Using an instrumented manikin for Space Station Freedom analysis

One of the most intriguing and complex areas of current computer graphics research is animating human figures to behave in a realistic manner. Believable, accurate human models are desirable for many everyday uses including industrial and architectural design, medical applications, and human factors evaluations. For zero-gravity (0-g) spacecraft design and mission planning scenarios, they are particularly valuable since 0-g conditions are difficult to simulate in a one-gravity Earth environment. At NASA/JSC, an in-house human modeling package called PLAID is currently being used to produce animations for human factors evaluation of Space Station Freedom design issues. Presented here is an introductory background discussion of problems encountered in existing techniques for animating human models and how an instrumented manikin can help improve the realism of these models

Design and development of a theory-informed peer-led falls prevention education programme to translate evidence into practice: A systematic approach

Peer-led education has been shown to be an effective approach for raising community-dwelling older adults’ beliefs, knowledge and intention to engage in falls prevention strategies in a recent intervention trial. This article outlines the design and development of the intervention, which was a peer-led falls prevention education programme designed to promote older adult’s motivation to change their behaviour in the area of falls prevention. The elements of the programme that contributed to its efficacy are also described. The programme was designed using a four-step approach and was based on the constructs of a theoretical framework (the COM-B model). Feedback from older adults was also incorporated into the programme development. Programme components developed were a workshop to train older adult peer educators to deliver falls prevention education, a one-hour peer-led falls prevention presentation, and supporting resources to aid programme delivery. A questionnaire measuring older adults’ responses to the presentation was concurrently developed and pilot-tested prior to implementation of the education programme. Finally, resources to monitor and evaluate fidelity at five points in the programme were developed. It was found that seeking older adult consumer involvement, and adopting a theoretical framework-driven approach contributes to effective design and delivery of falls prevention education programmes. This ensured that the programme was acceptable to older adults, feasible to deliver and allowed robust measurement of the effect of the education programme on important behavioural change components

Theories of Corporatism: A Feminist Critique

Political theories of corporatism from the late 1970s make turgid reading and rather deservedly disappeared down a theoretical rabbit hole. However, my doctoral thesis on Feminism and Unionism draws on that theoretical framework as well as socialist feminist theories to think about recent radical change in New Zealand labour relations. This paper outlines corporatist theories, looks at how these featured in some union/political thinking in New Zealand in the late 1980s, and why, even though they are useful, they are inadequate to explain the labour market situation of New Zealand women and their unions

The Right to be Heard: Voicing the Due Process Right to Counsel for Unaccompanied Alien Children

Every year, the Department of Homeland Security detains thousands of unaccompanied alien children who have crossed the border into the United States. The framework set out in Lassiter v. Department of Social Services and Gideon v. Wainwright for all civil litigants creates a stumbling block in recognizing a constitutional right to counsel in the immigration context, but this Article argues that unaccompanied alien children do, in fact, have a constitutional right to counsel. Unaccompanied alien children are in unique circumstances and their right to counsel is three-fold. First, immigration law and procedure are complex and an unaccompanied child can effectively pursue claims for relief before the immigration courts only with the assistance of counsel. Second, pending the outcome of immigration proceedings, a child may have the right to reunification with family members in the United States. Third, the conditions in detention facilities are often horrendous and appointed counsel would ensure that a child is not subjected to inhumane treatment while his or her case is pending. This three-fold necessity, in addition to the unique circumstances of unaccompanied alien children, gives rise to a constitutional right to counsel