Dissertations / Theses on the topic '130101 Design'

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, May, 2020
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 171-185).
The accelerating pace of anthropogenic climate change has galvanized intensive interest in electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Developing electrode materials for electrochemical devices requires precision and synthetic control over a number of factors, including surface morphology, nanostructure, and distribution of active materials. To this end, my thesis work investigated strategies to implement the M13 bacteriophage as a programmable, lightweight scaffold in the synthesis of three-dimensional, nanoporous foams. Virus-templated nanofoams were incorporated into several relevant energy applications spanning water electrolysis, microbatteries, and electrolytic urea decomposition. The virus-mediated synthesis toolkit yielded clear enhancements in electrochemical performance, as well as design insights into improving nanostructured electrodes in diverse contexts.
Virus-templated, platinum-nickel hydroxide nanofoams were first designed and optimized, displaying strong performance as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline conditions (ca. -200 mA cm⁻² [subscript geo] and -4.9 A mg⁻¹ [subscript Pt] at -70 mV versus the reversible hydrogen electrode). Mass-normalized activity was definitively linked to the platinum dispersion within the virus-templated matrix, providing a guideline for future electrocatalyst development. Next, virus-templated metal phosphides were engineered with orthogonal control over nanoscale features, phase, and composition. Synthetic versatility was developed across monometallic nickel and copper, as well as bimetallic nickel-cobalt, material systems.
When applied as Li-ion microbattery anodes, virus-templated Ni₅P₄ demonstrated a discharge capacity of 677 mAh g⁻¹ (677 mAh cm⁻³) and an 80% capacity retention over more than 100 cycles, outperforming analogous reported Ni₅P₄ materials. The strong performance was attributed to the virus-templated nanostructure, which remains electronically conductive throughout cycling and obviates the need for conductive additives. In the final application, a fundamental exploration into Ni-based catalysts for the electrooxidation of urea was undertaken, highlighting the need for revised benchmarks to facilitate accurate comparisons across the literature and developing an empirical hypothesis for catalyst instability under constant-current electrolysis. Virus-templated, Ni[subscript x]P[subscript y] nanofoams were again applied as electrocatalysts, displaying strong activity relative to the field and enhanced resistance to deactivation.
Finally, several directions for scaling methodologies were presented with a future outlook for virus-templating as a material synthesis platform in electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
by William Christopher Records.
Ph. D.
Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering

Just as the surrealistic movement challenged our perception of reality, the present work applies surrealistic methods to challenge our preconceived hierarchies between body, dress, and accessory. Adding to past surrealistic work in fashion design, the present work does not only strive to create surrealistic expressions, but to enhance the creative process through surrealistic methods. Three surrealistic methods were tested: Entopic Graphomani, Frottage, and Exquisite Corpse. The methods ability to challenge hierarchies between body, dress, and accessory was assessed through their ability to result in an element of surprise. For the present work, Exquisite Corpse had the greatest potential. By using participant observation and an adapted version of Exquisite Corpse seven looks were developed. The present work concludes that the surrealistic methods can by used not only to develop surrealistic expressions, but also to enhance the creative process within fashion design.

This thesis demonstrates how sustainable development may embrace values of the Ecological Worldview to reverse negative trends associated with climate change and environmental degradation. Instrumental knowledge is developed where complex theoretical aspects of the Ecological Worldview are applied in the systematic development of regenerative design methodologies bearing implications for the design of built environment. A framework is conceptualised for Design Methodology, onto which the values of the Ecological Worldview are mapped. A single iteration of the Design Methodology is run, to output a Benchmark Design Strategy which demonstrates range of outcomes for regenerative design in Eastern Australian subtropical regions.

El algoritmo de control proporcional integral derivativo (PID) es, sin duda, el más utilizado en el control industrial, empleado la mayoría de las veces como control proporcional integral (PI). El controlador debe ser acoplado (sintonizado) al proceso controlado considerando: el desempeño del sistema de control, su respuesta a cambios en el valor deseado y la perturbación; su robustez, capacidad para mantener el sistema de control estable ante cambios en las características dinámicas del proceso controlado; el uso y características del esfuerzo de control; y la fragilidad del controlador, el efecto de un cambio en sus parámetros. En esta tesis, se propone un procedimiento general de diseño para controladores PI/PID de dos grados de libertad (2GdL) que tiene como base la especificación de las funciones de transferencia del sistema de control de lazo cerrado, las cuales incluyen parámetros que afectan el compromiso entre el desempeño y la robustez. Considerando que los requerimientos de robustez, dependen del proceso controlado, y que esta es una especificación que no se puede evadir, la robustez, medida con la sensibilidad máxima, es utilizada como parámetro de diseño. La metodología de diseño de controladores denotada como Sintonización robusta por modelo de referencia (MoReRT), se aplica a la sintonización de controladores PI de 2GdL para procesos sobre amortiguados de primero y segundo orden, integrantes, con respuesta inversa, e inestables. También se hace una extensión del MoReRT a los controladores PID de 2GdL. El método MoReRT propuesto, empieza con la selección de las funciones de transferencia objetivo para el servo control y el control regulatorio. Estas establecen la forma deseada de las respuestas a un cambio en escalón en el valor deseado y la perturbación. La especificación de estas respuestas objetivo, toma en consideración las características del modelo del proceso controlado, en particular sus componentes de fase no mínima y el orden. Estas dependen también, de los parámetros de diseño que afectan el desempeño y la robustez del sistema de control. Los parámetros del controlador son obtenidos, optimizando una funcional de costo que evalúa la diferencia entre la respuesta objetivo y la obtenida con el controlador a sintonizar. Los parámetros de diseño son ajustados para alcanzar una robustez especificada. El alcance del nivel de robustez deseado para todos los modelos del proceso controlado considerados (sobre amortiguados, integrantes, e inestables), es una de las características distintivas de método de diseño MoReRT propuesto.
The proportional integral derivative (PID) is, with no doubt, the control algorithm most applied in industrial control used most of the time as proportional integral (PI) control. The controller must be matched (tuned) to the controlled process considering: control system performance, its response to changes in its inputs, set-point and disturbance; its robustness, its capabilities to keep the system stable in case of changes in the controlled process dynamics; control effort use and characteristics; and controller fragility, the effect of a change on the controller parameters. In this thesis, a general design procedure for two-degree-of-freedom (2DoF) PI/PID controllers is proposed based in the specification of the different control system closed-loop transfer functions that include parameters that affect the performance/robustness trade-off. Considering than the control system robustness requirement, is controlled process dependent, and more important, that it cannot be avoided, the robustness level, measured with the maximum sensitivity, is used as the design parameter. The proposed controller design methodology denoted as Model Reference Robust Tuning (MoReRT) is applied to tune 2DoF PI controllers for first- and second-order over damped, integrating, inverse response, and unstable controlled processes. An extension of the MoReRT to 2DoF PID controllers is also considered. The proposed MoReRT method starts with the selection of regulatory control and servo control closed-loop transfer functions targets. These transfer functions state the desired shapes for the disturbance and set-point step responses. The responses targets specification takes into account the controlled process model characteristics, particularly its non-minimum phase components and order. They depend also on the design parameters that affect the control system performance, control effort, and robustness. Controller parameters are obtained by optimizing a cost functional that evaluate the difference between the target total response and the one obtained with the controller to tune. Design parameters are adjusted to obtain a robustness level target. The accomplishment of the robustness target level for all the controlled process models considered (over damped, integrated, and unstable) is one of the distinctive characteristics of the proposed MoReRT design method.

Syftet med denna studie är att diskutera och problematisera anti-estetisk design och undersöka vilken funktion den har idag. Denna uppsats bygger på en bred bakgrund om fulhet och skönhet, om olika anti-estetiska och kritiska rörelser genom historien och teorier så som kritisk design, normkritik och feminism. Information har insamlats genom en kritisk granskning av tre nummer av tidskriften Bang, analys av offentliga uttalanden om och av Bang och Bastion, samt intervjuer med formgivaren Sepidar Hosseini och tio designstudenter. Metoden kvalitativ ansats användes i studien och induktiv samt deduktiv analys av intervjuerna utfördes. I analysen undersöktes hur avvikande designelement kunde bidra till att kritisera normen med hjälp av etablerade teorier, uttalanden från Bastion och kommentarer från Hosseini och designstudenter. Resultatet av denna studie skall visa på ett alternativt perspektiv på design och diskutera vilken tillämpning den kan ha idag. Anti-estetisk design kan anses ha funktionen att skapa rum för det som inte passar in i det rådande idealet och fungera som grogrund för vidare diskussion om samhällets normer.

Följande studie syftar till att undersöka hur ett genusneutralt mönster för barnkläder skulle kunna se ut med avseende på färg och motiv. Forskning genom design har använts som tillvägagångssätt, varpå olika designförslag tagits fram. För att få inblick i den rådande samhällssituationen inför designprocessen studerades bland annat teorier gällande normer, genus, färg, motiv och form. Genom en kvantitativ pilotstudie, besvarad av 100 personer, undersöktes människors föreställningar gällande färg och motiv i förhållande till kön. Då det inom den akademiska litteraturen fanns luckor kring genusneutralitet genomfördes en förstudie i form av kvalitativa intervjuer med en Art Director, en unisex-designer, två forskare samt en genuspedagog. Syftet med förstudien var att skapa kännedom kring begreppet genusneutralitet och för att skapa ett bredare underlag till designprocessen. Under designprocessen kopplades lärdomar från såväl teorier som pilot- och förstudie in, varpå fyra olika mönster skapades. För att undersöka huruvida skapade mönster kunde ses som genusneutrala genomfördes kvalitativa intervjuer med barn, vuxna, klädbutiker samt en genuspedagog. I värderingsprocessen deltog totalt 30 personer. Resultatet visar att tre av fyra skapade mönster kan ses som genusneutrala, även om ett tenderade att uppfattas som något flickigt och ett annat något pojkigt. Ett av de skapade mönstren upplevdes ej vara neutralt utan uppfattades som pojkigt. Avslutningsvis diskuteras resultatet och studien i stort.

Scania InfoMate develops web applications that support truck distributors and workshops with the necessary tools for an effective maintenance process. However, the end-users of these applications are faced with as many different graphical interfaces as there are applications. As a consequence, important effects of recognition are lost, developers spend unnecessary time designing new solutions for each application and Scania InfoMate does not present a homogeneous brand image towards its customers.

Therefore the aim of this study is to give a suggestion of how a standardized graphical interface for web applications at Scania InfoMate should be designed. The given suggestion should come from thorough investigation of both end-user needs and recent research within the area of usability. In addition to a standardized interface this study also aims to deliver guidelines that support future web application development at Scania InfoMate.

Through a combination of methods, mainly heuristic evaluation and user interviews, an elaborate description of usability and consistency problems in a defined web application portfolio is produced. This served as a basis for developing an interface design suggestion and helped pinpoint crucial areas in need of usability and consistency guidelines.

The main findings are a graphical interface design suggestion that specify positioning and visualization of common interface elements and guidelines ensuring that future web application development at Scania InfoMate is kept at a high standard regarding usability and consistency. This study also points out areas for further development at Scania InfoMate and suggests that additional studies should take place to establish a common view on consistency issues.

This thesis investigates the second-best toll pricing and capacity expansion problems when stated as mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints (MPEC). Three main questions are rised: First, whether conventional descent methods give sufficiently good solutions, or whether global solution methods are to prefer. Second, how the performance of the considered solution methods scale with network size. Third, how a discretized stochastic mathematical program with equilibrium constraints (SMPEC) formulation of a stochastic network design problem can be practically solved. An attempt to answer these questions is done through a series ofnumerical experiments.

The traffic system is modeled using the Wardrop’s principle for user behavior, separable cost functions of BPR- and TU71-type. Also elastic demand is considered for some problem instances.

Two already developed method approaches are considered: implicit programming and a cutting constraint algorithm. For the implicit programming approach, several methods—both local and global—are applied and for the traffic assignment problem an implementation of the disaggregate simplicial decomposition (DSD) method is used. Regarding the first question concerning local and global methods, our results don’t give a clear answer.

The results from numerical experiments of both approaches on networks of different sizes shows that the implicit programming approach has potential to solve large-scale problems, while the cutting constraint algorithm scales worse with network size.

Also for the stochastic extension of the network design problem, the numerical experiments indicate that implicit programming is a good approach to the problem.

Further, a number of theorems providing sufficient conditions for strong regularity of the traffic assignment solution mapping for OD connectors and BPR cost functions are given.

Quase ninguém ousa discordar que a vida profissional do professor de educação básica no Brasil seja tarefa desprestigiada, mal remunerada e que não haja condições físicas mínimas necessárias e, por outro lado, que não seja requisitado grande investimento pessoal, pelo fato do ato professoral depender primordialmente de uma espécie de \"dom\". Todavia, a escola e a figura do professor não passam de meras criações humanas, assim como as imagens das condições de mal-estar em que o professor trabalha também as são; embora termo-nos acostumado a esquecer que assim sejam. As imagens habitam o seio de um discurso consolidado como verdade sobre a profissão do mestre, mas que, nem por isso, funciona a despeito da estipulação de posições discursivas ou de definições de conceitos. Isto é, não é isento de um programa de qualificação e desqualificação do outro. Em outras palavras, enquanto alguns professores adoecem dando aulas, outros se curam; enquanto alguns se afastam da precariedade das condições escolares, outros se enunciam pela e na transposição delas. O que realoca a pesquisa sobre renúncia professoral para além do discurso hegemônico de toda sorte de precariedades e desprestígios da escola ou mesmo da existência material de um mal-estar propriamente docente, que vija exclusivamente durante o professorar e que, portanto, seja passível de cura. Deste modo, questionar as causas das diferentes formas de renúncia dos professores de educação básica, de início, implica no rompimento do atendimento à demanda de uma lógica cartesiana, que justamente por se dirigir pelo apontamento de uma instância conclusiva da renúncia, se desvia de uma investigação etiológica. Com essa pretensão, o(a) convido à leitura do presente trabalho que propõe novas formas de escuta de certa interpretação da Psicanálise sobre alguns registros históricos consolidados da educação básica brasileira ao longo de sua história. Trata-se da procura de subsídios marginais, porém reveladores, para saber mais sobre quais condições contribuem e contribuíram para que a maioria dos sujeitos que ainda hoje procuram a formação de professores para o ensino fundamental não assumam um lugar para exercer sua profissão.
Almost no one dares to disagree that the professional life of the teacher of basic education in Brazil is a discredited task, poorly remunerated and that there are no minimum physical conditions necessary and, on the other hand, that no big personal investment is required, because the teacher act depends primarily of a kind of \"gift\". However, the school and the figure of the teacher are nothing more than mere human creations, just as the images of the conditions of malaise in which the teacher works are also the same; though we have become accustomed to forget that they are so. The images inhabit the heart of a discourse consolidated as truth about the master\'s profession, but which, nevertheless, works in spite of the stipulation of discursive positions or definitions of concepts. That is, it is not exempt from one program of qualification and disqualification from the other. In other words, while some teachers get sick teaching, others heal; while some stray from the precariousness of school conditions, others are enunciated by and in their transposition. This reallocates the research on teacher renunciation beyond the hegemonic discourse of all sorts of precarious of the school or even of the material existence of a malady properly teaching, that only exists during the teacher and that, therefore, it is possible of cure. In this way, to question the causes of the different forms of renunciation of the basic education teachers, in the beginning, implies the disruption of the attendance to the demand of a Cartesian logic, that to be directed by the pointing of a conclusive instance of the resignation, deviates from a investigation. In this sense, I invite you to read the present work, which proposes new ways of listening to a certain interpretation of Psychoanalysis about some of the consolidated historical records of Brazilian basic education throughout its history. It is the search for marginal, but revealing, subsidies to learn more about what conditions contribute and have contributed to the fact that the majority of those who are still seeking teacher training for elementary education do not have a place to practice their profession.

Ett inkonsekvent användande av den visuella kommunikationen kan leda till förvirring hos mottagaren och ge negativa associationer för företaget. För att undvika förvirring är det viktigt med tydliga riktlinjer för hur ett företags visuella kommunikation ska förmedlas till mottagaren. Syftet med denna fallstudie var därför att undersöka vilka layoutprinciper som är nödvändiga för att skapa en enhetlig visuell kommunikation för tryckt marknadsföringsmaterial. Vidare undersöktes även hur dessa aspekter bör användas i layoutarbetet av tryckt marknadsföringsmaterial. Fallet som studien utgick ifrån var Fiskexporten, ett livsmedelsföretag i Varberg. För att svara på syftet delades studien in i två faser, designfas 1 respektive designfas 2. Eftersom studien hade två designfaser användes en explanantory sequential mixed method design. Studien visade de layoutprinciper som finns till hands för designarbetet av visuell kommunikation kan delas in i rörliga- och fasta layoutprinciper. De rörliga layoutpricniperna kan, beroende på hur de används skapa en mer eller mindre enhetlig visuell kommunikation. De fasta layoutprinciperna är däremot nödvändiga och grundläggande för effektiv och enhetlig visuell kommunikation. Det slutgiltiga resultaten av studien var att ett konsekvent användande av både rörliga- och fasta layoutprinciper ger intrycket av enhetlighet mellan olika marknadsföringsmaterial.

The usage of social networking sites is steadily increasing, setting higher demands on companies and their need to be present on social media. This study aims to examine how companies could design their content on Facebook and Instagram to promote interaction from followers. To be able to understand this the company Pantamera is used as a case in this study. Pantamera is responsible for the recycling of metal cans and PET bottles in Sweden, and are experiencing that their usage of strategies on social media is deficient. To answer the purpose, already existing theories of how to form a social media strategy and methods are examined. This is implemented through an online survey aiming to understand the target audience, and the results are used as a foundation for the design process. The designs are evaluated through interviews and the conclusion is that it is possible to design content on social media in order to promote interaction. Important to have in mind when creating content for interaction is its design, what platform it intends to be designed for and that the company should at all times communicate with their target audience on their terms.

Denna studie är ett kandidatarbete utfört på kandidatprogrammet Grafisk design och kommunikation vid Linköpings universitet. Studien är en kvalitativ designfallstudie som genomförts i samarbete med dansgruppen Pussytiv Dance, där en installation innehållande dans och rörlig bild har utvecklats. Studien syftar till att undersöka hurvida samhällsdebatten om offentlig amning kan kommenteras genom rörlig bild som en del av denna installation. Installationen visades på Feministisk Festival i Malmö 10 juni 2016. Målet med installationen är att väcka tankar, känslor och skapa diskussion om det samtida samhällsklimatet kring offentlig amning i syfte att bidra till en attitydförändring. Debatten om amning på offentlig plats präglas av frågor som rör paradoxen kring kvinnans bröst som sexuellt objekt och matbärare. Samhällets normer leder till att kvinnor känner sig obekväma att amma på offentlig plats, där det även har skett diskriminering i samband med amning. Dessa normer var önskvärda att ifrågasätta genom installationen. Studien kom fram till att det var möjligt att kommentera samhällsdebatten om offentlig amning genom rörlig bild som en del i en dansinstallation. Det kom även fram till att installationens kommunikationsmål nåddes och att installationsformen, dans och rörlig bild, är en effektiv form för att få mottagaren att reflektera över sina egna normer, vilket öppnar upp möjligheten att ändra på invanda attityder.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the hallmark of evidence-based medicine and form the basis for translating research data into clinical practice. This review summarizes commonly applied designs and quality indicators of RCTs to provide guidance in interpreting and critically evaluating clinical research data. It further reflects on the principle of equipoise and its practical applicability to clinical science with an emphasis on critical care and neurological research. We performed a review of educational material, review articles, methodological studies, and published clinical trials using the databases MEDLINE, PubMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The most relevant recommendations regarding design, conduction, and reporting of RCTs may include the following: 1) clinically relevant end points should be defined a priori, and an unbiased analysis and report of the study results should be warranted, 2) both significant and nonsignificant results should be objectively reported and published, 3) structured study design and performance as indicated in the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement should be employed as well as registration in a public trial database, 4) potential conflicts of interest and funding sources should be disclaimed in study report or publication, and 5) in the comparison of experimental treatment with standard care, preplanned interim analyses during an ongoing RCT can aid in maintaining clinical equipoise by assessing benefit, harm, or futility, thus allowing decision on continuation or termination of the trial.

There has been increasing interest in open innovation in academic research as well as industry application since the concept was introduced in 2003. The concept got much attention because of its economic benefits and novel means for facilitating innovation. This thesis aims to adapt the concept of open innovation to the university environment, in order to foster innovation in the development process for intellectual property (IP) derived from academic research activities. It contributes to the literature on open innovation adapted to the university context, i.e. open collaboration on the development of intellectual property towards a commercial ready stage. In order to investigate the potential of open innovation in the university environment, a focus group was conducted. In addition, the business process of Quirky Inc. was analysed as an example to better understand how open innovation works in the business context. The results of the study’s data analyses inform new opportunities for interventions in universities towards fostering different approaches to IP development as research outcomes. Further, it reveals interventions that can promote open innovation approaches in the university’s context more generally.

Depuis la dernière décennie, le biomimétisme est une discipline en plein essor dans le monde du design durable. De plus en plus, cette stratégie prend place dans plusieurs facettes du design, que ce soit dans le design industriel, dans l’architecture ou encore dans le design urbain. Le livre de Janine Benyus intitulé Biomimétisme: Quand la Nature Inspire des Innovations Durables (1997) est largement reconnu comme étant le catalyseur de la stratégie et comme l’indique le titre du livre, le biomimétisme est très souvent associé à l’innovation. Le but principal de cette recherche est de mieux comprendre le lien entre le biomimétisme et l’innovation. Cette recherche sur le biomimétisme comprend un objectif mineur et deux objectifs majeurs. Le premier objectif cherche à comprendre le véritable lien entre le biomimétisme et l’écodesign. Le second objectif vise non seulement à valider la théorie selon laquelle le biomimétisme est une stratégie menant à des solutions de design innovantes, mais également à établir quels types d’innovations ont été générés par cette stratégie. Finalement, le troisième objectif est d’identifier les aspects du biomimétisme qui mènent à des solutions de design innovantes. Pour accomplir ces objectifs, cette recherche utilisera une approche qualitative supportée par des études de cas et une revue de littérature. Afin de contextualiser les deux derniers objectifs, cette étude établit que le biomimétisme et l’écodesign sont des stratégies complémentaires plutôt qu’en compétition. Les conclusions de cette recherche démontrent que la théorie proposant que le biomimétisme soit une stratégie d’innovation est valide et que la discipline est surtout apte à générer l’innovation radicale. Finalement, la recherche indique que l’analogie de distance et la transdisciplinarité sont les deux aspects du biomimétisme aidant à produire des solutions de design innovantes. Le biomimétisme est mieux connu dans le contexte du design durable et cette recherche permet de mieux comprendre le biomimétisme dans le contexte de l’innovation. Considérant que le biomimétisme est une discipline qui suscite beaucoup d’intérêt des milieux académiques et privés, cette recherche participe à l’expansion de la connaissance sur le sujet et propose de nouvelles pistes de recherche sur le biomimétisme et l’innovation.
Biomimicry is a growing design discipline that has gained much recognition throughout the last decade in sustainable design. The bioinspired design approach is finding its way across design disciplines from product design to architecture and urban design. The book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, by Janine Benyus is credited to launch the design movement and as indicated in the title, biomimicry is often presented as a strategy for design innovation. The goal of this thesis is to gain a better understanding of biomimicry in the context of innovation. This study has two principal objectives and a minor objective. The first objective aims at understanding the correlation between biomimicry and ecodesign. The second objective is to validate the notion that biomimicry is a strategy supporting design innovation by establishing what kinds of innovation has been spawned by this approach. And finally the third objective is to identify the aspects of biomimicry that lead to innovative design solutions. To fulfill these objectives, this research will employ a qualitative approach and supported literature review and case studies. To contextualize the last two objectives, the study clarifies that the qualitative approach of biomimicry and the quantitative approach of ecodesign are actually complimentary and thus together form a more comprehensive approach to sustainable design. The findings of this study also validate that biomimicry supports innovation, specifically radical innovation. To finalize, the study demonstrates that the two aspects of biomimicry responsible for innovation are the use of distant analogy and transdisciplinarity. Biomimicry is typically observed in the context of sustainability and this thesis aims to observe and understand biomimicry in the context of innovation. Given the growing interest in biomimicry by academia and the private sector, this research also will propose new paths of research in biomimicry and innovation and thus hopefully provoke new insights on the subject.

Si les principes d’utilisabilité guident la conception de solutions de design interactif pour s’assurer que celles-ci soient « utilisables », quels principes guident la conception d’objets interactifs pour s’assurer que l’expérience subjective de l’usager (UX) soit adéquate et mémorable? Que manque-t-il au cadre de l‘UX pour expliquer, comprendre, et anticiper en tant que designer une expérience mémorable (‘an experience’; Dewey, 1934)? La question centrale est issue d’une double problématique : (1) le cadre théorique de l’UX est incomplet, et (2) les processus et capacités des designers ne sont pas considérés et utilisés à leur pleine capacité en conception UX. Pour répondre à cette question, nous proposons de compléter les modèles de l’UX avec la notion d’expérience autotélique qui appartient principalement à deux cadres théoriques ayant bien cerné l’expérience subjective, soit l’expérience optimale (ou Flow) de Csikszentmihalyi (1988) et l’expérience esthétique selon Schaeffer (2001). L’autotélie est une dimension interne du Flow alors qu’elle couvre toute l’expérience esthétique. L’autotélie est une expérience d’éveil au moment même de l’interaction. Cette prise de conscience est accompagnée d’une imperceptible tension de vouloir faire durer ce moment pour faire durer le plaisir qu’il génère. Trois études exploratoires ont été faites, s’appuyant sur une analyse faite à partir d’un cadre théorique en trois parties : le Flow, les signes d’activité non verbale (les gestes physiques) et verbale (le discours) ont été évalués pour voir comment ceux-ci s’associent. Nos résultats tendent à prouver que les processus spatiaux jouent un rôle de premier plan dans l’expérience autotélique et par conséquent dans une UX optimale. De plus, ils suggèrent que les expériences pragmatique et autotélique sont ancrées dans un seul et même contenu, et que leur différence tient au type d’attention que le participant porte sur l’interaction, l’attention ordinaire ou de type autotélique. Ces résultats nous ont menés à proposer un modèle pour la conception UX. L’élément nouveau, resté jusqu’alors inaperçu, consiste à s’assurer que l’interface (au sens large) appelle une attitude réceptive à l’inattendu, pour qu’une information puisse déclencher les processus spatiaux, offrant une opportunité de passer de l’attention ordinaire à l’attention autotélique. Le nouveau modèle ouvre la porte à une meilleure valorisation des habiletés et processus du designer au sein de l’équipe multidisciplinaire en conception UX.
If usability guides the formal organisation of interactive systems as it pertains to being usable, useful and efficient, what principle(s) guide(s) the formal organisation of interactive systems when it comes to give form to the subjective dimension of the user experience? This question came from two perceived gaps in our understanding of UX: (1) the UX theoretical framework appears incomplete to this day. Going beyond experiencing, what is at play during Dewey’s an experience? (2) The process and abilities of designers are underused in the current theoretical and practical UX framework; what would provide a more designerly approach? We propose that the autotelic experience could bridge these gaps and be the UX counterpart to usability. The autotelic experience is an internal dimension at the heart of the optimal experience—Flow—(Csikszentmihalyi, 1975) and covering the whole of the aesthetic experience (Schaeffer, 2000). The autotelic experience is a shift in awareness occurring during the interaction. This awareness is accompanied by an imperceptible tension of wanting to make this moment last in order to continue enjoying the pleasure it generates (a circular motivation to stay in the interaction for the sake of the interaction itself) (Schaeffer, 2000). Our results suggest the key to the autotelic experience sits with visuospatial reasoning or more specifically to right hemisphere (RH) activation. Three exploratory studies were conducted, using a three-part theoretical framework where Flow, signs of nonverbal / spatial activity (physical gestures) and of verbal activity (discourse) were assessed for their various associations. The main contribution of this research is a model of autotelic experience made of three interlocking elements (high positive pressure, low mental demand and an openness to unexpected events) contextualised by either an active or a receptive engagement on the part of the user. One of the findings is that the pragmatic experience and the autotelic experience (which we have associated to Dewey’s an experience, 1934), are based on one and the same content, the only difference is the shift in attention on the participant’s part. All the elements of the model are known, but one, to design the experience in a way to keep the user open to the unexpected. This one element supports the occurrence of the shift from ordinary to autotelic attention. The new model opens the door to a better appreciation of designers’ skills and processes within multidisciplinary team in UX design.

Governments worldwide utilise an evaluation methodology named Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to decide which medical treatments they will fund. HTA evaluates the safety and (cost-) effectiveness, and broader implications of introducing new interventions into a given healthcare system. Involving the public in HTA is considered an appropriate way to collect information on the social and ethical implications of new medical interventions. This thesis examines why and how the public should be involved in HTA processes and healthcare funding policymaking. Its objective is to propose directions on how to improve public involvement in HTA based on an understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives. The thesis uses a theoretical framework based on two Systems Thinking approaches: Complex Adaptive Systems and Soft Systems Methodology. The thesis is composed of four studies. First, there is a survey of members of the public to examine public involvement in policy decisions. Then, there is a theoretical piece on how to define which types of public might take part in HTA. Finally, there is a Canadian case study comprising two studies. The first study features interviews with HTA stakeholders to understand their views about public involvement processes, and the second study features focus groups with members of the public to ascertain their views on being involved in HTA. The reasons for involving the public in policy are clarified; engagement processes are used to increase trust and transparency in decision making as part of governance strategies. A taxonomy for defining and differentiating the public from other types of stakeholders in HTA is proposed, along with the reasons and goals for engaging with each group. Examining HTA as a system shows that the HTA process and its outcomes are influenced by stakeholders’ worldviews and values both at a personal and group level. Members of the public report being suspicious of the interests driving HTA stakeholders and see public input as a counterbalance to those interests. Members of the public also suggest the use of a mixed-methods approach to public involvement to provide information to HTA processes and meet the public’s democratic aspirations to take part in government decisions. This research shows that the challenges related to increasing and improving public involvement in HTA do not pertain exclusively to methodological problems such as a lack of standards for the design and evaluation of such processes. The main challenge is the differences in worldviews of those involved in HTA and those not directly involved. However, if all stakeholders’ worldviews are explicitly considered, conflicts can be managed with provisional agreements that enable policy decisions to move forward. The inclusion of members of the public adds a set of values that may be different from the values of actors already involved in HTA and thus may warrant significant changes to current HTA processes. This body of work indicates that establishing formal procedures to foster discussion between stakeholders was seen a useful by those directly or indirectly involved in HTA as it allows them to understand a range of viewpoints and access potential solutions to challenges in this field.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Public Health, 2021

This research takes a feminist post-structuralist perspective, informed by Lacanian and post-Lacanian theory to explore constructions of femininity, woman, and women’s experiences in the ‘post-feminist’ context of contemporary Western culture. How do post-feminist discursive constructions of woman regulate women’s subjectivity and define the field of possible actions and shape desire? What does post-feminist discourse make possible and consequently what does it exclude from the realm of possible actions and articulations? These questions are explored empirically through two studies: first, a discourse analysis of post-feminist discourses in popular media and, second, a discourse analysis of in-depth interviews with women on their experiences and views of ‘femininity’ and gender-power relations. From the analysis of Study 1, I argue that ‘post-feminism’ produces a feminine subject who understands herself to be ‘emancipated’, to have the same opportunities as men and the same ‘choices’ whilst simultaneously reproducing dominant patriarchal versions of femininity which continue to regulate and constrain women’s desire In Study 2, analysis of the interview texts illustrates some of the ways that feminine subjectivity continues to be regulated by patriarchal fantasies and ideals of ‘woman’. It was found that the regulative power of masculine fantasies of woman as ‘home’ and as ‘ideal mother’ constrain the interviewee’s experiences, choices and desires despite the post-feminist insistence that woman is no longer bound by anachronistic expectations or outmoded stereotypes. Overall, it is proposed that a post-feminist ‘regime of truth’ profoundly impacts on our ability to critically engage with issues of power as they relate to gender inequality.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2005.
Advisors: Dr. Emmanuel G. Collins Jr., and Dr. Farruk S. Alvi, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 15, 2005). Document formatted into pages; contains xvii, 185 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

碩士
國立彰化師範大學
光電科技研究所
93
The 1.3- and 1.55-um semiconductor lasers are important for application in optical interconnection and long-distance optical fiber communications because they provide the lowest dispersion and loss in silica fiber respectively. Although the traditional InGaAsP/InP strained multiple quantum-well lasers have been studied for a long time and applied in many areas, they still suffer from problems of relatively high temperature dependence. Therefore, it does not retain low temperature sensitivity of threshold current and high slope efficiency in the absence of a thermoelectric cooler when the InGaAsP/InP laser systems are operated at elevated temperatures. In recent years, there are two novel material systems utilized to fabricate the 1.3- and 1.55-um semiconductor lasers. One of the new material systems is AlGaInAs/InP and the other is InGaAsN/GaAs. Both the AlGaInAs/InP and InGaAsN/GaAs lasers show better performance and lower temperature dependence than the conventional InGaAsP/InP lasers, enabling uncooled continuous-wave operation at high ambient temperatures. In this work, I present a complete study for the AlGaInAs material system. Moreover, the InGaAsN and InGaAsP (InAsP) material systems are also systematically analyzed at the same time. In chapter 1, I first introduce the optical properties and physical parameters of the three material systems, InGaAsP (InAsP), AlGaInAs, and InGaAsN, which are utilized to fabricate the 1.3-um semiconductor lasers. Then, the development status of these material systems are also reviewed and described. In chapter 2, the material gain performances and spontaneous emission rates of these 1.3-um semiconductor material systems, obtained from real devices fabricated by different researchers, are systematically analyzed and compared. Furthermore, the effect of design of active region on optical properties of each material system is also investigated in this chapter. In chapter 3, optical properties of a 1.3-um AlGaInAs/InP laser structure with an electron stopper layer are studied numerically with the Lastip simulation program developed by Crosslight Inc. On the other hand, the effect of strain compensating barrier layers on the laser performance of InGaAsN/GaAs laser system is also investigated in detail. Finally, in chapter 4, based on the preceding simulation results and analyses, I make a brief summary and provide the optimized designs of laser structures for 1.3-um AlGaInAs and InGaAsN material systems. It is my hope that the researches in this thesis may be helpful to the researchers and crystal growers.