Towards Multispecies Interaction Environments: Extending Accessibility to Canine Users

In this paper we discuss the role of mobility assistance dogs in human society and the challenges they face when operating in human environments. We present the findings of an ethnographic study at a training facility as well as the findings of early evaluations of canine-friendly switches. We discuss how the species-specific implementation of core interaction design principles could inform the design of interaction environments that better support these skilled workers

Design and implementation of a prototype active infrared sensor controlled automatic sliding door for mitigation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The door is an essential part of any structure that provides access and security of lives and properties. The manual operation of a door could be cumbersome and laborious when the traffic volume is high. Also, it has been observed that doors could serve as a medium of spreading the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Therefore, a prototype automatic sliding door that plays a crucial role in curbing the spread of this infectious diseases has been designed and implemented in this paper. The design of the prototype sliding door is in two parts namely; the structural part and the automation part. The structural design of the door was achieved using the Microsoft Visio 2016 while the design of the automation system was achieved using express printed circuit board. The implementation of the structural part was achieved using 1 inch particle board while the implementation of the automation system was based on the components like the active infrared sensor, resistors (10 kΩ), capacitor (1000 µF), transistors (TIP41 Q8, BC548 Q7), LED indicators, press button switch, pulley system, drive belt, stepper motor (IP65), and ATMEGA 8 microcontroller. The result of the tests carried out on the door showed that the prototype automatic sliding door was characterized by average opening time, closing time, delay time, and optimal sensing range of 3.10 s, 3.05 s, 5.72 s, and 23.5 cm, respectively. It can therefore be concluded from this work that the prototype automatic sliding door is effective in overriding the manual operation of the door

Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Agriculture

This document is part of a digital collection provided by the Martin P. Catherwood Library, ILR School, Cornell University, pertaining to the effects of globalization on the workplace worldwide. Special emphasis is placed on labor rights, working conditions, labor market changes, and union organizing.ILO_CodeofPracticeonSafetyandHealthinAgriculture.pdf: 159 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

A Holistic Work System Approach to Creating Flow During Transactional Work

Psychological flow is a positive mental state where one is so fully concentrated in a challenging task that self-consciousness falls away, time seems to stand still, and the reward is the experience of meeting the challenge. Previous research on flow in the workplace has been performed on how to create conditions to promote its occurrence in workers, to describe its attendant individual and organizational benefits, and to measure it through self-reported means and physiologically. Such research has been focused on creative endeavors (such as the arts, sports, medicine, teaching), where individuals have high agency over the execution of activities needed to successfully complete the work. This research focuses on flow in back-office transactional work, which has been little studied to date. Transactional work are those tasks that are largely rote, repetitive, and prescribed by standardized procedures, leaving little room for agentic options. Examples of such work include data entry and bookkeeping A theory is next discussed that offers the notion of a holistic system of non-task variables working together with job tasks to create conditions conducive to increasing the likelihood of transactional workers experiencing flow. Flow will next be compared to similar constructs and their relatedness to flow will be discussed. Various flow measurement methods will be presented, along with their advantages and disadvantages. These discussions set the stage for the present set of qualitative and quantitative research efforts, whose objective is to offer support for the holistic work system approach to creating flow. First, a phenomenological study of flow in transactional workers is presented, where their lived experiences of flow are documented and the extent to which certain non-task work system variables support the occurrence of flow. Next, a proof-of-concept laboratory experiment is reviewed, where seat comfort (a non-task work system factor) is shown to be a first-order influencer of flow in the study\u27s participants. Finally, the results of a designed experiment incorporating multiple non-task work system factors are presented and the interaction of high seat comfort and low computer screen contrast are shown to directly impact the occurrence of flow in that study\u27s participants. Flow is also shown to predict productivity improvements in participants when combined with high seat comfort and low computer screen contrast. Additionally, certain physiological functions thought to correlate to flow are selected and measured in the participants. Lower heart rate variation partially correlates to flow. The results are applicable to the design of holistic work systems in organizations employing back-office transactional workers. Recommendations for future research are presented that will strengthen and build on the current results

Digital sculpture : conceptually motivated sculptural models through the application of three-dimensional computer-aided design and additive fabrication technologies

Thesis (D. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 200

Interaction Design for Digital Musical Instruments

The thesis aims to elucidate the process of designing interactive systems for musical performance that combine software and hardware in an intuitive and elegant fashion. The original contribution to knowledge consists of: (1) a critical assessment of recent trends in digital musical instrument design, (2) a descriptive model of interaction design for the digital musician and (3) a highly customisable multi-touch performance system that was designed in accordance with the model. Digital musical instruments are composed of a separate control interface and a sound generation system that exchange information. When designing the way in which a digital musical instrument responds to the actions of a performer, we are creating a layer of interactive behaviour that is abstracted from the physical controls. Often, the structure of this layer depends heavily upon: 1. The accepted design conventions of the hardware in use 2. Established musical systems, acoustic or digital 3. The physical configuration of the hardware devices and the grouping of controls that such configuration suggests This thesis proposes an alternate way to approach the design of digital musical instrument behaviour – examining the implicit characteristics of its composite devices. When we separate the conversational ability of a particular sensor type from its hardware body, we can look in a new way at the actual communication tools at the heart of the device. We can subsequently combine these separate pieces using a series of generic interaction strategies in order to create rich interactive experiences that are not immediately obvious or directly inspired by the physical properties of the hardware. This research ultimately aims to enhance and clarify the existing toolkit of interaction design for the digital musician

Investigation of Lab-on-Spoon Low-Power Realization for Smart Kitchen and AAL Scenarios

The Institute of Integrated Sensor Systems (ISE) at Technische Universität Kaiserslautern researches the design and application of intelligent, environment-aware systems using integrated, adaptive electronics and sensors. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas König, chair or the ISE, started a research path focused on the automation and optimisation of cooking and food management, related to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AmI), Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) and general home automation. These research topics are part of the Smart Kitchen or Culinary Assistance Systems scenarios developed at ISE. Although nowadays almost all disciplines make use of technology, whether it is intensively or slightly, to enhance the performance or improve the results obtained during the course of an activity, cooking seems to be a practice anchored in the past. The main objective of Investigation of Lab-on-Spoon Low-Power Realization for Smart Kitchen and AAL Scenarios is to add an aid tool for cooking purposes using available resources, as well as serving as a record tool, introducing technology to the kitchen environment. The Lab-on-Spoon project seeks to be innovative and focus on being a low power consumption device. The scope of the overall project is too wide for single study. It is, consequently, divided in smaller portions of work, each one focusing on certain topics, to be handled and studied by several investigators. This thesis corresponds to the first stage of the development of the project, consisting in an exhaustive study of the fitting sensors, a focus on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and how to perform it while respecting the power consumption limitations, and a communication protocol to achieve data transfer between the microprocessor and the chip performing the impedance spectroscopy sweep.Outgoin