Social appropriation of new technologies

The social appropriation of new technologies refers to technological and social processes of mediation in the interaction between social actors and technological devices. As such, the concept transcends relatively straightforward ideas of access and use of technology to focus on: how users develop technological and cognitive competences; the meaningful integration of the technological devices into subjects’ everyday lives and behaviour; the active and creative production of meaning; social mediation within communities of users; and the way that the interests of communities of users are represented in public spaces. This text outlines the key concepts and debates in the appropriation of new technologies through a genealogical reconstruction of relevant academic traditions, including, amongst others, cultural studies and the sociology of the uses of new technologies. This interdisciplinary approach takes into account the technical, cognitive, educational and communicative dimensions of new technologies and how they may be useful for understanding contemporary processes of technological change

La influencia del dibujo de Choisy en España: notas para su estudio

El objetivo de esta comunicación es ofrecer una primera aproximación, inevitablemente parcial aún y no exhaustiva sobre su influencia en España ciñéndonos a la cuestión de su influencia sobre la representación gráfica. Para ello analizaremos los dibujos realizados por una selección de arquitectos e historiadores españoles en diversas publicaciones aparecidas entre el final del XIX y los primeros años del XX y los relacionaremos con los dibujos de Auguste Choisy y otros autores franceses directamente influidos por el

Modelos epistemológicos de referencia en el análisis de la actividad matemática en libros de texto: el caso del número en la escuela infantil

El análisis de los procesos de transposición didáctica es un importante dominio de investigación en didáctica de las matemáticas. En este artículo planteamos la necesidad del investigador de elaborar sus propios modelos epistemológicos de referencia cuando aborda el análisis de procesos transpositivos. En particular, nos centramos en la enseñanza y el aprendizaje del “número” en la Educación Infantil. Proponemos un modelo epistemológico alternativo del número en dicha institución, que utilizamos para el análisis de manuales escolares, identificando algunos problemas y fenómenos didácticos

Los dibujos de arquitectura gótica española de George E. Street

Between 1861 and 1863 the British architect George E. Street made several trips in order to study the Spanish gothic architecture, not so well known until then. He published afterwards, in 1865, a book entitled Some Account of Gothic Architecture in Spain which became the standard reference on the issue for generations of British and Spanish scholars. His work was supported by an incredible amount of reliable drawings he managed to create on the spot, that were enthusiastically greeted by critics and historians of the architecture. In this paper we will trace the path of his journeys and present the catalogue of his Spanish sketchbooks, analyzing his technique -in the context of his forerunners- and its reception in the academic world, both in Spain and England

Beyond Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: The Network Structure of Multidimensional Psychosis Liability in Adolescents

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of the present study was to analyze the network structure of schizotypy dimensions in a representative sample of adolescents from the general population. Moreover, the network structure between schizotypy, mental health difficulties, subjective well-being, bipolar-like experiences, suicide ideation and behavior, psychotic-like experiences, positive and negative affect, prosocial behavior, and IQ was analyzed. METHOD: The study was conducted in a sample of 1,506 students selected by stratified random cluster sampling. The Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire, the Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children, the Paykel Suicide Scale, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children Shortened Version, and the Matrix Reasoning Test were used. RESULTS: The estimated schizotypy network was interconnected. The most central nodes in terms of standardized Expected Influence (EI) were 'unusual perceptual experiences' and 'paranoid ideation'. Predictability ranged from 8.7% ('physical anhedonia') to 52.7% ('unusual perceptual experiences'). The average predictability was 36.27%, implying that substantial variability remained unexplained. For the multidimensional psychosis liability network predictability values ranged from 9% (estimated IQ) to 74.90% ('psychotic-like experiences'). The average predictability was 43.46%. The results of the stability and accuracy analysis indicated that all networks were accurately estimated. CONCLUSIONS: The present paper points to the value of conceptualizing psychosis liability as a dynamic complex system of interacting cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and affective characteristics. In addition, provide new insights into the nature of the relationships between schizotypy, as index of psychosis liability, and the role played by risk and protective factors.Swiss National Science Foundation (100019_159440)Europa FEDER La Rioja 2014-2020 (SRS 6FRSABC026

Controlled surface manipulation at the nanometer scale based on the atomic force microscope

The object of this thesis is the development of theoretical and experimental methods for the controlled manipulation of surfaces at the nanometer scale, including the design, construction and experimental demonstration of an atomic force microscope (AFM) based manipulator. The transfer function description of an AFM system not only offers a theoretical dynamic characterization but, additionally, it is appropriate for the analysis of stability and controllability of different system configurations, i.e. different inputs and outputs. In this thesis, transfer functions are derived that correspond to a realistic model of the AFM sensor, including all its resonance modes and the tip-sample interaction. This theoretical description is then validated using the frequency response along an AFM cantilever. Different experimental and control techniques have been combined in the NanoManipulator system to optimize AFM lithography. Optical video microscopy allows a fast recognition of the sample and exact positioning of the AFM tip in the particular region of interest, while UV-laser ablation offers the possibility of noncontact manipulation of a wide range of materials, including biological specimens. Two different control approaches have been implemented in the NanoManipulator system: (i) automated control using a vector-scan module, and (ii) interactive control based on the use of a haptic interface. Using the NanoManipulator, the two different standard AFM lithography techniques based on dynamic methods (namely dynamic and modulated plowing) are compared by performing nanopatterning on thin resist films. The results reflect that modulated plowing, where the AFM tip is in permanent contact with the resist surface while the force is being modulated, offers the highest reliability, minimizing undesired side effects. The isolation and extraction of localized regions of human metaphase chromosomes represents a promising alternative to standard methods for the analysis of genetic material. The NanoManipulator is an excellent tool for such application, as it is here illustrated by comparing AFM based mechanical dissection and noncontact ablation on side by side chromosomes. The results are analyzed in situ using AFM imaging, revealing the high precision of mechanical dissection. Acoustical force nanolithography is a novel method for AFM based lithography where the cantilever is actuated using an acoustic wave coupled through the sample surface. The influence of acoustic wave frequency and magnitude, along with the preloading force of the cantilever are studied in detail. Acoustical force nanolithography can be used as a stand alone method or as a complement for the fine adjustment of manipulation forces