SENSE-SEAT: challenging disruptions in shared workspaces through a sensor-based SEAT

Creative industries’ workers are becoming more prominent as countries move towards intellectual-based economies. Consequently, the workplace needs to be reconfigured so that creativity and productivity can be better promoted at shared workspaces. We report on a study based on diaries, interviews and probes, with 8 creative industries’ profes sionals at a co-working space, with the goal of understand ing their advantages and disadvantages, and causes for cognitive disruptions. Findings indicate that temperature, noise and coworkers’ requests are the main causes for dis ruptions in the work processes. The insights are used to inform the design process of SENSE-SEAT, a seat with em bedded sensors and tangible actuators, as a contribution to reimagining the role of tangible and embedded interac tion in intelligent furniture. We are currently at a prototyping stage, with 3D prints and 3D renders and we explain the design process and outlining the early results.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Atomistic Insight into the Role of Threonine 127 in the Functional Mechanism of Channelrhodopsin-2

Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) belong to the unique class of light-gated ion channels. The structure of channelrhodopsin-2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CrChR2) has been resolved, but the mechanistic link between light-induced isomerization of the chromophore retinal and channel gating remains elusive. Replacements of residues C128 and D156 (DC gate) resulted in drastic effects in channel closure. T127 is localized close to the retinal Schiff base and links the DC gate to the Schiff base. The homologous residue in bacteriorhodopsin (T89) has been shown to be crucial for the visible absorption maximum and dark–light adaptation, suggesting an interaction with the retinylidene chromophore, but the replacement had little effect on photocycle kinetics and proton pumping activity. Here, we show that the T127A and T127S variants of CrChR2 leave the visible absorption maximum unaffected. We inferred from hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations and resonance Raman spectroscopy that the hydroxylic side chain of T127 is hydrogen-bonded to E123 and the latter is hydrogen-bonded to the retinal Schiff base. The C=N–H vibration of the Schiff base in the T127A variant was 1674 cm−1, the highest among all rhodopsins reported to date. We also found heterogeneity in the Schiff base ground state vibrational properties due to different rotamer conformations of E123. The photoreaction of T127A is characterized by a long-lived P2380 state during which the Schiff base is deprotonated. The conservative replacement of T127S hardly affected the photocycle kinetics. Thus, we inferred that the hydroxyl group at position 127 is part of the proton transfer pathway from D156 to the Schiff base during rise of the P3530 intermediate. This finding provides molecular reasons for the evolutionary conservation of the chemically homologous residues threonine, serine, and cysteine at this position in all channelrhodopsins known so far

Towards panopticons of convenience: Power in the Nordic smart home assemblage

Peer reviewe

SENSE-SEAT: reimagining ergonomics for a creativity support workstation

We present an approach for improving creativity at the work place based on reimagining office furniture and bringing sub tle technological elements to persuade office workers towards more healthy, creative workstyles. SENSE-SEAT aims to shed light on how we can better design interactive furniture for the workplace.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

SENSE-SEAT: improving creativity and productivity through the redesign of a multisensory technological office chair

—The current trend of organizations offering their workers open-office spaces and co-working offices has been primed for stimulating teamwork and collaboration. However, this is not always valid as these kinds of spaces bring other types of challenges that compromise workers productivity and creativity. We present an approach for improving creativity and productivity at the workspace by redesigning an office chair that incorporates subtle technological elements that help users focus, relax and being more productive and creative. This sheds light on how we can better design interactive furniture for such popular contexts, as we develop this new chair through a multidisciplinary approach using ergonomics, interior design, interaction design, hardware and software engineering and psychology.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Volunteer-based IT Helpdesks as Ambiguous Quasi-Public Services:A Case Study from Two Nordic Countries

In this case study we take a Nordic perspective on the tension between increased digitalisation of public services and the insufficient support for citizens with limited digital literacy. Volunteer-based IT helpdesk services in public libraries have emerged as an attempt to address this tension. Drawing on examples of volunteering in public library-based IT helpdesk services in two Nordic countries, this paper considers the IT helpdesks as quasi-public services. Based on interviews, observations and workshops, we explore: the work of IT helpdesk volunteers, the characteristics of helpdesk services offered, and the implications of these services being offered by volunteers. The services offered are of acceptable quality to the users while the ambiguity and lack of institutional support is making the service fragile. In spite of the challenges of the quasi-public IT helpdesk service we also note how it offers a potential platform for the co-design and support of new public services. Camilla Christensen and Nils Ehrenberg are shared first authors.Peer reviewe

NEWS

Inhalt: Regionale Aktivitäten: Klimabündnis Kieler Bucht erhält BMU-Förderung; Norddeutsche Regionalkonferenz; Neue Webseite informiert über Küstenschutzbedarf; RADOST-GIS präsentiert Indikatoren zur Gewässerqualität; Küstenforschung, Küstennutzung und Küstenschutz; Überregionale Aktivitäten: KLIMZUG-Abschlusskonferenz; Internationale Aktivitäten: HELCOM-Workshop in Warnemünde; RADOST auf dem Dupont Summit 2012; Publikationen: Ergebnisse der RADOST-Tour 2012; Integration des Klimawandels in die ökonomischen Analysen nach WRR

The economics of debt clearing mechanisms

We examine the evolution of decentralized clearinghouse mechanisms from the 13th to the 18th century; in particular, we explore the clearing of non- or limitedtradable debts like bills of exchange. We construct a theoretical model of these clearinghouse mechanisms, similar to the models in the theoretical matching literature, and show that specific decentralized multilateral clearing algorithms known as rescontre, skontrieren or virement des parties used by merchants were efficient in specific historical contexts. We can explain both the evolutionary self-organizing emergence of late medieval and early modern fairs, and its robustness during the 17th and 18th century

Designing the Militarization 2.0 research tool

Research is a time-consuming endeavor which requires appropriate tools to manage often vast amounts of information. Militarization 2.0 is a research project aiming to explore Militarization in social media. The aim of this project is to design a user interface for supporting researchers in projects involving large amounts of data in qualitative studies. The project will follow the design process of the first version of the Militarization 2.0 research database interface. The design process involves user studies, interviews and design and testing of paper and digital prototypes. The results include the interface prototype as well as reflections on what tools proved useful in the design process