User-packaging interaction (UPI): A comprehensive research platform and techniques for improvement, evaluation, and design

Users are expected to interact with their packages through product life cycles with either good or bad experiences, depending on packaging design, which can be characterized by physical and verbal features, such as size, shape, symbols, picture, etc. User packaging interaction (UPI) field has evolved with the aim to provide user-friendly packages, which support performing tasks such as, opening, handling, disposing, and checking-out. A great deal of work addressing issues, related to packaging, and suggesting potential improvements has been directed toward UPI. However, this work is not easily accessible to researchers as it lacks a cohesive structure of UPI stages. Developing an efficient packaging design, which augments UPI, requires continuous evaluation and improvement considering UPI stages. In this dissertation, we consider the UPI field as a system of users who interact with packages and other components at different stages, and integrate concepts of human factors and systems engineering to improve this interaction. In the first study, an effort is directed to organize the field of UPI, in order to facilitate a proper and inclusive understanding of this field. The current research structure is organized based on stages of interaction, with insights into the related packaging features. This organization results in the enumeration of the following stages: at point of purchase, checking out, handling, opening, and disposal. The review process has revealed different issues in the current research structure of UPI including the comprehensibility of the conducted research and the distribution of the reviewed articles. In the second study, a stage of interaction was targeted for improvement while considering the involved packaging features. The implications of the Universal Product Code (UPC) placement and the scanning technology in use have been studied with a focus on scanning process at the checkout stage. This study has approved the effect of UPC placement and scanning technology on self-checkers. The results showed that total scanning time was significantly reduced when using bi-optic scanner F(1, 28) = 20.9, p \u3c 0.01, p2= 0.43. The recommended UPC placement led to a significant improvement on UPCs anticipation for both scanning technologies F(1, 28)= 16.8, p \u3c 0.01, p2= 0.38. Additionally, exposure to non-neutral trunk posture(s) were shown to be significantly decreased in the bi-optic condition F(1, 24)= 10.4, p \u3c 0.01, p2= 0.30. Understanding the tasks performed at a UPI stage with the involved packaging features can lead to a substantial operational and ergonomic improvements. In the third study, an affordance-based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model is also proposed to help designers simultaneously consider multi-UPI stages and packaging perspectives. The model is built based on the fact that affordances provided by packages can facilitate the interaction between users and packages. Affordance properties, elicited from user’s requirements, were utilized to evaluate packaging affordances at stages of UPI. The outcomes of the model are validated by a usability testing study with results supporting the ability of the model to distinguish between packages with different overall affordance levels. Finally, a design for affordances framework is introduced to map users\u27 requirements to packaging features, in such these requirements can be associated with affordance properties that facilitate packaging related tasks. The structure of the framework allows an affordance-driven design through linking users’ requirements for affordances and packaging features. An affordance structure matrix (ASM) was constructed to document the relationships between affordance properties and packaging features. The framework will help create alternative packaging designs while considering the link between affordance properties and packaging features. It can also locate the problems that lead to low affordance levels of packages and allow modifications on the features of impacts

Simulation Based-MCDM Approach for Evaluating Traffic Solutions

Traffic congestion problems have dramatically esca-lated with the increasing volume of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists in the face of limited road capacity. This re-search aims to reduce the time road users spend in the system (school-zone area) and improve the efficiency of the process of dropping off and collecting children from a crowded school area. The study integrates discrete-event simulation (DES) and multi-criterion decision-mak-ing (MCDM) techniques to comprehensively evaluate the proposed alternatives to select an optimal solution based on many performance measures. A real-world case study of the traffic and congestion problems experienced by parents when they drop off and fetch their children from school during peak hours is presented. A heuristic algorithm was developed to simulate the random and un-predictable behaviour of road users. A cost-benefit anal-ysis considered the impact of waiting time, traffic den-sity, number of accidents, additional fuel expenses, and emission reduction. The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and preference selection index (PSI) methods were utilised to select the most appropriate option for parents. The study found that the integration of simulation techniques with MCDM methods could efficiently solve traffic problems

A design for affordances framework for product packaging: food packaging case study

Since affordances provided by packaging features play a major role in facilitating user packaging interaction, it is important to integrate the concept of affordances into the packaging design process and to understand the interrelationships between packaging features and affordances. A framework is proposed for linking user requirements to packaging design features utilizing the concept of affordances. The framework is accomplished in two main steps; first, determine the affordances required to facilitate performing packaging-related tasks, and second, link these affordances to packaging features. Previous packaging usability studies were reviewed to elicit requirements in terms of affordance properties such as intuitiveness, responsiveness, and clarity of information. The elicited properties represent the affordances of purchase-ability, store-ability, open-ability, reopen/reclose-ability, handle-ability, unpack-ability, and dispose-ability. An affordance structure matrix (ASM) was built to link user requirements, represented by affordance properties, to packaging features, and to appraise the links between them. To demonstrate its functionality, the framework was applied to assessment of a food packaging design. Further, a usability study conducted with 37 users agreed with the framework outcomes. The framework systematically incorporates user requirements for affordances into the design stage, thereby allowing modifications of packaging features to improve packaging designs based on affordance measures

The Interaction Between Physical and Psychosocial Stressors

Do physical and psychosocial stressors interact to increase stress in ways not explainable by the stressors alone? A preliminary study compared participants’ stress response while subjected to a physical stressor (reduced or full physical load) and a predetermined social stressor (confronted by calm or aggressive behavior). Salivary cortisol samples measured endocrine stress. Heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) measured autonomic stress. Perceived stress was measured via discomfort and stress state surveys. Participants with a heavier load reported increased distress and discomfort. Encountering an aggressive individual increased endocrine stress, distress levels, and perceived discomfort. Higher autonomic stress and discomfort were found in participants with heavier physical load and aggressive individuals. The results suggest a relationship where physical load increases the stressfulness of aggressive behavior in ways not explainable by the effects of the stressors alone. Future research is needed to confirm this investigation’s findings

Effects of fluoxetine on functional outcomes after acute stroke (FOCUS): a pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial

Background Results of small trials indicate that fluoxetine might improve functional outcomes after stroke. The FOCUS trial aimed to provide a precise estimate of these effects. Methods FOCUS was a pragmatic, multicentre, parallel group, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial done at 103 hospitals in the UK. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, had a clinical stroke diagnosis, were enrolled and randomly assigned between 2 days and 15 days after onset, and had focal neurological deficits. Patients were randomly allocated fluoxetine 20 mg or matching placebo orally once daily for 6 months via a web-based system by use of a minimisation algorithm. The primary outcome was functional status, measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), at 6 months. Patients, carers, health-care staff, and the trial team were masked to treatment allocation. Functional status was assessed at 6 months and 12 months after randomisation. Patients were analysed according to their treatment allocation. This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN83290762. Findings Between Sept 10, 2012, and March 31, 2017, 3127 patients were recruited. 1564 patients were allocated fluoxetine and 1563 allocated placebo. mRS data at 6 months were available for 1553 (99·3%) patients in each treatment group. The distribution across mRS categories at 6 months was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (common odds ratio adjusted for minimisation variables 0·951 [95% CI 0·839–1·079]; p=0·439). Patients allocated fluoxetine were less likely than those allocated placebo to develop new depression by 6 months (210 [13·43%] patients vs 269 [17·21%]; difference 3·78% [95% CI 1·26–6·30]; p=0·0033), but they had more bone fractures (45 [2·88%] vs 23 [1·47%]; difference 1·41% [95% CI 0·38–2·43]; p=0·0070). There were no significant differences in any other event at 6 or 12 months. Interpretation Fluoxetine 20 mg given daily for 6 months after acute stroke does not seem to improve functional outcomes. Although the treatment reduced the occurrence of depression, it increased the frequency of bone fractures. These results do not support the routine use of fluoxetine either for the prevention of post-stroke depression or to promote recovery of function. Funding UK Stroke Association and NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme

User-packaging interaction (UPI): A comprehensive research platform and techniques for improvement, evaluation, and design

Users are expected to interact with their packages through product life cycles with either good or bad experiences, depending on packaging design, which can be characterized by physical and verbal features, such as size, shape, symbols, picture, etc. User packaging interaction (UPI) field has evolved with the aim to provide user-friendly packages, which support performing tasks such as, opening, handling, disposing, and checking-out. A great deal of work addressing issues, related to packaging, and suggesting potential improvements has been directed toward UPI. However, this work is not easily accessible to researchers as it lacks a cohesive structure of UPI stages. Developing an efficient packaging design, which augments UPI, requires continuous evaluation and improvement considering UPI stages. In this dissertation, we consider the UPI field as a system of users who interact with packages and other components at different stages, and integrate concepts of human factors and systems engineering to improve this interaction. In the first study, an effort is directed to organize the field of UPI, in order to facilitate a proper and inclusive understanding of this field. The current research structure is organized based on stages of interaction, with insights into the related packaging features. This organization results in the enumeration of the following stages: at point of purchase, checking out, handling, opening, and disposal. The review process has revealed different issues in the current research structure of UPI including the comprehensibility of the conducted research and the distribution of the reviewed articles. In the second study, a stage of interaction was targeted for improvement while considering the involved packaging features. The implications of the Universal Product Code (UPC) placement and the scanning technology in use have been studied with a focus on scanning process at the checkout stage. This study has approved the effect of UPC placement and scanning technology on self-checkers. The results showed that total scanning time was significantly reduced when using bi-optic scanner F(1, 28) = 20.9, p In the third study, an affordance-based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model is also proposed to help designers simultaneously consider multi-UPI stages and packaging perspectives. The model is built based on the fact that affordances provided by packages can facilitate the interaction between users and packages. Affordance properties, elicited from user’s requirements, were utilized to evaluate packaging affordances at stages of UPI. The outcomes of the model are validated by a usability testing study with results supporting the ability of the model to distinguish between packages with different overall affordance levels. Finally, a design for affordances framework is introduced to map users' requirements to packaging features, in such these requirements can be associated with affordance properties that facilitate packaging related tasks. The structure of the framework allows an affordance-driven design through linking users’ requirements for affordances and packaging features. An affordance structure matrix (ASM) was constructed to document the relationships between affordance properties and packaging features. The framework will help create alternative packaging designs while considering the link between affordance properties and packaging features. It can also locate the problems that lead to low affordance levels of packages and allow modifications on the features of impacts.</p

A Design for Affordances Framework for Product Packaging: Food Packaging Case Study

Since affordances provided by packaging features play a major role in facilitating user packaging interaction, it is important to integrate the concept of affordances into the packaging design process and to understand the interrelationships between packaging features and affordances. A framework is proposed for linking user requirements to packaging design features utilizing the concept of affordances. The framework is accomplished in two main steps; first, determine the affordances required to facilitate performing packaging-related tasks, and second, link these affordances to packaging features. Previous packaging usability studies were reviewed to elicit requirements in terms of affordance properties such as intuitiveness, responsiveness, and clarity of information. The elicited properties represent the affordances of purchase-ability, store-ability, open-ability, reopen/reclose-ability, handle-ability, unpackability, and dispose-ability. An affordance structure matrix (ASM) was built to link user requirements, represented by affordance properties, to packaging features, and to appraise the links between them. To demonstrate its functionality, the framework was applied to assessment of a food packaging design. Further, a usability study conducted with 37 users agreed with the framework outcomes. The framework systematically incorporates user requirements for affordances into the design stage, thereby allowing modifications of packaging features to improve packaging designs based on affordance measures.This article is published as Mumani, Ahmad Abdelhafiz, Richard T. Stone, and Esraa Abdelall. "A design for affordances framework for product packaging: food packaging case study." Journal of Applied Packaging Research 10, no. 4 (2018): 5. https://scholarworks.rit.edu/japr/vol10/iss4/5. Posted with permission.</p

Jughrafiyah al Qarat : Asiya, uruba, Afriqiya, Amrikiya al Syamaliyah, Amrikiya al Janubiyah, Astraliya wa Nityuzilandah, wa Jazru al Mahith al Hadi

234 hlm., 24 cm

Vastus and Patellar Protection with Range of motion Pad – Advanced Personal Protective Equipment for the Lower Body

The standard knee pad is considered the most ineffective personal protective equipment in the American football player’s uniform. This study quantitatively and qualitatively assesses personal protective equipment for the lower body for U.S. football players against the VAPPR Pad (Vastus And Patellar Protection with Range of motion), the next iteration of lower body protection. The study consisted of player surveys, material drop testing, and Performance Drill testing including broad-jump, L-drill, pro-agility, and gait analysis with 138 participants in the initial survey and 25 men in the physical testing. Results of the Performance Drill Testing proved that unpadded players perform at higher levels than padded players; established no difference in performance between the unpadded players and players wearing the VAPPR Pad; and validated the VAPPR Pad’s superiority to the standard knee pad.This is a manuscript of a proceeding published as Stone, Richard T., Brandon Moeller, Thomas Schnieders, and Ahmad Mumani. "Vastus and Patellar Protection with Range of motion Pad–Advanced Personal Protective Equipment for the Lower Body." In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 62, no. 1 (2018): 1363-1367. DOI: 10.1177%2F1541931218621311. Posted with permission.</p

Fuzzy-FMEA Theory Approach for Prioritizing Supply Chain Nervousness Factors

Global supply chain shocks and interruptions underscore the importance of supply chain nervousness (SCN). A clear understanding of nervousness in the event of a crisis allows an organization to make a good plan to deal with interruptions and future shocks. This study aims to develop a model for assessing nervousness parameters in the supply chains (SCs) by incorporating the fuzzy-FMEA theory and gray correlation approach to rank the SCN factors. The integrated model used in this study can improve the accuracy of outcomes when uncertainty exists in the SCN data. The results show that the most important nervousness factors are SC planning, visibility, stability, decision support systems, and SC flexibility. The developed SCN approach allows understanding and prioritizing SCN factors with more realistic and effective assessment. Findings offer beneficial insights for SCN prevention, and suggestions are made to identify nervousness mitigations. The outcomes of this research can be used by researchers and SC specialists to develop decision support systems