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This study investigates the impact of dynamic matching of robot motion velocity to users' walking velocity in a human-robot approach scenario on three categories: perceived comfort, interactivity, and naturalness. Considering age diversity, participants were divided into two age groups. Young participants tended to rate higher for all three categories when the robot's approaching velocity was dynamically matched. In contrast, elderly participants preferred a steady and slow robot approach for comfort and predictability. These findings contribute to the ongoing effort to design assistive robots that effectively cater to diverse user groups, ultimately enhancing user satisfaction and acceptance. Taken together, this study highlights the importance of dynamically tailoring robot behaviors based on user demographics for positive Human-Robot Interactions.

This paper describes the design and construction of a mini acoustic chamber using low-cost materials. The primary purpose is to provide an acoustically treated environment for small-scale sound measurements and experiments using ≤ 10-inch speakers. Testing with different types of speakers showed frequency responses of < 10 dB peak-to-peak (except the ”boxiness” range below 900 Hz), and the acoustic insulation (soundproofing) of the chamber is highly efficient (approximately 20 dB SPL in reduction). Therefore, it provides a significant advantage in conducting experiments requiring a small room with consistent frequency response and preventing unwanted noise and hearing damage. Additionally, using a cost-effective and compact acoustic chamber gives flexibility when characterizing a small-scale setup and sound stimuli used in experiments.

There have been several studies investigating whether musical sound can be used as cell stimuli in recent years. We systematically searched publications to get an overview of studies that have used audible sound played through speaker-based systems to induce mechanical perturbation in cell cultures. A total of 12 studies were identified. We focused on the experimental setups, the sounds that were used as stimuli, and relevant biological outcomes. The studies are categorized into simple and complex sounds depending on the type of sound employed. Some of the promising effects reported were enhanced cell migration, proliferation, colony formation, and differentiation ability. However, there are significant differences in methodologies and cell type-specific outcomes, which made it difficult to find a systematic pattern in the results. We suggest that future experiments should consider using: (1) a more controlled acoustic environment, (2) standardized sound and noise measurement methods, and (3) a more comprehensive range of controlled sound parameters as cellular stimuli.

This paper describes the design and construction of a mini acoustic chamber using low-cost materials. The primary purpose is to provide an acoustically treated environment for small-scale sound measurements and experiments using ≤ 10-inch speakers. Testing with different types of speakers showed frequency responses of < 10 dB peak-to-peak (except the ”boxiness” range below 900 Hz), and the acoustic insulation (soundproofing) of the chamber is highly efficient (approximately 20 dB SPL in reduction). Therefore, it provides a significant advantage in conducting experiments requiring a small room with consistent frequency response and preventing unwanted noise and hearing damage. Additionally, using a cost-effective and compact acoustic chamber gives flexibility when characterizing a small-scale setup and sound stimuli used in experiments.

Fibres Out of Line is an interactive art installation and performance for the 2021 Rhythm Perception and Production Workshop (RPPW). Visitors can watch the performance, and subsequently interact with the installation, all remotely via Zoom.

"Rhythms are a basic phenomenon in all physiological systems”. Can we think of the human body as a rhythm machine? How does the body generate rhythms and process external rhythms? I have been involved in a research project where we are studying cellular responses to acoustic perturbation. It was noticeable that, in such mechanobiology research, the type of parameters used as sound stimuli are typically limited to frequency and amplitude. It seems necessary to expand the possibilities of controllable parameters to explore wider cellular properties that might have been overlooked. For this reason, musically and physiologically relevant features have been considered such as rhythm. Physiological rhythms are of particular interest which can be categorised into different time scales (ultradian, circadian, and infradian rhythms). They are typically found in vital parts of the body such as the cardiorespiratory system, or in patterns that are vital for the body such as sleep and wake cycles. Through a theoretical investigation of different levels of physiological rhythmicity, there are some indications of common essential elements (central, exterior, and reflex rhythms) that need to exist simultaneously to maintain homeostasis. In this Food & Paper session, I would like to share and have an open discussion on these essential rhythmic features of the body and some of the examples we can find on different rhythmic levels (cells, organs, and the whole body).

Sound box (acoustic chamber) designed and constructed for small scale testing/experiment.

From the "Music for stem cells: Aiming to cure diabetes with sound waves" ̽����ѡ Life Science Conference event.

From the "Music for stem cells: Aiming to cure diabetes with sound waves" ̽����ѡ Life Science Conference event.

Synthesized sound development with controllable parameters aimed to be used as cellular stimuli in ABINO project.

Music for cells. Is there such a thing? Why do we want to use sound to manipulate, regulate or change certain conditions in our body, and something even as small as human cells? The use of sound and music to provide beneficial effect on biological being or on human is not a novel idea. Ancient Greek and Romans have already recognized this fascinating relationship. In our modern days, there have been uprising interests in mechanobiology among the cell biologists. A favourable use of sound is evident in numerous experiments reporting the responses of biological cells to audio and music stimuli. The prospective medical benefits of investigating correlations between sound and cellular responses are promising for the life sciences. However, although a considerable amount of literature is available, many of them are case- and cell-specific and there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the relationship between employed sound stimuli and different responses of biological cells under examination.

An interactive art installation presented during the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) 2020.

Dr. Squiggles is an interactive musical robot that we designed, that plays rhythms by tapping. It listens for tapping produced by humans or other musical robots, and attempts to play along and improvise its own rhythms based on what it hears.