Dra. Kryscia Ramírez Benavides

Oficina: 247
Casillero: 58
Oficina: 247
Casillero: 58
2013-2016 Universidad de Costa Rica, San José.
2003-2008 Universidad de Costa Rica, San José.
1999-2003 Universidad de Costa Rica, San José.
2010-Actual Administración del Sistema de Intermediación de Empleo Estudiantil del COVO, y atención a las diferentes ofertas de empleo que llegan a la Escuela.
2013-Actual Investigadora principal en el Proyecto No. 834-B3-260: Creación de un entorno de programación en dispositivos móviles orientado a niños entre 4 y 6 años que permita programar aplicaciones para robots. Centro de Investigaciones en Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación – Escuela de Ciencias de la Computación e Informática (CITIC-ECCI), Universidad de Costa Rica. URL: http://www.citic.ucr.ac.cr/proyecto/programacion-ninos.
2013-Actual Profesora de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Computación e Informática, Universidad de Costa Rica.
2015 Actualmente realizando la Pasantía en el Extranjero en la Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) - Campus Araranguá, SC, Brasil, con el Prof. Juarez Bento Da Silva. La pasantía forma parte del Doctorado en Computación e Informática del Programa de Posgrado en Computación e Informática (PCI), Universidad de Costa Rica.
2016 Actualmente profesora del curso Estructuras Discretas y Robótica. Escuela de Ciencias de la Computación e Informática, Universidad de Costa Rica.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: Learning and Collaboration Technologies. Technology in Education
Tipo de publicación: Journal Article
Publicado en: Mobile Information Systems
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality
Descripción:
One of the basic requirements in education is to prepare students for participation in an information society in which knowledge will be the most important resource for development. ComputerSupported Collaborative Learning is one of the most promising approaches to enhance the learning process with the help of information and communication technology. At the same time, advances in technology and mobile devices in the last decade have increased the number of educational institutions adopting mobile tools in the learning process. This paper describes the design and implementation of a protocol for a collaborative mobile application. TITIBOTS Colab is a programming environment for kids between 4 and 6 years old. During the implementation of TITIBOTS Colab, while creating a working version of the protocol, our team found that all messages defined in the design worked properly in order to provide the communication rules for the client and server applications.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality
Tipo de publicación: Journal Article
Publicado en: IEEE Revista Iberoamericana de Tecnologias del Aprendizaje
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: Conferencia Internacional GUIDE
Tipo de publicación: Journal Article
Publicado en: VAEP-RITA
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: Programación de robots para niños de la primera infancia con edades comprendidas entre 4-6 años
Descripción:
Robotics, combined with computer science and human-centered studies, can have a substantial impact in areas such as education and innovation. Robots have proven to be a good tool to gain and maintain users’ involvement in different activities. In education, robots can be used as teaching assistants to improve participation, enhance concentration or just to get students’ attention. In this research, we involved an NAO, a humanoid robot, in a workshop presentation with the aim of measuring the impact of this technique on the level of engagement showed by the participants. The robot was programmed to simulate speech and gesticulate while it talked to apply the Wizard of Oz technique.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing
Descripción:
A non-humanoid robot is used to assist in an educational workshop of Quality Assurance and DevOps. The goal of this research was to determine the level of engagement shown by students of computer science in a presentation conducted by a University professor and assisted by a robot. The robot interaction was based on the Wizard of Oz technique. The order of actions between the professor and the robot was scripted and practiced before the workshop. After the workshop, a survey was conducted to assess the students’ perception towards robot’s shape, size, behavior and, performance. The survey also included the Godspeed Questionnaire Series to measure participant’s perception of the robot and its effectiveness as an educational assistant. The results revealed the participants considered the robot featured personalized cognitive skills and exhibited an acceptable integration in the workshop.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing
Descripción:
This research described the utilization of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to evaluate a high-level interactive scenario of using Nao Robot in the role of co-presenting in an educative context. Describing the registered result of construct such as Intention of Use, Perceived Enjoyment (PE), Perceived Sociability (PS), and Trust.
The study also describes the process of elaboration of this interaction. Multiple User-Centered Design techniques applied to the Human Interaction Robot field. Also, describes how the interaction of the robot with the participant was accomplished by using Wizard of Oz techniques.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Descripción:
It is very common to interact with notifications every day with our mobile devices. Notifications have advantages and disadvantages. They bring information for the user, but they are also interruptions. In this study, the authors provide a solution for scheduling events through notifications. They created an application using the Google Calendar platform and the Swift programming language to respond to events through notifications. Then, the participants evaluated the application through the usability scale of the system (SUS), and the results were positive. The authors received excellent comments and feedback from the participants in the evaluation.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: 2019 IV Jornadas Costarricenses de Investigación en Computación e Informática (JoCICI)
Descripción:
Human interactions are affected by society's norms and cultural criteria. Individuals expect certain behaviors from other people, who have an obligation to act according to the expected behavior in the cultural and social context that surrounds them. Giving robots the ability to interact with humans, in human terms, is a great open challenge. People are willing to accept robotic systems in everyday life when robots engage in socially desirable (correct) behaviors with benevolent interaction styles (safe physical interaction). In addition, allowing robots to reason in social situations, involves a set of social norms that generate expectations, which can improve the dynamics of interactions between humans and robots, and the processes of selfassessment of robot behavior. In this article, we present a set of requirements for a more secure and socially correct physical interaction the robot with people, which is dependent on cultural criteria.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: 2019 IV Jornadas Costarricenses de Investigación en Computación e Informática (JoCICI)
Descripción:
By using techniques such as the Wizard of Oz (WoZ) and video capture, this paper evaluated the performance of the Nao Robot in the role of a personal assistant, which was valuated alongside the impact of the assigned gender (male/female) in the perceived performance of the robot assistant. Within a sample size of 39 computer sciences students, this study assessed criteria such as: perceived enjoyment, intention to use, perceived sociability, trust, intelligence, animacy, anthropomorphism, and sympathy, utilizing testing tools such as Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Godspeed Questionnaire (GSQ). These methods identified a significant effect of the gender assigned to the robot in variables such as intelligence and sympathy.
Tipo de publicación: Journal Article
Publicado en: Proceedings
Descripción:
The article presents the main robotic trends linked to the publications of the institutional repositories of the five main Costa Rican public universities: Tecnológico de Costa Rica, University of Costa Rica, National University, State Distance University, and National Technical University. The publications were obtained after using the keyword ‘robotics’ in the search engines of each repository. This procedure generated 241 results, of which only 55 were relevant, according to the application of five selection criteria. The analysis of the publications involved the categorization of nine general variables and the counting of their frequencies. The results obtained indicate that the publications cover a period of 14 years, in which male participation predominates and the presence of the Tecnológico de Costa Rica and the University of Costa Rica. The main robotic fields detected correspond to educational, autonomous, and industrial robotics.
Tipo de publicación: Book Chapter
Publicado en: Advances in Human Factors in Robots, Unmanned Systems and Cybersecurity
Descripción:
Due to the measures imposed to prevent the spread of the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic, how education and work communications are carried have changed. An increase in video conferencing and meeting applications is noticeable. In this research paper, we describe the results of a user experience evaluation of three widely used platforms: Discord, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. Through the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) application, it was determined that Discord is better in aspects not related to tasks and provides an above-average UX. On the other hand, zoom excels when it comes to tasks, but in conjunction with Microsoft Teams, it delivers below-average UX.
Tipo de publicación: Book Chapter
Publicado en: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Descripción:
This paper proposes the evaluation of the local and remote interaction of a Pepper Robot and a human presenter answering questions from high-school students at the Universidad de Costa Rica’s vocational fair. The interactions were presented in two: 1) a group interacted locally in the same room 2) a group interacted remotely via online meeting. Within a sample of 18 Costa Rican high-school students, this study assessed criteria such as: perceived enjoyment, intention to use, perceived sociability, trust, intelligence, animacy, anthropomorphism, and sympathy, utilizing testing tools such as Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Godspeed Questionnaire (GSQ). These instruments identified significant differences during the interaction in the perceived sociability and anthropomorphism in both scenarios. Suggesting different relevant information regarding the perception of the interaction with the robot and perception of the robot itself in both cases.
Tipo de publicación: Book Chapter
Publicado en: Human-Computer Interaction. Technological Innovation
Descripción:
Smart buildings provide a variety of sensor-based services to support and enhance the quality of human activities. Advanced technologies such as robotics are increasingly added to smart buildings’ ecosystems, creating a need to incorporate affective computing techniques to augment the quality of human-building, and human-robot interactions. To better understand user’s needs and expectations about human-building interactions, we conducted a pilot study using a mixed methods approach combining short surveys and controlled laboratory activities. We recruited 66 participants and collected several data elements characterizing their perceptions and expectations about smart building services. This paper presents preliminary evidence showing acceptance of specific human-building interaction methods based on ambient-sensors information such as in-context voice, behavior, and emotion, recognition. We also identified a need for educational activities to promote the understanding of smart building concepts and their impact in modern society. These results can be leveraged to assist the design of future services that include human-building and human-robot interactions.
Tipo de publicación: Book Chapter
Publicado en: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing & Ambient Intelligence (UCAmI 2023)
Descripción:
The AttrakDiff questionnaire is a widely used instrument for measuring User Experience. However, a Spanish version of the questionnaire has yet to be validated. This represents a significant limitation, given the importance of the Spanish-speaking community. This study aims to translate and validate AttrakDiff to Spanish. Several techniques for translation were used, and the results were joined in a translation proposal. The translated version was evaluated in two scenarios. First, an evaluation with 200 + participants to assess the translation proposal. Second, an evaluation of three systems to perform a factorial analysis and determine the correlations between questions of the same dimension. The results of this study will contribute to the advancement of UX research and practice in the Spanish-speaking context and provide a valuable tool for practitioners and researchers who work with Spanish-speaking users.
Tipo de publicación: Book Chapter
Publicado en: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing & Ambient Intelligence (UCAmI 2023)
Descripción:
The following literature review aims to identify platforms related to usability evaluation, user experience, and accessibility in health studies, to outline essential elements for consideration in developing, implementing and assessing of eHealth applications. After retrieving studies, 38 studies related to health and mobile Health (mHealth) were found, involving 1611 users in evaluating and validating sites or applications. Among the results obtained, 54% of the responses referred to user experience (UX), 44% to usability, and 2% to accessibility, indicating that this area presents an opportunity for further studies.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: 2024 IEEE VII Congreso Internacional en Inteligencia Ambiental, Ingeniería de Software y Salud Electrónica y Móvil (AmITIC)
Descripción:
This systematic review depicts potential uses, tools, and strategies to enhance programming learning in university students pursuing technology-related fields like systems engineering or computer science. The review explores the technical aspects, including types of tools, programs, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) specifications proposed for technology-based university programs. A total of 113 records from 2018 to 2023 were analyzed from IEEE Xplore database, with 41 records meeting the inclusion criteria based on language, document completeness, and the use of AI in higher education, A study published in Dialnet on the experience of a Costa Rican distance learning university is also included. The study highlights that AI support in higher education is utilized in academic performance prediction systems, evaluation and personalization of the learning process, and data analytics. The conclusions emphasize the importance of ethically and responsibly integrating technological tools for AI in education, as well as reevaluating the role of educators and pedagogical mediation strategies.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: JoCICI 2023: IV Jornadas Costarricenses de Investigación en Computación e Informática (JoCICI)
Descripción:
Thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, causes abnormal hemoglobin production—alpha- and beta-thalassemia are its variants. This leads to decreased hemoglobin levels and accounted for 16,800 deaths in 2015, affecting 1.5% of the global population. Diagnosis involves blood tests and genetic screening, but many severe cases go undiagnosed due to limited registries and screening, resulting in high mortality. Our work suggests using gene expression profiling and machine learning to identify biomarkers for thalassemia. Using an Isolation Forest algorithm, we found 72 anomalous genes. Validation showed significant terms like cytoplasmic translation and apoptosis, indicating potential pathways for thalassemia. We also found genes related to iron homeostasis, linking oxidative stress and apoptosis to thalassemia. Comparing with another study, we found common processes. Five genes identified in AmiGO are up-regulated in thalassemia and could be biomarkers due to their abnormal expression and biological role. This highlights the potential of machine learning in refining diagnosis and understanding molecular pathways for better patient management, calling for further research.
Tipo de publicación: Book Chapter
Publicado en: ICT for Intelligent Systems
Descripción:
Este estudio examina el uso de Inteligencia Artificial en la enseñanza de programación en Informática Educativa. Se aplicó un cuestionario a 70 de 126 estudiantes del III cuatrimestre del 2023, logrando un 92% de confianza y un 8% de error. El Análisis Exploratorio de Datos reveló que grupos de 18-25 y 26-33 años tienen baja dispersión, mientras que los mayores de 50 muestran la menor variabilidad. Los cursos “Introducción a la lógica” y “Programación I” tienen alta dispersión, mientras que “Programación II” muestra menor variabilidad. El modelo estadístico general es significativo, respaldando la relevancia de IA en la enseñanza de programación.
Tipo de publicación: Miscellaneous
Descripción:
Malicious URLs are constantly used for phishing, malware distribution and other illegal activities. Because benign URLs are needed for the Internet to function, malicious URLs are hard to block. While several works have focused on offline classification of malicious URLs, real-time detection still needs to be investigated. This paper evaluates the performance of real-time malicious URL detection using two techniques: blacklist methods and machine learning methods, deployed in both local and cloud environments. The study highlights significant differences in latency and connection failure rates under various load conditions, providing insights into the strengths and limitations of each approach. The blacklist method consistently demonstrates lower latency, making it suitable for scenarios requiring quick response times, though its stability may be compromised under high loads in a local setup. In contrast, the machine learning method offers advanced detection capabilities but exhibits higher latency, particularly in local environments, due to its resource-intensive nature. The cloud environment mitigates some latency issues but still lags behind the blacklist method in terms of speed. The findings emphasize that most latency stems from the verification process, with the local environment requiring significant optimization to reduce delays. The study concludes that implementing a proxy for real-time URL detection is viable, especially in cloud environments, where resource management can better handle increased demand.
Tipo de publicación: Conference Paper
Publicado en: 2024 IEEE Latin-American Conference on Communications (LATINCOM)
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