The Effects of Computer Aided Draughting on Architectural Practice

This thesis argues that computer aided draughting (CAD) can be introduced successfully into an organization and can benefit all those engaged in the construction process. It concludes that CAD is the single most important tool to be introduced into the practice of architecture in recent times and, whilst the foregoing proposition is true, there is a cost to the organizations and individuals involved. The study begins with the author's interest in the research as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor working professionally with a firm of architects who installed a CAD system. It identifies several difficulties with the research and justifies the case study research methodology

Safe patient handling and movement device training: a hands-on continuing education program for occupational therapy practitioners

Thesis (O.T.D.)--Boston UniversityHealthcare workers are reported to have a higher rate of work-related injuries than workers in private industry and most these injuries have been attributed to client handling tasks (BLS, 2009). Client handling tasks for all healthcare workers can include tasks such as: transfers, bed mobility, activities of daily living (ADL), sitting and standing balance training, ambulation/gait, wound care, lymphedema care and splinting. Research on the nursing profession indicates at least 12% of nurses are injured during client handling tasks and that at least 12% of nursing staff will leave client care or the profession because of an injury or fear of an injury (ANA, 20 12). Occupational therapists are conducting research to understand the injury rates of occupational therapy practitioners and the impact on the profession. The current research appears to mirror the nursing profession's findings. At least 12% of occupational therapy practitioners are injured during client care tasks and at least 12% will leave client care or the profession because of an injury or out of fear of an injury (Campo & Darragh, 2010; Darragh, et al., 2009; & Rice, et al., 2011). The nursing profession has found that the use of safe patient handling and movement (SPHM) devices and techniques can reduce the incidents of client care related injuries among nursing staff (ANA, 2012). However, the use of SPHM devices has been primarily limited to surface to surface transfers and rarely used for therapeutic purposes. In fact, research indicates that therapy practitioners, for many reasons, currently do not believe that SPHM is appropriate for therapeutic interventions (Campo & Darragh, 2010; & Darragh, Campo, & Olson, 2009). This research also indicates therapy practitioner beliefs that the SPHM providers have not met the needs of therapy practitioners to use the devices therapeutically. The Program is a face-to-face hands-on continuing education program designed to help occupational therapy practitioners investigate the causes and impacts of client care related injuries, problem-solve alternative direct care options and practice therapeutic use of SPHM devices and techniques

Free/Libre/Open Source Software (Floss): Lessons for Intellectual Property Rights Management in a Knowledge-Based Economy

International audienceThe aim of this paper is to focus on the emerging situation in which open source software is nowadays produced not only by individual developers but in a growing proportion by firms that hire programmers for their own objectives of development in open source or for contributing to open source projects in the context of dedicated communities. As commercial firms it is important to analyze how and why they are capable of drawing benefits from such involvement and their connected activities. Moreover, we want to stress the different types of business model these firms rely on and the possible evolution they are likely to follow in the near future. We shown how Open Source principles provide an alternative way of thinking and managing intellectual property that do not come up against the same problems but needs a radical change in the way of drawing commercial benefits from knowledge development tasks. Then we analyze the growing involvement of commercial actors by setting up a typology of the different business models that can be observed in the OS landscape, how they correspond to the different strategies of industrial firms according to the main characteristics of their technical skills and market position. Finally, in a conclusive section we will draw the main lessons of the FLOSS experience for a possible enlargement of those principles of IPR management and business to other knowledge based commercial activities

Shoe Last Customization: A Systematic Review

In recent years, there is an increase in research into shoe last customization and topic analysis methods. The work aims to systematically review the literature on the customization of shoe lasts. The method used in this work is to perform a five-phase systematic review algorithm. Data on the research performed are extracted and synthesized from each study: main research objectives, authors, date of publication, journal, or conference in which the article was published, and the quality of each article. The studies included in the review are published between 2018 and 2022. The results of the review are nineteen papers about the process of customization of the shoe last. The conclusions of the analysis indicate that the quality of research has not changed over time, in 2020 there was a decrease in work. Most often, researchers analyze the impact of anthropometric factors on the correct shoe last modeling and methods of shoe last parameterization

Getting injured workers back to work: A descriptive study of the integrated work program success at Rehabilitation Technology Works

This is a descriptive study of the experience that some workers had with the Integrated Work Program at Rehabilitation Technology Works describing the rate of successful return-to-work injuried employees and if the worker continued to stay at this job or been re-injured

Developing an Intervention Toolbox for the Common Health Problems in the Workplace

Development of the Health ↔ Work Toolbox is described. The toolbox aims to reduce the workplace impact of common health problems (musculoskeletal, mental health, and stress complaints) by focusing on tackling work-relevant symptoms. Based on biopsychosocial principles this toolbox supplements current approaches by occupying the zone between primary prevention and healthcare. It provides a set of evidence-informed principles and processes (knowledge + tools) for tackling work-relevant common health problems. The toolbox comprises a proactive element aimed at empowering line managers to create good jobs, and a ‘just in time’ responsive element for supporting individuals struggling with a work-relevant health problem. The key intention is helping people with common health problems to maintain work participation. The extensive conceptual and practical development process, including a comprehensive evidence review, produced a functional prototype toolbox that is evidence based and flexible in its use. End-user feedback was mostly positive. Moving the prototype to a fully-fledged internet resource requires specialist design expertise. The Health ↔ Work Toolbox appears to have potential to contribute to the goal of augmenting existing primary prevention strategies and healthcare delivery by providing a more comprehensive workplace approach to constraining sickness absence

New Process and Interface for Virtual Ergonomics Interventions

RÉSUMÉ : L'utilisation des logiciels de modélisation humaine numérique (DHM : Digital Human Modeling en anglais) n'est pas encore généralisée dans l'industrie, ce qui peut entraîner une incidence élevée d’accidents du travail et de maladies professionnelles. Or la littérature en ergonomie et la pratique sur le terrain indiquent que ces logiciels ne sont pas faciles à utiliser et à comprendre par les non-ergonomes. L’intervention d’ergonomes auprès des ingénieurs et concepteurs qui utilisent des logiciels de design 3D n’est pas souvent sollicitée, car les interventions ergonomiques classiques sont perçues comme étant trop détaillées et trop longues par rapport au rythme de l’industrie. Dans ce contexte, l'utilisation de logiciels de DHM (ou l'application de l'ergonomie virtuelle) dans la conception des postes et d’environnements de travail pourrait être facilitée par un service de conseils en ergonomie qui permettrait de consulter rapidement et à distance un spécialiste d'ergonomie virtuelle. La présente recherche visait à documenter la pratique actuelle des interventions d'ergonomie virtuelle (impliquant des logiciels de DHM), ainsi qu’à créer un processus d’intervention amélioré et pouvant se faire à distance, qui serait supporté par une nouvelle application Web nommée "Ask an ergonomist". Une première étude a été menée, au cours de laquelle quatre consultants expérimentés ont été interrogés sur cinq cas réels de consultations en ergonomie virtuelle. Les transcriptions des entretiens ont fait l’objet d’une analyse de contenu au moyen du logiciel Nvivo. Une deuxième étude reposait sur l’observation de trois cas réels d’interventions d'ergonomie virtuelle faits à distance. Les deux études ont permis de décrire et d’analyser finement le processus d’intervention d'ergonomie virtuelle actuel ainsi que de proposer une série d'améliorations. Ce travail nous a amenée à définir un nouveau processus d'intervention amélioré pouvant se faire à distance avec des outils d'ergonomie virtuelle. Pour supporter ce nouveau processus, nous avons conçu, développé et testé, en suivant une méthodologie de conception centrée sur l'utilisateur, un prototype de l'interface de l'application "Ask an ergonomist". Des études futures devraient tester l’utilisation réelle de cette nouvelle application sur le terrain et son impact sur la qualité des interventions d'ergonomie virtuelle.----------ABSTRACT : Digital Human Modeling (DHM) software is still not extensively used in industry, which contributes to a high incidence of work accidents and occupational diseases. Literature and practice suggest that this software is not easy to use and understand by non-ergonomists. The intervention of ergonomists to support engineers and designers using 3D design software is not frequently sought because traditional ergonomics interventions are perceived as too detailed and too long for the dynamism of industry. In this context, the use of DHM in the design of workstations could be facilitated by a virtual ergonomics consulting service that can be accessed rapidly and remotely through the internet. The present study aimed to document the current practice of virtual ergonomics interventions (interventions using DHM) as well as to create an enhanced virtual ergonomics intervention process and a web application to conduct it remotely. A first study was carried out where four experienced ergonomists consultants were interviewed about five real cases of virtual ergonomics interventions. The interviews' transcriptions were examined in a content analysis helped by the software Nvivo. A second study was about the observation of three real cases of free and remote virtual ergonomics interventions. The results of both studies are the description and representation of the current virtual ergonomics intervention process as well as a list of proposed improvements. A new virtual ergonomics intervention process to be conducted remotely was conceived considering these aspects. Finally, the interface of the application "Ask an ergonomist" (to facilitate the new process) was built to the stage of prototype following a user-centred design methodology. Future studies should test the use of the new application in practice and its impact on virtual ergonomics interventions

Vision Therapy Promotional Packet: Through the Eyes of Traumatic Brain Injury/Acquired Brain Injury: An informational Resource on the Role of OT

Very few in the health care professions, including head trauma rehabilitation centers, are adequately aware of visual problems resulting from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)/ Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and the visual-perception consequences. These visual deficits may lead to impaired functioning in the person\u27s daily activities and roles because vision affects all other functions (braininjuries.org, ~ 1). A few examples of activities of daily living (ADL\u27s) and instrumental activities of daily living (lADL\u27s) that may be impacted by visual deficits include but are not limited to: driving, eating, dressing, leisure participation (movies, reading, sports), and employment. Unfortunately, this creates a gap in rehabilitative services, resulting in incomplete treatment and frustration for the patient, family and treatment team (braininjuries.org, ~ 1). Occupational Therapy\u27s basic premise is to increase the independence of an individual in their daily activities and roles. An occupational therapist\u27s (OT\u27s) training in the assessment, design and provision of effective interventions can be instrumental in the rehabilitation process of vision deficits and their impact on daily living. OT\u27s are trained in the evaluation and treatment design specific to individuals diagnosed with TBII ABI including; cognitive, visual perceptual, physical, and psychological in relation to activities of daily living. Occupational Therapy can be an important member of the multidisciplinary team who is serving this population. Unfortunately, often both occupational therapists and members of a multi-disciplinary team are not always clear on the role and protocol of OT\u27 s in the provision of treatment intervention specific to TBII ABI and visual deficits. A concentrated literature review was conducted to identify current standard best practices and protocols and the potential role of OT identified. TBII ABI visual perceptual deficits were identified and compared to OT training to ensure OT\u27s are qualified to meet the unique needs of this population. The other roles of multi-disciplinary team members were explored to see the possible areas OT could address or where an OT\u27s specialized training could strengthen the rehabilitative treatment intervention. The findings from this review demonstrate that occupational therapists have the proficiency and competence to evaluate and depict the functional disability or ability of the acquired or traumatic brain injured client as a whole. The outcome of the project is a promotional packet, The Role of Occupational Therapy in Vision Therapy, which includes an: 1. Educational brochure, Through the Eyes of Traumatic Brain Injury / Acquired Brain Injury: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Vision Therapy as well as, 2. A more in depth educational packet entitled, Through the Eyes of Traumatic Brain Injury/Acquired Brain Injury: An Informational Resource on the Role of OT This promotional packet is intended as a means for occupational therapists to use in educating others further on the use of the role of occupational therapy in the provision of vision therapy with the acquired and traumatic brain injured populace