Learning from Baroque

Ensuring that mixed reality spaces are inclusive to those who have motor impairments requires evaluating and, if necessary, modifying existing technology for the assistive mobility devices they use. Heads-up displays (HUDs) are a common facilitator of virtual augmentations on physical reality, especially for motor vehicles. However, little research to date has explored the efficacy of such displays for powered chairs, which is paramount to ensure safety and effectiveness of use. In this pilot study, we compared (a) transparency of the display (transparent, semi-transparent, and opaque) and (b) presentation mode of the information (text, icon, and text + icon) through dynamic powered chair navigation tasks in a controlled course setup. We found no difference for workload and error among transparency and presentation styles, but a significant difference between presentation styles on delay. These results will be evaluated in full through an mixed reality platform with powered chair users.

Smart Things are commonly understood as wireless ad-hoc networked, mobile, autonomous, special purpose computing appliances, usually interacting with their environment implicitly via a variety of sensors on the input side and actuators on the output side. Such smart appliances have started to populate the with hidden or services, thus building up an of associated with real world objects. With the embedding of invisible technology into everyday things, however, also the intuitive perception of services disappears. We believe that it has potential advantages to support the perception of smart appliance via novel interactive visual experiences. For this purpose we have developed and built DigiScope, a see-through based visual real time perception system for worlds to support interactive theater experience in mixed reality spaces. A case study is presented that demonstrates the use of DigiScope to percept the services of our smart Internet appliance SmartCase. Opposed to previous work on mixed reality based augmentation of reality, the DigiScope approach allows for a multiuser, collaborative real time perceptual experience.

Body RemiXer is a mixed reality installation that connects immersants across the virtual/actual divide through emergent tactility and abstract embodiment. Using a virtual reality headset, Kinect and projections, the installation explores the potential of immersive technology to create copresent experiences that foster intercorporeal relationships between immersants wearing a headset and those using the projections. Immersants’ bodies are at the center of the installation, activated as a site for social exchange. Body RemiXer has been exhibited at an art festival and at several smaller events. The authors’ observations during these exhibits reveal Body RemiXer's capacity to disrupt social norms and stimulate new connections.

Current mixed reality (MR) designs predominantly prioritise functionality and usability, often overlooking individual's diverse value needs. To create more meaningful MR experiences, this paper aims to address this gap by exploring how human values can be integrated into MR design. We propose a values-based design process and evaluate it through three design workshops considering a remote collaborative learning scenario. By comparing our approach to an existing MR application for collaborative learning, we demonstrate how embedding human values into MR design can lead to more ethical and human-centred outcomes. Our findings contribute to advancing the design and application of MR technologies to be more aligned with people's diverse needs and values.

eShadow is a digital storytelling platform inspired by traditional Shadow Theatre. It enables the creation of digital stories within a project-based approach that may start from scenario development and include the creation of digital puppets and sceneries, the set-up and recording of story scenes and the final assembly of a digital story. This paper presents how eShadow can be enhanced to solve the problem of creating mixed reality installations to offer rich learning experiences in informal learning settings. This enhanced version is eShadow+ and it is evaluated via two installations which are described and compared. The evaluation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach thus offering new learning opportunities that are aligned with current trends in the use of mixed reality technologies.

The discipline of education and training is in a state of transformation currently and is shifting toward more online learning environments as such, researchers are beginning to explore and apply new emerging technologies for online education. However, the current online learning platforms face new challenges in presenting learning content. There is a need for ways to support self-directed learning using new technological resources to create personally meaningful curiosity-driven learning experiences. In this work, an architectural framework for a mixed reality learning system is designed and presented to address this need. This is presented as an approach toward building tools for future educators to enable them to create multi-modal interactive mini-lessons in mixed reality that students can experience when they are within the appropriate learning contexts. Two proof-of-concept use case scenarios are presented using this framework. Together, this provides a step toward future multi-modal interactive educational agents that help users learn educational concepts in mixed reality.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to delineate and describe the local palliative care services available to residents of remote Aboriginal communities in northern Manitoba; to identify attitudes and beliefs ab0ut death, dying and palliative care in these communities; and to explore obstacles related to palliative care service delivery from the perspectives of culture and geographic isolation.Study Design. Forty-four in-depth semi-strn.ctured interviews were conducted with a reputational sample of key informants including Aboriginal people resident in remote communities, community elders and religious leaders, doctors, nurses and allied health care providers working in First Nations Communities, as well as specialist service providers in Winnipeg. Thematic qualitative analysis was done on the data collected. Data collected from interviews with northern physicians and nurses was coded and analyzed.Results. Currently, many Aboriginal people living in remote communities are transported to large urban centers to die, isolated from friends, family and their culture. However, the majority of Aboriginal people and health care providers interviewed reported that Aboriginal people living in remote communities would prefer to die at home. The issues surrounding palliative care provision in remote Aboriginal communities are cultural and geographic. Culturally sensitive care requires that patients have access to family supports and traditional services if requested. Geographic isolation requires that:1. patient-specific care plans be created for use in the remote community;2. effective lines of communication are established between remote health care providers and urban specialists;3. health care providers and family care-givers be properly trained to fill their respective roles; and4. appropriate guidelines and resources be available in the community to support this type of care.Conclusions. Providing the equipment, supports and education necessary for home-based palliative care in remote Aboriginal communities can be an effective way of addressing the medical, psycho-social, and spiritual needs of these patients. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2004; 63: 25–38)

This paper explores a novel integrated and collaborative approach to design and fabrication enabled by Mixed Reality. To this effect, an interactive workflow has been developed and demonstrated in the creation of a temporary installation.

This research offers a contribution, through art theory and practice, to an emerging culturally orientated discourse regarding mixed reality interaction. It seeks to deconstruct and analyse syncretic, hybridized agency, particularly in mixed reality data transfer systems. Recent developments in bridging autonomous relationships with digital representation, through mixed reality interfacing, have brought about the need for further analysis of these new ‘postbiological’, hybridized states of being that traverse traditional paradigms of time and space. Roy Ascott’s reconceptualisation of syncretic dialogues may facilitate further understanding of multi-layered world views, both material and metaphysical, that are emerging from our engagement with such pervasive computational technologies and post-biological systems. Syncretism has traditionally been regarded as an attempt to harmonise and analogise disparate or opposing veiwpoints (Ascott, 2010). Citing recent examples of research, this will discuss what Deleuze and Guattari have called the ‘deterritorialisation’ of the human body through its dispersion into multiple reality manifestations, in relation to how mixed reality data transfer might constitute a ‘reterritorialising’ effect on our syncretic understanding of post-biological digital identity (Delueze and Guatarri, 1980).

Part I: Background Issues and History. van der Kolk, McFarlane, The Black Hole of Trauma. McFarlane, van der Kolk, Trauma and its Challenge to Society. van der Kolk, Weisaeth, van der Hart, History of Trauma in Psychiatry. Part II: Acute Reactions. Shalev, Stress versus Traumatic Stress: From Acute Homeostatic Reactions to Chronic Psychopathology. Solomon, Laror, McFarlane, Acute Posttraumatic Reactions in Soldiers and Civilians. Part III: Defining and Diagnosing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Brett, The Classification of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. McFarlane, Girolamo, The Nature of Traumatic Stressors and the Epidemiology of Posttraumatic Reaction. McFarlane, Resilience, Vulnerability and the Course of Posttraumatic Reactions. van der Kolk, The Complexity of Adaptation to Trauma: Self-regulation, Stimulus Discrimination, and Characterological Development. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Approaches to the Psychobiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Newman, Kaloupek, Feane, Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Clinical and Research Settings. Part IV: Memory: Mechanisms and Processes. van der Kolk, Trauma and Memory. van der Kolk, van der Hart, Marmar, Dissociation and Information Processing in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Part V: Developmental, Social, and Cultural Issues. Pynoos, Steinberg, Goenjian, Traumatic Stress in Childhood and Adolescence, Recent Developments and Current Controversies. Prior Traumatization and the Process of Aging: Theory and Clinical Implications. Pitman, Sparr, Saunders, McFarlane, Legal Issues in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. de Vries, Trauma in Cultural Perspective. Part VI: Treatment. van der Kolk, McFarlane, van der Hart, A General Approach to Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Ursano, Grieger, McCarroll, Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress: Consultation, Training, and Early Treatment. Raphael, Wilson, Meldrum, McFarlane, Acute Preventive Interventions. Turnbull, McFarlane, Acute Treatments. Rothbaum, Foa, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Davidson, van der Kolk, The Psychopharmacological Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Lindy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Nature of the Therapeutic Relationship. Turner, McFarlane, van der Kolk, The Therapeutic Environment and New Explorations in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Ecology and culture comprise interacting components of landscapes. Understanding the integrative nature of the landscape is essential to establish methods for sustainable management. This research takes as a unifying theme the idea that ecological and cultural issues can be incorporated through management. As a first step in developing integrative management strategies, information must be collected that compares and contrasts ecological and cultural issues to identify their areas of intersection. Specifically how can local cultural knowledge enable water resource management that reflects cultural and ecological values? This research examines Native American cultural knowledge for setting water resource management priorities in the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming. A cross-cultural approach is adopted to assess the relationship between indigenous cultural knowledge and Euro-American perspectives through a comparative examination of the Wind River Water Code and Wyoming Water Law. This research indicates that cultural perspectives provide a rich arena in which to examine management issues. Understanding and identifying cultural practices may be an important first step in collaborative resource management between different cultural groups to prevent conflict and lengthy resolution in court.

Developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and specific language impairment, are biologically based disorders that currently rely on behaviorally defined criteria for diagnosis and treatment. Specific behaviors that are included in diagnostic frameworks and the point at which individual differences in behavior constitute abnormality are largely arbitrary decisions. Such decisions are therefore likely to be strongly influenced by cultural values and expectations. This is evident in the dramatically different prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorder across countries and across different ethnic groups within the same country. In this article, we critically evaluate the understanding of developmental disorders from a cultural perspective. We specifically consider the challenges of applying diagnostic methods across cultural contexts, the influence of cultural values and expectations on the identification and treatment of children with suspected disorders, and how cross-cultural studies can help to refine cognitive theories of disorder that have been derived exclusively from Western North American and European investigations. Our review synthesizes clinical, cultural, and theoretical work in this area, highlighting potential universals of disorder and concluding with recommendations for future research and practice.

BackgroundIn South Africa, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a significant public health issue. Sexually transmitted infections contribute significantly to the burden of disease in South Africa and are recognised as one of the main causes of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential causes of the high prevalence of STIs in the Du Noon population.MethodsA mixed methodology study involving 40 participants between the ages of 18 years and 45 years was conducted at Du Noon community health centre from 01 May 2021 to 15 May 2021. Both structured questionnaires and one-on-one patient interviews with open-ended questions were utilised to collect data.ResultsCultural beliefs, having multiple partners, a lack of partner notification, alcohol consumption, and a lack of condom usage were found to be the main contributing factors to the high incidence of STIs. Sex education appears to be lacking. Our findings reflected the other well-known cultural and socioeconomic issues confronting South African communities, for example, poverty, age-disparate relationships, and polygamous relationships.ConclusionThe cultural perspectives and understandings of sexual interactions of older men appear to have an impact on younger generations; as do peer pressure, social media and other socio-economic factors. There is an urgent need to shift cultural ideologies and norms among the youth. More research is needed to understand the views and misconceptions of the general public about STIs.ContributionThis study highlighted how health education challenges, interpersonal relationships, and socioeconomic barriers are still important factors in STI transmission.

Educational environment as one of the most important urban spaces should be taken into consideration. Obviously, architectural features of educational units are considered an important factor affecting the success of the educational structure. This study analyzed the space of higher education with an emphasis on cultural and social factors. Research methodology is dealing with the problem and field study. In other words, this research is an applied research and it is the kind of descriptive and analytical. The study population included students in different courses at Iranian governmental universities and professors and experts in these centers. Research findings showed that independent variables such as naturalism, amount of spatial coherence and the availability of space were studied with the dependent variable of attitude towards improve educational quality. Naturalism and spatial coherence variables compared to other variables had the highest correlation with the improvement of educational quality. Moreover, it became clear that there is a conflict between the status quo of physical spaces in universities and cultural perspectives and performance of the students. Furthermore, according to the results obtained from professors and experts, we can say that policymaking at the macro level in relation to the cultural policy based on cultural principles and culture of students, compliance of spaces in universities with traditional and modern culture, creating spaces with Iranian and Islamic identity and create spaces for security, safety and welfare of students are the most influential ideas on improving physical space in order to improve students' cultural and social issues.

This study explores how multi-sensory elements—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—enhance visitor engagement and interactivity in immersive art exhibitions across Southeast Asia. As immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Augmented Reality (AR) become more common in artistic spaces, understanding the role of the senses in shaping user experience is increasingly important. Through a content analysis, this research analyses selected exhibitions to evaluate the extent and effectiveness of sensory integration. The findings reveal that VR and MR offer the highest levels of immersion, allowing participants to engage deeply with digital and hybrid environments. Extended Reality (XR) also creates strong interactive experiences, while AR is often more limited in its immersive impact due to its focus on visual overlays. Among the sensory elements, sight, sound, and touch are the most employed, contributing significantly to users’ sense of presence and engagement. In contrast, taste and smell remain underutilized due to technological and logistical challenges, despite their potential to enhance emotional and memory-based connections with the artwork. The insights from this research offer valuable guidance for future developments in immersive art, suggesting that the thoughtful integration of all five senses can deepen audience engagement and create more memorable, meaningful experiences.