1,721,021 research outputs found
Indoor Air Quality: Opportunities for behaviour change towards healthier offices, a two-part report
No full textThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned the University of Southampton to conduct a systematic review of interventions aimed at improving awareness or changing behaviours in respect to indoor air quality (IAQ). The brief included an overview of behaviour change theories, the systematic review itself, and based on the results of the systematic review, suggestions for the design of IAQ interventions. The purpose of this research is to provide a focus on the sphere of influence available to building occupants themselves with respect to IAQ, rather than on engineered solutions which are a focus for existing research. Specifically this research aims to understand the options, actions and behaviour change possibilities available to building occupants to affect and improve their IAQ on a day to day basis
Fixing the alignment: an exploration of budgeting practices in the home
No full textBudgeting is an important means of controlling ones finances and reducing debt. This paper outlines our work towards designing more user centred technology for individual and household budgeting. Based on an ethnographically informed study with 15 participants, we highlight a misalignment between people's actual budgeting practices and those supported by off-the-shelf budgeting aids. In addressing this misalignment we outline three tenets that may be incorporated into future work in this area. These include (1) catering for the different phases of engagement with technology; (2) catering for the practices of hiding and limiting access to money, and; (3) integrating materiality into technical solution
Beyond demand management: the value of sharing electricity information
No full textTechnologies such as smart meters and electricity feedback are becoming an increasingly compelling focus for HCI researchers in light of rising power prices and peak demand. We argue, however, that a pre-occupation with the goal of demand management has limited the scope of design for these technologies. In this paper we present our work-in-progress investigating the potential value of socially sharing electricity information as a means of broadening the scope of design for these devices. This paper outlines some preliminary findings gathered from a design workshop and a series of qualitative interviews with householders in Brisbane, Australia, regarding their attitudes towards electricity feedback and sharing consumption information. Preliminary findings suggest that; (1) the social sharing of electricity feedback information has the potential to be of value in better informing consumption decisions, however; (2) the potential for sharing may be constrained by attitudes towards privacy, trust and the possibility of misinformation being shared. We conclude by outlining ideas for our future research on this topic and invite comments on these ideas
Virginia Snow Stephen
No full textVirginia Snow Stephen, in a photo from Gibbs M. Smith\u27s book on Joe Hill, was the daughter of LDS Church prophet Lorenzo Snow, a member of the faculty at the University of Utah, a public figure for her advocation of worker\u27s rights and opposition to capital punishment, and a sympathizer to Joe Hill
Fostering collaboration in the management of family finances
No full textManaging finances is a practice carried out daily in homes across the world. Despite this, the practice is not yet a strong focus for HCI work in the home. This paper looks specifically at the ways that families organise and manage their finances. Based on a process of in-situ qualitative interviews, we find that money management is often a collaborative process in the family and occurs in a similar way to other household tasks; as part of existing divisions of domestic labour. Participating families reflected upon the creative and often low-tech systems they used to manage their finances and ideas they had for 'ideal' technologies that would better help them organise their money. This paper presents ideas for fostering collaboration around family finances. Design propositions are made towards a Family Holiday Expense Tracker and family-situated bill payment reminder, both of which aim to encourage whole-of-family collaboration around money management and better including children in what is, at-present, an activity they are largely excluded from
Transportation behaviours of older adults: an investigation into car dependency in urban Australia
No full textAim: Increased car dependency amongst Australia's ageing population may result in increased social isolation and other health impacts associated with the cessation of driving. While public transport represents an alternative to car usage, patronage remains low amongst senior cohorts. This study investigates the facilitators and barriers to public transport patronage and the nature of car dependence among older Australians. Method: Data was gathered from a sample of 24 adults (mean = 70.33 years) through a combination of quantitative (remote behavioural observation) and qualitative (interviews) investigation. Results: Findings suggest factors of relative convenience, affordability and health/mobility dictate choices of transport mode. The car is considered more convenient for the majority of suburban trips irrespective of the availability of public transport. Conclusion: Policy attention should focus on providing better education and information regarding driving cessation and addressing aged-specific social aspects of public transport including the accommodation of various health and mobility issues
Data for: Exploring the physiological, neurophysiological and cognitive performance effects of elevated Carbon Dioxide concentrations indoors
No full textThis supplementary data package contains the following documents:
"All testing materials-2.docx" = Microsoft Word document containing the full experimental protocol including all the questionnaires, subjective information to be elicited, instructions for the participants. This document is of sufficient detail for the protocol to be reproduced by others.
"CO2 level continuous.xlsx" = Microsoft Excel document containing data for the CO2 concentration experienced by all participants and aggregate graphs of CO2 concentration.
"Study2_SharedPure(raw data).sav" = SPSS file containing all participants demographics, data for physiological, neurophysiological, questionnaire responses and all other recorded parameters.
"Study 2 Test_battery_details.docx" = Microsoft Word document with further details of the cognitive performance test batteries used and links to the test battery provider's website.
ReadMe.txt = Text file describing the information above.
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Social organization of household finance: understanding artful financial systems in the home
No full textIn this paper we discuss results of a field study focused on understanding the ways money and financial issues are handled within family settings. Families develop 'systems' or methods through which they coordinate and manage their everyday financial activities. Through an analysis of our fieldwork data collected from fifteen families, we provide several examples of such systems, highlighting their qualities and illustrating how such systems come to support the handling of financial activities in the home. Our results show that these systems are developed with a careful consideration of familial values, relationships and routines; and incorporate the use of physical and digital tools. Consequently, we suggest that design should consider the use and non-use of technology when supporting household financial management, taking into account the richness of families' existing organically formed practices surrounding financial systems. Finally, our findings point to the fact that financial management in the domestic setting is socially organized and is closely connected to supporting everyday household activities
More than just food: field visits to an emergency relief centre
No full textEmergency relief centres provide financial, housing, food and other types of support to families and individuals who experience financial hardship. These centres are non-profit, often government supported organizations that rely on the help of their volunteers and social workers. This paper reports on our preliminary findings from field visits to one such centre called Communify, in the inner west of Brisbane, Australia. Communify runs an emergency food relief facility for people who find themselves in a crisis or temporarily unable to afford groceries. Over a period of five months, we did several field visits to the centre and carried out 21 short in-situ interviews, with a mix of Communify clients and volunteers. Our results shed light on people's experiences of financial hardship and their interactions with the emergency relief centre. In particular, issues related to their perceived values and stigmas associated with their experiences are highlighted in our findings. We identify opportunities for design that can empower people struggling with financial hardship
Passive consumers no more: Experiences with students producing video materials for assessment in HCI
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