Biomedical subjects

James G Phillips

Publications and source records attributed to James G Phillips.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Personality and self-reported use of mobile phones for games.

Mobile phones are popular devices that may generate problems for a section of the community. A previous study using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire found that extraverts with low self-esteem reported more problems with their mobile phone use. The present study used the NEO FI and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory to predict the self reported mobile phone use of 112 participants. Multiple regression found that people low on agreeableness were more likely to use their mobile phones to play games. The findings imply an interplay between personality traits and excessive or problematic use on mobile phones that is relevant to proposed innovations such as gambling on mobile phones.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Variations in the relationship between radius of curvature and velocity as a function of joint motion.

A power law describes the relationship between the geometric properties of a trajectory (radius of curvature) and movement kinematics (tangential velocity) in curved drawing movements. Although the power law is a general law of motion, there are conditions under which it degrades. In particular, the power law may be less explanatory of movements around certain joints. The present study considered how varying motion around different joints influenced the fit of the power law. Motions associated with finger and wrist, or elicited by an isometric force production task, were compared. The power law was most explanatory of finger motion and isometric production and least explanatory of wrist motion. The fit of the power law for finger and wrist motion suggested separate laws for each joint system. Since the fit of the power law was better for finger than for wrist motion, there is some suggestion that the power law better explains motion around fewer or simpler joint systems.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed2005

Forward/up directional incompatibilities during cursor placement within graphical user interfaces.

Within graphical user interfaces, an indirect relationship between display and control may lead to directional incompatibilities when a forward mouse movement codes upward cursor motions. However, this should not occur for left/right movements or direct cursor controllers (e.g. touch sensitive screens). In a four-choice reaction time task, 12 participants performed movements from a central start location to a target situated at one of four cardinal points (top, bottom, left, right). A 2 x 2 x 2 design varied directness of controller (moving cursor on computer screen or pen on graphics tablet), compatibility of orientation of cursor controller with screen (horizontal or vertical) and axis of desired cursor motion (left/right or up/down). Incompatibility between orientation of controller and motion of cursor did not affect response latencies, possibly because both forward and upward movements are away from the midline and go up the visual field. However, directional incompatibilities between display and controller led to slower movement with prolonged accelerative phases. Indirect relationships between display and control led to less efficient movements with prolonged decelerative phases and a tendency to undershoot movements along the bottom/top axis. More direct cursor control devices, such as touch sensitive screens, should enhance the efficiency of aspects of cursor trajectories.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Psychological predictors of problem mobile phone use.

Mobile phone use is banned or illegal under certain circumstances and in some jurisdictions. Nevertheless, some people still use their mobile phones despite recognized safety concerns, legislation, and informal bans. Drawing potential predictors from the addiction literature, this study sought to predict usage and, specifically, problematic mobile phone use from extraversion, self-esteem, neuroticism, gender, and age. To measure problem use, the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale was devised and validated as a reliable self-report instrument, against the Addiction Potential Scale and overall mobile phone usage levels. Problem use was a function of age, extraversion, and low self-esteem, but not neuroticism. As extraverts are more likely to take risks, and young drivers feature prominently in automobile accidents, this study supports community concerns about mobile phone use, and identifies groups that should be targeted in any intervention campaigns.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2004

Differences between problem and nonproblem gamblers in subjective arousal and affective valence amongst electronic gaming machine players.

Arousal-based theories of gambling suggest that excitement gained from gambling reinforces further gambling behavior. However, recent theories of emotion conceptualize mood as comprising both arousal and valence dimensions. Thus, excitement comprises arousal with positive valence. We examined self-reported changes in arousal and affective valence in 27 problem and 40 nonproblem gamblers playing electronic gaming machines (EGMs). Problem gamblers reported greater arousal increases after gambling and increases in negative valence if they lost. This accords poorly with an excitement-based explanation of problem gambling.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The relationship between anxiety, smoking, and gambling in electronic gaming machine players.

Given higher reported rates of smoking in populations under treatment for problem gambling, in a sample of 81 Electronic Gaming Machine players, this study considered whether: 1) there were relationships between tobacco dependency and problem gambling, and 2) a common mechanism such as negative affect was involved. The untreated sample comprised eighty-one Electronic Gaming Machine players that completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the Tobacco Dependence Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. There was a relationship between smoking status and scores on the South Oaks Gambling Screen, and negative affect contributed to both gambling problems and tobacco dependence. It was suggested that gambling problems and tobacco dependence have similar characteristics. The data has implications for treatment and anti-smoking legislation in gaming venues.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Conflicting directional and locational cues afforded by arrowhead cursors in graphical user interfaces.

Task-irrelevant features of arowhead cursors may generate conflict during cursor placement within graphical user interfaces. Arrowheads can signify location, but also cue direction and feature in optical illusions. To address the influence of conflicting cues, 14 participants used arrowhead cursors (standard, oversized) pointing upward or downward to move to targets (7.5, 15-mm diameter) situated at the top or bottom of the screen. Compatible arrowhead orientation improved response initiation. Cursor size, orientation, direction of motion, and target size interacted during cursor movement. Overshooting occurred for oversized cursors in the direction the arrow pointed for larger targets. Larger compatible arrowhead cursors elicit less efficient cursor positioning movements that are more susceptible to illusory processes, posing implications for design of cursors and graphical user interfaces.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Shyness and anxiety as predictors of patterns of Internet usage.

The Internet has the potential to empower or isolate. Shyness and anxiety may potentially influence the extent to which people avail themselves of Internet services such as email, chat rooms, information searches, entertainment, and commerce. To understand how personality moderates Internet usage, 177 participants completed an Internet Use Survey, the Social Reticence Scale, and a Trait Anxiety Inventory. Shyness, anxiety, gender, and academic achievement were employed within separate multiple regressions to predict forms of Internet usage. The use of email and chat-rooms was not related to shyness or anxiety, suggesting that shyness or anxiety does not pose an obstacle to these Internet applications. Males were more likely to use the Internet for downloading entertainment. Shy males were more likely to use the Internet for recreation/leisure searches. Highly educated males were more likely to use the Internet for banking and paying bills. Although shyness or anxiety does not seem to modify the communicative functions of the Internet, it may influence people's use of other recreational applications.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Age-related changes in the kinematics of curved drawing movements: relationships between tangential velocity and the radius of curvature.

Age-related motor slowing may result from abnormal trajectory formation. Curved trajectories can be described by a 1/3 power law linking velocity and radius of curvature. As a basic coordinative principle that emerges with maturation, factors producing any variation in this relationship may thus provide insights into age-related changes in the coordination of movement. The authors determined whether variations in the fit of a 1/3 power law with advancing age were associated with temporal or postural constraints. Young and older adults moved under temporal (speed and timing cues) or postural (joint combinations used) constraints, while performing elliptical movements upon a graphics tablet at 1 or 2 Hz. A 1/3 power law was influenced by variations in speed and the joint combinations employed, but reductions of fit were not necessarily linked to force inefficiency. Age-related reductions in the strength of a 1/3 power law were a function of postural constraints.

Adult↗