• Educational Technology International
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-71
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• 2017

The purpose of the study was to identify key design features of virtual reality with head-mounted displays (HMD) and touchless interface for the hearing-impaired and hard-of-hearing learners. The virtual reality based training program was aimed to help hearing-impaired learners in machine operating learning, which requires spatial understanding to operate. We developed an immersive virtual learning environment prototype with an HMD (Oculus Rift) and a touchless natural user interface (Leap Motion) to identify the key design features required to enhance virtual reality for the hearing-impaired and hard-of-hearing learners. Two usability tests of the prototype were conducted, which revealed that several features in the system need revision and that the technology presents an enormous potential to help hearing-impaired learners by providing realistic and immersive learning experiences. After the usability tests of hearing-impaired students' exploring the 3D virtual space, interviews were conducted, which also established that further revision of the system is needed, which would take into account the learners' physical as well as cognitive characteristics.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.147-157
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• 2022

This study assessed the compressive and tensile strengths and modulus of elasticity of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using the ASTM standard tests. In addition, short carbon and glass fibers were mixed with waste PET to examine the improvements in ductility and strength during compression. The bonding was examined via field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The strength degradation of the waste PET tested under UV was 40-50%. However, it had a compressive strength of 32.37 MPa (equivalent to that of concrete), tensile strength of 31.83 MPa (approximately ten times that of concrete), and a unit weight of 12-13 kN/m3 (approximately half that of concrete). A finite element analysis showed that, compared with concrete, a waste PET pile foundation can support approximately 1.3 times greater loads. Mixing reinforcing fibers with waste PET further mitigated this, thereby extending ductility. Waste PET holds excellent potential for use in foundation piles, especially while mitigating brittleness using short reinforcing fibers and avoiding UV degradation.

• Journal of English Language & Literature
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.475-495
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• 2009

In this paper, I discuss some asymmetries of bracketing paradoxes from a corpus-based perspective. Through a critical examination of previous analyses of bracketing paradoxes, it is demonstrated that the cases of apparent asymmetries of bracketing paradoxes are consistently accounted for when combined with the frequency-based parsability in morphological processing. Based on the relative frequency, this paper argues that bracketing paradoxes are well-atttested when their immediate bases are frequent and productive enough to be accessed as a unit and stored as such in memory. This is an extension of Hay 2002 which conducted a comprehensive survey of differential frequency effects in suffix pairs. A frequency-based approach to bracketing paradoxes adopted in this paper can be a challenge to the conventional formal theory by assuming a major role of language use and have the potential to significantly advance our understanding of the asymmetries observed in the real language world.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.138-141
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• 2015

The South Korean construction industry has shown a high proportion of industrial accidents (approximately 28% of whole injuries) and the continuously increasing accident rate. Although many safety research emphasized that the 3E (Enforcement, Education, and Engineering) approach is a potential solution to enhance workplace safety, there should be benefits to consider psychological (i.e., Emotional) effects on the safety performance since most construction works are human-oriented. Thus, understanding construction workers' psychological conditions can be a priority. This research studied the relationships between psychological conditions-which cover stress, personal temperament, emotional disturbance, and drinking habit-and specific safety-related factors including safety motivation and knowledge, and safety performance of individual workers at a construction site. This study conducted a survey of 430 respondents and analyzed the data with the multiple linear regressions. The results imply persistence, trait anxiety, and problem-focused coping style are the critical factors that should be controlled for enhancing jobsite safety. Finally, the research outcomes could be applied to build a strategic safety management plan for a construction manager.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.248-251
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• 2015

High injury and fatality rates remain a serious problem in the construction industry. Many construction injuries and fatalities can be prevented if workers can recognize potential hazards and take actions in time. Many efforts have been devoted in improving workers' ability of hazard recognition through various safety training and education methods. However, a reliable approach for evaluating this ability is missing. Previous studies in the field of human behavior and phycology indicate that the visual focus of attention (VFOA) is a good indicator of worker's actual focus. Towards this direction, this study introduces an automated approach for estimating the VFOA of equipment operators using a head orientation-based VFOA estimation method. The proposed method is validated in a virtual reality scenario using an immersive head mounted display. Results show that the proposed method can effectively estimate the VFOA of test subjects in different test scenarios. The findings in this study broaden the knowledge of detecting the visual focus and distraction of construction workers, and envision the future work in improving work's ability of hazard recognition.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.21-52
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• 2007

Research related to Web-based learning (WBL) has grown exponentially in the last decade. Scholars have explored a variety of areas related to WBL, including techniques, strategies and best practices. One area of particular interest to scholars is the potential of WBL to support and facilitative collaborative learning. Despite the continued exploration, there continues to be a concern related to the theoretical foundations of WBL. The purpose of this article is to explore how different theories may be used to guide research and inform practice in online collaborative learning. We integrate the major points drawn from current research and theory from a variety of perspectives so as to gain a better understanding of how learning is enabled by asynchronous modes of online collaborative learning. We then use this understanding to identify opportunities and challenges for theory development and research in WBL.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.93-112
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• 2007

This case study explored the potential for implementing content-based English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction in a Korean middle school facilitated by computer-mediated communication (CMC). The instructor scaffolded the student participant's language learning online, helping her to produce English output on her own. While experimental social studies lessons on the topic of stereotyping were taught, data were collected on the student's online exchanges with her counterpart in Iran about their respective cultures. Findings show that the student from Korea was able to better understand her own culture as a result of the online experience. This interaction and the in-class lessons have demonstrated that content-based EFL instruction is a viable alternative to the school's existing curriculum.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.91-98
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• 2023

Construction accidents result from a combination of factors, including both the actions of workers and the safety conditions on site. Despite advancements in enhancing construction site safety, there remains a gap in comprehending the cognitive processes underlying workers' unsafe behavior. This paper investigates and validates a qualitative model that delves into the potential causes of workers' unsafe actions by examining their cognitive processes, employing a system dynamics approach. By analyzing the interplay of various loops within this model, it offers both short- and long-term safety strategies for managers intent on minimizing unsafe behavior among workers. Specifically, safety managers should prioritize increasing workers' awareness of hazards through education and fostering a positive safety mindset. Moreover, they should task frontline supervisors with directly addressing and rectifying instances of unsafe behavior by workers. Lastly, construction safety managers ought to formulate safety strategies that take into account the cognitive states of workers to mitigate any adverse consequences of biased safety management. The outcomes of this research contribute to our comprehension of methods to enhance hazard perception among workers, curtail unsafe actions, and ultimately reduce construction accidents from a cognitive standpoint.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.957-976
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• 2023

ChatGPT has had a significant impact on society, business, and academia by influencing individuals and organizations through knowledge generation and supporting users in locating conversational inquiries and answers. It can transform how people seek answers by combining human-like conversational skills with AI. By eradicating the cumbersome process of selecting from multiple options, users can conduct preliminary research or create optimized solutions. The purpose of this research is to investigate how consumers use ChatGPT and digital transformation, specifically in terms of knowledge development, searching and recommending, and optimizing accessible possibilities. Using many linked theories, we address the potential implications and insights that can be gained from ChatGPT's early stages and its integration with other applications such as robotics, service automation, and the metaverse. Finally, the application of ChatGPT has practical, theoretical, and phenomenological impacts, in addition to improving users' experiences.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.98-103
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• 2024

This paper revisits politeness expressions in English, exploring their linguistic characteristics and the underlying social dynamics they reflect. Grounded in pragmatic theories, politeness is examined as a phenomenon shaped by societal norms, wherein language users navigate the delicate balance between efficiency and maintaining positive social interactions. Through an analysis of various linguistic devices such as modal auxiliary verbs, progressive and past tenses, depersonalization, and the use of hedges, the study elucidates how speakers endeavor to mitigate potential burdens on listeners and foster smoother communication. By understanding and employing these linguistic strategies, English learners can better navigate the nuances of politeness expressions in the English cultural context. This exploration underscores the pivotal role of politeness in interpersonal communication and highlights its significance in facilitating effective interaction among language users.