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Activity Funded

Digital Human-Environment and Interactions Labs

Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas

Reference
UIDB/05380/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes HEI-Lab is a transdisciplinary research and intervention (R&I) centre in psychology and design. We develop digital and natural environments to study cognitive, behavioral and emotional processes, and study these to develop models of design, with a novel framework to address the intersection between people and the digital world. HEI-Lab generates new challenges, methods, and solutions. It also aligns with current guidelines of the EU, the WHO, and the APA, which have identified eHealth as a growing practice and global goal. The development of digital spaces and tools, as processes, products and services (PPS) is carried out in two labs: HEI Contextual Change Lab (HEI-CCL), and the Human Change Lab (HEI-HCL). HEI-CCL validates new design models and methods for PPS based with action-research, co-creation, collaborative, and active participation of multiple stakeholders. R&I starts off from real-life settings and institutions (e.g. mental health, forensic, territorial, cultural, business) and the identification of psychological and social needs by researchers and stakeholders, followed by pre- and quasi-experimental modeling of PPS designs via digital technology. HEI-HCL produces basic and applied psychological research in cognitive, clinical/health, social, and forensic psychology using HEI-CCL-modelled digital systems that fit stakeholder needs and fine-tune digital lab methods. HEI-Lab aims to impact current models of human behavior and spatial design, promote a transdisciplinary approach, and set a new ‘electronic’ agenda for R&I. HEI-Lab is an internationally-oriented centre in its publication/scientific strategy and its strategic partnerships with European (e.g., Bergamo, West Flanders, Antwerp), South and North American (e.g., São Paulo, Southern California, North Carolina), Asia (Jeddha, KAU) and Australian (Melbourne) universities, which we aim to expand into an international network focused on health and well-being, while maintaining current partnerships with national R&D centres in Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, andMinho. In line with our core principles, we also transfer knowledge to stakeholders and society. Digital psychology PPS is tailored to stakeholders’ needs and capabilities to use them (e.g. application of VR and Serious Games in mental health and forensic contexts with institutional partners, e.g. CHPL, CMRA, JFB). Design models and methodologies for health and well-being are also at the disposal of the national and international community of designers through a networking system. We have trained undergrad and grad students in our previous labs (LabPsiCom, LabPsiExp, MovLab, and Delli), and are expanding this in HEI-Lab to advanced training in transdisciplinary R&I with digital tools, including postgrad, and advanced courses open to non-academic practitioners and designers. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation HEI-Lab is a new transdisciplinary research and intervention (R&I) centre bringing together psychologists (School of Psychology and Life Science) and designers/videogame designers (School of Communication, Architecture, Arts and Information Technologies) at Lusófona University, Lisbon (ULHT) and psychologists at the Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports Lusófona University, Porto (ULP). In HEI-Lab we will develop and use digital environments for psychological research and intervention (R&I), to study cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes, as well as use psychological contributions to design better environments in the transition between physical (analog) and digital spaces. Understanding human behaviour is a challenge best studied and changed by manipulating real-life contexts. However, on the one hand it is often difficult and ethically problematic to change real contexts for scientific purposes. On the other hand,traditional experimental methods, though offering excellent manipulated control over stimuli and measures, suffer from problems of ecological validity. Our purpose is to focus on studying and changing human behaviour by developing digital contexts that mimic real/analog ones. We thus aim to propose a new agenda for the study and intervention in human behaviour, based on the cognitive-behavioral paradigm and on digital systems that offer better controls in the study of human behaviour: an electronic cognitive-behavioral agenda (e-CB) for the digital age. We will build on these advances to develop new CB-based R&I; identify with the most efficient methods and target-populations for digital-based assessment and intervention; and deploy intervention programmes in close partnership with the relevant stakeholders. We also propose to expand psychological R&I based on spatial design and digital technology to subfields such as clinical, health, forensic and social psychology. Our activities will generate new challenges, methods, and solutions focusing on basic and applied psychological processes, mental health, and well-being, with a central role for digital applications (eHealth), which aligns with current guidelines of the EU, the WHO, and the APA in favour of eHealth. We will also respond to the needs of designers and video-game creators of designing psychologically informed analog and digital interaction contexts, develop new design models and methods for products, processes, and services (PPS) based on action-research, co-creation, collaborative, and active participation of stakeholders. We have the right background to set up this centre: in 4.2, we describe our solid track record of working with virtual reality (VR) to treat mental health, in particular cognitive impairments (studies with total n>800), an area in which we are national leaders (used in top mental health institutions) and international reference (publications, application in universities in Europe and Americas; conference organization and keynotes). We also have a group of psychologists that have a solid record in basic and applied research in a number of fields (neuro, clinical, forensic, social) with a strong focus on parenting, gender, vulnerable and at-risk populations, violence and interpersonal and close relations that are ripe for expansion into digital tools, namely with the use of VR stimuli and multi-player scenarios. Furthermore, we have psychologists with experience in developing and implementing intervention programs based on the Cognitive-Behavioral paradigm, who will contribute to the expansion of VR-therapy into clinical domains. Finally, we have a group of designers and videogame researchers and developers with a strong track-record in processual and digital solutions, including>38 case-studies to validate, model and adapt human-centred design to territorial innovation and creative culture (Portugal and Belgium), and network co-creation and innovation (Brazil). In MovLab, our unique multidisciplinary team produces projects involving IT, Product Design, Digital Image Production, 3D, and Animation for Health and Wellbeing, all of which have had direct impacts on the organizations to which we transfer knowledge. Designers are keen to integrate psychological know-how in their digital and analog environments. We also have the right equipment and know-how to use it, as well as integrated networking with the international scientific community,on the one hand, and local/international social stakeholders, on the other hand. We use intensively our lab facilities in psychology (LabPsiCom and LabPsiExp), videogame design (MovLab) and design (DELLI), equipped with psychophysiological measurements, VR, motion capture, videogame edition, and creative design. We are now asking for funds to upgrade the equipment in our Lisbon labs and set up a new lab at ULP. We work with an international focus in both our publication/scientific strategy and our strategic partnerships in Europe, the US, South America, Asia and Australia, as well as Portugal, and we aim to expand into international networks focused on health and well-being. Our transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and society is in line with our core principles, and digital psychology PPS are tailored to stakeholders’ needs and capabilities to use them (e.g. application of digital mental health solutions by institutional partners). Design models and methodologies are also at the disposal of colleagues in our networks. We have trained undergrad and grad students in our associated labs, and are expanding this in HEI-Lab to advanced training in transdisciplinary R&I with digital tools. We are also promoting the advanced training of recent PhD integrated members and requesting co-funding for 4 PhD-qualified researchers and 3 research fellowships. Finally, our EAB consists of top-notch researchers in our fields (total >30k citations) including a former head of the Portuguese Psychologist's Association, who will oversee the ethics procedures.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Laboratórios Digitais de Ambientes e Interacções Humanas (HEI-Lab/ULL)
  • COFAC, Cooperativa de Formação e Animação Cultural, CRL (COFAC)

Funding 573.499,95 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

573.499,95 €