ABSTRACT
Using intelligent virtual assistants for controlling employee population in workspaces is a research area that remains unexplored. This paper presents a novel application of virtual humans to enforce Covid-19 safety measures in a corporate workplace. For this purpose, we develop a virtual assistant platform, Chloe, equipped with automatic temperature sensing, facial recognition, and dedicated chatbots to act as an initial filter for ensuring public health. Whilst providing an engaging user interaction experience, Chloe minimizes human to human contact, thus reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Chloe restricts the employee population within the office to government-approved safety norms. We experimented with Chloe as a virtual safety assistant in a company, where she interacted and screened the employees for Covid-19 symptoms. Participants filled an online survey to quantify Chloe’s performance in terms of interactivity, system latency, engagement, and accuracy, for which we received positive feedback. We performed statistical analysis on the survey results that reveal positive results and show effectiveness of Chloe in such applications. We detail system architecture, results and limitations. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Adherence to Covid-19 safety measures reduces the spread of the pathogen and lowers mortality rates. The present study examines microlevel (including sociodemographics, health risk factors, and mental health) and perceived macrolevel variables (including freedom, justice, and wealth) concerning self-perceived and self-reported Covid-19 safety measure adherence across eight countries. Methods: Self-reported adherence to Covid-19 safety measures and its potential predictors were assessed in representative samples from eight countries (total N = 7,437;Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Russia, Sweden, UK, US) by online surveys (end of May 2020 to the beginning of June 2020). Results: Self-reported adherence was positively predicted by female sex, higher age, higher social status, belonging to a Covid-19 risk group, being personally affected (physically, economically, and mentally), and positive mental health. Adherence was negatively predicted by depression and anxiety. Perceptions of governmental communication as credible and honest, government communication being guided by political interests, the feeling of being well informed, and perceived country-level freedom positively predicted self-reported adherence. Perceived country-level justice negatively predicted adherence, and perceived country-wide wealth was unrelated to it. Conclusions: Self-reported adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols is negatively predicted by depression, anxiety, and perceived justice, is positively predicted by perceived freedom, and not predicted by perceived country-level wealth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
This research project is to determine how the student internships have been affected by the COVID-19. The paper examines student internships in the construction industry experiences from Georgia and Oklahoma. This research evaluates internship requirements, the challenge of getting internships, safety measures in the work environment, and identifies construction experience perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were surveyed to provide information about how internships have been affected during this time. The results of the survey are used to predict how future economic changes would affect internships. An online survey instrument was created to circulate among construction students to a) evaluate internships experience during COVID-19, b) identify adaptation of working environment in the office and field, c) use of additional safety measures, d) identify any project changes due to COVID-19, and e) describe their role of the COVID-19 response team. The results of the student internships activity are analyzed to examine the changes associated with their previous internships before COVID-19 versus their internship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two states, Georgia and Oklahoma, are compared with students' respondent perspectives. Additionally, insights into external views of the media or political background are identified in the students' responses. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2021
ABSTRACT
In the present paper, we tested an objectification theory model including compliance with COVID-19 safety measures as an outcome. Safety measures recommended by governments and health organizations include monitoring one's body and interpersonal and social distance from others. We contend that the diffuse safety anxiety stemming from sexual and self-objectification encourages targets to broadly adopt behaviors that protect against body-based dangers, including COVID-19. Accordingly, safety anxiety should predict greater compliance with COVID-19 safety measures. U.S. residents (N = 501) were recruited online and completed measures of sexual objectification, self-objectification, safety anxiety, appearance anxiety, and COVID-19 safety compliance. Two-step mediation analyses revealed a positive indirect effect of sexual objectification on safety anxiety through internalization of observers' perspectives (self-objectification Factor 1); in turn, there was a positive indirect effect of internalized others on COVID-19 body-based safety compliance through safety anxiety. Moreover, women (vs. men) reported higher levels of sexual objectification, internalization of observers' perspectives, safety anxiety, appearance anxiety, and COVID-19 safety measure compliance. Not only is safety anxiety relevant to cautionary behaviors protective against sexual objectification threat, but it also predicts compliance with measures that reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. Implications for objectification theory are discussed.