Designing for Aesthetic Experiences from the Body and Felt-Sense

Third Wave Human Computer Interaction (HCI) has opened the door for research agendas placing the lived body in the centre of discussion. However, aspects such as the articulation of aesthetic experiences, as well as the transference of somatic values into the design practice require more systematic methods to analyse, articulate and frame those values into practical design solutions. Recognising this gap, this thesis investigates the use of bodily self-awareness and subjective experience as a material for accessing discoveries, by integrating theoretical and practical principles from Eugene Gendlin’s psychosomatic technique Focusing into the fields of design and HCI. Particularly important is Gendlin’s notion of felt sense, which can be defined as a state; a complex bodily sense of implicit knowing, consisting of an implicit source of sensations, feelings, memories, thoughts and other manifestations difficult to label through straightforward definitions. These manifestations are carefully articulated and documented by those who experience the felt-sense, becoming the material capture of aesthetic experiences used for research and practice. The research questions are developed around how aesthetic qualities emerging from the interaction with the felt-sense, objects and technology assist in the meaning-generation process, and how these outcomes can be utilised in design practice. In terms of methodology, this thesis is inspired by phenomenological research, and follows the conventions of design-oriented research towards the generation of knowledge for design. Four studies were run, dealing with the exploration of novel design methods, and the use of sensory stimuli on the body during the practice of Focusing. As a result, this thesis contributes with a set of Focusing-oriented design methods dealing with different stages of the design process, ranging from inspiration, data collection, ideation, evaluation and prototyping

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Compilación de Proyectos de Investigacion de 1984-2002

Instituto Politecnico Nacional. UPIICS