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As a practical part of my research work, I decided to create a prototype application for fast and convenient communication with government services. I myself often need to contact the state here in Austria, and I can’t say that it’s very easy and user friendly. Plus, it would be interesting for me to check next semester, when I will finalize the concept, how people around me will evaluate it, whether they will find this application a good example of meaningful application of high technology or not.

There are quite a few examples of this kind of applications in the world, e-government is gradually becoming a trend. Austria also has such an app, but I was not able to try it out because it requires a fingerprint scan or Face ID, which actually surprised me, because in German-speaking countries personal data protection is a very big topic, and here a government app is asking me for my biometrics so directly.

Anyway, as a reference, I took a few apps I found on the internet as a reference, and also turned to my own experience of “What would I want to change? What service would I want to make easier? What is better organized in my country? What is better organized in Austria?”

Bringing together my personal wishes and experiences and already available examples, I started to develop a rough prototype. First of all, I wrote out for myself what services I would like to see in the app. Then various features that would help in better navigating all the features of the app. And of course UX UI, so that the user would not be confused.

At this stage, the app certainly looks raw in terms of design, but I hope to improve it in the next semester.

In this article I would like to examine the worldwide trend toward the digitalization of governments. According to a 2022 United Nations study, there is a positive trend in e-government development at the global level. Many countries have shown progress, moving from low levels of e-government development to higher levels. This demonstrates the growing adoption of modern technologies and improved accessibility of public services to the population.

EGDI (Global E-Government Development Index) – a composite index that characterizes the level
of e-government development in the countries of the world. It includes averages of three components: Online Services Index (OSI), Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII) and Human Capital Index (HCI).

The 2022 study reflects improving global trends in e-Government development and the transition of many countries to higher EGDI scores. Thus, in 2022, 60 countries have very high EGDI values; in 2020, 57 countries have an increase of 5.3%. A total of 73 countries have high EGDI values (between 0.50 to 0.75), and 53 countries are in the group with medium EGDI values (with values between 0.25 and 0.50). Seven countries (one less than in 2020) have EGDI values between 0.00 and 0.25.

Upper middle-income countries have high OSI, TII and HCI and are likely to make rapid progress in e-government development in the coming years, while a decline in OSI or HCI values for low-income and lower-middle-income countries may mean a deepening digital divide.

Of the 99 UN Member States with above-average EGDI values, almost 90% are in the high-income or upper-middle-income group, but the remaining 10% are lower-middle-income countries (Plurinational State of Bolivia, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam); 10 of these countries (all except the Plurinational State of Bolivia) also have OSI values above average. Five other countries in the low-income group have EGDI values below average, but their average OSI values are higher: Bangladesh (0.6521), Egypt (0.5730), India (0.7934), Kenya (0.6821), and Pakistan (0.5658). These examples show that while income level in a country matters, it is not the only factor that determines EGDI or OSI values.

EGDI values tend to be higher for higher-income countries than for lower-income countries. Nevertheless, many countries have achieved high and very high levels within e-government development largely by improving the delivery of their online services (expressed in OSI terms) despite limited resources.

We live in a time when technology is rapidly developing, changing one another, new professions appear, and old ones disappear… We look to the future with hope and apprehension, it seems that humanity has never experienced anything like this before. But is it really so?

It is interesting to compare the ideas about the future of people who lived more than a hundred years ago with our present. Old postcards help us to do this. They show how people of the 19th century imagined life in the 21st century.

In the nineteenth century, science and technology developed very rapidly. People learned about electricity, automobiles, cameras, telephones, and began using radio waves. This inspired them to create new technologies. Steam engines and futuristic carriages appeared on the streets. Some scientists even talked about the possibility of creating a “perpetual motion” engine. Advances in technology stimulated the imagination of engineers, scientists, artists, and other creative people of the time.

In 1900 Hildebrands published a series of postcards in which illustrators presented their vision of life in the year 2000. They envisioned that technological advances would bring new conveniences, especially in transportation. One of the illustrations depicted an exquisite airplane, while another showed a mechanism that moved sidewalks effortlessly for pedestrians.

In 1910, Jean-Marc Côté and his team of illustrators produced a set of drawings called “En L’An 2000” (“In the Year 2000” in French). Their postcards also offered interesting insights into the future.

I would like to select some of them and consider the most interesting specimens.

Artificial wings

Flying is one of the greatest human desires. The turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was a time of intense search for ways to take to the air with the help of devices different from the then known balloon. Recall that the Wright brothers did not make their first flight until 1903.

What about today? Airplanes are our everyday life, but they are more like “flying buses” than personal wings. Here rather hang gliders are closer to what people imagined in the old days, but they also don’t give you as much freedom as shown in the picture above. The closest thing to such a concept is… a jetpack! This device has already been extensively tested and presented at various events around the world. Will any of us ever use it? I’d love to see!

Motor house

Can’t sit still? Do you need constant change? That’s what people who lived over 100 years ago thought, and they designed motorhomes especially for you. Now you can wake up every day with a completely different view outside your window.

The idea has already been realized in the form of houses on wheels – apartment cars, in which you can live quite normally, if you regularly replenish water supplies and dispose of waste. The idea of an entire building on wheels is somewhat problematic, however, because we wouldn’t be able to get anywhere on modern roads with such a wide vehicle.

Moving sidewalk

A hundred years ago, in the big cities of Europe and the United States, the nobility was very fond of just walking around the city, socializing and exchanging information. A kind of Facebook in our time.

But they thought that it was necessary to improve this process, to invent some means of transportation that would facilitate such movement around the city. So, one of the ideas for transportation solutions were sidewalk-platforms that would cross cities, making it easier for people to communicate. That might make sense, but the version with benches and a roof over them looks even better, only then it would appear that we just invented… the tram.

However, movable sidewalks have still found reasonable uses, such as in subways, airports and shopping malls, where they have the appearance of escalator belts on which we can move between floors with heavy luggage.

Looking at these pictures, you can’t help but think how far people are sometimes in their ideas about the future from the real development of technology and society. It is enough to look at what people are wearing in these pictures.

I don’t think our thinking has fundamentally changed since those times. Remember at least the Terminator, which predicted a kind of the end of the world in 1997, or the movie Back to the Future 2 with flying cars by 2015. Something to think about…

In this article, I would like to briefly explain the differences between the approach to AI development in the US, China and Europe, as it is interesting to see how these global players differ from and influence each other in this field. It could show attitude to new technologies in those countries in generall.

USA: The approach of AI regulations in the USA is largely influenced by the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative (NAII) in 2021. The main goals of these regulations are centered around development, education, and building trust in AI systems. One important aspect is the right of explanation, which ensures transparency in AI decision-making processes.

Risk management is another key aspect of the regulations, which is based on three criteria: assessment, independence, and review. This means that AI systems need to undergo thorough evaluations to identify and mitigate potential risks. Additionally, there is a focus on ensuring independence in the evaluation process and establishing mechanisms for regular reviews.

In terms of development, the regulations prioritize granting full autonomy to AI players. This suggests that there is an emphasis on promoting innovation and allowing AI developers to have the freedom to explore and create within the established regulatory framework.

China: The approach of AI regulations in China is driven by the goal of becoming a leader in the field of artificial intelligence. The government supports a collaborative approach, encouraging the participation of “AI National Champions” in advancing AI technology. The regulations primarily focus on three main goals or topics: development, national security, and gaining an international advantage.

In terms of development, there are relatively few restrictions imposed on AI developers, allowing them a considerable amount of freedom to innovate and create. The emphasis is on fostering a supportive environment for AI research and development, enabling rapid technological advancements.

National security is also a key concern, with regulations aiming to ensure that AI technologies do not pose risks or threats to the country’s security. 

Lastly, gaining an international advantage is a priority, suggesting a focus on fostering competitiveness in the global AI market. The regulations likely aim to promote the growth of Chinese AI companies and encourage their expansion and influence beyond national borders.

Europe: The approach of AI regulations in Europe is strongly influenced by the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which plays a significant role in establishing rules. A risk-based approach is followed, categorizing regulations into four levels based on the potential risks associated with AI applications. The priority is to ensure user safety, and AI systems are not allowed to make significant decisions autonomously. The right of explanation is considered highly important, emphasizing the need for transparency in AI decision-making processes.

Regulations address the issue of deepfakes and similar techniques by requiring a disclosure comment to be attached to such content. Social scoring using AI is prohibited, aiming to prevent discriminatory or unfair practices. Certain areas are subject to a ban on AI applications, likely for reasons of ethical concerns or potential risks.

However, this approach has faced criticism for being perceived as “not flexible.” This criticism likely suggests that the regulations may be considered rigid or lacking adaptability to address emerging challenges or technological advancements in the AI field.

These diverse approaches are not isolated but mutually influence each other. The competitive nature of the global AI market and the desire to lead in technological advancements create a dynamic where regions learn from one another’s experiences and adapt their regulations accordingly. Cultural, political, and economic factors play a significant role in shaping these approaches, reflecting the unique values and priorities of each region.

Experts advise that Europe should adopt a more flexible approach to AI regulations while the USA should enhance privacy protections by adopting stricter measures. In order to achieve these goals, several recommendations have been put forth:

These include encouraging the sharing of documentation to enhance transparency, promoting collaborative research efforts, establishing standards for AI development, creating AI sandboxes for safe experimentation, supporting large-scale public AI research projects and open-source tools, facilitating regulator-to-regulator exchanges, and developing an AI assurance ecosystem for accountability and trust. By implementing these recommendations, both regions can foster innovation, ensure responsible AI development, and promote international cooperation and harmonization in AI regulations.

As you can see, there is still a long way to go before the global players arrive at a universal approach, but the first steps have already been taken.

References:

The EU and U.S. diverge on AI regulation: A transatlantic comparison and steps to alignment | Brookings. (2023, 24. Juni). Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-eu-and-us-diverge-on-ai-regulation-a-transatlantic-comparison-and-steps-to-alignment/

Grunitz, M. (2021, 17. Dezember). AI regulation: EU, USA & China – WeAreBrain Blog. WeAreBrain Blog. https://wearebrain.com/blog/ai-data-science/ai-regulation-eu-usa-china/

AI Regulation News | European Union | USA | China. (o. D.). https://www.airegulation.news/

Welcome back to my research blog!

Last semester I studied high technology, attitudes toward it, and good and bad examples of its use.

In the second semester, I would like to take a closer look at the causes and consequences of innovations, both successful and failed. I would also be interested in taking different states around the world and comparing social attitudes, as well as government regulation of innovation and high technology.

Technology has always accompanied human civilization, as well as aspirations for the future. Has the idea of what will happen to humanity in 100 years changed over the generations? I would like to examine this question and compare expectations of the future in 1900 and today.

And at the very end, I would like to suggest an application that I think can serve as a good example for the meaningful use of high technology. However, there are two sides to any coin.

Visual Impairments

• Nearisghtedness (myopia):
• Blurred distance vision
• Good near vision
• Elongation of the eyeball
  
  Farsightedness (Hyperopia):
• Difficulty with near vision
• Better television viewing
• Short eyeball
  
  Astigmatism:
• Distorted or blurred vision
• Crooked cornea
• Blurred vision at all distances
  
  Presbyopia:
• Difficulty with near vision
• Reduced near accommodation
• Age-related loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens
  
  Glaucoma (glaucoma):
• Damage to the optic nerve
• Increased intraocular pressure
• Gradual loss of vision
  
  Macular degeneration:
• Loss of central vision
• Impaired reading and recognition of details
• Degenerative changes in the macula
  
  Diabetic retinopathy:
• Damage to the blood vessels of the retina
• Blurred vision
• Progressive vision loss
  
  Color blindness (including red-green blindness):
• Impaired color vision
• Difficulty distinguishing specific colors
• Genetic predisposition
  
  Nystagmus:
• Uncontrollable eye movements
• Impaired vision tracking
• Blurred vision
  
  Digital Vision Stress Syndrome (CVS):
• Eye strain from prolonged viewing of screens
• Dry eyes
• Headaches and eye fatigue
  
  Tunnel vision (restriction of peripheral vision):
• Narrowed field of vision
• Lack of peripheral situational awareness
• Focus on the central area

possible Solutions

• Nearsightedness (myopia):
• Adjustable font size
• Magnifiable UI elements
• Clear contrast between text and background
  
  Farsightedness (Hyperopia):
• Clearly legible font
• Customizable zoom options for UI elements
• Good distinguishability of near and far information
  
  Astigmatism:
• Sharp and clear icons and text
• Balanced color contrasts
• Consistent alignment of UI elements
  
  Presbyopia:
• Larger fonts
• Good readability in different lighting conditions
• Option to adjust focus settings
  
  Glaucoma (glaucoma):
• Highlighting of important information
• Clear and conspicuous warning icons
• Adjustable brightness settings
  
  Macular Degeneration:
• Option to magnify text and icons
• Alternative displays for detailed information
  Easy navigation and orientation aids
  
  Diabetic retinopathy:
• High contrast color palettes
• Option to customize UI colors
• Clear icons for important information
  
  Color blindness (including red-green blindness):
• Color modes for color blindness
• Alternatives to color coding of information
• Use of shapes and patterns to distinguish
  
  Nystagmus:
• Stable and clear UI elements
• Reduced motion and animation
• highlighting important information
  
  Digital Vision Stress Syndrome (CVS):
• Option to adjust brightness and contrasts
• Option to reduce blue light emissions
• Regular reminders to take breaks and do eye exercises
  
  Tunnel vision (limitation of peripheral vision):
• Focus on key information and warnings
• Easy accessibility of maps or radar displays
• Clear and distinct highlighting of targets or enemies

https://gameaccessibilityguidelines.com/

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/the-last-of-us-part-ii/accessibility/

https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/index.html#:~:text=The%20leading%20causes%20of%20blindness,disorders%20include%20amblyopia%20and%20strabismus.

As mentioned in the first blog post, my prototype consists of a customizable HUD for a racing game. The goal is to make the gaming experience as enjoyable as possible while also accommodating people with limitations.

The prototype was developed for the fictional racing game “Warp Speed”. I focused mainly on the display of individual HUD elements and the navigation of customization options in the game settings. However, this is only part of the basics for user-friendly and accessible games, as explained in the other blog posts.

The prototype was created using Figma. The fictional game is designed for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, and is controlled with a mouse or controller.

In the “Options” and “HUD” area, the player can go through the individual elements one by one and select the most suitable UI element. On the right side of the screen is the navigation and an overview of the selectable UI elements. In the center of the screen is a thumbnail of a representative game scene where the selected UI elements can be placed. The right side of the screen displays the available elements from which the player can choose. Finally, after the player has selected all the elements, there is an option to drag and drop them and adjust their size.

In this example, all elements are center-aligned, which people with a limited field of vision might prefer:

• About 20% of the population has a disability.

• The objective of accessible design is to eliminate barriers and ensure equal opportunities in gameplay.

• Accessibility is particularly crucial for players with disabilities, visual impairments, hearing loss, or injuries.

• Different players have different needs and preferences, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, a customizable heads-up display (HUD) is also beneficial.

Visual elements:

• Individuals have varying visual impairments, screen sizes, and viewing distances. Therefore, it is important to allow players to adjust the text size.

• Approximately 300 million people have color vision deficiencies, so essential information/feedback should not rely solely on colors.

• Moreover, contrast should be individually adjustable for players. This is particularly important because elements in dark games may be difficult to recognize in bright lighting conditions.

• Including haptic feedback, such as vibration or acoustic cues, is also helpful, as it can assist players with visual impairments. By conveying feedback through different senses, accessibility is improved.

• For subtitles, care should be taken to ensure appropriate speed and length, with no more than 37 characters per line.

• Subtitles and captions should be large, a simple font should be used and contrast with the background.

• Additionally, subtitles should be individually adjustable in terms of size and color.

• For the hearing impaired, it is important to subtitle sounds, such as the footsteps of an approaching opponent.

• For individuals with epilepsy, there should be an option to disable flashing lights and repetitive patterns.

Auditory elements:

• Once again, it is important to provide visual or haptic feedback in addition to audio feedback to enhance the gaming experience for the hearing impaired.

• Separate volume controls for music, speech, and sound effects should be offered, as this allows hearing impaired individuals to adjust the audio elements accordingly.
  
• Background noise should be minimized when dialogue takes place in the game.

Controls:

• When it comes to controls, offering as many options as possible is advantageous. This includes controller, mouse and keyboard, eye-tracking, voice control, etc. Different people with physical impairments can then choose the control option that suits them best.
  
• The control of individual game actions should also be individually adjustable.

• The movement radius and sensitivity of the mouse should be changeable in the settings.

• For individuals with disabilities, alternative options to quick-time events where certain keys need to be pressed repeatedly should be provided.

https://uxdesign.cc/accessible-video-game-design-7f54c583a470

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/the-last-of-us-part-ii/accessibility/