Dr. Rossel-Cid, Pedro

Background: Executive function (EF) deficits are a significant risk factor for falls among older adults (OAs). However, relationship between EF subdomains (shifting, updating, and inhibition), postural balance (PB), and fall risk in healthy OAs, remains poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between EF subdomains (shifting, updating, and inhibition) and PB, and to assess their impact on risk of falls in community-dwelling OAs. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 50 OAs aged over 60 years (average age of 72 years) was conducted. Participants underwent assessments of EF subdomains and PB using validated tests. A correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between EF and PB. Results: The study revealed significant correlations between subdomains and PB. Mental set shifting (r = −.539; p < .001) and inhibition (r = −.395; p = .050) exhibited inverse relationships with PB. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that Trail Making Test Part B was associated with the PB (R2 = .42, p < .001). Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of assessing EF subdomains, particularly shifting and inhibition, to identify risk of falls. Trail Making Test Part B largely explains the variability of the PB. Integrating PB assessments and EF training, such as the Mini-BESTest, into routine care can be vital for fall prevention strategies. Significance/Implications: This knowledge underscores the need for cognitive training interventions focusing on shifting and inhibition to enhance PB and potentially reduce falls. Additionally, incorporation of EF assessment tools as Trail Making Test Part B and the Mini-BESTest into routine clinical practice for community-dwelling OAs is recommended to address fall prevention strategies.

Physical computing is a field that involves the use of sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers to build systems that interact with the environment. This approach has been used in education, particularly to teach computer science, programming, computational thinking, and design concepts. This systematic review explores the use of physical computing in K-12 education, with a focus on what educational interventions are like, how they are assessed, their effects, and how students experience them. We included 43 scientific studies that describe the methodology and assessment process used in the intervention. We found that physical computing interventions have three types of expected educational outcomes: to learn physical computing itself, to improve other learning outcomes, or to improve attitudinal variables. The interventions use a variety of educational methods to achieve their goals; as well as a variety of instruments to measure outcomes. A common lesson structure has emerged, widely adopted across classrooms, including a short lecture followed by a hands-on phase, usually including teamwork to foster collaboration. Further comparative and long-term studies are needed to understand how physical computing interventions affect students, especially those who are underrepresented.

Diary studies are used to gather user information in their natural context. Despite the advantages of digital diaries, older users are not able to fully beneft from them, e.g. due to decreased motor and cognitive abilities, and low digital skills. This work presents InMyDay, a digital diary application specifcally designed and implemented for older users. The goal of this work is twofold: frst, we research whether older users are able to record activities and refect on their emotions using a digital diary. Then, using the results of this frst phase, we implemented three input styles for the second version of the digital diary: voice, stylus, and keyboard. Overall, 23 older users participated in evaluations aimed at improving the design of the diary and understanding their input style preferences. We found that the older adults used the diary to refect on their emotions, registering positive as well as negative emotions. We also found that the variety of choices in input styles helped the participants select the option most suited to their particular needs and preferences. Future work will focus on evaluating the digital diary over a longer period of time, to analyze variables such as long-term adoption and motivation, as well as trends in the selection of input styles.