Gamification at Work: Employee Motivations to Participate and Preference for Energy Conservation

Energy wastage, especially in public buildings, is one of the widely acknowledged issues that have to be addressed towards protecting the environment. Furthermore, affecting the occupants’ behaviour has been identified in the literature as an under-investigated means of conserving energy. In this research paper we report on the results from an investigation we conducted in three different workplaces, situated in different EU countries. In a survey of N=119 employees, we explore Employee Motivations to Participate in Gamification at work (EMPG) and identify the needs for (i)Self- Actualisation, (ii)Self-Regulation, (iii)Rewards & Recognition and (iv)Affiliation as most prominent. Additionally we examine the employees’ profiles, specific needs and preferences in game elements, towards participating in gamification aimed at conserving energy at the workplace. Correlations of the four types of EMPG with basic game elements and energy-saving actions at work are consequently explored and discussed. Ultimately, taking into consideration employees’ motivations and preferences, we derive and propose design guidelines for gamified applications providing personalised feedback towards saving energy at work

Power Consumption Analysis, Measurement, Management, and Issues:A State-of-the-Art Review of Smartphone Battery and Energy Usage

The advancement and popularity of smartphones have made it an essential and all-purpose device. But lack of advancement in battery technology has held back its optimum potential. Therefore, considering its scarcity, optimal use and efficient management of energy are crucial in a smartphone. For that, a fair understanding of a smartphone's energy consumption factors is necessary for both users and device manufacturers, along with other stakeholders in the smartphone ecosystem. It is important to assess how much of the device's energy is consumed by which components and under what circumstances. This paper provides a generalized, but detailed analysis of the power consumption causes (internal and external) of a smartphone and also offers suggestive measures to minimize the consumption for each factor. The main contribution of this paper is four comprehensive literature reviews on: 1) smartphone's power consumption assessment and estimation (including power consumption analysis and modelling); 2) power consumption management for smartphones (including energy-saving methods and techniques); 3) state-of-the-art of the research and commercial developments of smartphone batteries (including alternative power sources); and 4) mitigating the hazardous issues of smartphones' batteries (with a details explanation of the issues). The research works are further subcategorized based on different research and solution approaches. A good number of recent empirical research works are considered for this comprehensive review, and each of them is succinctly analysed and discussed

Virtual creation - Architectural design with virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) shows promise as an important tool for architecture and design. Recent advancements in the technology are evolving the ways in which the tool is being implemented in the design field. There is a need to research the use of VR in design industry. The thesis aims to illustrate the possible uses of this new technology by answering the research question of how can virtual reality help designers to improve the design process. The use of virtual reality is examined in detail with qualitative research methods, interviews and observation, and as a tool in a creative process. The hypothesis of the study is that virtual reality is a valuable architectural design tool which improves the efficiency and quality of the design work while also effectively aiding clients, constructors, and fellow designers in understanding the creative vision of design work through all phases of a project. This study identifies that virtual reality can be utilized in all design phases, reducing risks and saving time and money in design projects. VR is helping to make design decisions, discover design mistakes, comprehend the relations of the spaces and allow designers to prototype their designs in full scale. Virtual reality provides a new tool for designers to express, reflect, represent, market and sell their designs. The outcome of the thesis outlines the process of using VR as a design tool and utilizes the knowledge in the creative process. The creative process of the thesis was created by designing three modular prefabricated houses by utilizing virtual reality as a design tool in the design development phase. Overall, the study strengthens the hypothesis that the use of virtual reality improves the design process and collaboration between clients, designers and the project team. Several challenges, however, can impact the use of VR such as motion sickness, organizational issues and lack of control. Although adopting new technologies such as VR can cause uncertainty and disruptions in the industry, it can also diversify the work opportunities for designers. Future research should focus on overall adoption rates of VR in architecture. In addition, more knowledge is needed on the design phases using VR in wider contexts as well as collaboration of the project team.Virtuaalitodellisuus (VR) nähdään lupaavana työkaluna suunnittelussa. Teknologian kehittyminen on parantanut työkalun hyödyntämismahdollisuuksia arkkitehtuuristen tilojen suunnittelussa. Opinnäytetyöni vastaa tarpeeseen selvittää uuden teknologian mahdollisuuksia suunnittelussa. Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena on selvittää kuinka virtuaalitodellisuus voi auttaa suunnittelijoita parantamaan suunnitteluprosessia. Tutkin virtuaalitodellisuuden käyttöä kvalitatiivisilla tutkimusmenetelmillä, haastatteluilla ja havainnoinnilla, sekä luovan prosessin välineenä. Tutkimuksen hypoteesi on, että virtuaalitodellisuus on arvokas arkkitehtoninen suunnittelutyökalu, joka parantaa suunnittelijoiden, rakentajien ja asiakkaiden ymmärrystä sekä projektin laatua kaikkien suunnitteluvaiheiden aikana. Tutkimuksessa todetaan, että virtuaalitodellisuutta hyödynnetään kaikissa suunnitteluvaiheissa, se säästää rahaa ja aikaa sekä vähentää riskejä. Virtuaalitodellisuus tehostaa suunnittelua ja auttaa tekemään päätöksiä, löytämään virheitä, ymmärtämään tilojen suhteita ja testaamaan prototyyppiä sen luonnollisessa mittakaavassa. Virtuaalitodellisuudesta on tullut uusi työkalu suunnitelmien ilmaisuun, esitykseen, markkinointiin ja myyntiin. Opinnäytetyössä kuvataan virtuaalitodellisuutta suunnittelun työkaluna ja hyödynnetään informaatiota tutkimuksen luovassa osuudessa. Luova osuus kuvastaa kolmen modulaarisen esivalmistetun talon suunnitteluprosessia, jossa hyödynnetään virtuaalitodellisuutta suunnittelun tukena. Tutkimus vahvistaa hypoteesia siitä, että virtuaalitodellisuuden käyttö parantaa suunnitteluprosessia ja yhteistyötä asiakkaiden, suunnittelijoiden ja projektiryhmän välillä. Virtuaalitodellisuuden käyttöön voivat vaikuttaa monet haasteet, kuten esimerkiksi pahoinvointi, organisaation adoptoinnin haasteet ja VR kokemuksen kontrolloinnin vaikeudet. Vaikka uuden teknologian käyttöönotto voi aiheuttaa epävarmuutta ja häiriöitä, se voi myös monipuolistaa suunnittelijoiden työmahdollisuuksia. Tutkimuksen tulosten pohjalta suositellaan tutkimustiedon kartoittamista VR:n käytön määrästä tilasuunnittelussa. Laaja-alaisempaa lisätietoa tarvitaan myös suunnitteluvaiheiden ja projektiryhmän yhteistyön helpottumisesta virtuaalitodellisuuden avulla

Spinoff 2013

Topics covered include: Innovative Software Tools Measure Behavioral Alertness; Miniaturized, Portable Sensors Monitor Metabolic Health; Patient Simulators Train Emergency Caregivers; Solar Refrigerators Store Life-Saving Vaccines; Monitors Enable Medication Management in Patients' Homes; Handheld Diagnostic Device Delivers Quick Medical Readings; Experiments Result in Safer, Spin-Resistant Aircraft; Interfaces Visualize Data for Airline Safety, Efficiency; Data Mining Tools Make Flights Safer, More Efficient; NASA Standards Inform Comfortable Car Seats; Heat Shield Paves the Way for Commercial Space; Air Systems Provide Life Support to Miners; Coatings Preserve Metal, Stone, Tile, and Concrete; Robots Spur Software That Lends a Hand; Cloud-Based Data Sharing Connects Emergency Managers; Catalytic Converters Maintain Air Quality in Mines; NASA-Enhanced Water Bottles Filter Water on the Go; Brainwave Monitoring Software Improves Distracted Minds; Thermal Materials Protect Priceless, Personal Keepsakes; Home Air Purifiers Eradicate Harmful Pathogens; Thermal Materials Drive Professional Apparel Line; Radiant Barriers Save Energy in Buildings; Open Source Initiative Powers Real-Time Data Streams; Shuttle Engine Designs Revolutionize Solar Power; Procedure-Authoring Tool Improves Safety on Oil Rigs; Satellite Data Aid Monitoring of Nation's Forests; Mars Technologies Spawn Durable Wind Turbines; Programs Visualize Earth and Space for Interactive Education; Processor Units Reduce Satellite Construction Costs; Software Accelerates Computing Time for Complex Math; Simulation Tools Prevent Signal Interference on Spacecraft; Software Simplifies the Sharing of Numerical Models; Virtual Machine Language Controls Remote Devices; Micro-Accelerometers Monitor Equipment Health; Reactors Save Energy, Costs for Hydrogen Production; Cameras Monitor Spacecraft Integrity to Prevent Failures; Testing Devices Garner Data on Insulation Performance; Smart Sensors Gather Information for Machine Diagnostics; Oxygen Sensors Monitor Bioreactors and Ensure Health and Safety; Vision Algorithms Catch Defects in Screen Displays; and Deformable Mirrors Capture Exoplanet Data, Reflect Lasers

Saving Energy in U.S. Transportation

This report focuses on energy use in U.S. transportation, which accounts for over 60 percent of U.S. oil consumption. The report attempts to put these opinions into context by examining the current status of the system and evaluating critical problems such as congestion, presenting forecasts of future energy use, making some pointed comparisons with European transportation, and describing and evaluating a range of options for saving energy

Designing the user experience of a spatiotemporal automated home heating system: a holistic design and implementation process

This research explores technological interventions to reduce energy use in the domestic sector, a notable contributor to the global energy footprint. In the UK elevated challenges associated with renovating an outdated, poorly performing housing stock render a search for alternatives to provide immediate energy saving at low cost. To solve this problem, this thesis takes a holistic design approach to designing and implementing a spatiotemporal heating solution, and aims to investigate experiences of comfort, thermal comfort concepts for automated home heating, users’ interactions and experiences of living with such a system in context, and the underlying utility of quasi-autonomous spatiotemporal home heating. The mixed-methods research process was employed to explore and answer four questions: 1) what is the context within which these home heating interfaces are used, 2) to what extent can spatiotemporal automated heating minimise energy use while providing thermal comfort, 3) how are different heating strategies experienced by users, and 4) How do visibility of feedback, and intelligibility affect the user experience related to understanding and control? Ideation techniques were used to explore the context within which the designs are used with regard to all factors and actors in play and resulted in a conceptual model of the context to be used as a UX design brief. This developed model used mismatches between users’ expectations and reality to indicate potential thermal comfort behaviour actions and mapped the factors within the home context that affected these mismatches. Potential user inclusion through participatory design provided stakeholder insight and interface designs concepts to be developed into prototypes. The results of a prototype probe study using these prototypes showed that intelligibility should not be an interface design goal in itself, but rather fit in with broader UX design agenda regarding data levels, context specificity, and timescales. Increased autonomy in the system was shown not to directly diminish the experience of control, but rather, control or the lack of originated from an alignment of expectations and reality. A quasi-autonomous spatiotemporal heating system design (including a novel heating control algorithm) was coupled with the design of a smartphone interface and the resultant system was deployed in a low-technology solution demonstrating the potential for academic studies to explore such automated systems in-situ in the intended environment over a long period of time. Assessment of the novel control algorithm in an emulated environment demonstrated its fitness for purpose in reducing the amount of energy required to provide adequate levels of thermal comfort (by a factor of seven compared with EnergyStar recommended settings for programmable thermostats), and that these savings can be increased by including occupants’ thermal preference as a variable in the control algorithm. Field deployment of that algorithm in a low-tech sensor-based heating system assessed the user experience of the automated heating system and its mobile application-based control interface, as well as demonstrated the user thermal comfort experience of two different heating strategies. The results highlighted the potential to utilise the lower energy-use “minimise discomfort” strategy without compromising user thermal comfort in comparison to a “maximise comfort” strategy. Diverse heating system use behaviours were also identified and conceptualised alongside users’ experiences in line with the developed conceptual model. A rich picture analysis of all previous findings was utilised to provide a model of the design space for home automated heating systems, and was used to draw interface design guidelines for a broader range of home automation control interfaces. The work presented here served as important first steps in demonstrating the importance of assessing UX of automated home heating systems in situ over elongated periods of time. Novel contributions of (i) conceptual model of automated systems’ domestic context and thermal comfort behaviours within, (ii) nudging this behaviour by selecting a “minimise discomfort” heating strategy over “maximise comfort”, (iii) using UX to influence user expectations and subsequently energy behaviour, and (iv) inclusion of thermal preference in domestic heating control algorithm were all resultant of examining naturally occurring behaviours in their natural setting. As such, they are important exploratory discoveries and require replication, but provide new research directions that would allow reduction of domestic energy use without compromise

Towards the “Perfect” Weather Warning

This book is about making weather warnings more effective in saving lives, property, infrastructure and livelihoods, but the underlying theme of the book is partnership. The book represents the warning process as a pathway linking observations to weather forecasts to hazard forecasts to socio-economic impact forecasts to warning messages to the protective decision, via a set of five bridges that cross the divides between the relevant organisations and areas of expertise. Each bridge represents the communication, translation and interpretation of information as it passes from one area of expertise to another and ultimately to the decision maker, who may be a professional or a member of the public. The authors explore the partnerships upon which each bridge is built, assess the expertise and skills that each partner brings and the challenges of communication between them, and discuss the structures and methods of working that build effective partnerships. The book is ordered according to the “first mile” paradigm in which the decision maker comes first, and then the production chain through the warning and forecast to the observations is considered second. This approach emphasizes the importance of co-design and co-production throughout the warning process. The book is targeted at professionals and trainee professionals with a role in the warning chain, i.e. in weather services, emergency management agencies, disaster risk reduction agencies, risk management sections of infrastructure agencies. This is an open access book

Designing the user experience of a spatiotemporal automated home heating system: a holistic design and implementation process

This research explores technological interventions to reduce energy use in the domestic sector, a notable contributor to the global energy footprint. In the UK elevated challenges associated with renovating an outdated, poorly performing housing stock render a search for alternatives to provide immediate energy saving at low cost. To solve this problem, this thesis takes a holistic design approach to designing and implementing a spatiotemporal heating solution, and aims to investigate experiences of comfort, thermal comfort concepts for automated home heating, users’ interactions and experiences of living with such a system in context, and the underlying utility of quasi-autonomous spatiotemporal home heating. The mixed-methods research process was employed to explore and answer four questions: 1) what is the context within which these home heating interfaces are used, 2) to what extent can spatiotemporal automated heating minimise energy use while providing thermal comfort, 3) how are different heating strategies experienced by users, and 4) How do visibility of feedback, and intelligibility affect the user experience related to understanding and control? Ideation techniques were used to explore the context within which the designs are used with regard to all factors and actors in play and resulted in a conceptual model of the context to be used as a UX design brief. This developed model used mismatches between users’ expectations and reality to indicate potential thermal comfort behaviour actions and mapped the factors within the home context that affected these mismatches. Potential user inclusion through participatory design provided stakeholder insight and interface designs concepts to be developed into prototypes. The results of a prototype probe study using these prototypes showed that intelligibility should not be an interface design goal in itself, but rather fit in with broader UX design agenda regarding data levels, context specificity, and timescales. Increased autonomy in the system was shown not to directly diminish the experience of control, but rather, control or the lack of originated from an alignment of expectations and reality. A quasi-autonomous spatiotemporal heating system design (including a novel heating control algorithm) was coupled with the design of a smartphone interface and the resultant system was deployed in a low-technology solution demonstrating the potential for academic studies to explore such automated systems in-situ in the intended environment over a long period of time. Assessment of the novel control algorithm in an emulated environment demonstrated its fitness for purpose in reducing the amount of energy required to provide adequate levels of thermal comfort (by a factor of seven compared with EnergyStar recommended settings for programmable thermostats), and that these savings can be increased by including occupants’ thermal preference as a variable in the control algorithm. Field deployment of that algorithm in a low-tech sensor-based heating system assessed the user experience of the automated heating system and its mobile application-based control interface, as well as demonstrated the user thermal comfort experience of two different heating strategies. The results highlighted the potential to utilise the lower energy-use “minimise discomfort” strategy without compromising user thermal comfort in comparison to a “maximise comfort” strategy. Diverse heating system use behaviours were also identified and conceptualised alongside users’ experiences in line with the developed conceptual model. A rich picture analysis of all previous findings was utilised to provide a model of the design space for home automated heating systems, and was used to draw interface design guidelines for a broader range of home automation control interfaces. The work presented here served as important first steps in demonstrating the importance of assessing UX of automated home heating systems in situ over elongated periods of time. Novel contributions of (i) conceptual model of automated systems’ domestic context and thermal comfort behaviours within, (ii) nudging this behaviour by selecting a “minimise discomfort” heating strategy over “maximise comfort”, (iii) using UX to influence user expectations and subsequently energy behaviour, and (iv) inclusion of thermal preference in domestic heating control algorithm were all resultant of examining naturally occurring behaviours in their natural setting. As such, they are important exploratory discoveries and require replication, but provide new research directions that would allow reduction of domestic energy use without compromise