2,233 research outputs found
Observations on Pervasive Information Systems Design
No full textThis paper seeks to lay out a number of observations on Pervasive information systems design that have been made during the Chawton House project, an augmented field trip for school children. After laying out the Chawton House case study, the information infrastructure is described and arising issues are examined concerning design for persistence, empowerment of non technical users, and re-use
Scaling Circular Collaborations in Cities through engagement
No full textCircular economy has gained traction within companies resulting in many exploring new product and business model combinations. Yet, to transition towards a circular economy on a societal level requires going beyond new product and market-based opportunities. To enable societal level change, ecosystem-level innovations are important and so collaboration plays a key role. Cities are considered in this paper as hubs of innovation playing a key role in transitioning to a circular economy. They are responsible for 80% of global resource consumption, with a high concentration of capital, data and talent spread over a relatively small geographic area; making them an important part of societal level transitions. The current work stresses the need to understand and support collaborations in transitioning towards a circular economy. This paper explores what factors influence collaborations and how organizations collaborate for a circular economy in the context of cities. An initial literature review resulted in a framework for exploration, which informed the set-up of the questionnaire. This helped in conducting semi-structured interviews with people ranging from founders, designers to engineers from six circular start-ups, which operate and utilize the resources in cities; to understand how different organisations collaborate in cities. Results showed they focus on operationalizing their innovation through engagement with various stakeholders. As they increased their visibility in cities showcasing their value, increasing the ways and number of engagements, the organisation engaged with people and organisations having similar values and grew by scaling through engagement. This paper elaborates the idea of scaling through engagement as a way for circular organisations to scale.Design for SustainabilityDesign Conceptualization and Communicatio
Letter from Governor Ben Fitzpatrick, Wetumpka, Alabama, to Charles Manly, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, April 27, 1869
No full textThis item is from the Manly Family papers. The collection includes the papers of Basil Manly, president of the University of Alabama, 1837-1855, and a founder of Furman University, which reflect the history of the period as well as his life as theologian and educator. It also contains materials created and gathered by other Manly family members, including his sons Basil and Charles, president of Furman University, 1881-1897
A toolkit to explore lived experience of motivation: When words are not enough
No full textDesigning to support motivation is an increasingly important issue, especially as pervasive technologies are used to facilitate various healthy behaviour changes. There are many motivation theories but these do not map specifically to inform design. In ‘Motivating Mobility’ we explore the lived experiences of motivation of people with stroke, in order to design rehabilitation technologies. Motivation varies between people, between contexts and over time and can be ‘difficult to express’, particularly for those with communication problems. We describe development of a theoretically based toolkit, principled in both content and form, and using multiple modes of communication, aimed at gathering motivational requirements in order to inspire design. We show use of the toolkit, discuss the rich data collected and reflect on how well the approach works and ties requirements, via their elicitation tool, back to theory. This toolkit has potential to inform design for motivational effect in similar pervasive health applications
A case study of the D4R laptop
No full textThe D4R (Design for recycling, repair, refurbishment and reuse) laptop was developed in conjunction with MicroPro Computers (MPC), a Dublin-based computer manufacturer. MPC formed an industrial network with end-of-life information technology (IT) asset management firms, IT refurbishers, component manufacturers and local industries to produce a new design that has created a new use for their wastes, thus turning waste into resources. This has been made possible through: D4R product design features that facilitate integration of by-product materials and components into the manufacturing process; the creation of an industrial network of suppliers and local assembly agencies permitting industrial metabolism of by-product materials and components into state-of-the-art laptop products; and the creation of a resource exchange platform that increases the visibility of by-products to be incorporated in newly manufactured systems. MPC has been able to successfully manufacture a universal shell composed of a motherboard and a six-cell lithium battery, encapsulated in a wooden housing structure. The shell is capable of accepting new laptop system components and also has the ability to integrate various diverse parts and components, and parts and components of different specifications. The proposed manufacturing model illustrates an entirely novel approach to industrial networking in computer manufacturing for the purpose of eliminating waste and creating valuable by-products
The level of education and loss of earning capacity for Wisconsin worker's compensation claimants
No full textPlan BLoss of earning capacity is only one brief component of Worker’s Compensation. There are many factors involved in determining a person’s level of loss of earnings. Level of education is a factor that will affect a person’s lost earning capacity. In this study, the educational level of the individual will be correlated with their estimated loss of earning capacity
Buying new or refurbished?: The influence of the product's durability and attractiveness, contamination risk and consumers' environmental concern on purchase intentions of refurbished and new products
No full textThis research investigates how a durable and attractive product appearance, the perceived contamination risk, and consumers' environmental concern influence the purchase intentions of refurbished products. Consumers often have lower purchase intentions of refurbished products because they associate them with lower durability and fear that they are contaminated with a former user's traces. The environmental friendliness and lower price incentivise consumers to purchase refurbished products. Limitations of prior research are that it has focused strongly on qualitative research, and a comparison to the factors influencing the adoption of new products is lacking. This research contributes by investigating which factors significantly influence the purchase intentions of refurbished products. It additionally aims to uncover how these factors differ from those influencing purchase intentions of new products. In an online survey, we exposed 351 participants to a blender or headphones and informed them that product was either new or refurbished. Two versions for each product were created to vary in terms durability and attractiveness. Participants rated multi-item constructs on products' durability, attractiveness, contamination risk, their environmental concern and indicated their purchase intentions. The results indicate that product-related factors, such as durability and attractiveness, are important across the different phases of a circular life. Other factors, such as the contamination risk and the consumers' environmental concern, however, play an essential role in the decision to purchase refurbished products specifically. Underlining the cleanness of refurbished products and that they are a sustainable choice could be worthwhile strategies for increasing the desirability of refurbished products.Marketing and Consumer ResearchDesign, Organisation and Strateg
"No Fun, but Very Effective": Consumers' Evaluation of Design Strategies for Product Care
No full textProduct care describes consumers' activities to prolong the lifetime of a product, such as repair, maintenance or careful handling. By keeping the product in a functional state, replacement can be postponed. Previous research has identified eight design strategies that can foster product care among consumers. To use these design strategies to their full potential, a deeper understanding of theireffectiveness is needed. The current study aimed to evaluate the design strategies with consumers. We conducted interviews with 15 consumers and discussed the effectiveness of our strategies for product care in the consumers’ daily life. Results indicate that the effectiveness of our strategies varies over products and product categories. A combination of strategies seems to be the most promising approach for fostering product care among consumers. Our research contributes to the scientific knowledge byproviding deeper insights into the conditions under which design strategies for product care are most effective.Marketing and Consumer ResearchDesign, Organisation and Strateg
Reviving the milk man:: Consumers’ evaluations of circular reusable packaging offers
No full textThe question of prolonging the lifetime of food packages before they are disposed of has largely been overlooked. Yet, reusing packaging could bring interesting environmental benefits. In this research, we take a consumer perspective and test whether returnable packaging for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) has the potential to be adopted by consumers. The results of two experimental studies show that evaluations of returnable packaging are generally positive. Consumers perceive returnable packages as much more eco-friendly than their disposable counterparts, and the product inside as more qualitative even though the tested products were sensitive (i.e. yoghurt and ice-cream). In addition, they are more likely to recommend a product sold in a returnable packaging and high environmentally concerned individuals are more likely to repurchase it. However, when signs of usage resulting from multiple uses were introduced on the returnable packaging, attitudes were generally less positive and individuals were also less likely to recommend and repurchase the product. These results highlight the importance of downplaying the negative effects of signs of usage in the design of returnable packaging.Marketing and Consumer Researc
Measurement of the ratio of prompt χ c to J / ψ production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV
No full textThe prompt production of charmonium χ c and J / ψ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The χ c and J / ψ mesons are identified through their decays χ c → J / ψ γ and J / ψ → μ + μ - using 36 pb - 1 of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for χ c and J / ψ, σ (χ c → J / ψ γ) / σ (J / ψ), is determined as a function of the J / ψ transverse momentum in the range 2 < p T J / ψ < 15 GeV / c. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low p T J / ψ region
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