Gamification of assembly planning in virtual environment

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of the gamification of virtual assembly planning on the user performance, user experience and engagement. / Design/methodology/approach: A multi-touch table was used to manipulate virtual parts and gamification features were integrated into the virtual assembly environment. An experiment was conducted in two conditions: a gamified and a non-gamified virtual environment. Subjects had to assemble a virtual pump. The user performance was evaluated in terms of the number of errors, the feasibility of the generated assembly sequence and the user feedback. / Findings: The gamification reduced the number of errors and increased the score representing the number of right decisions. The results of the subjective and objective analysis showed that the number of errors decreased with engagement in the gamified assembly. The increase in the overall user experience reduced the number of errors. The subjective evaluation showed a significant difference between the gamified and the non-gamified assembly in terms of the level of engagement, the learning usability and the overall experience. / Research limitations/implications: The effective learning retention after training has not been tested, and longitudinal studies are necessary. The effect of the used gamification elements has been evaluated as a whole; further work could isolate the most beneficial features and add other elements that might be more beneficial for learning. / Originality/value: The research reported in this paper provides valuable insights into the gamification of virtual assembly using a low-cost multi-touch interface. The results are promising for training operators to assemble a product at the design stage

Transdisciplinary Literature Reviews and Research-based Practice for Designing an Original Novella and Original Prisoner’s Dilemma Model with an Ending to Criminal Motivations and the Selfish Binary

This original Creative Writing transdisciplinary hybrid exegesis-thesis ('thesis') and study, was produced as content for developing a highly original science fiction novella that critically 'deluminates' the Prisoner’s Dilemma and Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma models (the 'PD models') and legal system assumptions. Research structures, processes and techniques relevant to this researcher’s research questions are thoroughly investigated. Structural transdisciplinary inquiry and disciplinary literature review methods are deconstructed and applied. The Research-based Practice research and literature review method developed herein, is a highly portable and creative method applicable to traditional research frameworks, enabled the researcher to incorporate divergent knowledges and creatively fuse them within a transdisciplinary framework. The knowledge produced critically deluminates the PD models. Research-based Practice is built upon the researcher’s grounded theory derivation of Aristotle Knowledge Development Theory, and likewise, Practice Research Theory. Examining the PD models through broad and specific knowledge angles and differing research lenses enabled the researcher to deconstruct them and their real life contributions for the purposes of examining their broader implications in an original novella 'factoring' the PD models, an original PD model and this original thesis content. Creative writing disciplinary ('Creative Writing') researchers are found to contribute towards multiple disciplinary debates. They efficiently apply multiple disciplinary research in creative texts examining the broad implications of a change in society, effectively testing the strengths and weakness of existing research and their own research. Creative Writing researchers expressly or impliedly examine solutions to problems. 'Knowing', mediated through knowledge, multi-sensory data and their embodiment, is the highest and most fundamental form of knowledge used by Creative Writing researchers and claimed by the researcher and applies across all research products. Four Creative Writing researchers’ works are explored. They are found to varying degrees to reject real-life legal system models and assumptions, and two explicitly reject the PD models’ assumptions. No new legal system model was proposed, however. This researcher goes further by applying knowledge generated in this original thesis to develop an original 'legal system' PD model, the cultural impact of which is efficiently explored in the novella. This researcher finds terminal flaws existing with the PD models’ binary legal system and real-life assumptions. The PD models contain selfish binary parties and strongly motivate a 'tough-on-crime' legal culture towards 'alleged' offenders and grossly affect, limit and dispense with crucial real-life decision-making information. The PD models press towards imprisonment! The psychology applied in the PD models, the payoffs and prison focus are found to be examples of economic violence and includes workplace violence. The emphasis on interrogation confessions has resulted in the PD models’ imprisonment focus and is found to motivate 'cultures of imprisonment', trauma and suffering as evidenced in the PD models’ symbols. The PD models’ motivations are shown to result in younger people making false confessions, being wrongfully convicted and experiencing fatal retributions. The PD interrogations and prison motivations result in significant justice and workforce participation costs, increase civil unrest and increase crime. Notwithstanding these finding, the researcher considers it necessary to create an original new PD model due to the potential benefits of positive 'economic morality'. These findings had profound implications for the researcher’s development of the original novella. This study highlights that not only mathematical modellers, but also science fiction and crime writers should engage with and reflect on multiple disciplinary knowledges and expertise prior to forming mathematical or creative writing models. In addition, mathematicians and writers should engage with non-binary theory and narratives to limit binary harms. This research adds to Creative Writing research regarding non-linear geometric writing through the development of a new formulaic, 2-dimensional geometric and narrative original PD model, designed for real-world applications especially eradicating or reducing crime. The original novella, PD model and thesis hold the potential to eliminate or reduce binary thinking and harms. The PD models, and a cultural shift towards the non-binary original PD model, are explored in the novella’s cultural world. The shift from a binary to a new complex non-binary society is addressed through the original PD model’s 'overbearing influences' factors. Other binary thinking is identified and explored in the novella, including within the sciences for science fiction purposes. The researcher found it necessary to conduct 'science fiction' research experiments and found key Einstein and Darwin theories contained 'harmful myths' of reality. Binary mythologies evident across society, including structural, social and religious binaries, are investigated in the original novella. Mythologised cultural binaries are fundamentally deconstructed by the researcher, which has the effect of dramatically improving human experience of 'society'

Exploring the application of computer game theory to automated assembly

This paper presents a method for automatic mechanical part assembly planning based on innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology from games. The dynamic topological graph for the planning is generated using a heuristic search method based on characteristic information of each part. A prototype system has been developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the method. During the procedure, users are able to interact with the system due to the dynamic characteristics of the method