Digital Commons Network^™

Designing On-Line Experiences: Beyond The Tyranny Of Usability., Linda Leung

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper critically examines the widely accepted principles of usability in web design. In particular, it investigates the work of Jakob Nielsen, whose name has become synonymous with 'user-friendliness' as a result of popular applications of his 'ten usability heuristics' and argument that Flash is '99% bad'. It interrogates the assumptions embedded in his research, especially the notion that web consumption is predominantly a utilitarian activity. In an infant discipline such as web design, what are the implications for students and practitioners' creative output when such ideas become its theoretical canon? What are the foreseeable consequences when knowledge in the …

A Comparative Study On Pattern In Traditional Palaces Of Korea, China And Japan., Hyun Jung Lee, Young Soon Park

DRS Biennial Conference Series

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the pattern in traditional palaces among those in the neighboring three nations of East Asia, notably Korea, China and Japan. The basic assumption underlying this particular academic study is that these northeastern Asian states have been developed a unique inter-cultural ties over long periods of time in history, culminating in their respective design cultures. Moreover, there are the similarities as well as dissimilarities more conspicuous than the traditional palaces since the traditional palace is the intensive space of the design elements and in better preservation than any other building. Thus, it would …

Generative Design: A Paradigm For Design Research., Jon Mccormack, Alan Dorin, Troy Innocent

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Generative design offers new modes of aesthetic experience based on the incorporation of system dynamics into the production of artifact and experience. In this paper, we review a number of processes that can be explored by designers and suggest how design as a discipline can benefit from this research. These processes include self-organization, swarm systems and ant colonies, evolution, and generative grammars. We give examples on the application of these processes to creativity and design.

Designing Transmutational Worlds In Game Space., Troy Innocent

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Digital games are often situated within interactive 3D spaces that create the feeling of being in ‘another world’. The limitations of realtime simulation make it necessary for compromises to made in the representation of game worlds – it is not possible to recreate every detail of ‘reality’ within these worlds. So, they are abstractions of reality that rely on the player’s mind to fill in the gaps. This paper looks at principles of world design for digital games in terms of the most significant elements needed to ‘create a world’ in the players mind. The player becomes the subject addressed …

The Big Brand: Designing A National Identity System. A New Australian Flag And Supporting Ensigns., Russell Kennedy

DRS Biennial Conference Series

The paper tests the Advance Australia National Flag in the context of an extended visual identity program. The colonial flag system used by the Britain to brand its empire has provided an insight into the possible implementation of any new Australian flag design. The flag of the colonising country assumes a position of dominance in the canton or first quarter. The individual symbol or badge of the colony is then positioned in the field (prominent back ground colour) of the flag. If it is important for Australia to retain its state flags then any new Australian flag design should consider …

Hermeneutics And Cross-Cultural Design: Reflections On Community Consultation And Collaboration By Designers In Fairfield, Sydney., Susan Stewart

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper looks at design as cultural activity and cultural production. Specifically, it looks at design of the built-environment within the context of culturally diverse communities, especially those communities within which both recent migrants and more established residents are in the process of negotiating new, cross-cultural, local identities. What is the role of the designer within such contexts? As bearer of an authoritative western professional tradition, the designer is a powerful figure within any cross-cultural negotiation. Where do the responsibilities of such professionals lie? Traditionally the answers to such questions have been guided by conceptions of the designer as either …

Indigenous Knowledge And Visual Philosophy., Norm Sheehan

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper presents Indigenous Australian knowledge as a visual philosophy founded in a relational patterning ontology that is enmeshed at all levels within the mutual, living knowledge of the world. Visual design methodologies related to Indigenous Philosophy are then applied as an explanative visual ‘text’ that examines the nature of the appearances of things to visual perception. Then the visual artefacts of Aboriginal Australia are positioned as the philosophic texts of these many diverse and individuated yet related cultures. Visual Philosophy is then applied to contemporary understandings of design and human perception as a basis for further possibilities.

Inquiry And Research In Design: A Contribution To The Mapping Of The Discipline's Development., Dennis P Doordan

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper distinguishes between inquiry and research as activities increasingly important to the design community but often confused. Based on a review of material published in the journal Design Issues during the past twenty years, it describes an emerging culture of inquiry that compliments the research culture of design now well established within the global design community. The author argues that both are essential for the development of a diverse, relevant and respected design presence in the contemporary world. Research is an activity directed to the solution of specific problems or the refinement of data and knowledge in discrete identifiable …

Socio-Cultural Factors That Impact Upon Human-Centred Design In Botswana., Richie Moalosi, Vesna Popovic, Anne Hudson

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper explores the relationship between culture and human-centred design in Botswana, a topic on which there is little previous research. The paper develops a framework of cultural analysis, comparing traditional with contemporary variables in order to develop a set of core variables that can be applicable to product design. Content analysis methodology was used to extract traditional variables from Botswana folktales, and qualitative data analysis methods were used to analyse contemporary variables. The results indicated that there is more emphasis on non-material than material variables. The paper concludes with a discussion of how to develop cultural strategies that will …

Design As A Device., Sidney Newton

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper will describe the collaborative research project as a case study in how design and other disciplines intersect. Critically, it will argue that what design brings to such a situation may have less to do with design as a particular methodology, and more to do with design as a new device for understanding and engaging with the material content of the project. The paper will argue that significant qualities otherwise (and typically) attributed to ‘the nature of design’, can in fact be accounted for through the phenomenological concept of ‘introducing’. This alternative account has clear implications for the future …

The Advocate (Vol. 2, Issue 6)

Student Newspaper (Amicus, Advocate...)

No abstract provided.

Creating User Centred Designers., Andrée Woodcock

DRS Biennial Conference Series

The failure of practicing designers and engineers to encompass ergonomics issues in their practice has long been a source of frustration for both ergonomists and customers - ergonomists, because they know their discipline could inform and benefit the end product, and customers suffer the consequences of poor design. Although the relationship between ergonomics and design has been well explored, and has led to the development of various solutions - these have not had the major impact on design that was desired. This paper looks at a new approach, through education, that might lead to the creation of more user centred …

The Inkwell, Armstrong Atlantic State University

The Inkwell

No abstract provided.

Spartan Daily, November 16, 2004, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications)

Volume 123, Issue 55

Robert Perry Dehart V. Martin Horn

2004 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

The Contribution Of Executive Functions To Emergent Mathematic Skills In Preschool Children, Kimberly Espy, Melanie D. Mcdiarmid, Mary F. Cwik, Melissa Meade Stalets, Arlena Hamby, Theresa E. Senn

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory: Faculty Publications

Mathematical ability is related to both activation of the prefrontal cortex in neuroimaging studies of adults and to executive functions in school-age children. The purpose of this study was to determine whether executive functions were related to emergent mathematical proficiency in preschool children. Preschool children (N= 96) were administered an executive function battery that was reduced empirically to working memory (WM), inhibitory control (IC), and shifting abilities by calculating composite scores derived from principal component analysis. Both WM and IC predicted early arithmetic competency, with the observed relations robust after controlling statistically for child age, maternal education, and child vocabulary. …

Additive-Assisted Cerium-Based Electrolytic Coating Process For Corrosion Protection Of Aluminum Alloys, James O. Stoffer, Thomas J. O'Keefe, Eric L. Morris, Scott Hayes, Paul Yu, Alex Williams, Xuan Lin

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The corrosion resistance of an aluminum or aluminum alloy component is enhanced by immersing an aluminum alloy to act as a cathode and an oxygen-evolving anode in an electrolyte comprising water, cerium ions, and an additive selected from among animal gelatin, derivatives of animal gelatin, and amino acids, then passing an electrical current through the electrolyte to deposit a cerium-based coating onto the aluminum-based component.

Flyer News, Vol. 52, No. 17 (Nov. 16, 2004), University Of Dayton

Flyer News

Student-run newspaper of the University of Dayton

Endocrine System, Richard A. Dienstbier

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

In complex animals the two principal systems of regulation are the endocrine system and the nervous systems. The endocrine system consists of the ductless endocrine glands, which secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. The endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system both regulate most of the involuntary functions of the body, including circulatory functions (e.g., blood pressure and heart rate), energy and arousal levels, reproductive functions, and the immune system. Another major function of endocrine hormones is to regulate tissue growth in young, developing organisms. This abbreviated summary of endocrine system responses to challenge and threat illustrates some of the …

Influence Of Water Waves On Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Of Subsurface Water Features, Charles R. Bostater Jr., Luce Bassetti

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Modeled hyperspectral reflectance signatures with water wave influences are simulated using an analytical-based, iterative radiative transport model applicable to shallow or deep waters. Light transport within the water body is simulated using a fast, accurate radiative transfer model that calculates the light distribution in any layered media and incorporates realistic water surfaces which are synthesized using empirically-based spectral models of the water surface to generate water surface wave facets. The model simulated synthetic images are displayed as 24 bit RGB images of the water surface using selected channels from the simulated synthetic hyperspectral image cube. We show selected channels centered …

Two Illinois Wesleyan Biologists Participate In Antarctica Research Expedition, Jeffery Hanna

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

Synthesizing Realistic Spine Motion Using Traditional Rig Controllers, Jabbar Raisani

Computer Science Honors Theses

This thesis presents a specific method for simulating realistic spine motion through the use of traditional rig control objects. The spine's motion and flexibility is based on a curve as opposed to the more traditional three bone spine. This allows for a more fluid animation more closely resembling that of a spinal column. However, this setup keeps the traditional three control rig setup in order to mimic the control system of a traditional three bone spine. Currently, three bone systems are well understood by animators and the motion is easy to control. The problem with this setup is that although …

What's In A Name? Keeping The Va In Arnova, Roger A. Lohmann

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

As the name suggests, Voluntary Action (VA) was one of the constituent interests in the formation of ARNOVA. The popularity of nonprofit organizations (NO) among researchers, scholars and students threatens to overwhelm the scholarly interest in voluntary action. Yet, this latter topic is both more interesting theoretically and more important to larger questions of democracy and local and national community and therefore needs to be preserved and protected.

Globalization, Ecotourism, And Development In The Monte Verde Zone, Costa Rica, Edgar Allan Amador

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ecotourism has been promoted globally as a model for sustainable development because it simultaneously benefits the environment and the residents of the given destination. However, many conservationists have questioned the long term sustainability of ecotourism as it is difficult to mitigate the impact of even low levels of tourism on a particular ecosystem. Further, social scientists including anthropologists have similarly questioned whether most residents of a particular destination actually benefit significantly from the alternative tourism economy.

The Globalization Research Center in cooperation with the Monteverde Institue in the Monte Verde Zone, Costa Rica, is undertaking a longitudinal study -- dubbed …

The Bg News November 16, 2004, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. November 16, 2004. Volume 95-Issue 59.

Lily’S Dilemma: Opposing Principles In The House Of Mirth, Debbie Lelekis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study is Lily Bart and how she maneuvers in the cold, competitive world of upper class New York. To create a framework for my investigation, I draw upon naturalistic readings of the story which portray Lily as an outsider or "other" in her society. Lily's ethical principles lead to her destruction. Her marriage problem is just an example of her rejection of the life that her society expects her to lead. As she becomes more aware of a different philosophy of life--characterized by Selden's "republic of the spirit"--she finds it impossible to abide by the rules …

The Ticker, November 15, 2004

The Ticker

The Ticker is the student newspaper of Baruch College. It has been published continuously since 1932, when the Baruch College campus was the School of Business and Civic Administration of the City College of New York.

Coulrophobia And The Trickster, Joseph Durwin

Trickster's Way

No abstract provided.

An Interview With Mine Awareness Expert Mr. Porfirio Gomez, Juan Carlos Ruan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

One of the key components of the Mine Action Program of the Organization of American States (OAS) is mine risk education (MRE). It is the belief of the program that the most important measure one can take to ensure that affected communities practice safe behavior is to educate them on the risks associated with landmines and UXO. The objective of this component is to not solely attain the reduction of the risk of injury or death by promoting safe behavior, but also provide solutions to high-risk behavior that is observed in some affected communities. This is done through a number …

Optimising The Use Of Rest For Mine Detection, Ian Mclean, Rebecca Sargisson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Remote Explosive Scent Tracing (REST) is a detection technology involving the transfer of odours to an animal detector using filters. Like Remote Scent Tracing (RST), the technology could potentially be used to detect anything that has an odour. REST technology was used originally by Mechem in Mozambique and Angola in the early 1990s. Despite the potential it demonstrated at that time, it received little attention or investment through the late 1990s until a revival of interest occurred in recent years. Currently, it is being used operationally for mine detection in Afghanistan and is likely to be implemented for road clearance …