User-centered design : creating didactic resources for seniors

Este artigo objetiva apresentar um relato de experiência da criação de recursos didáticos de informática básica para pessoas idosas. Nessa pesquisa, utilizou-se o design centrado no usuário objetivando torná-los mais acessíveis, precisos, concisos e inteligíveis para esses usuários. Este estudo envolveu a participação de 116 idosos, a maioria mulheres, com média de idade de 65 anos, apresentando escolaridade e classe social heterogêneas, todos concluintes do projeto de extensão "Oficinas de Informática para a Terceira Idade", entre 2008 a 2010, da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Foram desenvolvidos dois recursos didáticos: um material didático impresso e duas videoaulas. Estes recursos didáticos foram avaliados pelo público-alvo por meio de questionários e com base em uma série de experimentos construídos em conjunto com estes usuários. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis article aims to present an experience report on the creation of basic computer teaching resources for seniors. In this research, we used user-centered design seeking to make them more accessible, accurate, concise and intelligible to those users. This study involved 116 seniors, mostly women, with a mean age of 65 years, with heterogeneous education and social classes, all graduates of the extension project "Computer Workshops for Seniors", between 2008-2010, of the Federal University of Santa Catarina. We developed two educational resources: a printed teaching material and two video classes. These educational resources were evaluated by the target audience through questionnaires and based on a series of experiments built with those users

A Review of Classic Torque Control Techniques for Switched Reluctance Motors

In this chapter, the most relevant electronic torque control methods established in the current literature are addressed. The electronic torque control methods are divided into two technical topologies. The first one aims to control the average torque produced by the switched reluctance machine and is ideal for applications that require wide speed range of operation. The second topology enrolls the instantaneous torque production and is required in low torque ripple applications. Different torque control methods are addressed, for instance, direct average torque control, current profiling through torque sharing functions, direct torque control, and direct instantaneous torque control. Detailed information regarding the working principle and implementation of the methods is presented. Mathematical simulations are conducted in Matlab/Simulink® environment to elucidate the methods. Finally, a comparison of all addressed methods regarding the torque ripple minimization capabilities is presented

PHYSICAL-MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE WOOD OF Plathymenia reticulata BENTH (VINEYARD-OF-FIELD) NATIVE SPECIES OF THE CERRADO OF THE STATE OF TOCANTINS

Physical-Mechanical Characterization of the Wood of Plathymenia reticulata Benth (Vinhático-do-campo) Species of the Cerrado Biome of the State of Tocantins. The objective of this work was to determine the physical and mechanical properties of Plathymenia reticulata Benth (vinhático-do-campo) wood to indicate its potential use. The wood used in the production of the specimens came from the municipality of Dueré – TO native forest. The basic density, wood retractability, and anisotropy coefficient were obtained from physical tests, and the values of axial compression and static flexion resistance from the mechanical tests. The values obtained showed that the Plathymenia reticulata Benth wood fits the C40 resistance classification for hardwoods, determined by the Brazilian Standard (NBR7190). The average value of the basic density found was 0.64 g cm-3, classified as a medium density wood and the values of tangential, radial and volumetric retractability were 6.11%, 3.06%, 9.39 %, respectively. As for its mechanical characteristics, it presented average values of compressive strength parallel to the fibers, resistance to static flexion, and elastic modulus equal to 58.8MPa, 128.2 MPa, and 12760.0MPa, respectively. The vinhático-do-campo wood can be classified as stable wood and its physical characteristics suggest a normal quality. The species can be applied in light and heavy construction

Impact of operating cycle type on alginate-like exopolysaccharide and tryptophan production in aerobic granular sludge systems

As wastewater treatment advances, there is a growing need to remove pollutants and recover valuable resources. This study focuses on the optimization of the aerobic granular sludge process, exploring the impact of varying the anaerobic period on the production of bioresources, i.e., on the synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), alginate-like exopolysaccharides (ALE — like exopolysaccharides), and tryptophan (TRP). To this end, two sequential batch reactors (SBRs) were used, R1 and R2, fed with acetic and propionic acid, respectively, and subjected to different durations of the anaerobic phase (100, 70, 35, and 0 min) in the total cycle time of 6 h. The results were similar regarding COD, N, and P removal. However, R2 showed greater nitrate accumulation. Statistical analyses highlighted significant variations in SPE concentrations in the different phases (p<0.05) in both systems. ALE production in R1 was highest in the initial phase, decreasing with the reduction of the anaerobic period. However, this trend was not observed in the R2 system (p≈0.13). Tryptophan production remained stable across all phases for both systems. The results reveal that the duration of the anaerobic period significantly influences bioresource production, emphasizing the importance of defining optimal operational conditions for efficient resource recovery in wastewater treatment

Oeste baiano e letramento midiático: o consumo de mídia dos jovens da microrregião de Santa Maria da Vitória, Bahia

O estudo tem como objetivo compreender o consumo midiático do jovem da microrregião de Santa Maria da Vitória, no Oeste do Estado da Bahia. Baseia-se na replicação da pesquisa “Jovem Brasileiro e Práticas Midiáticas em Tempos de Convergência: Brasil Profundo”. Neste relato são discutidos os resultados obtidos da aplicação do questionário a 41 jovens entre 18 e 24 anos. Os dados demonstram o smartphone como principal dispositivo de acesso à internet. E o caráter polivalente dos usos das plataformas digitais, incluindo o consumo de produtos de entretenimento, relacionamentos interpessoais e atividades de estudo

Projeto de habitação de interesse social sustentável para comunidades pesqueiras e o aproveitamento dos resíduos da maricultura / Sustainable social housing project for fishing communities and the use of mariculture waste

Desenvolvida no Laboratório de Eco Soluções – LabEcoS do IFPE Campus Recife, esta pesquisa tem por objetivo desenvolver uma proposta de habitação de interesse social, sustentável. Para tanto, e entendendo que para ser sustentável, uma proposta deve ser apropriada às diferentes realidades, a pesquisa definiu como objeto de estudo, a elaboração de um projeto arquitetônico desenvolvido para uma localidade específica, no caso, a Povoação de São Lourenço de Tejucupapo, no município de Goiana, litoral norte de Pernambuco. A escolha do local se deu a partir de visitas exploratórias que identificaram a grande produção de resíduos de maricultura, base da subsistência das comunidades pesqueiras, bem como a receptividade para com o grupo de pesquisa. A utilização destes resíduos por sua vez é a base para o desenvolvimento dos materiais de construção aqui estudados