The last decade has been one of dramatic progress in the field of Natural Language Processing (NLP). This hitherto largely academic discipline has found itself at the center of an information revolution ushered in by the Internet age, as demand for human-computer communication and informa­ tion access has exploded. Emerging applications in computer-assisted infor­ mation production and dissemination, automated understanding of news, understanding of spoken language, and processing of foreign languages have given impetus to research that resulted in a new generation of robust tools, systems, and commercial products. Well-positioned government research funding, particularly in the U. S. , has helped to advance the state-of-the­ art at an unprecedented pace, in no small measure thanks to the rigorous 1 evaluations. This volume focuses on the use of Natural Language Processing in In­ formation Retrieval (IR), an area of science and technology that deals with cataloging, categorization, classification, and search of large amounts of information, particularly in textual form. An outcome of an information retrieval process is usually a set of documents containing information on a given topic, and may consist of newspaper-like articles, memos, reports of any kind, entire books, as well as annotated image and sound files. Since we assume that the information is primarily encoded as text, IR is also a natural language processing problem: in order to decide if a document is relevant to a given information need, one needs to be able to understand its content.

Over the last decade, ultrasound mid-air haptic technology has emerged and rapidly advanced to engage multidisciplinary scientific communities within and adjacent to the haptics and HCI fields. Additionally, this haptic technology has been adopted by a number of industry sectors (e.g., automotive, virtual reality, digital signage, neuroscience research) who appear keen to exploit its unique value proposition: the ability to deliver rich haptic sensations from a distance, without the need to touch, wear or hold anything in order to enhance touchless interfaces, novel applications, and experiences.

The book includes original unpublished contributions presented in First International Conference on Recent Advances in Artificial Intelligence and Smart Applications (RAAISA 2023), organized by Department of CSE, University of Engineering and Management, Kolkata, India during 14 – 15 December 2023. The topics covered are progression of artificial intelligence techniques like smart agent-based systems, human-computer interaction technologies, reinforcement learning, sentiment analysis, recurrent neural networks and its applications, genetic algorithm, and neural networks.

This book is a comprehensive guide to the latest advancements in manufacturing, adopting an Industry 4.0 approach. It covers the core principles of big data informatics, digital twin technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning strategies. Readers will gain insights into the realm of cyber-physical intelligent systems in production, the role of blockchain, and the significance of information and communication technology.

This book reports on research findings and practical lessons featuring advances in the areas of digital and interaction design, graphic design and branding, design education, society and communication in design practice, and related ones. Gathering the proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Digital Design and Communication, Digicom 2023, held on November 9-11, 2023, as a hybrid event, in/from Barcelos, Portugal, this book continues the tradition of the previous ones reporting on new design strategies to foster digital communication within and between the society, institutions and brands. By highlighting innovative ideas and reporting on multidisciplinary projects, it offers a source of inspiration for designers of all kinds, including graphic and web designers, UI, UX and social media designers, and to researchers, advertisers, artists, and brand and corporate communication managers alike.

This practical handbook provides a well-founded insight into the complex preparatory work for the realisation of eLearning projects. The book describes how project managers and media authors work as a team to create a script for eLearning that fulfils learning psychology criteria and current multimedia didactics. Tools for designing and writing scripts are presented and evaluated so that a needs-based selection is possible. The third edition has been revised and updated throughout. A new chapter on "Mobile Learning" shows the latest developments. The draft of instructional videos and the possibilities of the social web are explained in detail.

This monograph introduces readers to core theories and applications in the chatbot AI context. Although AI is attracting significant attention, there is a literature gap and lack of practical guidelines on the key drivers of chatbot efficiency and agency capacity. There is a caveat between algorithmic explanations and actionable understanding, despite the acknowledged importance of inherently human-centric properties.

Parsing the Turing Test is a landmark exploration of both the philosophical and methodological issues surrounding the search for true artificial intelligence. Will computers and robots ever think and communicate the way humans do? When a computer crosses the threshold into self-consciousness, will it immediately jump into the Internet and create a World Mind? Will intelligent computers someday recognize the rather doubtful intelligence of human beings? Distinguished psychologists, computer scientists, philosophers, and programmers from around the world debate these weighty issues – and, in effect, the future of the human race – in this important volume.

Immersive Analytics is a new research initiative that aims to remove barriers between people, their data and the tools they use for analysis and decision making. Here the aims of immersive analytics research are clarified, its opportunities and historical context, as well as providing a broad research agenda for the field. In addition, it is reviewed how the term immersion has been used to refer to both technological and psychological immersion, both of which are central to immersive analytics research.

The 2nd edition of this book provides an updated and extended look into the advancements in Virtual Reality and the metaverse. The history and origins of Virtual Reality, crowd simulation and virtual surgery are thoroughly explored. Applications in the cultural heritage and sports domains are also examined and described in detail. There are new contributions on Senses and Sensors, Brain-Computer interfaces, Game Engines, and Immersive Sound. This edition also provides a comprehensive look into the development of applications based on AI techniques, including Machine Learning. It covers all aspects of the topic, from the theoretical foundations to practical applications. The revised and extended chapters provide readers with an in-depth understanding of the technology and its potential applications.

This book presents the proceedings of the 9th International Ergonomics Conference (ERGONOMICS), held in Zagreb, Croatia, on December 7–10, 2022. By highlighting the latest theories and models, as well as cutting-edge technologies and applications, and by combining findings from a range of disciplines including engineering, design, robotics, health care, management, computer science, human biology, and behavioral science, it provides researchers and practitioners alike with a comprehensive, timely guide on human factors and ergonomics. It also offers an excellent source of innovative ideas to stimulate future discussions and developments aimed at applying knowledge and techniques to optimize system performance, while at the same time promoting the health, safety, and well-being of individuals. The proceedings includes papers from researchers and practitioners, scientists and physicians, institutional leaders, managers, and policy makers that contribute to constructing the human factors and ergonomics approach across a variety of methodologies, domains, and productive sectors.

Immersive Analytics is a new research initiative that aims to remove barriers between people, their data and the tools they use for analysis and decision making. Here the aims of immersive analytics research are clarified, its opportunities and historical context, as well as providing a broad research agenda for the field. In addition, it is reviewed how the term immersion has been used to refer to both technological and psychological immersion, both of which are central to immersive analytics research.

This book reports on innovative research and practices in contemporary design, showing how to integrate different concepts and discussing the emerging role of design in different field, its meaning for humans and citizens, as well as its impact on society and the global ecosystem. Gathering the best papers from Senses & Sensibility, held on December 9-11, 2021 in Bari, Italy, it highlights the role of design in fostering education, physical and social wellbeing, industrial innovation and cultural preservation, as well as inclusivity, sustainability and communication in a world facing complex challenges on a global scale.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 17th National Conference on Man–Machine Speech Communication, NCMMSC 2022, held in China, in December 2022.