A cerâmica e a joalharia : o design como agente de sobrevivência de duas culturas materiais

A Cerâmica nasce da união de três elementos relacionados com a vida do homem – a argila, o fogo e a água – afirmando-se sempre como uma tecnologia criadora de obras ao serviço da comunidade e encarada como um dos primeiros materiais que se relacionaram com a vida e com a morte dos homens “(…) para estes comerem na eternidade” (QUEIRÓS, 1987:21).

''Rainbow Designer'' : for global and multicultural design

What do the designers tend to achieve? To relate themselves to the reality by producing visual registers of emotions and thoughts, or by projecting and producing objects that are functional, adapting technologies to daily needs. That requires that a designer be a keen observer of his physical surroundings and have a fine sensibility to cultures, enabling him to disassemble the latent forms of the reality and cultural symbolisms in order to perceive the order underlying them and the principles of their composition and unity. Only then could he reproduce the nature and respond to cultural callings. In this process of understanding the surrounding reality of nature and cultures, a designer always moves, generally without being aware of it, between two processes: identity search and self-identification.

The sight of silence : the conceptualisation of silence in the visual cultures of sign language communities

Deaf people are perceived by hearing people as living in a silent world. Yet, silence cannot exist without sound, so if sound is not heard, can there be silence? From a linguistic point of view silence is the absence of, or intermission in, communication. Silence can be communicative or noncommunicative. Thus, silence must exist in sign languages as well. Sign languages are based on visual perception and production through movement and sight. Silence must, therefore, be visually perceptible; and, if there is such a thing as visual silence, how does it look? The paper will analyse the topic of silence from a Deaf perspective. The main aspects to be explored are the perception and evaluation of acoustic noise and silence by Deaf people; the conceptualisation of silence in visual languages, such as sign languages; the qualities of visual silence; the meaning of silence as absence of communication (particularly between hearing and Deaf people); social rules for silence; and silencing strategies.

Ateliê caderneta de cromos : estudo sobre a relação de uma prática artística visual não formal e inclusão

Esta investigação teve como objeto de estudo o Ateliê Caderneta de Cromos, do projeto Geração Cool, fruto de uma parceria entre várias instituições do concelho de Almada. Trata--se de um projeto de desenvolvimento social comunitário, multicultural, associado a uma escola. Através de um estudo de caso, pretendeu analisar-se, criticamente, um modelo não formal de práticas ligadas às artes visuais, vocacionado para jovens em risco e mostrar como as aprendizagens desenvolvidas num ateliê de artes visuais contribuem para o processo de inclusão desses jovens. Desenvolveu-se um quadro teórico abrangente, no sentido de sustentar as perguntas iniciais, referenciando questões consideradas pertinentes tais como: visões contemporâneas das realidades multiculturais das periferias urbanas; perspetivas pós-modernistas de ensino artístico, defensoras de uma construção cognitiva; ação dos projetos artísticos de desenvolvimento social e ainda, a importância ética e social dos currículos artísticos atuais. Tendo como referência a hipótese de antagonismo e/ou complementaridade entre o ato pedagógico não formal e o institucional, o estudo procurou estabelecer uma relação entre essa prática e a inclusão, ao identificar e desmontar um roteiro estratégico de aprendizagens. O ato pedagógico no Ateliê mostrou potenciar uma aprendizagem construtiva nas respostas produzidas, sendo também significativa pelo caráter experiencial vivido e cognitiva no sentido em que determina a construção de um significado, assumido como a própria assunção identitária.

Design for design: support for creative practice in computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW) in design

This paper describes a novel methodology for observing and analysing collaborative design by using the concepts of cognitive dimensions related to concept-based misfit analysis. The study aims at gaining an insight into support for creative practice of graphical communication in collaborative design processes of designers while sketching within a shared white board and audio conferencing environment. Empirical data on design processes have been obtained from observation of groups of student designers solving an interior space-planning problem of a lounge-diner in a shared virtual environment. The results of the study provide recommendations for the design and development of interactive systems to support such collaborative design activities.

From activity to active learning: drawing and dialogue interaction in virtual learning environments for computer-supported collaborative work in design.

Virtual learning environments (VLEs) would appear to be particular effective in computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW) for active learning. Most research studies looking at computer-supported collaborative design have focused on either synchronous or asynchronous modes of communication, but near-synchronous working has received relatively little attention. Yet it could be argued that near-synchronous communication encourages creative, rhetorical and critical exchanges of ideas, building on each other’s contributions. Furthermore, although many researchers have carried out studies on collaborative design protocol, argumentation and constructive interaction, little is known about the interaction between drawing and dialogue in near-synchronous collaborative design. The paper reports the first stage of an investigation into the requirements for the design and development of interactive systems to support the learning of collaborative design activities. The aim of the study is to understand the collaborative design processes while sketching in a shared white board and audio conferencing media. Empirical data on design processes have been obtained from observation of seven sessions with groups of design students solving an interior space-planning problem of a lounge-diner in a virtual learning environment, Lyceum, an in-house software developed by the Open University to support its students in collaborative learning.

Short Communication: effects of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester on milk production and composition of lactating Holstein dairy cows

Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows were used to determine the effects of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi: 0 vs. 1.26 g/kg of total ration dry matter (DM) and dietary crude protein (CP) concentration [14.7% (low) vs. 16.9% (standard), DM basis] on milk yield and composition using a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment with 4-wk periods. Cows were fed ad libitum a total mixed ration with a 1: 1 forage-to-concentrate ratio (DM basis), and diets provided an estimated 6.71 and 1.86% lysine and methionine, respectively, in metabolizable protein for the low-protein diet and 6.74 and 1.82% in the standard protein diet. Dry matter intake, milk yield, and composition were measured during wk 4 of each period. There were no effects on DM intake, which averaged 24.7 kg/d. There was an interaction between dietary CP and HMBi for milk yield and 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM). Feeding HMBi decreased milk and FCM yield when fed with the low-CP diet but did not affect milk or FCM yield when fed with the standard CP diet. Feeding HMBi increased milk protein concentration regardless of diet CP concentration and increased milk protein yield when added to the standard CP diet but not the low-CP diet. The positive effect of HMBi on milk protein yield was only observed at the standard level of dietary CP, suggesting other factors limited the response to HMBi when dietary protein supply was restricted.

Design and formative evaluation of an information kiosk on cattle health for landless cattle owners

This paper describes and analyses the experience of designing, installing and evaluating a farmer-usable touch screen information kiosk on cattle health in a veterinary institution in Pondicherry. The contents of the kiosk were prepared based on identified demands for information on cattle health, arrived at through various stakeholders meetings. Information on these cattle diseases and conditions affecting the livelihoods of the poor was provided through graphics, text and audio back-up, keeping in mind the needs of landless and illiterate poor cattle owners. A methodology for kiosk evaluation based on the feedback obtained from kiosk facilitator, critical group reflection and individual users was formulated. The formative evaluation reveals the potential strength this ICT has in transferring information to the cattle owners in a service delivery centre. Such information is vital in preventing diseases and helps cattle owners to present and treat their animals at an early stage of disease condition. This in turn helps prevent direct and indirect losses to the cattle owners. The study reveals how an information kiosk installed at a government institution as a freely accessible source of information to all farmers irrespective of their class and caste can help in transfer of information among poor cattle owners, provided periodic updating, interactivity and communication variability are taken care of. Being in the veterinary centre, the kiosk helps stimulate dialogue, and facilitates demand of services based on the information provided by the kiosk screens.

A novel Bayesian approach to drug design with simple and complex enzymes: Use with lens aldehyde dehydrogenase and the glyoxalase pathway

Purpose: Acquiring details of kinetic parameters of enzymes is crucial to biochemical understanding, drug development, and clinical diagnosis in ocular diseases. The correct design of an experiment is critical to collecting data suitable for analysis, modelling and deriving the correct information. As classical design methods are not targeted to the more complex kinetics being frequently studied, attention is needed to estimate parameters of such models with low variance. Methods: We have developed Bayesian utility functions to minimise kinetic parameter variance involving differentiation of model expressions and matrix inversion. These have been applied to the simple kinetics of the enzymes in the glyoxalase pathway (of importance in posttranslational modification of proteins in cataract), and the complex kinetics of lens aldehyde dehydrogenase (also of relevance to cataract). Results: Our successful application of Bayesian statistics has allowed us to identify a set of rules for designing optimum kinetic experiments iteratively. Most importantly, the distribution of points in the range is critical; it is not simply a matter of even or multiple increases. At least 60 % must be below the KM (or plural if more than one dissociation constant) and 40% above. This choice halves the variance found using a simple even spread across the range.With both the glyoxalase system and lens aldehyde dehydrogenase we have significantly improved the variance of kinetic parameter estimation while reducing the number and costs of experiments. Conclusions: We have developed an optimal and iterative method for selecting features of design such as substrate range, number of measurements and choice of intermediate points. Our novel approach minimises parameter error and costs, and maximises experimental efficiency. It is applicable to many areas of ocular drug design, including receptor-ligand binding and immunoglobulin binding, and should be an important tool in ocular drug discovery.

Knowledge communication and translation- A knowledge transfer model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a process model for knowledge transfer in using theories relating knowledge communication and knowledge translation. Design/methodology/approach – Most of what is put forward in this paper is based on a research project titled “Procurement for innovation and knowledge transfer (ProFIK)”. The project is funded by a UK government research council – The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The discussions are mainly grounded on a thorough review of literature accomplished as part of the research project. Findings – The process model developed in this paper has built upon the theory of knowledge transfer and the theory of communication. Knowledge transfer, per se, is not a mere transfer of knowledge. It involves different stages of knowledge transformation. Depending on the context of knowledge transfer, it can also be influenced by many factors; some positive and some negative. The developed model of knowledge transfer attempts to encapsulate all these issues in order to create a holistic framework. Originality/value of paper – An attempt has been made in the paper to combine some of the significant theories or findings relating to knowledge transfer together, making the paper an original and valuable one.

"I don't know what you are trying to establish": The socio-environmental 'problems' of visual impaired children

This paper uses the social model of disability to examine visually impaired children's experiences of their housing and neighbourhoods and finds that they did not experience any significant problems with the design of them. The source of their problems was within these environments, and was caused by factors such as the intensity of movement, for example, from flows of traffic. We conclude by discussing the social policy implications of these findings.

MTR: the multi-tasking rover - a new concept in rover design

In this paper we present the novel concepts incorporated in a planetary surface exploration rover design that is currently under development. The Multitasking Rover (MTR) aims to demonstrate functionality that will cover many of the current and future needs such as rough-terrain mobility, modularity and upgradeability. The rover system has enhanced mobility characteristics. It operates in conjunction with Science Packs (SPs) and Tool Packs (TPs)-modules attached to the main frame of the rover, which are either special tools or science instruments and alter the operation capabilities of the system.

RBF equalizer design using directional evolutionary multi-objective optimization

Whilst radial basis function (RBF) equalizers have been employed to combat the linear and nonlinear distortions in modern communication systems, most of them do not take into account the equalizer's generalization capability. In this paper, it is firstly proposed that the. model's generalization capability can be improved by treating the modelling problem as a multi-objective optimization (MOO) problem, with each objective based on one of several training sets. Then, as a modelling application, a new RBF equalizer learning scheme is introduced based on the directional evolutionary MOO (EMOO). Directional EMOO improves the computational efficiency of conventional EMOO, which has been widely applied in solving MOO problems, by explicitly making use of the directional information. Computer simulation demonstrates that the new scheme can be used to derive RBF equalizers with good performance not only on explaining the training samples but on predicting the unseen samples.

A design of e-procurement infrastructure model for public service sector

Procurement is one of major business operations in public service sector. The advance of information and communication technology (ICT) pushes this business operation to increase its efficiency and foster collaborations between the organization and its suppliers. This leads to a shift from the traditional procurement transactions to an e-procurement paradigm. Such change impacts on business process, information management and decision making. E-procurement involves various stakeholders who engage in activities based on different social and cultural practices. Therefore, a design of e-procurement system may involve complex situations analysis. This paper describes an approach of using the problem articulation method to support such analysis. This approach is applied to a case study from UAE.