is offered through a fragmented system that in majority of cases cannot provide patient population with access to care, high quality of care, or coordinated care, and cannot guarantee the safety of patients. To overcome these shortcomings there is a need to create a new model of care. This study suggests a systematic approach to implement an innovative package of system elements including patient safety interventions, high reliability principles, and care coordination which illustrates the role of human factors in improving health outcomes of our population, enhance their health status, and enrich their overall well-being. Human health in full spectrum is a balance between medical, oral, physical, and mental/behavioral health. In this study all four elements of health services are provided to patients and their health outcomes have been studied in conjunction with the health status of their family members. This research aims to assess and analyze the impact of the addition of the aforementioned system elements in relation with human factors on population's overall health status.
Positive Train Control (PTC), often referred to as Communication Based Train Control (CBTC), has ... more Positive Train Control (PTC), often referred to as Communication Based Train Control (CBTC), has been on the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) “Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements” for several decades as a safety-enabling system. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 mandated its implementation after the September 12, 2008, Chatsworth, California, collision between trains from the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA or Metrolink) and Union Pacific. SCRRA has undergone substantial challenges to integrate PTC into its operations. This report investigates the multilevel challenges—technological, human, organizational, and systematic—that SCRRA faced implementing the new technology as well as many of the lessons the railroad industry can learn from these challenges. Technology alone cannot ensure safety, but a properly-implemented PTC system can develop and promote high reliability practices that enable safe operations throughout an organi...
Few studies have explored haptic sensing on a finger pad as a means of transferring complex direc... more Few studies have explored haptic sensing on a finger pad as a means of transferring complex directional information. Stimuli presentation using Braille or tactile vibrators use binary (“on/off”) signals which require large areas to adequately represent data. Our research seems to support that tangential motion on a finger pad is a promising means of transmitting tactile information more compactly at equal or better rates than current methods. The index fingertips of 62 subjects were stimulated using random pattern of tangential motion in eight directions over two distances. An ANOVA found that distance was statistically significant, and direction was significant for 0.5 mm displacements, but not at 1.5 mm. Age also significantly affected perception of tangential motion. These results suggest tangential motion could transmit certain type of haptic information effectively; but its effectiveness may decrease with user age.
The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts a... more The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation, University
Despite the burgeoning studies on student attrition and retention, many institutions continue to ... more Despite the burgeoning studies on student attrition and retention, many institutions continue to deal with related issues, including D, F, and W grades rates. The emerging and rapidly developing Learning Analytics (LA) field shows great potential for improving learning outcomes by monitoring and analyzing student performance to allow instructors to recommend specific interventions based on key performance indicators. Unfortunately, the important role of LA has not been fully recognized, and therefore higher education has been slow to implement it. We, therefore, provide the rationale and benefits of increased LA integration into courses and curriculum. We further identify and suggest ready-to-implement best practices, as well as tools available in Learning Management Systems (LMSs) and other helpful resources.
Few studies have explored haptic sensing on a finger pad as a means of transferring complex direc... more Few studies have explored haptic sensing on a finger pad as a means of transferring complex directional information. Stimuli presentation using Braille or tactile vibrators use binary (“on/off”) signals which require large areas to adequately represent data. Our research seems to support that tangential motion on a finger pad is a promising means of transmitting tactile information more compactly at
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2011
Human perception of haptic information is often complex and requires devices that are expensive a... more Human perception of haptic information is often complex and requires devices that are expensive and difficult to operate. We see increasing attention being given to finding simpler motions in haptic research to represent more complex haptic perception on the surface of ...
SUMMARYTangential motion on a finger pad is a promising method of transmitting directional tactil... more SUMMARYTangential motion on a finger pad is a promising method of transmitting directional tactile information to human users. This study examined the identification and discrimination of tangential force motion on an index finger pad. An experimental device was built to automatically and randomly move a small probe in eight radial directions (45° apart) and two distances (0.5 and 1.5 mm). Index fingers of 62 subjects were tested. The results showed that moving the probe at 1.5 mm was detected with more accuracy than the 0.5 mm one. And, the absolute direction was not a statistically significant variable affecting accuracy for 1.5 mm distance, but was a significant effect for 0.5 mm distance. Implications of these results are discussed and future developments are offered within the context of a proposed Braille design with tangential actuators.
Abstract Multi-directional tactile perception adds significant complexity when interpreting hapti... more Abstract Multi-directional tactile perception adds significant complexity when interpreting haptic experimental data. In perceiving tactile stimulus direction, we often observe a lack of one-to-one stimulus-response compatibility, mostly due to confounding sensations that ...
Abstract: The current design of Portable Lightweight GPS Receivers (PLGR) seems to be difficult t... more Abstract: The current design of Portable Lightweight GPS Receivers (PLGR) seems to be difficult to use in stressful military situations. Its use has contributed to a number of friendly fire incidents in military applications. This study consists of a user-centered evaluation of the existing PLGR interface design. It includes a user requirements analysis, a task analysis and a system data flow diagram. Through the application of these HCI tools, the proposed redesign is expected to improve screen layout, map display options, and grid coordinate display. 1.
Healthcare services provided in U.S. is offered through a fragmented system that in majority of c... more Healthcare services provided in U.S. is offered through a fragmented system that in majority of cases cannot provide patient population with access to care, high quality of care, or coordinated care, and cannot guarantee the safety of patients. To overcome these shortcomings there is a need to create a new model of care. This study suggests a systematic approach to implement an innovative package of system elements including patient safety interventions, high reliability principles, and care coordination which illustrates the role of human factors in improving health outcomes of our population, enhance their health status, and enrich their overall well-being. Human health in full spectrum is a balance between medical, oral, physical, and mental/behavioral health. In this study all four elements of health services are provided to patients and their health outcomes have been studied in conjunction with the health status of their family members. This research aims to assess and analyze...
Since the passage of ADA, the demand for paratransit service is steadily increasing. Paratransit ... more Since the passage of ADA, the demand for paratransit service is steadily increasing. Paratransit companies are relying on computer automation to streamline dispatch operations, increase productivity and reduce operator stress and error. Little research has been performed to understand the task complexity of dispatchers interacting with their computer systems. This research was conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of the task complexities and requirements for paratransit dispatchers. To achieve this, we organized, modeled, and analyzed a complete paratransit dispatching task sequence for a Los Angeles area paratransit service provider. Extensive field observations, video recordings, and expert dispatcher interviews were conducted to sketch out a dispatcher’s task sequence model during a high workload period. Using Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA), this skeleton model was further refined into a comprehensive decision hierarchy (decision tree). The HTA was further extended to...
We examine how establishing a competitive Joint Rail Conference Grand Challenges Initiatives can ... more We examine how establishing a competitive Joint Rail Conference Grand Challenges Initiatives can harness the potential of college and possibly high school students to develop solutions or new insight into technical and safety problems plaguing the rail industry, including safety. The rail industry has tended to solve issues internally. However, solutions can often be found in other industries that are either similar or have faced similar concerns. For example, the immediate predecessor of Positive Train Control (PTC), the Advanced Railroad Electronics System (ARES), was conceived in the mid 1980’s by then Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) CEO Richard Bressler, who had read how flight safety and efficiency had been improved by air traffic control systems and avionics developed by Rockwell Collins for the Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft. The information age has further increased the potential for sparking innovation as ideas can spread literally overnight via the internet. Some of the most talented and creative problems solvers are college and high school students, who have been greatly enabled by the “democratization” of information that has given them access to knowledge and skills as never before. Teens can learn nearly any skill watching reputable online videos or even “attend” classes offered by top universities around the world simply using a smart phone or tablet. This has prompted educators like Michigan Tech’s Dr. Pasi Lautala and other to develop extensive online rail educational resources to spark interest in the industry. However, simply passing on information has its limitation, which is why initiatives like the Grand Challenges, and Engineers without Borders have been instrumental in harnessing students to examine key global challenges in engineering, energy, and health care. Moreover, these initiatives have encouraged many students to pursue careers in those fields, even in low- and medium-income countries. For example, in 2012, a high school sophomore developed a new method to detect pancreatic cancer that is quick to administer and detects the disease much more quickly than previous methods, allowing much better chances for successful treatment. We will examine how establishing a competitive JRC Grand Challenges Initiatives can harness the potential of college and possibly high school students to develop solutions or establish new insight into technical and safety problems plaguing the rail industry, including safety. In addition, it will look at how developing a dialog among the rail industry, including the Class 1 railroads, students, and academia can encourage a more top notch, talented students to consider careers in the rail industry.
2019 Pacific Southwest Section Meeting, California State University, Los Angeles , California, 2019
The quality of course design and organization often affects student success in the classroom as m... more The quality of course design and organization often affects student success in the classroom as much as a student’s ability to learn and apply course material. Students frequently must overcome poorly organized classes, including those organized within Learning Management Systems (LMSs) such as Blackboard. Ideally, instructors utilize LMSs and similar learning portals to optimize the amount of knowledge transfer, while minimizing the time students need to reach subject proficiency and the time instructors need to administer and to assess students. For example, searching for misleadingly labeled documents by navigating folders within folders can stress students and cause negative instructor reviews. We relate this to issues with “signal – to – noise ratio addressed in a previous work. Lamentably, while institutions of higher education regularly survey students for course feedback, a critical component most often missing is student user feedback on how well course design and organizat...
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Innovative Pedagogy, 2018
Despite the burgeoning studies on student attrition and retention, many institutions continue to ... more Despite the burgeoning studies on student attrition and retention, many institutions continue to deal with related issues, including D, F, and W grades rates. The emerging and rapidly developing Learning Analytics (LA) field shows great potential for improving learning outcomes by monitoring and analyzing student performance to allow instructors to recommend specific interventions based on key performance indicators. Unfortunately, the important role of LA has not been fully recognized, and therefore higher education has been slow to implement it. We, therefore, provide the rationale and benefits of increased LA integration into courses and curriculum. We further identify and suggest ready-to-implement best practices, as well as tools available in Learning Management Systems (LMSs) and other helpful resources.
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in HealthCare, 2015
Healthcare services provided in U.S. is offered through a fragmented system that in majority of c... more Healthcare services provided in U.S. is offered through a fragmented system that in majority of cases cannot provide patient population with access to care, high quality of care, or coordinated care, and cannot guarantee the safety of patients. To overcome these shortcomings there is a need to create a new model of care. This study suggests a systematic approach to implement an innovative package of system elements including patient safety interventions, high reliability principles, and care coordination which illustrates the role of human factors in improving health outcomes of our population, enhance their health status, and enrich their overall well-being. Human health in full spectrum is a balance between medical, oral, physical, and mental/behavioral health. In this study all four elements of health services are provided to patients and their health outcomes have been studied in conjunction with the health status of their family members. This research aims to assess and analyze the impact of the addition of the aforementioned system elements in relation with human factors on population's overall health status.
Positive Train Control (PTC), often referred to as Communication Based Train Control (CBTC), has ... more Positive Train Control (PTC), often referred to as Communication Based Train Control (CBTC), has been on the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) “Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements” for several decades as a safety-enabling system. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 mandated its implementation after the September 12, 2008, Chatsworth, California, collision between trains from the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA or Metrolink) and Union Pacific. SCRRA has undergone substantial challenges to integrate PTC into its operations. This report investigates the multilevel challenges—technological, human, organizational, and systematic—that SCRRA faced implementing the new technology as well as many of the lessons the railroad industry can learn from these challenges. Technology alone cannot ensure safety, but a properly-implemented PTC system can develop and promote high reliability practices that enable safe operations throughout an organi...
Few studies have explored haptic sensing on a finger pad as a means of transferring complex direc... more Few studies have explored haptic sensing on a finger pad as a means of transferring complex directional information. Stimuli presentation using Braille or tactile vibrators use binary (“on/off”) signals which require large areas to adequately represent data. Our research seems to support that tangential motion on a finger pad is a promising means of transmitting tactile information more compactly at equal or better rates than current methods. The index fingertips of 62 subjects were stimulated using random pattern of tangential motion in eight directions over two distances. An ANOVA found that distance was statistically significant, and direction was significant for 0.5 mm displacements, but not at 1.5 mm. Age also significantly affected perception of tangential motion. These results suggest tangential motion could transmit certain type of haptic information effectively; but its effectiveness may decrease with user age.
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Papers by Dr. Greg Placencia