In 2013 John McDowell, Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh, delivered the Agnes Cuming Lectures that are hosted annually by the School of Philosophy at...

What someone’s behaviour must be like if we are to be aware of their emotions in it Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s11097-011-9224-0 Authors Rowland Stout, School of Philosophy, UCD Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland Journal Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences Online ISSN 1572-8676 Print ISSN 1568-7759.

Brain–Computer Interface research is an interdisciplinary area of study within Neural Engineering. Recent interest in end-user perspectives has led to an intersection with user-centered design. The goal of user-centered design is to reduce the translational gap between researchers and potential end users. However, while qualitative studies have been conducted with end users of BCI technology, little is known about individual BCI researchers’ experience with and attitudes towards UCD. Given the scientific, financial, and ethical imperatives of UCD, we sought to gain (...) a better understanding of practical and principled considerations for researchers who engage with end users. We conducted a qualitative interview case study with neural engineering researchers at a center dedicated to the creation of BCIs. Our analysis generated five themes common across interviews. The thematic analysis shows that participants identify multiple beneficiaries of their work, including other researchers, clinicians working with devices, device end users, and families and caregivers of device users. Participants value experience with device end users, and personal experience is the most meaningful type of interaction. They welcome end-user input, but are skeptical of limited focus groups and case studies. They also recognize a tension between creating sophisticated devices and developing technology that will meet user needs. Finally, interviewees espouse functional, assistive goals for their technology, but describe uncertainty in what degree of function is “good enough” for individual end users. Based on these results, we offer preliminary recommendations for conducting future UCD studies in BCI and neural engineering. (shrink)

A long tradition of discourse and practice claims that technology designers need to take note of the characteristics and aspirations of potential users in design. Practitioners in the field of user-centered design have developed methods to facilitate this process. These methods represent interesting vehicles for the pursuit of normative politics of technology. In this article, the authors use a case study of the introduction and use of UCD methods in Australia to explore the politics of getting the methods to work (...) in practice. Drawing on the work of Bruno Latour and Marc Berg, the authors argue that UCD methods are tools for engendering new forms of socio-technical relations. However, their normative potential does not arise out of their ability to manipulate abstract categories such as user, technology, and workplace. Instead, it arises out of the complex and unpredictable socio-technical mixes that are generated when people attempt to put them into practice. (shrink)

This paper presents a ubiquitous learning system, the “Personalised Ubiquitous Learning Platform”, which integrates collaborative and social learning for the enhancement of the third level educational learning experience. University College Dublin provides its students with managed learning environments and adaptive learning via UCD Horizon which enables students to take different courses from different colleges throughout the university. The main objective of this platform is to complement the current MLEs with a single supported intelligent and personalised ubiquitous learning environment that will (...) promote and make provisions for adaptive and collaborative learning, human computer interaction on mobile and desktop clients anywhere and anytime. The system aims to enhance the students’ learning experience in third level educational environment by employing personalisation techniques such as the agent-oriented recommendation technique to engage students and help them access the content material for their studies. (shrink)

In his excellent and stimulating paper1, Professor Rothblatt remarked “The irony of Newman’s perpetual reincarnation is that none of the structural or even conceptual features of the university as he knew and loved them has survived him, not even this university which may on an occasion such as this revere him as a spiritual ancestor.” [p. 1] What can one say to that remark except to admit its truth. However, that is not the only irony to be discovered. Despite the (...) ritual invocation of Newman at UCD conferrings and on special occasions such as this, he did not in fact found UCD. He did found the Catholic University of Ireland, or perhaps he didn’t, if Colin Barr’s thesis in his recent book is to be believed! Wherever the truth lies in this matter, I am happy to be able to announce that UCD now has at least one cast-iron connection with Newman in that the International Centre for Newman Studies, directed by Dr Teresa Iglesias, will be inaugurated on the 21st of this month in Newman House. (shrink)

The doyen of university presidents emeriti, Patrick (Paddy) Masterson remains one of UCD's most admired scholars and leaders twenty-five years after he was its President. A Festschrift is the crowning accolade for an academic, and the present volume is testament to the high esteem in which Paddy Masterson is regarded by his peers. It is also a token of gratitude from his Alma Mater. Outside of Ireland, he has been honoured in Portugal, Italy, the United States, and his beloved France. (...) He shares his intellect and wit by continuing to publish in philosophy and his more recent passion, fiction.. (shrink)