Ester Ferrari - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Ester Ferrari
New technologies have a potential to contribute to achieving significant economic, social and env... more New technologies have a potential to contribute to achieving significant economic, social and environmental benefits in agriculture sector. However, the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have encountered some difficulties among farmers. This paper reports investigations on the adoption of ICT in agriculture among Italian tractors users and explores their opinions on technologies applied to agricultural tractors. A survey was conducted during the International Exhibition of Agricultural Machinery (EIMA). The results show that, while economic benefit is recognized as the primary reason to adopt new agricultural technologies, other attitudes play roles in the adoption decision of the tractor users.
In the last decade mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) forest harvesting has increased significantly a... more In the last decade mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) forest harvesting has increased significantly as a consequence of the need to address productivity, safety, environmental, and cost issues. However, the speed of its advancement varies depending on the country. In Italy, while the number of CTL machines is increasing, the majority of operators is still pondering whether they should acquire the new technology or stick to the old one. The objective of this study was to determine the attitudes of Italian loggers towards CTL technology, investigating their opinions and pinpointing real or perceived obstacles to its expansion. A survey was conducted during the 2011 edition of FORLENER forest machinery fair in Biella (Italy), one of the most popular events for forest mechanization in Italy. 90 Italian loggers filled out a questionnaire after interacting with a forwarder portable machine simulator. A sample of 44 valid questionnaires was selected to be included in this study analysis (only ...
Journal of Pest Science
The biocontrol agent Torymus sinensis has been released into Japan, the USA, and Europe to suppre... more The biocontrol agent Torymus sinensis has been released into Japan, the USA, and Europe to suppress the Asian chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus. In this study, we provide a quantitative assessment of T. sinensis effectiveness for suppressing gall wasp infestations in Northwest Italy by annually evaluating the percentage of chestnuts infested by D. kuriphilus (infestation rate) and the number of T. sinensis adults that emerged per 100 galls (emergence index) over a 9-year period. We recorded the number of T. sinensis adults emerging from a total of 64,000 galls collected from 23 sampling sites. We found that T. sinensis strongly reduced the D. kuriphilus population, as demonstrated by reduced galls and an increased T. sinensis emergence index. Specifically, in Northwest Italy, the infestation rate was nearly zero 9 years after release of the parasitoid with no evidence of resurgence in infestation levels. In 2012, the number of T. sinensis females emerging per 100 galls was approximately 20 times higher than in 2009. Overall, T. sinensis proved to be an outstanding biocontrol agent, and its success highlights how the classical biological control approach may represent a cost-effective tool for managing an exotic invasive pest. Keywords Torymus sinensis • Dryocosmus kuriphilus • Classical biological control • Invasive exotic pests Key messages • Torymus sinensis is a biocontrol agent used to control outbreaks of the Asian chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus). • Long-term monitoring between 2009 and 2017 in Italy was performed to provide a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of this parasitoid. • Our data clearly demonstrated that T. sinensis effectively reduced the D. kuriphilus population as indicated by a reduced number of galls and by a large increase in the number of T. sinensis adults emerging per gall. Communicated by J. D. Sweeney.
Developing Scenarios for Robot Assisted Play Informed by User Panels and Field Trials
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
RO-MAN 2007 - The 16th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, 2007
The work presented in this paper was carried out within the IROMEC project that develops a roboti... more The work presented in this paper was carried out within the IROMEC project that develops a robotic toy for children. Play has an important role in child development with many potential contributions to therapy, education and enjoyment. The project investigates how robotic toys can become social mediators, encouraging children with disabilities to discover a range of play styles, from solitary to social and cooperative play (with peers, carers/teachers, parents etc). This paper presents design issues for such robotic toys related specifically to children with autism as the end user target group. In order to understand the play needs of this user group, and to investigate how robotic toys could be used as a play tool to assist in the children's development, a panel of experts (therapists, teachers, parents) was formed and interviewed. Results of the expert panel interviews highlight key points characterizing the play of children with autism, and key points for consideration in the design of future robotic toys.
Advanced Robotics, 2009
We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal ges... more We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal gestures in an interactive drumming game consisting of an autonomous child-sized humanoid robot (KASPAR) playing with child participants. In this study, each participant played three games with a humanoid robot that played a drum whilst simultaneously making (or not making) head gestures. The three games included the participant interacting with the real robot (physical embodiment condition), interacting with a hidden robot when only the sound of the robot is heard (disembodiment condition; note that the term 'disembodiment' is used in this paper specifically to refer to an experimental condition where a physical robot produces the sound cues, but is not visible to the participants), or interacting with a real-time image of the robot (virtual embodiment condition). We used a mixed design where repeated measures were used to evaluate embodiment effects and independent-groups measures were used to study the gestures effects. Data from the implementation of a human-robot interaction experiment with 66 children are presented, and statistically analyzed in terms of participants' subjective experiences and drumming performance of the human-robot pair. The subjective experiences showed significant differences for the different embodiment conditions when gestures were used in terms of enjoyment of the game, and perceived intelligence and appearance of the robot. The drumming performance also differed significantly within the embodiment conditions and the presence of gestures increased these differences significantly. The presence of a physical, embodied robot enabled more interaction, better drumming and turn-taking, as well as enjoyment of the interaction, especially when the robot used gestures.
Interaction Studies, 2012
This article presents a set of play scenarios for robot assisted play for children with disabilit... more This article presents a set of play scenarios for robot assisted play for children with disabilities. This work was developed as part of the pan-European IROMEC project that investigated how robotic toys can become social mediators, encouraging children with special needs to discover a range of play styles, from solitary to collaborative play (with peers, carers/teachers, parents etc). The target user groups in the project were children with Mild Mental Retardation 1 , children with Severe Motor Impairment and children with Autism. The play scenarios were developed against specific educational and therapeutic objectives that were discussed with panels of experts (teachers therapists parents) in various countries, during several user panel meetings for each of the above mentioned target user groups. These objectives were classified with reference to the ICF-CY, the International Classification of Functioning -version for Children and Youth. The article presents a set of play scenarios, each with its relevant educational and therapeutic objectives in five key developmental areas (i.e sensory development, communication and interaction, cognitive development, motor development and social and emotional development). Although the play scenarios presented in this paper originally were developed for and tested with the above user groups and with the IROMEC robot, the play scenarios may be considered for use with other user groups or in other applications involving human-robot interaction and with other robotic toys.
Advanced Robotics, 2009
We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal ges... more We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal gestures in an interactive drumming game consisting of an autonomous child-sized humanoid robot (KASPAR) playing with child participants. In this study, each participant played three games with a humanoid robot that played a drum whilst simultaneously making (or not making) head gestures. The three games included the participant interacting with the real robot (physical embodiment condition), interacting with a hidden robot when only the sound of the robot is heard (disembodiment condition; note that the term 'disembodiment' is used in this paper specifically to refer to an experimental condition where a physical robot produces the sound cues, but is not visible to the participants), or interacting with a real-time image of the robot (virtual embodiment condition). We used a mixed design where repeated measures were used to evaluate embodiment effects and independent-groups measures were used to study the gestures effects. Data from the implementation of a human-robot interaction experiment with 66 children are presented, and statistically analyzed in terms of participants' subjective experiences and drumming performance of the human-robot pair. The subjective experiences showed significant differences for the different embodiment conditions when gestures were used in terms of enjoyment of the game, and perceived intelligence and appearance of the robot. The drumming performance also differed significantly within the embodiment conditions and the presence of gestures increased these differences significantly. The presence of a physical, embodied robot enabled more interaction, better drumming and turn-taking, as well as enjoyment of the interaction, especially when the robot used gestures.
Issues in New Technology Adoption in Agriculture: a Survey Among Italian Tractor’s Users
Operators' Perception of Comfort in Two Tractor Cabs
Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 2013
Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable wo... more Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable working conditions have been found to have a negative impact on productivity and safety. The comfort of the operator is increasingly recognized by manufacturers as a product's added value. Comfort can positively distinguish a product and increase its competitiveness. The concept of comfort is controversial, and a clear operational definition is missing. Nevertheless, it is widely accepted that comfort is a subjective phenomenon that can be evaluated by the final users. In this study, comfort aspects of the tractor workspace interior (i.e., the cab) were investigated. Users with various levels of expertise and two medium-power utility tractors of different brands were used in a 2 x 2 mixed-factorial experimental design. Participants were involved in a dynamic assessment of the cabs, and their opinions about the different workspaces were collected through a questionnaire. Additionally, objective measurements were taken on both tractors, and subjective data were compared with objective data. Results indicate significant differences in terms of the ease of locating and operating the controls (i.e., rear-mounted three-point linkage, hydraulic system, and power take-off), the ease of starting the tractor, the ease exiting the cab, the required level of concentration in executing the tasks, the adequacy of lateral visibility from the driving station, and the level of noise at the operator's position. This article provides guidance for improving the comfort of tractor workspace interiors. Agricultural machinery manufactures would benefit from research results, differentiating themselves from competitors.
Agricultural Tractors Cabin Evaluation From Users’ Perspective
Developing scenarios for robot assisted play
Robot and Human …, 2008
Page 1. Abstract This paper describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot a... more Page 1. Abstract This paper describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as part of the IROMEC project that develops a novel robotictoy for children with special needs. The project investigates ...
Enhancing User Centred Design Methodology Interactive Television Services for Older People
Robot as a Social Mediator - a Play Scenario Implementation with Children with Autism
This article describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as... more This article describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as part of the multidisciplinary IROMEC 1 project that develops a novel robotic toy for children with special needs. The project investigates how robotic toys can become social mediators, encouraging children with special needs to discover a range of play styles, from solitary to collaborative play (with peers, carers/teachers, parents etc). This article explains the developmental process of constructing relevant play scenarios for children with different special needs. Results are presented from consultation with panel of experts (therapists, teachers, parents) who advised on the play needs for the various target user groups and who helped investigate how robotic toys could be used as a play tool to assist in the children's development. Examples from experimental investigations are provided which have informed the development of scenarios throughout the design process. We conclude by pointing out the potential benefit of this work to a variety of research projects and applications involving human-robot interactions.
Valutazioni soggettive del livello di comfort della postazione di lavoro di due trattrici agricole
Agricultural Tractors Cabin Evaluation From Users’ Perspective
Technological Innovations in Agricultural Tractors: Adopters’ behaviour towards new technological trajectories and future directions
Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and si... more Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and simultaneously to reduce operator’s hazards. However, little attention has been given to farmers’ behaviour and attitude toward the adoption of technological innovations concerning agricultural tractors. The study explores farmers’ behaviours on agricultural tractors current and future technological trajectories. A main case study concerning Italy is analyzed. Results show three different behaviours of farmers concerning tractors’ technological innovations. These adopters’ profiles would help developing new technologies that satisfy, more and more, farmers’ needs and expectations, speeding up the adoption process, enhancing agricultural tractors’ efficacy and efficiency.
New technologies have a potential to contribute to achieving significant economic, social and env... more New technologies have a potential to contribute to achieving significant economic, social and environmental benefits in agriculture sector. However, the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have encountered some difficulties among farmers. This paper reports investigations on the adoption of ICT in agriculture among Italian tractors users and explores their opinions on technologies applied to agricultural tractors. A survey was conducted during the International Exhibition of Agricultural Machinery (EIMA). The results show that, while economic benefit is recognized as the primary reason to adopt new agricultural technologies, other attitudes play roles in the adoption decision of the tractor users.
In the last decade mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) forest harvesting has increased significantly a... more In the last decade mechanized cut-to-length (CTL) forest harvesting has increased significantly as a consequence of the need to address productivity, safety, environmental, and cost issues. However, the speed of its advancement varies depending on the country. In Italy, while the number of CTL machines is increasing, the majority of operators is still pondering whether they should acquire the new technology or stick to the old one. The objective of this study was to determine the attitudes of Italian loggers towards CTL technology, investigating their opinions and pinpointing real or perceived obstacles to its expansion. A survey was conducted during the 2011 edition of FORLENER forest machinery fair in Biella (Italy), one of the most popular events for forest mechanization in Italy. 90 Italian loggers filled out a questionnaire after interacting with a forwarder portable machine simulator. A sample of 44 valid questionnaires was selected to be included in this study analysis (only ...
Journal of Pest Science
The biocontrol agent Torymus sinensis has been released into Japan, the USA, and Europe to suppre... more The biocontrol agent Torymus sinensis has been released into Japan, the USA, and Europe to suppress the Asian chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus. In this study, we provide a quantitative assessment of T. sinensis effectiveness for suppressing gall wasp infestations in Northwest Italy by annually evaluating the percentage of chestnuts infested by D. kuriphilus (infestation rate) and the number of T. sinensis adults that emerged per 100 galls (emergence index) over a 9-year period. We recorded the number of T. sinensis adults emerging from a total of 64,000 galls collected from 23 sampling sites. We found that T. sinensis strongly reduced the D. kuriphilus population, as demonstrated by reduced galls and an increased T. sinensis emergence index. Specifically, in Northwest Italy, the infestation rate was nearly zero 9 years after release of the parasitoid with no evidence of resurgence in infestation levels. In 2012, the number of T. sinensis females emerging per 100 galls was approximately 20 times higher than in 2009. Overall, T. sinensis proved to be an outstanding biocontrol agent, and its success highlights how the classical biological control approach may represent a cost-effective tool for managing an exotic invasive pest. Keywords Torymus sinensis • Dryocosmus kuriphilus • Classical biological control • Invasive exotic pests Key messages • Torymus sinensis is a biocontrol agent used to control outbreaks of the Asian chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus). • Long-term monitoring between 2009 and 2017 in Italy was performed to provide a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of this parasitoid. • Our data clearly demonstrated that T. sinensis effectively reduced the D. kuriphilus population as indicated by a reduced number of galls and by a large increase in the number of T. sinensis adults emerging per gall. Communicated by J. D. Sweeney.
Developing Scenarios for Robot Assisted Play Informed by User Panels and Field Trials
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
RO-MAN 2007 - The 16th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, 2007
The work presented in this paper was carried out within the IROMEC project that develops a roboti... more The work presented in this paper was carried out within the IROMEC project that develops a robotic toy for children. Play has an important role in child development with many potential contributions to therapy, education and enjoyment. The project investigates how robotic toys can become social mediators, encouraging children with disabilities to discover a range of play styles, from solitary to social and cooperative play (with peers, carers/teachers, parents etc). This paper presents design issues for such robotic toys related specifically to children with autism as the end user target group. In order to understand the play needs of this user group, and to investigate how robotic toys could be used as a play tool to assist in the children's development, a panel of experts (therapists, teachers, parents) was formed and interviewed. Results of the expert panel interviews highlight key points characterizing the play of children with autism, and key points for consideration in the design of future robotic toys.
Advanced Robotics, 2009
We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal ges... more We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal gestures in an interactive drumming game consisting of an autonomous child-sized humanoid robot (KASPAR) playing with child participants. In this study, each participant played three games with a humanoid robot that played a drum whilst simultaneously making (or not making) head gestures. The three games included the participant interacting with the real robot (physical embodiment condition), interacting with a hidden robot when only the sound of the robot is heard (disembodiment condition; note that the term 'disembodiment' is used in this paper specifically to refer to an experimental condition where a physical robot produces the sound cues, but is not visible to the participants), or interacting with a real-time image of the robot (virtual embodiment condition). We used a mixed design where repeated measures were used to evaluate embodiment effects and independent-groups measures were used to study the gestures effects. Data from the implementation of a human-robot interaction experiment with 66 children are presented, and statistically analyzed in terms of participants' subjective experiences and drumming performance of the human-robot pair. The subjective experiences showed significant differences for the different embodiment conditions when gestures were used in terms of enjoyment of the game, and perceived intelligence and appearance of the robot. The drumming performance also differed significantly within the embodiment conditions and the presence of gestures increased these differences significantly. The presence of a physical, embodied robot enabled more interaction, better drumming and turn-taking, as well as enjoyment of the interaction, especially when the robot used gestures.
Interaction Studies, 2012
This article presents a set of play scenarios for robot assisted play for children with disabilit... more This article presents a set of play scenarios for robot assisted play for children with disabilities. This work was developed as part of the pan-European IROMEC project that investigated how robotic toys can become social mediators, encouraging children with special needs to discover a range of play styles, from solitary to collaborative play (with peers, carers/teachers, parents etc). The target user groups in the project were children with Mild Mental Retardation 1 , children with Severe Motor Impairment and children with Autism. The play scenarios were developed against specific educational and therapeutic objectives that were discussed with panels of experts (teachers therapists parents) in various countries, during several user panel meetings for each of the above mentioned target user groups. These objectives were classified with reference to the ICF-CY, the International Classification of Functioning -version for Children and Youth. The article presents a set of play scenarios, each with its relevant educational and therapeutic objectives in five key developmental areas (i.e sensory development, communication and interaction, cognitive development, motor development and social and emotional development). Although the play scenarios presented in this paper originally were developed for and tested with the above user groups and with the IROMEC robot, the play scenarios may be considered for use with other user groups or in other applications involving human-robot interaction and with other robotic toys.
Advanced Robotics, 2009
We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal ges... more We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal gestures in an interactive drumming game consisting of an autonomous child-sized humanoid robot (KASPAR) playing with child participants. In this study, each participant played three games with a humanoid robot that played a drum whilst simultaneously making (or not making) head gestures. The three games included the participant interacting with the real robot (physical embodiment condition), interacting with a hidden robot when only the sound of the robot is heard (disembodiment condition; note that the term 'disembodiment' is used in this paper specifically to refer to an experimental condition where a physical robot produces the sound cues, but is not visible to the participants), or interacting with a real-time image of the robot (virtual embodiment condition). We used a mixed design where repeated measures were used to evaluate embodiment effects and independent-groups measures were used to study the gestures effects. Data from the implementation of a human-robot interaction experiment with 66 children are presented, and statistically analyzed in terms of participants' subjective experiences and drumming performance of the human-robot pair. The subjective experiences showed significant differences for the different embodiment conditions when gestures were used in terms of enjoyment of the game, and perceived intelligence and appearance of the robot. The drumming performance also differed significantly within the embodiment conditions and the presence of gestures increased these differences significantly. The presence of a physical, embodied robot enabled more interaction, better drumming and turn-taking, as well as enjoyment of the interaction, especially when the robot used gestures.
Issues in New Technology Adoption in Agriculture: a Survey Among Italian Tractor’s Users
Operators' Perception of Comfort in Two Tractor Cabs
Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 2013
Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable wo... more Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable working conditions have been found to have a negative impact on productivity and safety. The comfort of the operator is increasingly recognized by manufacturers as a product's added value. Comfort can positively distinguish a product and increase its competitiveness. The concept of comfort is controversial, and a clear operational definition is missing. Nevertheless, it is widely accepted that comfort is a subjective phenomenon that can be evaluated by the final users. In this study, comfort aspects of the tractor workspace interior (i.e., the cab) were investigated. Users with various levels of expertise and two medium-power utility tractors of different brands were used in a 2 x 2 mixed-factorial experimental design. Participants were involved in a dynamic assessment of the cabs, and their opinions about the different workspaces were collected through a questionnaire. Additionally, objective measurements were taken on both tractors, and subjective data were compared with objective data. Results indicate significant differences in terms of the ease of locating and operating the controls (i.e., rear-mounted three-point linkage, hydraulic system, and power take-off), the ease of starting the tractor, the ease exiting the cab, the required level of concentration in executing the tasks, the adequacy of lateral visibility from the driving station, and the level of noise at the operator's position. This article provides guidance for improving the comfort of tractor workspace interiors. Agricultural machinery manufactures would benefit from research results, differentiating themselves from competitors.
Agricultural Tractors Cabin Evaluation From Users’ Perspective
Developing scenarios for robot assisted play
Robot and Human …, 2008
Page 1. Abstract This paper describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot a... more Page 1. Abstract This paper describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as part of the IROMEC project that develops a novel robotictoy for children with special needs. The project investigates ...
Enhancing User Centred Design Methodology Interactive Television Services for Older People
Robot as a Social Mediator - a Play Scenario Implementation with Children with Autism
This article describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as... more This article describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as part of the multidisciplinary IROMEC 1 project that develops a novel robotic toy for children with special needs. The project investigates how robotic toys can become social mediators, encouraging children with special needs to discover a range of play styles, from solitary to collaborative play (with peers, carers/teachers, parents etc). This article explains the developmental process of constructing relevant play scenarios for children with different special needs. Results are presented from consultation with panel of experts (therapists, teachers, parents) who advised on the play needs for the various target user groups and who helped investigate how robotic toys could be used as a play tool to assist in the children's development. Examples from experimental investigations are provided which have informed the development of scenarios throughout the design process. We conclude by pointing out the potential benefit of this work to a variety of research projects and applications involving human-robot interactions.
Valutazioni soggettive del livello di comfort della postazione di lavoro di due trattrici agricole
Agricultural Tractors Cabin Evaluation From Users’ Perspective
Technological Innovations in Agricultural Tractors: Adopters’ behaviour towards new technological trajectories and future directions
Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and si... more Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and simultaneously to reduce operator’s hazards. However, little attention has been given to farmers’ behaviour and attitude toward the adoption of technological innovations concerning agricultural tractors. The study explores farmers’ behaviours on agricultural tractors current and future technological trajectories. A main case study concerning Italy is analyzed. Results show three different behaviours of farmers concerning tractors’ technological innovations. These adopters’ profiles would help developing new technologies that satisfy, more and more, farmers’ needs and expectations, speeding up the adoption process, enhancing agricultural tractors’ efficacy and efficiency.