Chika Oshima

A musical instrument for facilitating musical expressions

In this paper, we propose a new musical instrument that allows people to concentrate on controlling indiscrete elements so that they can directly create their musical expressions. We describe a prototype musical instrument and demonstrate two applications of the prototype to show its effectiveness.

Mood Induction through emotional prosody modification — Experiments of students reading a folk story scenario

In the two-factor theory of emotion, an emotion is caused not only by body responses, but also by our interpretations of body responses. We assume that an emotion can be caused even by a false recognition of physiological reactions. In our previous research, when a persons voice was combined with cheerful sounds, he/she became cheerful. Therefore, we developed a system to modify the prosodies of utterances to examine whether subjects would inaccurately recognize their past emotions when hearing past utterances modified via these prosodies (which showed negative or positive emotions). The results of the two-way ANOVA showed that mood-related items, such as “tender,” “anxious,” and “undisturbed,” exhibited significant differences depending on the factor of the converted method. This result suggests that modifying emotional prosodies can induce different emotions.

Toward a Piano Lesson System that Gives People with Reduced Cognitive Functioning a Sense of Accomplishment

Creative activities provide elderly people with reduced cognitive functioning with a sense of accomplishment in nursing care facilities. Music therapists and their clients usual sing songs and play percussive musical instruments. However, they may not provide a feeling of accomplishment from these kinds of music therapy. Then, we aim to construct a piano lesson support system that can give people with reduced cognitive functioning a sense of accomplishment through playing the piano. In this paper, we conducted experiments in which a participant with higher brain dysfunction took piano lessons using video educational materials. The results of the experiments showed that she participated with enthusiasm and got better at playing the piano. On the other hand, we found several issues to consider. We discussed these issues with consideration of the symptoms according to the depression of cognitive function.

Two-Step Input Method for Supporting Construction of MIDI Sequence Data

A great number of people desire to actively enjoy music. However, it requires a strong effort for a person to compose or perform a musical piece with conventional musical instruments. In this paper, we propose a “two-step input method” to construct MIDI sequence data more easily than by the conventional input methods. Furthermore, it can give people the pleasure of producing their individual expression. We illustrate the two-step input method and evaluate its effectiveness based on subjective experiments.

An Algorithm that Prevents SPAM Attacks using Blockchain

There are many systems and methods for prevent-ing spam attacks. However, at present there is no specific tried-and-true method for preventing such attacks. In this paper, we propose an algorithm, “SAGA BC” to prevent spam attacks using a blockchain technique and demonstrate its effectiveness by a simulation experiment. A person who sends an email using the “SAGA BC” must pay the processing cost with cryptocurrency. If an e-mail sent using this algorithm is received normally at a destination e-mail account, this fee is refunded. However, a lot of spam e-mails are not received normally, because addresses of the spam e-mails are indiscriminate. If a spammer sends spam using the “SAGA BC ,” he/she will lose the cryptocurrency fee for each such message. Thus, if using the “SAGA BC” to send e-mail becomes a standard practice for the general public, receiving e-mail servers and/or mailers will be able to easily judge incom-ing messages without using the “SAGA BC,” because spammers cannot use the “SAGA BC” without losing their cryptocurrency.

Give a Dog ICT Devices: How Smartphone-Carrying Assistance Dogs May Help People with Dementia

People with dementia suffer from memory loss, speech disabilities, and many other problems. A smartphone could benefit them, because it offers functions and applications that may alleviate their disabilities. However, some people with dementia refuse to carry a smartphone. Many of them dislike doing the tasks ordered by such devices due to a lack of psychological interaction. Therefore, we are exploring the concept of having a dog carry a smartphone on its back to assist these people with their daily lives. In this paper, we first show that, with a little training, a dog can be made to run to its owner when the smartphone on its back emits an alarm. This result suggeted that the concept will allow applications and devices for the people with dementia to become the more useful things of their daily lives. Then, we propose an application wherein people with mild cognitive impairment can be reminded what they were going to do a few minutes ago. We also propose a support method using a vibration-sensing device that causes a dog to run up to its severe-dementia person who is trying to open a door to go outside. Finally, we describe an experiment that examined how a person with dementia might respond to a dog who “talks” to them. (Of course, the talker was a person at a different location speaking through the smartphone on the dog’s back.) These suggestions and the results of the experiment show that, with the help of a dog, a smartphone can offer better assistance for dementia patients. Keywords—Android; Care facility; Memory loss

Method for identifying aromas using adjective characteristics to enhance the reality of visual images

Some works have suggested that certain aromas can enhance the reality of visual images of distant locations on the basis of the CONTENTS constituting the images; and these CONTENTS can be referred to using nouns. Aromatic materials need to be classified in order to identify the ones corresponding to each CONTENT. In this paper, we conducted two experiments. The subjects first rated the extent to which the aromas enhanced the reality of the visual images. CONTENTS of these visual images were different kinds of trees. Nine aromatic materials received high ratings. The subjects then rated the aromas using adjectives. The nine aromatic materials were classified into two clusters on the basis of the adjectives. These results showed that the use of adjectives to describe aromas is practical for such a classification.