Achievement unlocked: Investigating the design of effective gamification experiences for mobile applications and devices

This thesis investigates the design of motivating and engaging software experiences. In particular it examines the use of video game elements in non-game contexts, known as gamification, and how to effectively design gamification experiences for smartphone applications. The original contribution of this thesis is a novel framework for designing gamification, derived from an iterative process of evaluating gamified prototypes. The outcomes of this research can help us to better understand the impact of gamification in today's society and how it can be used to design more effective software.

Structural complexity in structural health monitoring: Design of laboratory model and test plan

Many researchers in the field of civil structural health monitoring (SHM) have developed and tested their methods on simple to moderately complex laboratory structures such as beams, plates, frames, and trusses. Fieldwork has also been conducted by many researchers and practitioners on more complex operating bridges. Most laboratory structures do not adequately replicate the complexity of truss bridges. Informed by a brief review of the literature, this paper documents the design and proposed test plan of a structurally complex laboratory bridge model that has been specifically designed for the purpose of SHM research. Preliminary results have been presented in the companion paper.

Privacy, modesty, hospitality and the design of Muslim homes in Australia

The home environment is conceptualised in prolific ways within the academic literature. A home is an unparalleled base for human settlement and habitation that embodies a sensorial space that is layered with personal memories and traces of history. The success of a home in providing a strong ‘sense of place’ depends on various factors such as geographical location, monetary funds or personal perceptions. A home too, is an influential medium that allows its dwellers to express, perform and continue their cultural traditions and religious faiths. Traditional Islamic teachings and practices involve guidelines that apply directly to the domestic space. The principles of privacy, modesty and hospitality are paramount to these guidelines and each has a significant influence upon the design of Muslim homes and the home owners’ or dwellers’ domestic behaviours. Despite a significant increase of Muslim population in Australia over the last decade, very little is known about their perceptions of domestic life and their use of domestic spaces within an Australian context. This research investigated on how Muslims in Brisbane live and adapt within their Australian homes and if these homes meet their personal and familial needs to perform their daily activities, as well as maintaining and practising their Islamic faiths and traditions. Specific attention has been given to their perceptions on tripartite principles of privacy, modesty, and hospitality (PMH) and how they achieve these three objectives. A qualitative case study approach was used to investigate six Muslim families living in four Brisbane suburbs, consisting of: a) Case Study 1: three Muslim families residing in one suburb of Brisbane and, b) Case Study 2: three international Muslim students living in three different Brisbane suburbs. This research indicates that apart from minor ‘design-related’ difficulties, case study participants were able to continue to perform their daily activities within their current homes through minor changes to the use of the available interior spaces. Above all, case study participants opined that their current Australian homes provide them with adequate safety and privacy for their families without any major disturbances. Insight gained from these cases suggests that greater research attention needs to be given to the potential development of Australian home designs that are adaptable to the ever-changing needs of the Australian multicultural society. Awareness of the multifactorial nature of the influences on Muslims’ perceptions of home and their use of domestic space is needed if architects, building designers, engineers and builders are to be properly equipped to meet the needs of their Muslim clients.

Design of a tangible data visualization (extended)

In this paper we describe the design of DNA Jewelry, which is a wearable tangible data representation of personal DNA profile data. An iterative design process was followed to develop a 3D form-language that could be mapped to standard DNA profile data, with the aim of retaining readability of data while also producing an aesthetically pleasing and unique result in the area of personalised design. The work explores design issues with the production of data tangibles, contributes to a growing body of research exploring tangible representations of data and highlights the importance of approaches that move between technology, art and design.

Design of a tablet sized human-computer interface and its effect on situation awareness

Emergency Response Teams increasingly use interactive technology to help manage information and communications. The challenge is to maintain a high situation awareness for different interactive devices sizes. This research specifically compared a handheld interactive device in the form of an iPad with a large interactive multi-touch tabletop. A search and rescue inspired simulator was designed to test operator situation awareness for the two sized devices. The results show that operators had better situation awareness on the tabletop device when the operation related to detecting of moving targets, searching target locations, distinguishing target types, and comprehending displayed information.

Design of a lightweight, modular robotic vehicle for the sustainable intensification of broadacre agriculture

This thesis presents the design process and the prototyping of a lightweight, modular robotic vehicle for the sustainable intensification of broadacre agriculture. Achieved by the joint operation of multiple autonomous vehicles to improve energy consumption, reduce labour, and increase efficiency in the application of inputs for the management of crops. The Small Robotic Farm Vehicle (SRFV) is a lightweight and energy efficient robotic vehicle with a configurable, modular design. It is capable of undertaking a range of agricultural tasks, including fertilising and weed management through mechanical intervention and precision spraying, whilst being more than an order of magnitude lower in weight than existing broadacre agricultural equipment.

Design of steel roof and wall cladding systems for pull-out failures

When thin steel roof and wall cladding systems are subjected to wind uplift/suction forces, local pull-through or pull-out failures occur prematurely at their screwed connections. During high wind events such as stom1s and cyclones, these localized failures then lead to severe damage to buildings and their contents. In recent times, the use of thin steel battens, purlins and girts has increased considerably, which has made the pull-out failures more critical in the design of steel cladding systems. An experimental investigation was therefore carried out to study the pull-out failure using both static and cyclic tests for a range of commonly used screw fasteners and steel battens, purlins and girts. This paper presents the details ofthis experimental investigation and its results.

The optimal frequency of aquatic physiotherapy for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a randomised controlled trial

Purpose: To establish whether there was a difference in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with chronic musculoskeletal disorders (PwCMSKD) after participating in a multimodal physiotherapy program (MPP) either two or three sessions a week. Methods: Total of 114 PwCMSKD participated in this prospective randomised controlled trial. An individualised MPP, consisting of exercises for mobility, motor-control, muscle strengthening, cardiovascular training, and health education, was implemented either twice a week (G2: n = 58) or three times a week) (G3: n = 56) for 1 year. Outcomes: HRQoL physical and mental health state (PHS/MHS), Roland Morris disability Questionnaire (RMQ), Neck-Disability-Index (NDI) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities’ Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were used to measure outcomes of MPP for people with chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain and osteoarthritis, respectively. Measures were taken at baseline, 8 weeks (8 w), 6 months (6 m), and 1 year (1 y) after starting the programme. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (G2 and G3), except in NDI at 8 w (−3.34, (CI 95%: −6.94/0.84, p = 0.025 (scale 0–50)). All variables showed improvement reaching the following values (from baseline to 1 y) G2: PHS: 57.72 (baseline: 41.17; (improvement: 16.55%), MHS: 74.51 (baseline: 47.46, 27.05%), HRQoL 0.90 (baseline: 0.72, 18%)), HRQoL-VAS 84.29 (baseline: 58.04, 26.25%), RMQ 4.15 (baseline: 7.85, 15.42%), NDI 3.96 (baseline: 21.87, 35.82%), WOMAC 7.17 (baseline: 25.51, 19.10%). G3: PHS: 58.64 (baseline: 39.75, 18.89%), MHS: 75.50 (baseline: 45.45, (30.05%), HRQoL 0.67 (baseline: 0.88, 21%), HRQoL-VAS 86.91 (baseline: 52.64, 34.27%), RMQ 4.83 (baseline: 8.93, 17.08%), NDI 4.91 (baseline: 23.82, 37.82%), WOMAC 6.35 (baseline: 15.30, 9.32%). Conclusions: No significant differences between the two groups were found in the outcomes of a MPP except in the NDI at 8 weeks, but both groups improved in all variables during the course of 1 year under study.

Application of fragment-based screening to the design of inhibitors of Escherichia coli DsbA

The thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase enzyme DsbA catalyzes the formation of disulfide bonds in the periplasm of Gram-negative bacteria. DsbA substrates include proteins involved in bacterial virulence. In the absence of DsbA, many of these proteins do not fold correctly, which renders the bacteria avirulent. Thus DsbA is a critical mediator of virulence and inhibitors may act as antivirulence agents. Biophysical screening has been employed to identify fragments that bind to DsbA from Escherichia coli. Elaboration of one of these fragments produced compounds that inhibit DsbA activity in vitro. In cell-based assays, the compounds inhibit bacterial motility, but have no effect on growth in liquid culture, which is consistent with selective inhibition of DsbA. Crystal structures of inhibitors bound to DsbA indicate that they bind adjacent to the active site. Together, the data suggest that DsbA may be amenable to the development of novel antibacterial compounds that act by inhibiting bacterial virulence.

Numerical modelling and design of unlined cold-formed steel wall frames

Cold-formed steel wall frame systems using lipped or unlipped C-sections and gypsum plasterboard lining are commonly utilised in the construction of both the load bearing and non-load bearing walls in the residential, commercial and industrial buildings. However, the structural behaviour of unlined and lined stud wall frames is not well understood and adequate design rules are not available. A detailed research program was therefore undertaken to investigate the behaviour of stud wall frame systems. As the first step in this research, the problem relating to the degree of end fixity of stud was investigated. The studs are usually connected to the top and bottom tracks and the degree of end fixity provided by these tracks is not adequately addressed by the design codes. A finite element model of unlined frames was therefore developed, and validated using full scale experimental results. It was then used in a detailed parametric study to develop appropriate design rules for unlined wall frames. This study has shown that by using appropriate effective length factors, the ultimate load and failure modes of the unlined studs can be accurately predicted using the provisions of Australian or American cold-formed steel structures design codes. This paper presents the details of the finite element analyses, the results and recommended design rules for unlined wall frames.

Buckling behaviour and design of tapered steel lighting masts

Tapered tubular steel masts are commonly used to support floodlights in a range of applications. The design of these slender tapered masts requires a rational elastic flexural buckling analysis as the thickness also varies with height. Therefore a series of finite element analyses of tapered masts with varying geometry parameters was conducted to develop an elastic flexural buckling load formula. This paper briefly discusses the design methods, and then presents the details of the finite element analyses and the results. 1–Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, and Director, Physical Infrastructure Centre 2–Former BE (Civil) Student, QUT

Public space design of knowledge and innovation spaces: Learnings from Kelvin Grove Urban Village, Brisbane

The era of knowledge-based urban development has led to an unprecedented increase in mobility of people and the subsequent growth in new typologies of agglomerated enclaves of knowledge such as knowledge and innovation spaces. Within this context, a new role has been assigned to contemporary public spaces to attract and retain the mobile knowledge workforce by creating a sense of place. This paper investigates place making in the globalized knowledge economy, which develops a sense of permanence spatio-temporally to knowledge workers displaying a set of particular characteristics and simultaneously is process-dependent getting developed by the internal and external flows and contributing substantially in the development of the broader context it stands in relation with. The paper reviews the literature and highlights observations from Kelvin Grove Urban Village, located in Australia’s new world city Brisbane, to understand the application of urban design as a vehicle to create and sustain place making in knowledge and innovation spaces. This research seeks to analyze the modified permeable typology of public spaces that makes knowledge and innovation spaces more viable and adaptive as per the changing needs of the contemporary globalized knowledge society.

Design of redox/radical sensing molecules via Nitrile Imine-Mediated Tetrazole-ene Cycloaddition (NITEC)

The current study introduces a novel synthetic avenue for the preparation of profluorescent nitroxides via nitrile imine-mediated tetrazole-ene cycloaddition (NITEC). The photoinduced cycloaddition was performed under metal-free, mild conditions allowing the preparation of a library of the nitroxide functionalized pyrazolines and corresponding methoxyamines. High reaction rates and full conversion were observed, with the presence of the nitroxide having no significant impact on the cycloaddition performance. The formed products were investigated with respect to their photophysical properties in order to quantify their “switch on/off” behavior. The fluorescence quenching performance is strongly dependent on the distance between the chromophore and the free radical spin as demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. Highest levels of fluorescence quenching were achieved for pyrazolines with the nitroxide directly fused to the chromophore. Importantly, the pyrazoline profluorescent nitroxides were shown to efficiently act as sensors for redox/radical processes.

Photochemical design of stimuli-responsive nanoparticles prepared by supramolecular host–guest chemistry

We introduce the design of a thermoresponsive nanoparticle via sacrificial micelle formation based on supramolecular host–guest chemistry. Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was employed to synthesize well-defined polymer blocks of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (poly(DMAAm)) (Mn,SEC = 10 700 g mol–1, Đ = 1.3) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (poly(NiPAAm)) (Mn,SEC = 39 700 g mol–1, Đ = 1.2), carrying supramolecular recognition units at the chain termini. Further, 2-methoxy-6-methylbenzaldehyde moieties (photoenols, PE) were statistically incorporated into the backbone of the poly(NiPAAm) block as photoactive cross-linking units. Host–guest interactions of adamantane (Ada) (at the terminus of the poly(NiPAAm/PE) chain) and β-cyclodextrin (CD) (attached to the poly(DMAAm chain end) result in a supramolecular diblock copolymer. In aqueous solution, the diblock copolymer undergoes micellization when heated above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the thermoresponsive poly(NiPAAm/PE) chain, forming the core of the micelle. Via the addition of a 4-arm maleimide cross-linker and irradiation with UV light, the micelle is cross-linked in its core via the photoinduced Diels–Alder reaction of maleimide and PE units. The adamantyl–cyclodextrin linkage is subsequently cleaved by the destruction of the β-CD, affording narrowly distributed thermoresponsive nanoparticles with a trigger temperature close to 30 °C. Polymer chain analysis was performed via size exclusion chromatography (SEC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The size and thermoresponsive behavior of the micelles and nanoparticles were investigated via DLS as well as atomic force microscopy (AFM).

The root locus method: application to linear stability analysis and design of cooperative car-following models

A global framework for linear stability analyses of traffic models, based on the dispersion relation root locus method, is presented and is applied taking the example of a broad class of car-following (CF) models. This approach is able to analyse all aspects of the dynamics: long waves and short wave behaviours, phase velocities and stability features. The methodology is applied to investigate the potential benefits of connected vehicles, i.e. V2V communication enabling a vehicle to send and receive information to and from surrounding vehicles. We choose to focus on the design of the coefficients of cooperation which weights the information from downstream vehicles. The coefficients tuning is performed and different ways of implementing an efficient cooperative strategy are discussed. Hence, this paper brings design methods in order to obtain robust stability of traffic models, with application on cooperative CF models