Kaoru Eto

A preliminary examination of background-color effects on the scores of computer-based english grammar tests using near-infrared spectroscopy

A previous study of the effects of background colors on the scores of a computer-based English test indicated that a combination of black text and a background color with high luminance and high brightness, such as white or yellow, was not considered preferable for computer-based tests (CBTs). In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to see how a background color can affect the brain functions of CBT test takers by observing relative changes in hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in their brains by using near-infrared spectroscopy. In the experiment, seven male subjects in their twenties took computer-based English tests with different background colors with black text. Two dimensional images of the Hb concentration changes obtained in the experiment showed that areas in the brain associated with memory retrieval tended to have higher Hb concentrations while the subjects were taking the tests with blue backgrounds. On the other hand, areas in the brain related to other functions, such as the frontal eye field, were observed to be more active than brain areas responsible for cognitive tasks while they were taking the test with white background. These results suggest that white color may not be the best choice for a background color of a CBT, in terms of activating brain functions associated with linguistic tasks, even though a white background is commonly used for CBTs.

A Preliminary Experiment to Investigate the Effects of Blue Backgrounds on a Tablet Screen for Elderly People

Abstract A tablet computer is considered as a useful tool for elderly people to improve their everyday life and even to have training to enhance their cognitive ability. In this study, the authors conducted a preliminary experiment to see how different background colors of a tablet computer screen can affect the attention of elderly people while they are performing a task on the tablet computer. Ten Japanese subjects over sixty-five years old performed circle-counting tasks on a tablet computer screen with white, blue and light blue backgrounds. For these three background colors, three different symbols including circles were presented in black, and the subjects were directed to count the number of circles in a short period of time. The average percentages of correct answers for the circle-counting tasks that the subjects performed were higher with the blue and light blue backgrounds than with the white background. These results suggest that white color may not be the best choice for a background color of a tablet computer screen for elderly people.

Development of know-how information sharing system in care planning processes – mapping new care plan into two-dimensional document space

The purpose of this study is to develop a computer support system for educating personnel who are involved in care management. We wish to develop a system in which know-how information can be shared. We consider that visualizing and showing care plans drawn up by experts in various forms allows a beginner to see the differences between their plans and an expert plan. Sharing know-how information is possible by recording, accumulating, and giving titles to what has been noticed in comparing documents. This function can visualize the similarities among documents that interpreted the results of an assessment, and can flexibly change different viewpoints. In order to promote user awareness, we mapped a users new document into a two-dimensional document space, and confirmed that the results of this mapping were appropriate.

Analysis of Effects of Aroma Foot Care Using Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract Foot care is attracting attention as a medically effective treatment of the foot lesions caused by diabetes or aging. In this study, we experimentally examined how aromatherapy affects the functions of the human brain during foot care by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Four female subjects received foot care massages and aroma oil massages. We analyzed the changes in their oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations based on their brain activity by t-tests, and the t-test results showed significant differences between the foot and aroma oil massages. Our questionnaire results obtained from our subjects showed that they felt more comfortable and relaxed while receiving foot care with aroma oils. These results suggest that aroma oil massages are an effective foot care tool.

A pre-NIRS study of background colour effects on the functions of the frontal lobe

Abstract Some studies have pointed out that tablet computers can be used to enhance people‘s daily life and to strengthen their brain‘s cognitive ability. In this study, the authors conducted an experiment with elderly people as subjects in order to investigate whether different screen background colours can enhance their brain functions when performing a task on a tablet computer. In total, 17 elderly Japanese subjects participated in the experiment. We recorded haemoglobin concentration changes in the frontal lobe of the subject’s brain by using a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), while the subject performed circle counting task (CCT) and reading span task (RST) in the experiment. Each subject performed both tasks on five different background colours, which were white, blue, yellow, red, and green. All the task pages were designed in the same way for each background colour, and the order of colours were arranged randomly. As for the average scores of CCT from all the subjects, the yellow background showed the highest score while the white background showed the lowest score. However, as for the average RST scores, the score for the white background was higher than other background colours. The results indicated that the brains of the subjects received more stress while they were performing CCT on the white background whereas for RST the subjects may have already been used to the white background of a tablet screen and performed better. Brain functions should be analysed in further analysis since CCT requires attention, whereas effect of the background colours on the brain may be different from RST, which focuses on working memory.

A Preliminary Examination of Effect of Massage and Aroma Oil Massage in Foot Care Nursing

Abstract Foot care nursing is attracting attention as a medically effective treatment for the foot lesions caused by such problems as diabetes or aging. In this study, we experimentally examined how aromatherapy affects human brain functions during foot care nursing using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). 11 subjects received both foot care nursing massages and aroma oil massages. We analyzed the changes in their oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations based on their brain activity by t-tests, and the t-test results showed significant differences between two kinds of massages in both the somatosensory and prefrontal association areas. The oxy-Hb concentration in both massages with and without aroma oil also showed a tendency to decrease with time. Our questionnaire results showed that our subjects felt more comfortable and relaxed while receiving foot care nursing with aroma oils. These results suggest that aroma oil massages are an effective foot care nursing tool and that foot care nursing is a medically effective treatment.

The effects of light blue and white backgrounds on the brain activity of Web-based English tests' takers

Abstract In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to see how the background color of Web-based tests (WBTs) can affect the brain activities of Web-based test takers in relation to their performance. Thirty subjects in their twenties took Web-based English grammar tests and also performed circle-counting tasks on a computer screen with white and light blue backgrounds. For both background colors, text and symbols were presented in black. Two-dimensional images of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration changes in the brain of each subject were recorded by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). On both the English tests and the counting tasks, the scores of the subjects were higher on average with the light blue background than with the white background. The NIRS signals obtained in the experiment showed that areas in the brain associated with linguistic tasks tended to have higher Hb concentrations for the light blue background than for the white background, and indicated that the linguistic area was more active when the subjects took the tests with the light blue background. These results suggest that a light blue color may be a better choice for the background color of a WBT, even though a white background is often used for WBTs.

A preliminary analysis of light blue backgrounds on the scores of Web-based tests using NIRS

In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to see how a background color of Web-based tests (WBTs) can affect the performance of Web-based test takers and their brain activities. Twenty one subjects in their twenties took Web-based English grammar tests and also performed circle-counting tasks on a computer screen with white and light blue backgrounds. Two dimensional images of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration changes in the brain of each subject were recorded by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). On average, the subjects scored higher on both the English tests and the counting tasks with the light blue background when texts and symbols were presented in black. The NIRS images obtained in the experiment showed that areas in the brain associated with linguistic tasks tended to have higher Hb concentrations for the light blue background than the white background. Also, the brain areas related to eye movements showed higher Hb concentration changes while the subjects were looking at the screen with the white background. Even though the NIRS signals were not analyzed in details, these results suggest that white color may not be the best choice for a background color of a WBT.

A Pre-Analysis of the Effect of White, Blue and Green Background Colours on Working Memory in a Reading Span Task

Abstract Many studies have suggested that the design of a tablet screen can affect the performance its users. This study was conducted in order to investigate whether different screen background colours can affect users’ brain functions when they are performing a task on a tablet computer. The experiment focused on the relationship between background colours and memory span. Thirty Japanese university students and seven elderly people participated in the experiment. A reading span task was used in the experiment in order to observe the activities of the brain areas associated with working memory. The subjects were told to read Japanese sentences aloud while memorising underlined words with three different background colours. The analysis results of the performance scores for both young and elderly people showed that percentages were lowest for a white background compared with other colours. Moreover, recorded near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) values were negative value, which indicated the lowest activity in young people’s brains while performing the task with a white background. The results may suggest that a white background might not a good choice for either performance or brain activity.

Development of web-based learning materials to support assisting-skill acquisition using 3DCG

Abstract Japan’s population is aging rapidly, and the number of people who need caregivers is expected to increase dramatically. Establishing a method of educating the human resources who will meet this need is an urgent task. In this study, we visualized the differences between expert and novice caregiver behaviors and considered how to bring them to the attention of learners. We used three-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) images of caregivers to develop web-based learning materials to support the learning of applied nursing skills. We then had the materials evaluated by nursing/caregiving professionals to confirm their effectiveness in teaching those skills.