Due to various societal changes such as globalization, urbanization and connectivity, new lifestyles, such as that of urban nomads, are becoming more common and relevant. Therefore, this study observes and analyzes this target group from a critical and multidisciplinary perspective. Urban nomads can be defined as a collective group of people who live and work in urban areas. They do not reside permanently in one place but move frequently within urban locations. Minimalism as part of low-consumption lifestyles and the concept of mobility, which form the core of the urban nomads‘ mindset, are examined in detail.The focus of the research is the relationship of urban nomads to material possessions and their meaning. Based on this, the thesis aims to generate criteria and requirements for a product design from the perspective of design, which meets the needs of urban nomads and simplifies their everyday life. Through a people-centered approach and the collaborative application of different methods, the urban nomads are placed in the focus of the innovation process and are actively involved in the process.The thesis results in the development of a transportable and multifunctional lamp (Mobilamp), which is realized in the form of a prototype based on the generated criteria from the research. The product design is considered as an example and analyzes in which way needs can be satisfied and through which usage situations the daily life of urban nomads can be facilitated. The aspect of sustainability in the consumption behavior of the target group is also critically analyzed and evaluated through the product.

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Incorporating computers into daily K-12 classroom teaching promises to benefit student learning, and improve teaching practice substantially. Computer enhanced curricula may enable more teachers to create exploratory and inquiry based lessons, but in most cases supporting software have only been realized as practice tools for specific rote learning skills. Drills do little to help students develop higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills. With more computers in the classroom, the assumption was that computers would be integrated into curricula with a high usage of educational software, but research suggests that this assumption has not been borne out (Powell & Okey, 1994; Tyack & Cuban, 1995). Our general argument is that systems whose usability characteristics have been designed to meet teachers" needs and that can be easily tailored to meet specific teaching objectives are more likely to be incorporated into everyday teaching practices. One type of computer-based activity that enables teachers to engage students in exploratory learning is an educational simulation. Many educational software packages that build simulations have limited usability because they have unmodifiable, limited modifiable or difficult-to-modify functionality. Still others are useful, but are too expensive for many schools to afford. These packages fall short of achieving the ultimate goal of providing useful classroom simulation technology " providing teachers with the option of building simulations from scratch or reusing existing simulations by adapting their functionality. Because teachers have limited time to learn new technology or develop new simulations, this research focused on developing a new framework that would help teachers create easily adaptable and reusable customized educational materials, encouraging them to use these materials to build and extend simulations in collaboration with their students. We began our study by analyzing the currently available tools for visual construction of educational simulations; we used the results of these analyses to develop an alternative environment"SimBuilder. This environment was designed to address the general usability and programming style issues observed in our analysis of other tools. A minimalist self-study tutorial was designed to support rapid start-up and use of the SimBuilder. Through a comparative analysis using a state-of-the-art environment (AgentSheets) that collected a wide range of quantitative and qualitative measures of learning, programming style, usability, motivation, and strategies for code reuse, we determined that SimBuilder offers an improved environment for teachers to construct educational simulations. / Ph. D.

One of the key features of an online community network is that there is no central management authority; the community members themselves manage it. At the same time, for any application to be complete it must have a useful help system. So, for a community network to be completely run by the members, the task of creating and manipulating help documents must also be handled by the members/end-users. Previous studies about community networks show that extensive volunteer effort is one of the basic characteristics of a community network. Therefore a study about end-user authoring is possible in a community network. Minimalism is an instruction design method that helps users to learn about the system by performing real tasks. This study aimed at analyzing the possibilities of guiding the end-users to create a better minimalist help document than a more traditional and comprehensive one. The users' performance and preferences were used to compare the two approaches. The study also focused on users' preference to using minimalist help documents versus traditional help documents. The results indicated that it is possible to guide the end-users to create minimalist help documents. However, no significant results were found to conclude that the end-user authored minimalist help document would be better than an end-user authored traditional help document. The results also indicated that, although significant results were not found, the users seem to prefer a more traditional help, than a minimalist help, for a community network. The implications of the study and recommendations for future work are presented. / Master of Science

It is important to utilize training that facilitates the best learning and performance on real tasks. Much research has been conducted to develop theories of learning and determine beneficial training characteristics. Still, this research often remains as separated characteristic recommendations and is not used to ascertain the best training method. This occurs even though most individuals simply use a training method and do not bother to go into the literature for recommendations each time they are looking to train or teach something. Generalizability is also often a factor lacking in research on training methods. This lack of research performed includes those that could determine whether or not a specific training method is generalizable to older adults. Minimalism is a training method that could potentially alleviate some of the problems older adults experience when training. Yet, up to the time of this study, no empirical evidence had been gathered to compare minimalism to traditional training methods for older adults. This study attempted to gain empirical data to test the hypothesis that minimalism is more beneficial as well as to gain initial subjective data from participants. This study also endeavored to conduct a preliminary examination of individual difference factors and their affects on performance and subjective reports in a training environment. Results indicated that, although significant results were not obtained, minimalism may still be an area worth pursuing for training older adults. Effects of interactions, which included gender and learning style, are discussed. Implications, as well as recommendations and conclusions, of the study are presented. / Master of Science

Prägnanz is a single movement composition for orchestra. This composition reflects the influence of minimalist composers such as Phillip Glass and Steve Reich. The structure of the piece is generated by a rhythmic motive that is transformed through a large-scale additive process. This overarching process is periodically interrupted by contrasting episodes, creating a form similar to a rondo. Several themes and gestures are explored, including a phasing rhythmic motive. The harmonic language is static, almost monolithic, in order to accentuate the gradual motion of the piece towards its goal. The title comes from Gestalt psychology; the Law of Prägnanz describes how the mind perceives simplicity within the complexity of reality. This tendency is mirrored in the piece through the focus on the central motivic transformation in spite of the complexity of contrasting themes, orchestrations, and gestures.

A proposition ontology occupies a potentially rich and foundational place in a good deal of contemporary philosophical theorizing. Some of the biggest roadblocks to a wider acceptance and employment of propositions have been legitimate worries about their nature, or ontological "explanatory" power of theories that employ them. This dissertation attempts to understand and construct a deflationary or minimalist understanding of the notion of a proposition and its theoretical roles. On the basis of this understanding, following Stephen Schiffer (2003), I attempt to construct an ontology of propositions -focusing on general propositions- which avoids or dissolves the most pressing worries about their ontological nature, and the epistemological and explanatory statuses of propositions. In chapter one, I discuss the primary theoretical motivations for positing propositions, and argue for a general set of ontological constraints that fall out of a consideration of entities posited according to these motivations. In chapter two, after arguing that propositions are substantially ontologically independent of mind and language, I argue that propositions are conceptually mind- dependent, but that conceptual dependence of this kind does not amount to any sort of ontological dependence. In chapter three, drawing heavily on the work of Stephen Schiffer (2003), I substantially address the epistemological worries about propositions, arguing that propositions are pleonastic entities whose natures and existence we can know simply by reflecting on our proposition- introducing linguistic practices. In chapter four, I argue that propositions may or may not, in virtue of their status as pleonastic entities, play any substantial explanatory role, but that by utilizing the notion of a proposition, which, according to the pleonastic conception of them, guarantees their existence independent of our practices, is useful and perhaps indispensable to certain of our communicative and epistemic practices. Our propositional linguistic practices, involving essentially our reference to propositions, are thus pragmatically justified.

Overconsumption has become a common phenomenon in our contemporary consumer society. Furthermore, overconsumption has repeatedly been pointed out for its negative impact on the wellbeing of both humans and the environment. Alternative consumption and minimalism have, in recent years, become increasingly noticeable as a solution to this problem. The purpose of this study is threefold. First, from a Swedish context provide information on the motives of individuals who choose an alternative consumption or a minimalistic lifestyle, second, how these choices are important to the construction of these individuals’ self-identity, and third to discuss the significance of objects for these individuals. Previous research shows that motives for individuals who choose alternative ways of consumption are both personal benefits and activist ideologies. Financial capacity also plays a major role in an individual’s ability to consume alternatively or choose a minimalistic lifestyle. We have noted that previous research is currently lacking to explain how alternative ways of consumption are related to the construction of self-identity. Previous research also shows that there seems to be an ongoing discussion about the definition of the concepts of alternative consumption and minimalism. Our study is based on qualitative interviews with five individuals where both alternative consumers and minimalists are represented. This study's findings show that the main motive of our interviewees to choose alternative ways of consumption is that these lifestyles has given rise to increased well-being. It also shows that some participants have been able to develop an emotional distance to their belongings through these lifestyle choices. The results also indicate that the interviewees do in fact construct their self-identity through alternative ways of consumption. Also, that class affiliation is a crucial factor for the individuals' ability to choose a lifestyle characterized by alternative ways of consumption. / Överkonsumtion har blivit ett vardagligt fenomen i vårt samtida konsumtionssamhälle. Detta har upprepade gånger pekats ut som en bidragande faktor till att välbefinnandet hos både människa och miljö påverkats negativt. Både alternativ konsumtion och minimalism har på senare år blivit allt mer uppmärksammade som lösningar på detta problem. I denna studie är syftet att utifrån en svensk kontext bidra med kunskap om vilka motiv individer har till att välja en alternativ konsumtion eller en minimalistisk livsstil, hur detta i sin tur har betydelse för konstruktionen av självidentiteten samt vilken betydelse ting har för dessa individer. Tidigare forskning har visat att personliga fördelar och aktivistiska ideologier varit motiv för individer till att välja alternativa konsumtionssätt. Förutsättningarna för att göra dessa livsstilsval skiljer sig dock beroende på vilken ekonomisk kapacitet människor besitter. Vi har uppmärksammat att nuvarande forskning är bristfällig i att förklara hur alternativa konsumtionssätt står i relation till identitetsskapande. Det tycks även finnas en pågående diskussion i tidigare forskning om definitionen av begreppen alternativ konsumtion och minimalism. Vår studie är baserad på kvalitativa intervjuer med fem intervjupersoner där både alternativa konsumenter och minimalister finns representerade. Studiens resultat visar att intervjupersonernas huvudsakliga motiv till att välja ett alternativt konsumtionssätt är att livsstilen givit upphov till ett ökat välbefinnande. Resultatet visar även att vissa deltagare har utvecklat en emotionell distansering till sina ägodelar genom deras val av livsstil. Resultatet tyder även på att intervjupersonerna konstruerar sin självidentitet genom alternativa konsumtionssätt samt att klasstillhörigheten återigen anses vara en avgörande faktor för individers förmåga att välja en livsstil präglad av alternativa konsumtionssätt.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T17:06:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GuilhermeAmaral.pdf: 1069383 bytes, checksum: 90737d6eb4d20ddb945386e0043ee085 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This dissertation presents a study of the works Brasil 2000 Op.12, Amanduá and Meio Bossa for piano solo, of the composer Dimitri Cervo (Santa Maria, 1968). The focus of the research was to realize an analytical study of compositional procedures and, based on this study, to present technique-interpretive criteria and suggestions to be applied during the preparation of the mentioned work. Both the criteria and the suggestions of instrumental realization were prepared considering elements of musical construction and the sound result expected by the interpreter. Having in mind that, in the chosen work, there are compositional resources of minimalist and postminimalism nature, like the huge amount of ostinatos and repetitive musical patterns, those, if studied in the wrong way, can favor the appearance of muscle damage and other discomforts that prejudice, the interpreter s health and still more the sound result. Based on these observations, strategies were organized to optimize the process of study in specific situations of execution. In order to reach this objective, recent bibliographies and research about pianistic technique that have the adaptation of the body movement to the resolution of musical questions were consulted, like the Movement Cycles (PÓVOAS, 1999), a resource of flexibilization of the movement and discussed concepts related to it that were applied to the execution of Brasil 2000, Amanduá and Meio Bossa. Contributions about the application of the study and analytical research in the musical-instrumental practice were also related to this work. In the beginning biographical data about the composer and general aspects about his journey and his compositional esthetics are presented. In the sequence the compositional procedures that are more used in the present works are identified and analyzed and the criteria with technique-interpretive suggestions that can be used as an orientation during the preparation and execution of them are proposed. It is expected that this piece of research can contribute to the literature related to musical analysis as a tool for the interpretive practice. This research can integrate the list of more recent research in the sub-area of interpretive practice, utilizing concepts that relate the analysis of compositional elements to the pianistic technique, aiming at the interpretation of national composers cotemporaneous work. The interpretive decisions and criteria presented here can be adopted in the pedagogical practice of these and other works that present similar characteristics to the ones studied here / Esta dissertação apresenta um estudo das obras Brasil 2000 Op.12, Amanduá e Meio Bossa para piano solo, do compositor Dimitri Cervo (Santa Maria, 1968). O foco da pesquisa foi realizar um estudo analítico de procedimentos composicionais e, com base neste estudo, apresentar critérios técnico-interpretativos e sugestões a serem aplicadas durante a preparação das mencionadas obras. Tanto os critérios quanto as sugestões de realização instrumental foram feitas considerando-se elementos de construção musical e o resultado sonoro pretendido pelo intérprete. Tendo em vista que, nas obras selecionadas, encontram-se recursos composicionais de natureza minimalista e pós-minimalista, tais como a grande quantidade de ostinatos e padrões musicais repetitivos, estes, se estudados de maneira incorreta, podem favorecer ao aparecimento de lesões musculares e outros desconfortos que prejudicam, além da saúde do intérprete, sobretudo o resultado sonoro. A partir desta observação foram organizadas estratégias com vistas à otimização do processo de estudo em situações específicas de execução. Para este fim, foram consultadas bibliografias e pesquisas mais recentes sobre técnica pianística que têm como foco a adequação do movimento corporal à resolução de questões musicais, tais como os Ciclos de Movimentos (PÓVOAS, 1999), um recurso de flexibilização do movimento e discutidos preceitos relacionados que foram aplicados à realização de Brasil 2000, Amanduá e Meio Bossa. Também foram relacionadas contribuições sobre o emprego do estudo e pesquisa analítica na prática músico-instrumental. Inicialmente são apresentados dados biográficos sobre o compositor e aspectos gerais sobre sua trajetória e sua estética composicional. Na seqüência encontram-se identificados e analisados procedimentos composicionais mais utilizados nas obras em destaque e os critérios com sugestões técnico-interpretativas que poderão servir de orientação durante a sua preparação e execução são propostos. Com esta pesquisa pretende-se contribuir para a literatura relacionada à análise musical como ferramenta para a prática interpretativa. Esta pesquisa poderá integrar o rol de pesquisas mais recentes na subárea das práticas interpretativas, utilizando-se de conceitos que relacionam a análise de elementos composicionais à técnica pianística objetivando a interpretação de obras contemporâneas de compositores nacionais. As decisões interpretativas e critérios aqui apresentados poderão ser adotados na prática pedagógica destas e demais obras que apresentem características semelhantes àquelas aqui estudadas