In response to labour shortages in the construction industry, the deployment of construction collaborative robots (CCRs) has become urgent. This study explored the factors impacting the acceptance of CCRs amongst construction workers. A theoretical model was formulated by integrating the technology acceptance model, initial trust, risk perception-safety (RP-S), risk perception-privacy (RP-Pr) and risk perception-performance (RP-Pe). The proposed model’s validity was validated with data gathered from 304 construction workers. The results indicated that RP-S and RP-Pe exerted a negative impact on initial trust, while PU produced a positive impact on initial trust. Initial trust, PU and PEOU positively influenced construction workers’ attitudes towards the use of CCRs, with initial trust identified as the most critical determining factor. PU and construction workers’ attitudes towards the use of CCRs positively influenced behavioural intentions. This research offered practical recommendations to promote the adoption of CCRs by construction workers for improving construction efficiency and safety.

Miscommunications between air traffic controllers (ATCOs) and pilots can lead to severe accidents, making accurate readback verification essential. Audio-visual interaction, namely generative subtitles, is expected to enhance readback verification by providing redundant information. However, this redundancy may also increase ATCOs’ cognitive workload and challenge their working memory capacity. This study investigated the effect of subtitles on readback performance and cognitive workload across different working memory capacities. A simulated verification task based on ATCO task analysis was employed, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy with eye-tracking was analyzed to assess subtitles’ effects. Results showed that subtitles improved readback performance across working memory groups without increasing cognitive workload. Oxygenated hemoglobin deactivation in frontal, parietal, and occipital regions indicated more efficient cognitive processing, and higher blink rates among high working memory participants suggested reduced cognitive load. This study deepens understanding of audio-visual interaction and offers practical insights for enhancing ATCO–pilot communication.

Highly automated vehicles (level 4) will be launched soon. This study explored factors affecting the acceptance of level 4 automated vehicles (AV) amongst the public. The technology acceptance model (TAM), technology anxiety (TA), social influence (SI), facilitating condition (FC) and trust (TR) were integrated to develop a level 4 AV acceptance model. A web-based questionnaire was used for data collection from 693 Chinese participants. Structural equation modelling was utilized to analyze the collected data. The results showed that TAM is applicable to explain level 4 AV acceptance amongst the public. The effects of FC on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness (PU) are positive. TA negatively influences PU. SI positively influences PU and behavioural intention to use AVs. TR positively influences attitude towards using AVs and is positively determined by PU. Based on the results, some practical implications for increasing the use of level 4 AVs amongst the public were provided.

Virtual reality (VR) interventions have become a promising therapeutic modality to improve the prevalent mental health problems among college students. Despite the growing evidence, a comprehensive meta-analysis is absent. To evaluate the effectiveness of VR interventions on anxiety, stress, and negative emotions in college students, a meta-analysis was conducted. Sixteen randomized controlled trials published between 2014 and 2023 with 46 records and 1022 participants were analyzed. Significant VR intervention effects on anxiety (Hedge’s g = 0.492, p < 0.001), stress (Hedge’s g = 0.344, p = 0.028), and negative emotions (Hedge’s g = 0.461, p = 0.001) among college students were found. The meta-regression analysis revealed that the number of sessions, intervention type, and mean age significantly moderated the effect size. This study offered initial empirical evidence of VR interventions’ effectiveness in reducing anxiety, stress, and negative emotions in college students. Future research directions and methodological suggestions are proposed.

Level 2 automated vehicles (AVs) have been commercially available for years, yet the extent to which drivers are cognizant of their capabilities and limitations remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the public’s mental model of Level 2 AVs and investigate the relationships between mental model, trust, and reliance. Moreover, it sought to explore driver heterogeneity through cluster analysis to identify typical driver classes. Employing Tesla Autopilot as a representative Level 2 automation system, we designed a questionnaire measuring mental model from three dimensions: functional condition, sensorimotor preparation, and automation monitoring. This questionnaire was administered to both Tesla Autopilot owners (N = 357) and non-owners (N = 357). The results showed that, on average, drivers possessed an inadequate mental model regarding Level 2 AVs, and those with a relatively better mental model exhibited lower levels of trust and reliance. Owning a Level 2 AV did not result in a better understanding of the system, but it led to a higher trust level. Moreover, the results suggested that drivers’ trust and reliance in AVs tended to increase within the initial 6 months of usage and then kept stabilized after that. Through cluster analysis, we identified three distinct driver classes that exhibited significant differences in their mental model levels and attitudes towards AVs: Class 1 (blurred positive), Class 2 (sober neutral), and Class 3 (cautiously positive). This further validates the presence of heterogeneity among drivers. The insights gained from this study can serve as a valuable resource for supporting and guiding the development and implementation of training programs aimed at enhancing drivers’ comprehension of Level 2 AVs.

Telecare has the potential to tackle emerging problems in public healthcare resulting from the graying of population. This study aims to investigate the personal, social and regulatory factors associated with the telecare acceptance for older adults in Hong Kong. A structured questionnaire survey was administered to 110 seniors aged 60–80 years. The results revealed that older people prefer to use the products that they are familiar with. Seniors of very poor economic status are likely to use telecare service. Family and friends support, self-satisfaction, and social relationship are critical factors which positively influence telecare usage of older adults via influencing their perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Regulatory factor of perceived incentives positively associates with the attitude of older people toward telecare service, and in turn facilitates telecare usage. This is the first study which stressed that public regulations, such as incentive interventions, should be emphasized in promoting telecare acceptance.