2025
Authors
Penelas, G; Pinto, T; Reis, A; Barbosa, L; Barroso, J;
Publication
HCI INTERNATIONAL 2024 - LATE BREAKING PAPERS, HCII 2024, PT VIII
Abstract
This paper presents an interactive game designed to improve users' experience related to driving behaviour, as well as to provide decision support in this context. This paper explores machine learning (ML) methods to enhance the decision-making and automation in a gaming environment. It examines various ML strategies, including supervised, unsupervised, and Reinforcement Learning (RL), emphasizing RL's effectiveness in interactive environments and its combination with Deep Learning, culminating in Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) for intricate decision-making processes. By leveraging these concepts, a practical application considering a gaming scenario is presented, which replicates vehicle behaviour simulations from real-world driving scenarios. Ultimately, the objective of this research is to contribute to the ML and artificial intelligence (AI) fields by introducing methods that could transform the way player agents adapt and interact with the environment and other agents decisions, leading to more authentic and fluid gaming experiences. Additionally, by considering recreational and serious games as case studies, this work aims to demonstrate the versatility of these methods, providing a rich, dynamic environment for testing the adaptability and responsiveness, while can also offer a context for applying these advancements to simulate and solve real-world problems in the complex and dynamic domain of mobility.
2025
Authors
Lucas, W; Nunes, R; Bonifácio, R; Carvalho, F; Lima, R; Silva, M; Torres, A; Accioly, P; Monteiro, E; Saraiva, J;
Publication
EMPIRICAL SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
Abstract
JavaScript is a widely used programming language initially designed to make the Web more dynamic in the 1990s. In the last decade, though, its scope has extended far beyond the Web, finding utility in backend development, desktop applications, and even IoT devices. To circumvent the needs of modern programming, JavaScript has undergone a remarkable evolution since its inception, with the groundbreaking release of its sixth version in 2015 (ECMAScript 6 standard). While adopting modern JavaScript features promises several benefits (such as improved code comprehension and maintenance), little is known about which modern features of the language have been used in practice (or even ignored by the community). To fill this gap, in this paper, we report the results of an empirical study that aims to understand the adoption trends of modern JavaScript features, and whether or not developers conduct rejuvenation efforts to replace legacy JavaScript constructs and idioms with modern ones in legacy systems. To this end, we mined the source code history of 158 JavaScript open-source projects, identified contributions to rejuvenate legacy code, and used time series to characterize the adoption trends of modern JavaScript features. The results of our study reveal extensive use of JavaScript modern features which are present in more than 80% of the analyzed projects. Our findings also reveal that (a) the widespread adoption of modern features happened between one and two years after the release of ES6 and, (b) a consistent trend toward increasing the adoption of modern JavaScript language features in open-source projects and (c) large efforts to rejuvenate the source code of their programs.
2025
Authors
Queiroz, S; Vilela, P; Monteiro, H; Li, X;
Publication
IEEE SIGNAL PROCESSING MAGAZINE
Abstract
Provides society information that may include news, reviews or technical notes that should be of interest to practitioners and researchers. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
2025
Authors
Silva, RM; Martins, P; Rocha, T;
Publication
RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Abstract
Background: Virtual Reality (VR) is making education more engaging and accessible, especially for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), promoting inclusion and the development of STEM skills in innovative ways. The literature still reveals a significant gap in terms of appropriate educational resources adapted to the specific needs of these students, resulting in difficulties in their inclusion. With the growing need for inclusive approaches in education, it is essential to find solutions to support these students. The aim of this study is to validate the data collection methodology that will enable the development of Virtual Learning Environments with STEM content for students with ASD. Methods: The Design Science Research (DSR) methodology was used to develop a VR artefact for students with ASD. In addition, the Delphi method was applied in the expert involvement phase, which will contribute to the validation of the artefact's specific requirements. Both will allow for an inclusive and distinctive approach to the development of an artefact, with the aim of offering an innovative educational experience, meeting the varied needs and learning styles of students with ASD, optimising the effectiveness of the proposed VLE. Results: The results show a strong acceptance among experts, highlighting the potential positive impact of this approach, although there are aspects to be improved to ensure a more comprehensive and effective approach. Conclusions: This study highlights the successful validation of an innovative virtual reality programme for students with ASD, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the strong contribution to the advancement of inclusive education.
2025
Authors
França, TJF; Sao Mamede, JHP; Barroso, JMP; dos Santos, VMPD;
Publication
INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
Abstract
The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping Human Resource Management (HRM), with growing interest in its role in talent identification. While AI has demonstrated effectiveness in analysing structured data, its limitations in assessing qualitative attributes such as creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence remain underexplored. This study addresses these gaps through an exploratory mixed-methods design, combining a global survey (n = 240) with semi-structured interviews of HR professionals. Quantitative analysis highlights patterns of association between key competencies, while qualitative findings provide contextual insights into perceptions of fairness, bias, and cultural resistance. The results suggest that AI can complement, but not replace, human judgement, supporting a Hybrid Evaluative Model that integrates algorithmic efficiency with human interpretation. The study contributes rare empirical evidence to a nascent field, highlights the ethical imperatives of bias mitigation and transparency, and underscores the importance of cultural context (collectivist versus individualist orientations) in shaping the acceptance and effectiveness of AI-enabled HR practices. These findings offer practical guidance for organisations and advance theory-building at the intersection of AI and HRM.
2025
Authors
Valina, L; Teixeira, B; Pinto, T; Vale, Z; Coelho, S; Fontes, S; Reis, A;
Publication
HCI INTERNATIONAL 2024-LATE BREAKING PAPERS, HCII 2024, PT II
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now ubiquitous in daily life, significantly impacting society by supporting decision-making. However, in many application areas, understanding the rationale behind AI decisions is crucial, highlighting the need for explainable AI (XAI). AI algorithms often lack transparency, making it hard to understand their inner workings. This work presents an overview of XAI solutions for decision support in mobility context. It addresses the complexity of explaining decision support models by offering explanations in various formats tailored to different user profiles. By integrating language models, XAI models may generate texts with varying technical detail levels, aiding ethical AI deployment and bridging the gap between complex models and human interpretability. This work explores the need for flexible explanation formats, supporting varied user profiles with graphical, textual, and tabular explanations. By integrating natural language processing models personalized explanations that are accurate, understandable, and accessible to a diverse audience can be generated. This study ultimately aims to support the task of making XAI robust and user-friendly, boosting its widespread use and application.
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