iPod tours: a new approach to induction

This article is based on a presentation given at a conference organized by cpd 25 in April 2007; “The Library in the Interactive Environment: Practical use of technology to improve the student experience”. It describes the development and creation of an iPod induction tour for the Main Library at Sheffield University, with input from students. It also discusses the use and evaluation of the tour, and concludes by describing how the Library is using the experience to consider other technologies to introduce our students to library services

N<i>e</i>XOS – the design, development and evaluation of a rehabilitation system for the lower limbs

Recent years have seen the development of a number of automated and semi-automated systems to support for physiotherapy and rehabilitation. These deploy a range of technologies from highly complex purpose built systems to approaches based around the use of industrial robots operating either individually or in combination for applications ranging from stroke to mobility enhancement. The NeXOS project set out to investigate an approach to the rehabilitation of the lower limbs in a way which brought together expertise in engineering design and mechatronics with specilists in rehabilitation and physiotherapy. The resulting system has resulted in a prototype of a system which is capable in operating in a number of modes from fully independent to providing direct support to a physiotherapist during manipulation of the limb. Designed around a low cost approach for an implementation ultimately capable of use in a patients home using web-baased strategies for communication with their support team, the prototype NeXOS system has validated the adoption of an integrated approach to its development. The paper considers this design and development process and provides the results from the initial tests with physiotherapists to establish the operational basis for clinical implementation

Key factors influencing the sustained growth of high-tech SMEs in South Korea - the perspectives of founder owner-managers

Purpose This paper explores key factors influencing high performing, sustained growth, high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study is adopted to explore seventeen founder owner-managers of high-tech SMEs who sustained consistent employment growth, greater than the industry average, for 7 years. Within the sample, those with higher (10% or over) employment Compound Annual Growth Rates over this period are also compared to those with lower rates. Findings The study suggests that proactive approaches, such as flexible organization, risk manage-ment, fast decision making, and international market entry, are seen as important contrib-uting factors to sustained growth. These findings contribute to a better theoretical and empir-ical understanding of sustained high-tech SME growth, in a country with a strong entrepre-neurial and internationally competitive Information Technology sector. Also, collaboration across the SME was perceived as making an important contribution to staff growth, con-sistent with stewardship theory. Research limitations/implications The sample is based on successful high-tech SMEs, so there are limitations in extrapolating results to other types of firms, sectors or countries. Practical implications Key factors identified in this study can be considered by entrepreneurs seeking to achieve sustainable business. These also provide improved understanding for policy makers into the complexity of factors related to sustained and high growth of technology-based SMEs, which many countries are keen to foster to aid national economic growth. Originality/value The research provides new evidence exploring the diverse perspectives of founder owner-managers, on the sustained growth and failure in South Korean high-tech SMEs, and how these have changed since the inception of their business

The interaction between transpolar arcs and cusp spots

Transpolar arcs and cusp spots are both auroral phenomena which occur when the interplanetary magnetic field is northward. Transpolar arcs are associated with magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, which closes magnetic flux and results in a "wedge" of closed flux which remains trapped, embedded in the magnetotail lobe. The cusp spot is an indicator of lobe reconnection at the high-latitude magnetopause; in its simplest case, lobe reconnection redistributes open flux without resulting in any net change in the open flux content of the magnetosphere. We present observations of the two phenomena interacting--i.e., a transpolar arc intersecting a cusp spot during part of its lifetime. The significance of this observation is that lobe reconnection can have the effect of opening closed magnetotail flux. We argue that such events should not be rare

Homes of stroke survivors are a challenging environment for rehabilitation technologies

The design of digital technologies that support poststroke rehabilitation at home has been a topic of research for some time. If technology is to have a large-scale impact on rehabilitation practice, then we need to understand how to create technologies that are appropriate for the domestic environment and for the needs and motivations of those living there. This paper reflects on the research conducted in the Motivating Mobility project (UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council: EP/F00382X/1). We conducted sensitizing studies to develop a foundational understanding of the homes of stroke survivors, participatory design sessions situated in the home, and experimental deployments of prototype rehabilitation technologies. We identified four challenges specific to the homes of stroke survivors and relevant to the deployment of rehabilitation technologies: identifying a location for rehabilitation technology, negotiating social relationships present in the home, avoiding additional stress in households at risk of existential stress, and providing for patient safety. We conclude that skilled workers may be needed to enable successful technology deployment, systematizing the mapping of the home may be beneficial, and education is a viable focus for rehabilitation technologies

RICHARD Project: Regional ICT based Clusters for Healthcare Applications and R&D Integration.

The use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT), in particular telehealth, can be clinically effective for the treatment and management of individuals with a number of long-term conditions (McClean et al, 2011). However, the integration of scalable telehealth technologies and interventions into clinical practice has been slow to develop; due in part to a lack of regional organisational models that facilitate the reorganisation of health provisions. In order to meet the challenges of switching from an application based model of care to a comprehensive and sustainable chronic care model the RICHARD Project has been developed. The Regional ICT based Clusters for Healthcare Applications and R&amp;D Integration (RICHARD) is a € 2, 750. 000 European Commission Seventh Framework Programme, Regions of Knowledge Health, funded partnership between 15 partners involving industry, academia, the health service and local government across 4 European clusters; Italy, United Kingdom (UK), Sweden and Poland. Aims and objectives: The consortium aims are to enhance and promote the study of new or promising European territorial clinical models of ICT-based in the field of home care applied to the management of chronic conditions. To this end a number of work packages were proposed including (WP1) Project management, (WP2) SWOT analysis of regional ICT models for the delivery of care in chronic pathologies, (WP3) the development of a Joint Action Plan (JAP), (WP4) Measures towards the implementation of the JAP, (WP5) Mentoring activities and (WP6) Dissemination and communication. Results: A strong coordination of research resources and innovation stakeholders has been clearly identified. A JAP has been developed inspired by medium-long term vision that looks at e-health services into perspective of economic growth for the European regions along the principles of open competition for better and pan-European healthcare services. United Kingdom partners have taken the lead on (WP4) 'Measures towards the implementation of the JAP'. The work package comprises the organisation of a number of regional healthcare manager study tours on ICT applications and multiple research brokerage workshops; the latter has been developed with the purpose of creating networks and stimulating collaboration, resulting in developed research applications for regional, national and international bids. Finally, to further develop and raise the profile of less advanced regions involved in the project a series of mentoring activities are underway. A significant output from the project is the Ready, Steady, Go toolkit for telehealth deployment at scale http://www.richardproject.eu/richard/publications.html Conclusions: On a national level the RICHARD project builds on the 3millionlives initiative (2012) and provides an excellent example of how industry, health and social care can work with the academic community to the benefit of both the health and wealth of a region

Sensor optimization in smart insoles for post-stroke gait asymmetries using total variation and L1 distances

By deploying pressure sensors on insoles, the forces exerted by the different parts of the foot when performing tasks standing up can be captured. The number and location of sensors to use are important factors in order to enhance the accuracy of parameters used in assessment while minimizing the cost of the device by reducing the number of deployed sensors. Selecting the best locations and the required number of sensors depends on the application and the features that we want to assess. In this paper, we present a computational process to select the optimal set of sensors to characterize gait asymmetries and plantar pressure patterns for stroke survivors based upon the total variation and L1 distances. The proposed mechanism is ecologically validated in a real environment with 14 stroke survivors and 14 control users. The number of sensors is reduced to 4, minimizing the cost of the device both for commercial users and companies and enhancing the cost to benefit ratio for its uptake from a national healthcare system. The results show that the sensors that better represent the gait asymmetries for healthy controls are the sensors under the big toe and midfoot and the sensors in the forefoot and midfoot for stroke survivors. The results also show that all four regions of the foot (toes, forefoot, midfoot, and heel) play an important role for plantar pressure pattern reconstruction for stroke survivors, while the heel and forefoot region are more prominent for healthy controls

Exploring the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Syrian Refugees in the UK

Purpose Few studies have sought to explore the issue of entrepreneurial intention within refugees, despite wide recognition of refugee entrepreneurial potential. This paper explores entrepreneurial intention amongst recently arrived Syrian refugees in the UK, including the role that the migration experience plays in shaping these intentions. Design/methodology/approach This paper follows an interpretive phenomenological research approach, contextualised within the entrepreneurial intention literature. It draws on data collected from in-depth interviews with 9 Syrian refugees, five of whom arrived independently and four of whom arrived via the UK Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement (VPR) Programme. Findings All participants were found to have strong perceptions of desirability towards entrepreneurship. Individuals who arrived independently demonstrated more confidence in their abilities, and in turn somewhat stronger start-up intentions. The findings indicate that the personal development of independent refugee arrivals linked to their migration experiences may help shape the intention to engage in entrepreneurship. Research limitations As this paper draws on a small sample in a single geographic location, the findings presented are phenomenological, context specific and not necessarily applicable to other spatial locations or to other (refugee) groups. Social implications A number of practical and social implications are provided. Support interventions focused on strengthening the perceived abilities and capabilities of refugees would be of considerable benefit. Originality/value This paper provides new and important insight into the nature of entrepreneurial intention within a novel focal group. It makes a valuable contribution to the literature by considering issues of context and process, specifically the relationship between personal forced migration experience and the perceived capability to start a business