Measuring environments for public displays: a Space Syntax approach

This paper reports on an on-going project, which is investigating the role that location plays in the visibility of information presented on a public display. Spatial measures are presented, derived from the architectural theory of Space Syntax. These are shown to relate to the memorability of words and images presented on different displays. Results show a complex pattern of interactions between the size and shape of spaces in which displays are situated and the memorability of different types of representations depicted. This approach offers a new way to consider the role of space in guiding and constraining interaction in real settings: a growing concern within HCI and Ubicomp

Dynamical Interactions with Electronic Instruments

This paper examines electronic instruments that incorporate dynamical systems, where the behaviour of the instrument depends not only upon the immediate input to the instrument, but also on the past input. Five instruments are presented as case studies: Michel Waisvisz’ Crackle-box, Dylan Menzies’ Spiro, no-input mixing desk, the author’s Feedback Joypad, and microphone-loudspeaker feedback. Links are suggested between the sonic affordances of each instrument and the dynamical mechanisms embedded in them. These affordances are contrasted with those of non-dynamical instruments such as the Theremin and sample-based instruments. This is discussed in the context of contemporary, material-oriented approaches to composition and particularly to free improvisation where elements such as unpredictability and instability are often of interest, and the process of exploration and discovery is an important part of the practice

Melt electrospinning writing and the biofabrication of voluminous tissues and organs

Considering the complexity of natural tissues, a major challenge in tissue engineering applications is to produce three- dimensional (3D) structures that are anatomically accurate. This requires the manufacture of high resolution scaffolds in large volume (mL) dimensions, that can be effectively vascularized. Furthermore, the structural heterogeneity that occurs in living tissue needs to be replicated, at least in part. Multimodal constructs contain features across different length scales, and are a method to manufacture a high surface area scaffold with milliliter volumes. For example, electrospinning has been used in conjunction with fused deposition modelling (FDM) to create a “bimodal” scaffold that contained both small diameter and large diameter elements. In this instance, the ordered scaffold structure is provided by the FDM component, while the electrospun fibers fill up the pores between each FDM layer. While there has been a significant effort in developing similar techniques to manufacture multimodal substrates with a defined organization, the resolutions remain limited. In general, highly resolved scaffolds with micron-scale control are difficult to build in the centimeter scale-range. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

When the fingers do the talking: A study of group participation for different kinds of shareable surfaces

and other research outputs When the fingers do the talking: A study of group par-ticipation for different kinds of shareable surface

Evaluation of the ‘Rotational Post - End of Life Care, Cancer Care and Care of the Elderly’ Project

In 2017, South London Hospices Education Collaborative approached the University of Greenwich to conduct an evaluation of the first year of the ‘Rotational Post - End of Life Care, Cancer and Care of the Elderly’ Project. The original project had offered newly-qualified and developing band 5 nurses (within 3 years of qualifying) the opportunity to work in three care settings over the course of a year (4 month blocks) with support from palliative care professionals, managers and the project lead. The nurses also undertook a postgraduate module in palliative care or a relevant topic. The identified care settings were - specialist inpatient palliative care in hospices, oncology wards, and care of the frail elderly in intermediate care settings or similar community provision. The evaluation began in September 2017 and its aim was to evaluate the perceived and felt impact of the project as assessed by the nurses who took part and the key staff (stakeholders) in the host organisations. Qualitative focus groups (with participating nursing staff) and interviews (with stakeholders) were conducted and analysed to assess the perceived impact the project had on stakeholders’ and participating nurses’ perceptions and experiences of the rotation project, and whether the project had, according to participants’ accounts, attained its original aims. The data presented in this report are the outcome of gathering and analysing data from two focus groups (N = 7 & 5 participants) with nurses who rotated during the project, and seven interviews with stakeholder participants who rotated their own, and hosted other organisations’, staff

Running up Blueberry Hill: Prototyping whole body interaction in harmony space

Musical harmony is considered to be one of the most abstract and technically difficult parts of music. It is generally taught formally via abstract, domain-specific concepts, principles, rules and heuristics. By contrast, when harmony is represented using an existing interactive desktop tool, Harmony Space, a new, parsimonious, but equivalently expressive, unified level of description emerges. This focuses not on abstract concepts, but on concrete locations, objects, areas and trajectories. This paper presents a design study of a prototype version of Harmony Space driven by whole body navigation, and characterizes the new opportunities presented for the principled manipulation of chord sequences and bass lines. These include: deeper engagement and directness; rich physical cues for memory and reflection, embodied engagement with rhythmic time constraints; hands which are free for other simultaneous activities (such as playing a traditional instrument); and qualitatively new possibilities for collaborative use

Melt electrowriting of poly(vinylidene difluoride) using a heated collector

Previous research on the melt electrowriting (MEW) of poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) resulted in electroactive fibers, however, printing more than five layers is challenging. Here, we investigate the influence of a heated collector to adjust the solidification rate of the PVDF jet so that it adheres sufficiently to each layer. A collector temperature of 110 degrees C is required to improve fiber processing, resulting in a total of 20 fiber layers. For higher temperatures and higher layers, an interesting phenomenon occurred, where the intersection points of the fibers coalesced into periodic spheres of diameter 206 +/- 52 mu m (26G, 150 degrees C collector temperature, 2000 mm/min, 10 layers in x- and y-direction).The heated collector is an important component of a MEW printer that allows polymers with a high melting point to be processable with increased layers.Peer reviewe

Investigating the effects of introducing nonlinear dynamical processes into digital musical interfaces

This paper presents the results of a study that explores the effects of including nonlinear dynamical processes in the design of digital musical interfaces. Participants of varying musical backgrounds engaged with a range of representative systems, and their behaviours, responses and attitudes were recorded and analysed. The study suggests links between the inclusion of such processes and the affordance of exploration and serendipitous discovery. Relationships between musical instruments and nonlinear dynamics are discussed more broadly, in the context of both acoustic and electronic musical tools. Links between the properties of nonlinear dynamical systems and the priorities of experimental musicians are highlighted and related to the findings of the study