More-than-human media architecture

We consider some of the planetary conditions and global circumstances that both research and practice of media architecture are embedded within, such as climate change, pollution, resource consumption, and loss of biodiversity. While there has been a notable increase in emphasis on participation and engagement in design and use, with the aim to increase the involvement of diverse and often marginalised citizens, a human-centred approach to media architecture comes with its own set of problems. In this paper, we want to draw the attention of the media architecture community to the fallacy of human exceptionalism and anthropocentrism. We present a critical review of examples of media architecture projects and installations that question our understanding of urban space as separate from nature, and designed primarily for humans and just humans. Informed by studies in disciplines such as science and technology studies, critical geography, urban planning, and interaction design, we use insights derived from our review to discuss ways towards a more-than-human approach to media architecture. We conclude by proposing for discussion nascent design considerations for media architecture to go beyond the needs of just humans and to consider new ways to appreciate and cater for our broader ecological entanglements with plants, animals, and the environment at large

The effect of preferred music on mental workload and laparoscopic surgical performance in a simulated setting (OPTIMISE): a randomized controlled crossover study

Background: Worldwide, music is commonly played in the operation room. The effect of music on surgical performance reportedly has varying results, while its effect on mental workload and key surgical stressor domains has only sparingly been investigated. Therefore, the aim is to assess the effect of recorded preferred music versus operating room noise on laparoscopic task performance and mental workload in a simulated setting. Methods: A four-sequence, four-period, two-treatment, randomized controlled crossover study design was used. Medical students, novices to laparoscopy, were eligible for inclusion. Participants were randomly allocated to one of four sequences, which decided the exposure order to music and operation room noise during the four periods. Laparoscopic task performance was assessed through motion analysis with a laparoscopic box simulator. Each period consisted of ten alternating peg transfer tasks. To account for the learning curve, a preparation phase was employed. Mental workload was assessed using the Surgery Task Load Index. This study was registered with the Netherlands Trial Register (NL7961). Results: From October 29, 2019 until March 12, 2020, 107 participants completed the study, with 97 included for analyzation. Laparoscopic task performance increased significantly during the preparation phase. No significant beneficial effect of music versus operating room noise was observed on time to task completion, path length, speed, or motion smoothness. Music significantly decreased mental workload, reflected by a lower score of the total weighted Surgery Task Load Index in all but one of the six workload dimensions. Conclusion: Music significantly reduced mental workload overall and of several previously identified key surgical stressor domains, and its use in the operating room is reportedly viewed favorably. Music did not significantly improve laparoscopic task performance of novice laparoscopists in a simulated setting. Although varying results have been reported previously, it seems that surgical experience and task demand are more determinative

Winst & weidevogels: weidemaatregelen voor (functionele agro-)biodiversiteit

In het project Winst & Weidevogels is samen met collectieven en melkveehouders gewerkt aan meer biodiversiteit en het behoud van weidevogels. In deze brochure is de kennis, ervaring en onderzoek zoveel mogelijk gebundeld. Het levert aanbevelingen voor de praktijk