Luminus, vol. 16, no. 02 (Spring 1990)

Luminus is the alumni magazine of Memorial University of Newfoundland, begun in 1971

Magiken i tekniken : En fråga om tillit när tingen börjar tala

This study is about our approach to new technology in general and the Internet of things in particular. What does it require regarding trust from our side, in order for Internet of Things (IoT) to work? What risks are associated with the use of IoT? How should we handle the fact that mindless objects will talk to each other about all we do and then mediate this? In order to get answers to the reasoning about these issues, the study examines thoughts, attitudes and approaches to technology through qualitative interviews with a total of 19 people. Using theories of societal development and change, as well as literature on the Internet of things and the risks of the Internet, the study analyzes what thoughts are present and how these are important to gain an understanding of how the IoT will affect society. The interview study reveals some clear dimensions, according to which the thesis is divided. These are “security, trust and risk”, “private or public”, “control without control” and “magic in technology”. The result shows that the Internet of things requires far-reaching trust, which respondents do not think about in everyday life. Even more of our intimate behaviour are also mediated in a way that it has never been before. The study also shows that there is both an automatic, unconscious use and an addiction in the utilize of the technical gadgets, as well as a clear magic element.Denna studie handlar om vårt förhållningssätt till ny teknik i allmänhet och Internet of things i synnerhet. Vad ställer det för krav på tillit från vår sida, för att Internet of things (IoT) ska fungera? Vilka risker är förenade med användning av IoT? Hur ska vi hantera det faktum att själlösa föremål kommer att prata med varandra om allt vi företar oss och sedan mediera detta? För att får svar på hur människor resonerar kring dessa frågor undersöks i studien tankar, attityder och förhållningssätt till tekniken, genom kvalitativa intervjuer med totalt 19 personer. Med hjälp av teorier om samhällets utveckling och förändring, samt litteratur både om Internet of things och riskerna med internet, analyseras vilka tankesätt som finns och hur dessa är viktiga för att få en förståelse för hur IoT kommer att påverka samhället. I intervju-studien framkommer några tydliga dimensioner, utefter vilka uppsatsen är uppdelad. Dessa är ”trygghet, tillit och risk”, ”privat eller offentligt”, ”kontroll utan kontroll” samt ”magiken i tekniken”. Resultatet visar att Internet of things kräver en långtgående tillit, som respondenterna inte tänker på i vardagen. Allt mer av våra intima göromål medieras också på ett sätt som aldrig tidigare har förekommit. Studien visar dessutom att det finns både en automatik och ett beroende i användningen av de tekniska prylarna, liksom även ett tydligt inslag av magi

Practical, appropriate, empirically-validated guidelines for designing educational games

There has recently been a great deal of interest in the potential of computer games to function as innovative educational tools. However, there is very little evidence of games fulfilling that potential. Indeed, the process of merging the disparate goals of education and games design appears problematic, and there are currently no practical guidelines for how to do so in a coherent manner. In this paper, we describe the successful, empirically validated teaching methods developed by behavioural psychologists and point out how they are uniquely suited to take advantage of the benefits that games offer to education. We conclude by proposing some practical steps for designing educational games, based on the techniques of Applied Behaviour Analysis. It is intended that this paper can both focus educational games designers on the features of games that are genuinely useful for education, and also introduce a successful form of teaching that this audience may not yet be familiar with

7.1 10th Anniversary – Part One

Rampike Vol. 7 / No. 1 (10th Anniversary issue – Part One): Pierre-Andre Arcand, Shaunt Basmajian, Linda Hutcheon, Ann Noel, Robert Kroetsch, Jurgen O. Olbrich, Paul Auster, David Donnell, La Society de Conservation du Present, Raymond Federman, Arvids Ulme, Ruta Gravlejs, Steve McCaffery, Paul Dutton, Marina de Bellagente La Palma, Wolfgang Luh, Constance Rooke, Ann Noel, Cody & Luoma, Dick Higgins, Jim Francis, Wolfgang Hainke, Andrew James Paterson, Misha, William A. Reid, Susan Parker, Robert Priest, David McFadden, Kirby Olson, R.I. Pravdin, Claude Beausoleil, Guillermo Deisler, Jean-Paul Daoust, Alicia Borinsky, Cola Franzen, Saul Yurkievich, Ken Norris, Karen MacCormack, John Oughton, Gary Barwin, bill bissett, James Gray, Richard Truhlar, Joan Chevalier, Maureen Paxton, Mark Miller, Carl Leggo, Robert Dassonowsky-Harris, Neal Anderson, Axel Gallun, Dave Robertson, Rupert Wondolowski, Mari-Lou Rowley, Kenneth Emberly, Steve Stanton, Margaret Christakos, Mike Miskowski, Marilyn Rosenberg, David Cole, Christopher Dewdney. Cover Art: William Burroughs

The relation between mindfulness and perceived self-efficacy towards coping with negative affect in recovering alcoholics

Negative affect can be a highly potent trigger for relapse among those in recovery for alcoholism, whereas self-efficacy has been identified as an important factor for relapse prevention. Much research has attempted to identify factors and interventions that can enhance self-efficacy and improve the coping ability of those in recovery to manage negative affect. This study sought to determine whether dispositional mindfulness might be a useful tool in this regard, by investigating for a possible relationship between this variable and self-efficacy towards coping with negative affect. Additional variables (i.e., length of time abstinent, meditation frequency/duration, history of polysubstance abuse/dependence, and history of psychiatric co-morbidity) were also examined for possible relationships with these two constructs. Adult participants (N = 104) with a history of alcohol abuse/dependence were recruited via online support groups and websites that adhere to the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), to take an anonymous online survey consisting of: a demographic questionnaire, the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R), and the Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (AASE). Chi-square analyses, and independent samples t tests and one-way ANOVAs, were conducted to provide information regarding possible meaningful relationships between variables and differences between groups within variables. Results of this study lend some support for the assertion that those with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness may also have greater self-efficacy towards successfully managing negative affect. Findings also reveal some evidence for a positive relationship between length of time abstinent, and both mindfulness and self-efficacy. Caution should be taken, however, when drawing conclusions from these findings due to the disproportionate number of participants who reported doing extremely well in their recovery and having high confidence in their ability to abstain from alcohol use. Limitations of the study are discussed

Nations of distinction: analysis of nationalist perspectives on constitutional change in Quebec, Catalunya, and Scotland

This thesis is a comparative analysis of nationalism in Quebec, Scotland, and Catalunya and the perspectives of nationalist parties towards questions of constitutional change within the broader Canadian, United Kingdom, and Spanish states. It is the goal of this thesis to analyse how minority national groups view themselves within the constitutional framework of multinational states and what arguments they make for greater recognition for their national communities. All of the nationalist parties under discussion argue that the distinct position of the minority national group is not sufficiently recognised within the state. How this recognition can be achieved is of primary concern to nationalists and shapes their approach towards constitutional dialogue. Nationalist parties adopt various approaches towards constitutional reform in an effort to achieve either a reform of the existing state or the secession of the minority national group's territory from the state. This thesis analyses these approaches as advocated by the parties themselves and by other political and academic participant-observers. In examining the Catalan, Quebecois, and Scottish cases this thesis compares the unique asymmetrical arrangements that each state has adopted as a means to accommodate the minority national groups. Many nationalists argue that this evolving asymmetry is insufficient to meet the goal of greater recognition, leading to their advocating various federal, con federal, and secessionist options. After considering the various constitutional options that are presented this thesis argues that promoting a higher degree of constitutional and administrative asymmetry is an effective means of bringing greater recognition to Scotland, Quebec, and Catalunya within the state. The qualitative analysis in this thesis is based upon original research and a review of available secondary source material. The original research consists largely of data obtained from personal interviews and from an analysis of party documents. The personal interviews were conducted in Scotland, Quebec, and Catalunya with political participant-observers, including members of nationalist parties and individuals involved in developing constitutional policy and with academic participant-observers who specialise in constitutional politics. The thesis is divided into four sections. The first section includes the introduction that outlines the research method and Chapter 1 that examines various theoretical approaches to nationalism. The second section lays the groundwork for the following two sections. It consists of chapters two to four, which examine the historical evolution of nationalism in Quebec, Catalunya, and Scotland from its antecedents to the late twentieth century, paying particular attention to the evolution of nationalist political thought. The third section consisting of chapters five to seven is the main analytical section. In each of these chapters the constitutional framework of each state and the nationalist response are analysed through an examination of constitutional documents and party manifestos, leaders' speeches, and other policy material. Data obtained from interviews is analysed here. The fourth and final section is made up of the conclusion and a comparative analytical chapter that draws the three cases together through an analysis of various constitutional options in the three multinational states