Last month QIC welcomed Dariel Tenf to the the team! Dariel is supporting QIC as a Data Scientist - Intern ​where he works with Research Psychologists and Human Factors Engineers to incorporate machine learning techniques into data processing, analysis, and visualization. Dariel holds an M.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Central Florida with a specialization in Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning. Dariel’s work uses Natural Language Processing models in combination with more traditional machine learning models to gauge the success of a team-based effort based on communication and individual performance. Prior to joining QIC, Dariel designed a Toxic Comment Classifier, which was a machine learning system designed to read comments from social media and return whether the comment would be deemed as “toxic” based on the likelihood that the comment would cause someone to want to disengage from the conversation.

Catch up with Part 1: Morning Routine, Part 2: Daytime, Part 3: Evening Routine, and Part 4: Dating first!

After meeting three more people and multiple algorithm adjustments from SEAA, I finally found the person who I have been with for a year, and we are planning our first vacation together. However, we can’t agree on what we want to do. Do we go to a VR hotel and visit multiple time periods and locations while we’re there? We could even go to a fantasy world and ride dragons if we wanted to. Do we take a trip on the space elevator? Maybe even stay a night at a luxury space resort. After going back and forth and taking over a week to decide, we finally plan to take the maglev bullet train from Florida to Vancouver. Going 500 mph, we should be there even faster than when planes were the main mode of transportation. 

Before we leave, I make sure to inform SEAA of our travel plans so she can decrease the power and water consumption in our absence. Once at the train station, our suitcases follow us to the terminal, where they then roll off to our room while we board the train. Since this is an overnight train, we splurged and got a room for ourselves. The room is nothing too fancy. Double bunks and a small drop-down desk for eating and working. However, we do get to go to the luxury dining car, and this train begins to feel like a luxurious vacation on its own.  

Finally arriving in Canada, we step off the train and go straight to a pancake house for some authentic Canadian maple syrup. When we arrive at the restaurant, we see a kiosk where we can put in our orders, and the meal will be ready to eat in less than five minutes. Though there are no actual chefs here, we are assured this recipe is the same one the owner’s ancestor used when they owned this place and crafted the food by hand. It is nice to see tradition live on while evolving at the same time. 

The next day we plan a walking tour where we will be guided with AR glasses to see Vancouver through different time periods, from wars to scenery, the industrial revolution, and so on. There are even characters walking around and doing things from their time period. It is an interesting and immersive experience that I am glad we chose to do.  

My partner surprises me by taking me to Canada’s space elevator, knowing how obsessed I am with space, and when I get there, I am astounded at what it looks like up close. The top of it disappears into the sky even on a clear sunny day like today. I am so glad the price has dropped so much since the opening, or we would never have been able to afford this trip. The trip is said to take about three hours round trip (300 miles up), and I cannot wait to go up. I am pleased to hear that the cabin is pressurized so our ears will not be popping like they would in an airplane.

We start moving at a speed of 300 miles per hour. When we reach the top and look down to the Earth, I get a weird existential feeling. Not for the first time, I begin to fear that SEAA was wrong again. She convinced me to stay in a relationship I wasn’t fully content with, so what if the same thing is happening again. She helped suggest some vacations, but how do I know there wasn’t a better one?  

Having this view of the Earth is a crazy thing to have. We have about 30 minutes to sip cocktails and just stare out into the vastness of Earth and space before descending back into Canada. As I continue to look out onto the world, I realize I am just letting my mind run wild. I am happy currently, and that is all that matters. I know I am exactly where I should be. 

Food for thought: 
Does AR/VR ruin the reality of history like on this walking tour or does it enhance it? 
Space travel has been largely romanticized, especially in science fiction. If given the chance, would you travel out of this world or are you content to stay on this planet? 
Is it convenient to have your life connected by one thing (e.g., SEAA) or should some things be kept separate?

Catch up with Part 1: Morning Routine, Part 2: Daytime  and Part 3: Evening Routine first!

​“Meet your perfect match now with SEAA dating, newly improved to match routines with users and make meetings more organic,” the ad says on my smart device. I laugh to myself about how ridiculous online dating is, even though I can acknowledge that most of my friends met their significant other on an app.

As the day goes on, I realize I am thinking about the ad more and more. Apparently, you fill out a profile with likes, dislikes, etc., and SEAA compiles all the information and recommends people who you might like to go on a date with. Sometimes if someone is within proximity to you, SEAA will nudge you in their direction so you can meet the person in a semi-organic setting. It is all very interesting… and equally nerve-wracking. 

Unable to help myself, I create a profile and let SEAA do the rest. Again, I find myself laughing at how ridiculous I feel, but there is a part of me that is equally interested in finding out if this could be a good thing for me. I tend to be a homebody and do not get out much, so there is no way for me to meet people. I scroll through a few profiles before putting my phone down and deciding to go out to get some coffee. 

During the car ride, SEAA asks, “Would you like to try a new coffee shop this morning?” I agree to go to the new coffee shop; wondering why SEAA is taking me somewhere I have never been before. When I walk inside the shop, I can smell the scent of freshly brewed coffee, meaning I came at the perfect time to get a cup. Maybe SEAA was right about this place. 

When I get in line, my phone beeps, and I absently realize the person next to me gets a notification at the same time. I check my phone and see the image of this same stranger along with a message from SEAA’s dating app feature. “Congratulations. Your first match is here! Start a conversation.” I am sure I’m blushing, but I look at the stranger anyway. He gives a similar smile, and after ordering coffee and a pastry, we agree to sit down together and talk. I did not expect the app to work this quickly and without any warning, but I go along with it anyway. Although he seems nice, there is really no spark, and we go our separate ways. 

I am unsure at this point if I should be trusting SEAA this much. Letting her guide me to places I have never been before to meet strangers that I feel no connection with. What’s the point? “SEAA, I am a little disappointed in this match. What made you think that would be a good idea?” I ask her. “Your interests and careers are similar, and you have a similar schedule and routine as well. Statistically, your relationship would make sense.” I sigh and consider deleting the app from my phone but realize that it will take multiple tries to meet the right person and decide to continue trying. 

After dating a few different people, I finally settled down in a relationship, but after 6 months of SEAA reassuring me that this was the perfect match, I realized I was not as happy as I could be, and I ended the relationship. Maybe SEAA is not looking for the right things. How much does it matter that a stranger has a similar routine to me? Though, I will continue to use SEAA's features, feeling there is no other option for dating nowadays. Her features remain prevalent in not only this aspect of my life but all aspects. Oddly, before using her dating programming, I never questioned her too much. Work, home, transportation, it didn’t matter. She was a resourceful companion always at my side. But now I am wondering if she is a little too integrated into my life. 

Food for thought: 
Would it be weird or cool to have an AI push you out of your comfort zone to meet people? 
Does the randomness of meetings make it easier or harder to go on dates? Should AI be allowed to make these decisions for you? 

Catch up with Part 1: Morning Routine, and Part 2: Daytime first!

By the time I am done working, it is 6 pm, and I know SEAA is getting dinner ready. Two hours ago, I told SEAA I wanted lasagna, so she ordered groceries, had them delivered, and started making the meal. After prescribing medication to at least 50 patients, I put away my work tablet and turn on a new documentary that SEAA recommended to me. It is about how sea levels had risen by 2 feet, and the entire world finally started working together to combat climate change. Though the sea level will never decrease, we were able to slow down the ice melting rate by 50%. According to this documentary, we were headed toward a world so ridden with pollution we would need oxygen masks just to walk outside. Though I am glad it didn’t come to that, I can’t help but feel the heaviness of the topic continue to weigh on me even after the movie is over. Maybe next time I will ask SEAA specifically for a more lighthearted program that would be better for relaxing. 

“SEAA, is that burning I smell?” 

“Yes. The oven malfunctioned, and the temperature was set too high. The issue has been resolved without ruining the food. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.” 

When it is dinnertime, I go to the same island counter where I ate my breakfast, and there is a plate of food prepared for me to eat. There is also garlic bread as a side, which I did not ask for, but SEAA thought I would like. She was right, but now I will have to work out for 30 extra minutes later on, and that was not part of my plan this evening. 

After eating dinner, I sit down for a few minutes before it is time to work out. I go to my exercise room’s full body mirror and select a guided Pilates workout that is one hour long. This mirror tells me my weight, BMI, body fat percentage, heart rate, and other physiological measures that help me track my fitness. It also guides me on my form and encourages me to keep up the good work, even though sometimes I feel it is not good work and the AI is lying to me to make me feel better. 
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Concluding my workout, I hear running water coming from the bathroom and know my shower has started and should be at my preferred temperature in less than ten seconds. Once I get in, I can tell it is perfectly 103 degrees Fahrenheit, and I enjoy the warmth, allowing it to calm me down as I prepare to settle down for the night. I am not too concerned about wasting water, as this water is collected rainwater and will return to the gray water tank to be cleaned and used again. While in the shower, I brush my teeth and then get out and get in pajamas. 

As I am getting ready to get into bed, my friend holo calls me, and we talk for a few minutes before hanging up. Now that it is 11 pm, I am ready to climb into bed. The lights started dimming 30 minutes ago, but I asked SEAA to give me an extra 15 minutes since I had a holo call. After climbing into bed, the curtains completely close, and the lights turn all the way off. I spend about 30 minutes scrolling through social media before my eyes start getting droopy, and I fall asleep.

​Food for thought: 
Is it creepy or nice that SEAA knew the protagonist would like garlic bread with their meal without them asking? 
How can we make people care that current practices are ruining the planet? Is it feasible to think the citizens of Earth will one day work together to combat climate change? 

Don't forget to read part 4:  Life Living in a Future Smart City: Dating

Catch up with Part 1: Morning Routine, first!

“SEAA, what is going on outside?” I ask. 

“It appears there is construction taking place, and traffic is not being rerouted.” 

When I look outside, I am shocked to see that there is indeed a building being constructed where there used to be a large plot of land. This is land that was supposed to be turned into a park, but apparently, someone decided it would be better suited as an apartment complex. Obviously, this was not approved by the city, as the computers in these cars had no idea this issue would be here, and the city has an automated process that keeps people and cars up to date on the goings on. This land was previously said to be a dedicated park area, and I wonder if this building company has the approval to be building or if they are another company that has decided a plot of land would be better suited for something less green since it has become a priority to preserve what greenery we have left. What has changed is the citizens. We also care about keeping the environment healthy but apparently, this company does not. Sighing, I rest back against my seat and resume working for the remainder of my trip to the hospital. 

My only surgery of the day is done, so I think I will work from home analyzing abnormalities in the data sent from people’s home mirrors. I will easily be able to prescribe their medication for any ailments if needed. 
SEAA summons the car, knowing it is my routine to leave right after my last surgery, and it’s waiting for me by the time I get to the door. 

Food for thought: 
How do you feel about putting your life in the hands of a robotic surgical program with the reassurance that a doctor is watching? Is it comforting or concerning that a robot is performing the surgery? Leave your thoughts in the comments! 

Don't forget to read part 3: Life Living in a Future Smart City: Evening Routine

We have long been in an era where the internet rules the world. All information is available at the touch of a finger on our smartphones, even our personal health information. Housing developments are up and coming in smart home communities and people are trying to make this happen on an even larger scale with smart cities. The problem with smart cities, though, is the tech-centric design that current leaders in smart cities are pushing. This of course will not suit human needs and factors in a way that is feasible for all users. Smart cities are bound to have a high level of technology, and not everyone is onboard for this. QIC has the ability to assess needs and expectations of citizens to help create better homes and cities. Here we present a case of a fictional future where our protagonist is living their life with the help of SEAA (Self-Efficient Automated Agent pronounced see-uh), an automated agent that has been integrated into the lives of humans in the future. It is a mostly optimistic view on what could easily become dystopian.

Morning Routine

I woke up to my bedroom lights being turned on and my curtains being pulled open. SEAA (Self-Efficient Automated Agent), built into my smart home and several other aspects of my life, tells me the date and that the weather is slightly cloudy. Reluctantly, I get out of bed, making sure I step on the sensor so SEAA knows I have gotten up. I walk to the kitchen to make sure SEAA is already making my breakfast. Today is Wednesday, which means breakfast is three eggs with two pieces of toast. It is a little redundant that I check breakfast is in the works since I know SEAA knows my breakfast schedule, but I like to check anyway. I sit at the kitchen island with my eggs and two pieces of toast, realize I am in the mood for coffee, and ask SEAA for some. “Coffee was not scheduled for this morning. Would you like me to make some coffee for you?” SEAA asks for confirmation. “Yes, please make some coffee.” 

After eating breakfast, I make my way to the bathroom and stand in the mirror that takes in my body composition. Any data collected from the mirror will be sent to my doctor and analyzed for any abnormalities. Just last week, my friend had an infection in her ear, and antibiotics arrived at her door (delivered via drone) before she left for work. Luckily, it appears that nothing has been immediately detected for me this morning (though I know a doctor will review it more thoroughly later), so I continue about my routine. I brush my teeth with a toothbrush that vibrates every 30 seconds to tell me it’s time to clean another part of my mouth. When I remove the toothbrush from my mouth, SEAA says, “you had coffee this morning, so you need to brush for an extra 30 seconds.” Slightly annoyed, I put my toothbrush back in my mouth and finish brushing my teeth. 

It is time to get dressed, so I make my way over to my walk-in closet. I could have SEAA pick out an outfit for me, but I enjoy choosing my clothes myself. Once I have landed on a red dress and a pair of burgundy flats, I feel I am ready to go, but my smart mirror thinks otherwise. “Your dress and shoes do not match perfectly. There are better options in your closet. Would you like a recommendation?” SEAA asks. I allow her to make the recommendation for me, but ultimately, I go with what I put on originally. 

Now that I am dressed and ready to go to work, I make my way to the car, which is perfectly heated to 75 degrees on this chilly morning. Once inside and seated, I pull out my laptop and begin work since I do not even need to monitor the car driving itself. Quite a few years ago manual override was completely removed from cars, meaning humans don’t have the ability to take over even if they feel the need to. This made me uncomfortable at first, but since most cars on the road are also driverless, car accidents are extremely rare and usually involve an older model car that still allows human override. SEAA, who is also in my smart car, informs me that there is extra traffic this morning and that we might be a little late for work. I have a patient this morning and worry I will be late to the hospital. I look out the window, and I am surprised at what I see is causing the holdup… 

Food for thought: 
How do you feel about SEAA parenting the protagonist on brushing her teeth and matching her clothing? Is this helpful? Annoying? 
Would you like everything to be scheduled all the time, like the breakfast in this story, or would you want to make the choice in the morning when it is actually time to eat? 

​Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Don't forget to read part 2 Life Living in a Future Smart City: Daytime

How many of you have witnessed it? A group of cyclists or runners taking over the trail, roadway, or sidewalk.  The majestic herd in their natural habitat. Perhaps you have even been a part of such a herd. Once a week, I attend a local mountain bike group ride and was recently pondering the potential benefits in terms of learning and performance, beyond the social aspects. Some answers came after witnessing an interesting sequence of events a few weeks ago. Here's how it unfolded:

A faction of approximately 15 riders took off quickly from the meeting point, speeding over jumps, negotiating turns, and crossing streams. After reaching the top of a long climb and taking a collective breather, one of the riders exclaimed "(name) will never want to ride with us again" implying that it's too difficult. That rider, appearing somewhat offended, retorted "what are you talking about? I ride 30 miles a week! I'm fine." That same rider started the next segment near the front of the pack, at a fast pace.

The group can motivate us to work harder and test our limits more than if we were on our own. The reasons for this are a complex array of personality and social psychology factors. Wanting to look competent in front of your peers can be an extrinsic motivator. Not wanting to drop too far back from the pack is a survival instinct the far predates the invention of the wheel, let alone the mountain bike.

Then, the rider who was previously forced to defend his honor fell... twice, within just a few minutes. The train of riders behind him had to wait as he untangled his bike from a fellow rider (the first time) and from some shrubbery (the second time). To the fallen rider's credit, he kept an awesome positive attitude, apologized to the group, dusted himself off, and kept moving down the trail.  

There is a potential danger in pushing past our limits when with a group. It can lead to repeated mistakes as we choose not to let up at risk of performing below the group's standards. We start trying too hard, we miscalculate, and that normally simple obstacle becomes a hazard. When we make a mistake we fear that everyone is judging and mocking us, which becomes a distraction. We get "in our head" and may not have, or want to take, the time to reset like we would if riding alone.  

At the next break, a member of our group politely told the rider who fell that his seat may be too high, which could impair balance. Immediately, he adjusted his seat. From then on, I heard instruction being given and I observed adjustments being made, such as position on the bike and foot placement when negotiating challenging obstacles. The dynamic of those two riders became that of a mentor and mentee.

The impromptu coaching from a group member was unexpected. It also risked offending, but the instruction was given in a humble and supportive way and received with grace and curiosity. Even with just some basic instruction and minor adjustments, the rider's improvement was noticeable. This sequence of error, observation, and instruction coupled with the riders' willing spirits led me to think about the group ride as more than just a motivator but also as a powerful learning tool. Incidentally, I also benefitted from the instruction and have to assume I was not the only one, beyond the intended recipient. So, when music and YouTube videos just aren't enough to up your performance, I suggest joining a local group ride. You never know what you might learn. Until then, keep collaborating and enjoy the ride! 

Do you listen to music while exercising? Does music make you feel stronger, faster, and/or more focused? You’re not alone, as research suggests that music can improve performance in endurance, sprint, and resistance exercise. This is due to a combination of psychological and physiological effects such as more positive affect, lower subjective fatigue, and increased cardiac output and oxygen consumption.

Given this evidence, I decided to listen to music during a recent ride. On that “musical ride”, I felt more comfortable on the bike, faster on the course, and more willing to take on difficult obstacles. Time also seemed to pass quickly, and the climbs were less of a slog. While I felt different on this ride, the objective data indicated my performance (e.g., average pace, maximum speed, elevation gained) was about the same as my previous, sans music, rides. Of course, this was only one session and there are several factors that were not controlled for such as course conditions, sleep, nutrition, hydration, and even exact tire pressure. Still, the subjective feeling of awesomeness contrasted with my actual mediocre performance is worth exploring.

The feeling awesome part of my ride can likely be attributed to music’s ability to elevate mood and motivate, making those uphill sections less dreadful and increasing my will to tackle a challenging section. The music may have also served as a positive distraction from my tired legs. I was, at times, in a flow state, fully immersed with a focus on the activity and a reduced self-consciousness about effective execution.  

There are several explanations for why the music did not result in improved performance despite the elevated feelings. While music helped me focus and be less conscious of fatigue, my skills remained at a novice level. Difficult obstacles are were difficult and time-consuming, even if I was more willing to take them on with the help of artists such as Linkin Park. The tunes may have also diverted too much attention from the task, such as not allowing for mental rehearsal as I entered a technical trail section.

Interestingly, music preference can mediate exercise performance benefits. For the ride in question, I went with a curated “mountain biking” Spotify playlist where I enjoyed some of the songs but many were skips. This may have limited the sustained benefits of music on this ride. Incidentally, reaching for the skip button on my earbuds may have created an additional distraction, reducing speed and taking me out of my flow state.

While the research points to psychological and physiological benefits of listening to music while exercising, do not expect that to translate immediately into objective performance gains. To that end, there is no substitute for proper instruction (see previous musing “Can YouTube Teach Me How to Ride?”) and deliberate practice to develop your competency. Music can be a great companion as you log those hours, and a motivator as you test your skills on increasingly challenging technical sections. So keep grooving and enjoy the ride!

We're going to take next week off; Happy Independence Day! We'll follow up with the final post in the series on the value of Groups in training, the following week!

Have you used YouTube to learn a new skill? According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, over 50% of U.S. YouTube users, which is approximately 35% of all U.S. adults, indicated “the site is very important when it comes to figuring out how to do things they haven’t done before.” I can just hear my Instructional Designer friends saying “yes, but videos on their own may not be enough.”

After purchasing a shiny new mountain bike and waiting for it to be shipped, I started consuming YouTube videos centered on the fundamentals of mountain bike riding. There are numerous videos on the topic, and many are quite good, with clear explanations and demonstrations in real-time and slow motion. When my bike arrived, I felt confident and ready to tear up the trails with my newly acquired YouTube-based knowledge. 
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​Not so fast! In fact, my first ride was quite slow and objectively pretty bad. The video-based instruction not transferring to real-world performance of a complex psychomotor skill is not surprising. An obvious issue is that I did not perform the task immediately after video demonstration. For instance, I could have watched a video on a specific skill, such as cornering, at the top of the hill then attempt to execute while careening down. Still, time from demonstration to practice does not seem like the complete answer. I thought about M. David Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction, described below, and why videos are just part of a more comprehensive learning strategy.

Task / Problem Centered: Learning must be in the context of a real-world problem. One limitation is that I did not have baseline data, so my approach to viewing online content was broad rather than focusing on a specific task or problem, such as cornering or braking techniques.

Activation: New knowledge must be built on prior learning. YouTube video creators are appealing to a general audience without the luxury of a learner analysis. That leaves it to the viewer to reflect on their prior knowledge and see where the new learning fits. It would have been beneficial to think about what I know, such as riding a road bike, and how that may apply to what I saw in the videos.

Demonstration: Videos can effectively provide learners with practical demonstrations of specific skills and proper techniques. The mountain bike training videos typically included a verbal explanation followed by an on-bike practical demonstration, often with narration. The challenge was not having my own experience as a point of reference, such as how demonstrated techniques “feel” on a bike.

Application: Use the new knowledge in a meaningful way, through practical application. While riding, I identified knowledge and skill gaps based on indicators such as apprehension and mistakes then made mental notes that I wrote down after the ride.

Integration: Continue to apply the new knowledge and build on it. This principle highlights the main flaw in my original thinking. It is unreasonable to expect to go from watching videos to proficiency. Similarly, practice alone is not enough. I consider Merrill’s First Principles a cyclical process of continually defining and refining the problem to be solved, building on prior knowledge, viewing demonstrations with an emphasis on targeted areas for improvement, and deliberate practice toward mastery.

The next time you want to learn a new skill and are about to type some words into that YouTube search bar, take a moment to think about how the videos fit into a more comprehensive approach. With so much web content readily available, including engaging videos, it is easy to forget that demonstration is just part of the whole. In a world that expects immediate results, as I mistakenly did, it is also easy to forget that complex skills require extensive practice, so keep learning and enjoy the ride!

In the next post we'll take a look at music and peformance!

​In military training environments, critical incidents such as injury, friendly fire, and non-lethal fratricide may occur. Quantitative performance data from training and exercises is often limited, requiring more in-depth case studies to identify and correct the underlying causes of critical incidents. The present study collected Army squad performance, firing, and communication data during a dry-fire battle drill as part of a larger research effort to measure, predict, and enhance Soldier and squad close combat performance. Soldier-worn sensors revealed that some quantitatively rated top-performing squads also committed friendly fire and a fratricide. Therefore, case studies were conducted to determine what contributed to these incidents. This presentation aims to provide insight into squad performance beyond quantitative ratings and to underscore the benefits of more in-depth analyses in the face of critical incidents during training. Squad communication data was particularly valuable in diagnosing incident root causes. For the fratricide incident specifically, the qualitative data revealed a communication breakdown between individual squad members stemming from a non-functioning radio. The specific events leading up to the fratricide incident, and the squad’s response, will be discussed along with squad communication patterns among high and low-performing squads in the context of various critical incidents. We will examine how the conditions surrounding critical incidents and the underlying causes of those incidents can be recreated and manipulated in a simulated training environment, allowing instructors to control the incident onset and provide timely feedback and instruction.