WAC/WID meets CXC/CID: A dialogue between writing studies and communication studies

We work in the same English Department doing the same kind of work—but in two very different fields. Here at Iowa State University (ISU), English includes Speech Communication and Communication Studies. We sat down to have a coffee, find out what we have in common (and do not), and speculate about the future

Simulator comparison of thumball, thumb switch, and touch screen input concepts for interaction with a large screen cockpit display format

A piloted simulation study was conducted comparing three different input methods for interfacing to a large screen, multiwindow, whole flight deck display for management of transport aircraft systems. The thumball concept utilized a miniature trackball embedded in a conventional side arm controller. The multifunction control throttle and stick (MCTAS) concept employed a thumb switch located in the throttle handle. The touch screen concept provided data entry through a capacitive touch screen installed on the display surface. The objective and subjective results obtained indicate that, with present implementations, the thumball concept was the most appropriate for interfacing with aircraft systems/subsystems presented on a large screen display. Not unexpectedly, the completion time differences between the three concepts varied with the task being performed, although the thumball implementation consistently outperformed the other two concepts. However, pilot suggestions for improved implementations of the MCTAS and touch screen concepts could reduce some of these differences

Contents, Editor\u27s Introduction

During the 1990\u27s in Western culture a range of animal issues have become important. Some old ones have taken on a new urgency and some new questions have emerged. The key philosophical question in relation to non-human animals has been how are they distinct from humans. The criteria of sentience, reason, tool-making, language, free will and culture have all had their philosophical supporters. Yet the recent studies of free ranging apes and monkeys challenge all these criteria. The research on captive bonobos2 dolphins3 and parrots4 has also raised questions about the uniqueness of language as a human trait. This has led some to argue that there is a need to re-define species boundaries or at least to re-think what it is that makes us human as distinct from animal. While others take the view that even embarking on the latter project is pointless and borne from human arrogance. Whatever one\u27s position, the certainties in this area are gone

Why animal ethics committees don\u27t work

Animal ethics committees have been set up in many countries as a way to scrutinize animal experimentation and to assure the public that if animals are used in research then it is for a worthwhile cause and suffering is kept to a minimum. The ideals of Refinement, Reduction and Replacement are commonly upheld. However, while refinement and reduction receive much attention in animal ethics committees, the replacement of animals is much more difficult to incorporate into the committees’ deliberations. At least in Australia there are certain structural reasons for this but it is likely that most of the reasons why replacement is left out apply to other countries as well

Book reviews / Book notes

Clinton R. Sanders, Understanding Dogs: Living and Working with Canine Companions, xviii + 201pp, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 1999 / Savage-Rumbaugh, Sue, Shanker, Stuart G. and Taylor, Talbot J., Apes, Language and the Human Mind, vii + 244pp., Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998 / Dolins, Francine L ed., Attitudes to Animals: Views in Animal Welfare, x + 262 pp., Cambridge University Press, Oxford, 1999 / Manguel, Alberto, ed., By the Light of the Glow-Worm Lamp: Three Centuries of Reflections on Nature, ix + 373pp., Plenum Trade, New York, 1998 / Payne, Katy, Silent Thunder: The Hidden Voice of Elephants, 288pp., Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1998

Book notes

Orlans, Barbara R., Beauchamp, Tom L., Dresser, Rebecca, Morton, David B. and Gluck, John, P., The Human Use of Animals: Case Studies in Ethical Choice, xi + 330 pp., Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998 / Skutch, Alexander F., The Minds of Birds, xvi + 183pp., Texas A & M University Press, College Station, Texas, 1996 / Russon, Anne, Bard, Kim A., Parker, Sue Taylor, eds., Reaching into thought : The minds of the great apes, xii + 464pp., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996 / Mech, L. David, Adams, Layne G., Meier, Thomas J., Burch, John W. and Dale, Bruce W., The Wolves of Denali, x + 238pp., University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1998

Animal Issues 4(2) 2000, complete issue

Complete issue

An Interview with Professor Peter Singer

An interview conducted by Denise Russell with Professor Peter Singer

Book review / book notes

Rogers, Lesley, Minds o f Their Own: Thinking and Awareness in Animals, 212pp., Allen and Unwin, St.Leonards, New South Wales, 1997 / Dennett, Daniel, Kinds o f minds, x + 244pp., Phoenix, London, 1996 / Hoeg, Peter, The Woman and the Ape, 229pp. Harvill Press, London, 1996 / Carruthers, Peter and and Smith, Peter K, editors, Theories o f theories o f mind, xv + 390pp., Cambridge Univesity Press, Cambridge, 1996