An Jacobs | Vrije Universiteit Brussel (original) (raw)
Papers by An Jacobs
International Semantic Web Conference, 2016
People with Dementia (PwD) exhibit Behavioral Disturbances (BD) that can be alleviated by persona... more People with Dementia (PwD) exhibit Behavioral Disturbances (BD) that can be alleviated by personalized interactions, revisiting memories and promoting comfort and quality of life. However, caregivers are unable to spend a lot of time on these interactions. This work-in-progress poster details the design and deployment of a semantic Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) platform that enables personalized interactions of a robot with a PwD to reduce and intercept BDs.
Springer eBooks, 2020
In the field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) the concept of ethnography is not unheard of. It is... more In the field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) the concept of ethnography is not unheard of. It is, however, often misunderstood and seen as a methodology that has no scientific validity or it is misused in practice. The aim of this chapter is to offer researchers that are unfamiliar with ethnography a brief overview of the most important aspects of ethnography and guide HRI researchers towards a better understanding and use of ethnography in HRI research. This is done to show that ethnography has a role to play within the HRI field and that it is a scientific methodology with its own quality criteria. A small meta-review of the current status and use of ethnography in the field of HRI is used to guide the chapter and illustrate with HRI based examples, what is being done and what is needed.
Applied Ergonomics, Apr 1, 2022
with details of the nature of the infringement. We will investigate the claim and if justified, w... more with details of the nature of the infringement. We will investigate the claim and if justified, we will take the appropriate steps.
Springer series on bio- and neurosystems, 2020
The Springer Series on Bio-and Neurosystems publishes fundamental principles and state-of-the-art... more The Springer Series on Bio-and Neurosystems publishes fundamental principles and state-of-the-art research at the intersection of biology, neuroscience, information processing and the engineering sciences. The series covers general informatics methods and techniques, together with their use to answer biological or medical questions. Of interest are both basics and new developments on traditional methods such as machine learning, artificial neural networks, statistical methods, nonlinear dynamics, information processing methods, and image and signal processing. New findings in biology and neuroscience obtained through informatics and engineering methods, topics in systems biology, medicine, neuroscience and ecology, as well as engineering applications such as robotic rehabilitation, health information technologies, and many more, are also examined. The main target group includes informaticians and engineers interested in biology, neuroscience and medicine, as well as biologists and neuroscientists using computational and engineering tools. Volumes published in the series include monographs, edited volumes, and selected conference proceedings. Books purposely devoted to supporting education at the graduate and post-graduate levels in bio-and neuroinformatics, computational biology and neuroscience, systems biology, systems neuroscience and other related areas are of particular interest. The books of the series are submitted for indexing to Web of Science.
5th International Conference on Sustainable Construction and Design (SCAD 2013), 2013
Studies on Media, Information and Telecommunication (SMIT), Feb 1, 2021
ICRA 2017 workshop IC3 - Industry of the future: Collaborative, Connected, Cognitive: Novel approaches stemming from Factory of the Future & Industry 4.0 initiatives, Jul 2, 2017
Applied Ergonomics, 2022
with details of the nature of the infringement. We will investigate the claim and if justified, w... more with details of the nature of the infringement. We will investigate the claim and if justified, we will take the appropriate steps.
Machine learning techniques are increasingly applied in Decision Support Systems. The selection p... more Machine learning techniques are increasingly applied in Decision Support Systems. The selection processes underlying a conclusion often become black-boxed. Thus, the decision flow is not always comprehensible by developers or end users. It is unclear what the priorities are and whether all of the relevant information is used. In order to achieve human interpretability of the created algorithms, it is recommended to include domain experts in the modelling phase. Their knowledge is elicited through a combination of machine learning and social science techniques. The idea is not new, but it remains a challenge to extract and apply the experts’ experience without overburdening them. The current paper describes a methodology set to unravel, define and categorize the implicit and explicit domain knowledge in a less intense way by making use of co-creation to design human-centered algorithms, when little data is available. The methodology is applied to a case in the health domain, targetin...
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 2020
Shoulder exoskeletons potentially reduce overuse injuries in industrial settings including overhe... more Shoulder exoskeletons potentially reduce overuse injuries in industrial settings including overhead work or lifting tasks. Previous studies evaluated these devices primarily in laboratory setting, but evidence of their effectiveness outside the lab is lacking. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two passive shoulder exoskeletons and explore the transfer of laboratory-based results to the field. Four industrial workers performed controlled and in-field evaluations without and with two exoskeletons, ShoulderX and Skelex in a randomized order. The exoskeletons decreased upper trapezius activity (up to 46%) and heart rate in isolated tasks. In the field, the effects of both exoskeletons were less prominent (up to 26% upper trapezius activity reduction) while lifting windscreens weighing 13.1 and 17.0 kg. ShoulderX received high discomfort scores in the shoulder region and usability of both exoskeletons was moderate. Overall, both exoskeletons positively affected the isolated tasks, but in the field the support of both exoskeletons was limited. Skelex, which performed worse in the isolated tasks compared to ShoulderX, seemed to provide the most support during the in-field situations. Exoskeleton interface improvements are required to improve comfort and usability. Laboratorybased evaluations of exoskeletons should be interpreted with caution, since the effect of an exoskeleton is task Manuscript
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2020
Objective The aim of this study is to test the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology... more Objective The aim of this study is to test the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model for explaining the intention to use exoskeletons among industrial workers. Background Exoskeletons could help reduce physical workload and risk for injuries among industrial workers. Therefore, it is crucial to understand which factors play a role in workers’ intention to use such exoskeletons. Method Industrial workers ( N = 124) completed a survey on their attitudes regarding the use of exoskeletons at their workplace. Using partial least squares (PLS) path modeling, the UTAUT model and a revised version of the UTAUT model were fitted to these data. Results The adapted UTAUT model of Dwivedi et al. (2017) was able to explain up to 75.6% of the variance in intention to use exoskeletons, suggesting a reasonable model fit. Conclusion The model fit suggests that effort expectancy (how easy it seems to use an exoskeleton) plays an important role in predicting the intention to...
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine, 2018
Collaborative robots or co-bots are a category of robots that are designed to work together with ... more Collaborative robots or co-bots are a category of robots that are designed to work together with humans. By combining the strength of the robot such as precision and strength with the dexterity and problem-solving ability of the human, it is possible to achieve tasks that cannot be fully automated and improve the production quality and working conditions of workers. This paper presents the results of the ClaXon project which aims to study and implement interactions between humans and collaborative robots in factories. The project has led to the integration of a co-bot in the car manufacturing production plant of Audi Brussels in Belgium. Proofs of concepts were realized to study multimodal perceptions for human-robot interaction. The project addressed technical challenges regarding the introduction of collaborative robots on the factory floor. Social experiments were conducted with factory workers to assess the social acceptance of co-bots and study the interactions between the human and the robot.
International Semantic Web Conference, 2016
People with Dementia (PwD) exhibit Behavioral Disturbances (BD) that can be alleviated by persona... more People with Dementia (PwD) exhibit Behavioral Disturbances (BD) that can be alleviated by personalized interactions, revisiting memories and promoting comfort and quality of life. However, caregivers are unable to spend a lot of time on these interactions. This work-in-progress poster details the design and deployment of a semantic Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) platform that enables personalized interactions of a robot with a PwD to reduce and intercept BDs.
Springer eBooks, 2020
In the field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) the concept of ethnography is not unheard of. It is... more In the field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) the concept of ethnography is not unheard of. It is, however, often misunderstood and seen as a methodology that has no scientific validity or it is misused in practice. The aim of this chapter is to offer researchers that are unfamiliar with ethnography a brief overview of the most important aspects of ethnography and guide HRI researchers towards a better understanding and use of ethnography in HRI research. This is done to show that ethnography has a role to play within the HRI field and that it is a scientific methodology with its own quality criteria. A small meta-review of the current status and use of ethnography in the field of HRI is used to guide the chapter and illustrate with HRI based examples, what is being done and what is needed.
Applied Ergonomics, Apr 1, 2022
with details of the nature of the infringement. We will investigate the claim and if justified, w... more with details of the nature of the infringement. We will investigate the claim and if justified, we will take the appropriate steps.
Springer series on bio- and neurosystems, 2020
The Springer Series on Bio-and Neurosystems publishes fundamental principles and state-of-the-art... more The Springer Series on Bio-and Neurosystems publishes fundamental principles and state-of-the-art research at the intersection of biology, neuroscience, information processing and the engineering sciences. The series covers general informatics methods and techniques, together with their use to answer biological or medical questions. Of interest are both basics and new developments on traditional methods such as machine learning, artificial neural networks, statistical methods, nonlinear dynamics, information processing methods, and image and signal processing. New findings in biology and neuroscience obtained through informatics and engineering methods, topics in systems biology, medicine, neuroscience and ecology, as well as engineering applications such as robotic rehabilitation, health information technologies, and many more, are also examined. The main target group includes informaticians and engineers interested in biology, neuroscience and medicine, as well as biologists and neuroscientists using computational and engineering tools. Volumes published in the series include monographs, edited volumes, and selected conference proceedings. Books purposely devoted to supporting education at the graduate and post-graduate levels in bio-and neuroinformatics, computational biology and neuroscience, systems biology, systems neuroscience and other related areas are of particular interest. The books of the series are submitted for indexing to Web of Science.
5th International Conference on Sustainable Construction and Design (SCAD 2013), 2013
Studies on Media, Information and Telecommunication (SMIT), Feb 1, 2021
ICRA 2017 workshop IC3 - Industry of the future: Collaborative, Connected, Cognitive: Novel approaches stemming from Factory of the Future & Industry 4.0 initiatives, Jul 2, 2017
Applied Ergonomics, 2022
with details of the nature of the infringement. We will investigate the claim and if justified, w... more with details of the nature of the infringement. We will investigate the claim and if justified, we will take the appropriate steps.
Machine learning techniques are increasingly applied in Decision Support Systems. The selection p... more Machine learning techniques are increasingly applied in Decision Support Systems. The selection processes underlying a conclusion often become black-boxed. Thus, the decision flow is not always comprehensible by developers or end users. It is unclear what the priorities are and whether all of the relevant information is used. In order to achieve human interpretability of the created algorithms, it is recommended to include domain experts in the modelling phase. Their knowledge is elicited through a combination of machine learning and social science techniques. The idea is not new, but it remains a challenge to extract and apply the experts’ experience without overburdening them. The current paper describes a methodology set to unravel, define and categorize the implicit and explicit domain knowledge in a less intense way by making use of co-creation to design human-centered algorithms, when little data is available. The methodology is applied to a case in the health domain, targetin...
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 2020
Shoulder exoskeletons potentially reduce overuse injuries in industrial settings including overhe... more Shoulder exoskeletons potentially reduce overuse injuries in industrial settings including overhead work or lifting tasks. Previous studies evaluated these devices primarily in laboratory setting, but evidence of their effectiveness outside the lab is lacking. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two passive shoulder exoskeletons and explore the transfer of laboratory-based results to the field. Four industrial workers performed controlled and in-field evaluations without and with two exoskeletons, ShoulderX and Skelex in a randomized order. The exoskeletons decreased upper trapezius activity (up to 46%) and heart rate in isolated tasks. In the field, the effects of both exoskeletons were less prominent (up to 26% upper trapezius activity reduction) while lifting windscreens weighing 13.1 and 17.0 kg. ShoulderX received high discomfort scores in the shoulder region and usability of both exoskeletons was moderate. Overall, both exoskeletons positively affected the isolated tasks, but in the field the support of both exoskeletons was limited. Skelex, which performed worse in the isolated tasks compared to ShoulderX, seemed to provide the most support during the in-field situations. Exoskeleton interface improvements are required to improve comfort and usability. Laboratorybased evaluations of exoskeletons should be interpreted with caution, since the effect of an exoskeleton is task Manuscript
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2020
Objective The aim of this study is to test the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology... more Objective The aim of this study is to test the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model for explaining the intention to use exoskeletons among industrial workers. Background Exoskeletons could help reduce physical workload and risk for injuries among industrial workers. Therefore, it is crucial to understand which factors play a role in workers’ intention to use such exoskeletons. Method Industrial workers ( N = 124) completed a survey on their attitudes regarding the use of exoskeletons at their workplace. Using partial least squares (PLS) path modeling, the UTAUT model and a revised version of the UTAUT model were fitted to these data. Results The adapted UTAUT model of Dwivedi et al. (2017) was able to explain up to 75.6% of the variance in intention to use exoskeletons, suggesting a reasonable model fit. Conclusion The model fit suggests that effort expectancy (how easy it seems to use an exoskeleton) plays an important role in predicting the intention to...
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine, 2018
Collaborative robots or co-bots are a category of robots that are designed to work together with ... more Collaborative robots or co-bots are a category of robots that are designed to work together with humans. By combining the strength of the robot such as precision and strength with the dexterity and problem-solving ability of the human, it is possible to achieve tasks that cannot be fully automated and improve the production quality and working conditions of workers. This paper presents the results of the ClaXon project which aims to study and implement interactions between humans and collaborative robots in factories. The project has led to the integration of a co-bot in the car manufacturing production plant of Audi Brussels in Belgium. Proofs of concepts were realized to study multimodal perceptions for human-robot interaction. The project addressed technical challenges regarding the introduction of collaborative robots on the factory floor. Social experiments were conducted with factory workers to assess the social acceptance of co-bots and study the interactions between the human and the robot.