ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has caused many disruptions in conducting smart health research. Both in-lab sessions and in-home deployments had to be delayed or canceled because in-person meetings were no longer allowed. Our research project on "in-home monitoring with personalized recommendations to reduce the stress of caregivers of Alzheimer's patients" was affected. To enable continued research without any person-to-person contact, we created an out-of-the-box deployment solution. The solution is multifaceted and deals with everything from technical adjustments, deployment documentation, EMA additions, additional monitoring software, use of videos, Zoom and TeamViewer, budget changes, new logistics, and changes to IRBs. This article briefly describes the purpose and design of the original system and then articulates the necessitated changes. We also provide lessons learned and an initial evaluation of the effectiveness of the solutions after the changes. The evaluation surveys the opinions of seven people that assembled, initialized, and deployed our system in home environments. We believe that the various solutions we developed can be applied to other similar projects, and will be helpful to new projects even when personal contact returns.
ABSTRACT
As the number of COVID-19 cases climbed in the United States, President Trump came under fire for dismissing its severity despite evidence to the contrary. Those most impressionable by the President's claims might be those who have established a parasocial relationship with him. Results of this survey study indicate that each of the three parasocial variables assessed (i.e., friends, understanding, and brand), were negatively related to information seeking for COVID-19. Moreover, initial evidence was found that identification with the Trump brand was an indirect influence of information seeking. Consistent with the supported model, women and Democrats reported higher information seeking for COVID-19 than men and other political groups.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of surveillance technologies in cities around the world. The new surveillance systems are unfolding at unprecedented speed and scale in response to the fears of COVID-19, yet with little discussion about long-term consequences or implications. The authors approach the drivers and procedures for COVID-19 surveillance, addressing a particular focus to close-circuit television (CCTV) and tracking apps. This paper describes the technologies, how they are used, what they are capable of, the reasons why one should be concerned, and how citizens may respond. No commentary should downplay the seriousness of the current pandemic crisis, but one must consider the immediate and longer-term threats of insinuated enhanced surveillance, and look to how surveillance could be managed in a more cooperative social future. © 2021 IGI Global. All rights reserved.