Arbetet på fartygsbryggor består till en stor del av kontrolluppgifter. Operatörerna, bryggteamet, har därför kontroll-  och alarmsystem till förfogande. Samspelet mellan människa och system beror delvis på användarens kunskaper och erfarenheter och delvis på bryggdesign och teknikens användarvänlighet. Arbetets ämne är hanteringen av alarm och alarmsystem på fartygsbryggor.  Syftet  var att  undersöka om det finns strategier för detta och i så fall att belysa hur dessa strategier ser ut. Därför undersöktes sju styrmäns erfarenheter med kvalitativa metoder, med halvstrukturerade intervjuer och med innehållsanalys.    Undersökningen ledde bl. a. till följande slutsatser: Alarmhanteringen sker i stort sätt enligt oskrivna regler och överenskommelser. Det ses som en del av yrket och sker vid sidan om.  Styrmännen följer ett handlingsschema när ett alarm påkallar uppmärksamhet. Styrmännen konstruerar sina egna verktyg och metoder för att komma tillrätta med ergonomiska problem och med felfunktioner. / Work on a navigational bridge consists to a great extent of control tasks. Control and alarm systems are available to facilitate this work. The interaction between humans and systems depends partly on the  user's knowledge and experience and partly on bridge design and technologies’ usability. The topic of this thesis is the handling of alarms and alarm systems on  navigational  bridges.  The aim was to  study  whether there are strategies for this and if so, to illustrate how these strategies work. For this reason seven officers’  experiences were examined with  qualitative methods, semi-structured interviews and content analysis. The investigation led among other things to the following conclusions:   Alarm handling is often done according to unwritten rules and agreements. It is seen as part of the profession and is done on the side. Officers follow a scheme when an alarm calls for their attention. Officers construct their own tools and methods to deal with ergonomic problems and malfunctions.

Black-and-white colobus monkeys are renowned for their impressive vocal behaviour, but up to date there have been only very few systematic efforts to study this. These monkeys are able to produce loud and low-pitched roars that transmit over long distances, which has lead to the assumption that these calls function in inter-group spacing and male-male competition. The fact that the monkeys sometimes produce the same calls to predators as well, has not received much attention so far. This thesis presents a detailed description of the form and function of the anti-predator behaviour of one species of black-and-white colobus monkeys, the Guereza (Colobus guereza), with a specific focus on their alarm calling behaviour. A second aim was to determine the effects of predator experience on their anti-predator behaviour, with a specific focus on call comprehension and production. Data were collected from two populations of Guereza monkeys in the Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda, that differ in predation pressures experienced by their main predators: leopards, eagles and chimpanzees. Results showed that Guerezas use a basic form of zoo-syntax in order to compose predator-specific call sequences that vary in the number of roaring phrases and snorts. These sequences are meaningful to recipients, at least at the level of the predator class, but there were also indications for additional levels of encoded information: Guerezas appear to have evolved a second system, based on acoustic variants of individual phrases, which allows them to narrow down the information content of call sequences, generating the potential to communicate highly specific information by using a mix of syntactic and semantic cues. The monkeys’ vocal behaviour was influenced by predator experience, but not strongly so. Monkeys without prior experience with leopards lacked some of the behavioural nuances seen in leopard-experienced monkeys, but they nevertheless responded appropriately to visual and acoustic leopard models, suggesting they had retained the basic capacities to recognise this predator type as relevant and dangerous. Results are discussed in light of the comparative approach to the study of human language evolution. Although human language is unique in a number of ways, for example through its use of complex syntax and intentional semantics, some animal communication systems have revealed similar features, and Guerezas, the first member of the colobine family to be studied in this respect, are no exception. The Guerezas’ alarm calling behaviour is complex and flexible, and these monkeys have provided another piece of empirical evidence that is directly relevant for the comparative approach to human language evolution.

The overall aim was to describe how persons with dementia (PwDs) reflecton being outdoors and to investigate the support provided by a passivepositioning alarm (PPA) in making daily life safer for PwDs and theirspouses. Repeated conversations were held with 11 PwDs living in their own homesregarding their reflections on being outdoors (Study I). Interview study with14 spouses to a person with dementia (PwD) with their reflections on differentkinds of information and communication technology (ICT) devicesthat were used or can be used in the daily care of PwDs (Study II). An ethnographicapproach with participant observations and conversations withfive couples, a PwD and his/her spouse, describing and exploring their useand experiences of using a PPA, over time, in daily life (Study III). An experimentalsingle-case ABAB-design with three cases, a PwD and hisspouse, investigating the effects of using tracking technology on independentoutdoor activities and psychological well-being (Study IV). In summary, the results of the thesis show that being outdoors was describedby the PwDs as a confirmation of their identity, the `Self´. The useof ICT in daily care of PwDs was described by the spouses as shifting betweentheir own needs for safety and security and the perceived need forsafety and security from the perspective of the PwD. The use of a PPA indaily life among PwDs living in their own homes can give a sense of freedom,support and strengthen the feeling of independence for both PwDsand their spouses as well as give a feeling of safety and security for themboth. Use of the PPA may also increase PwDs’ independent outdoor activitiesand decrease spouses’ worries.

Titi monkeys have long been known for their complex vocal behaviour with numerous high- and low-pitched calls, which can be uttered singly or combined in more complex structures. However, up to date very little is known concerning the function, meaning and context-specific use of these vocal utterances, and virtually nothing is known about their vocalisations in the predation context. This thesis presents a detailed description of the form and function of the anti-predator behaviour of one species of titi monkeys, the black-fronted titi monkey (Callicebus nigrifrons), with a specific focus on their alarm call behaviour. A second aim was to determine the exact mechanisms of alarm calling behaviour, with an emphasis on production and comprehension. Data were collected from several habituated groups in the Caraça Reserve, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Results showed that, when detecting predator species, C nigrifrons produce sequences that initially contain two types of brief, high-pitched calls with distinct frequency contours. Further evidence suggested that some of these sequences are meaningful to conspecific receivers, by indicating the general predator class and location of threat. There were also indications that, within the terrestrial threats, additional information may be encoded by acoustic and compositional differences. Analyses of call order and number of calls per sequence suggested that callers may be able to convey information on both predator type and location. The black-fronted titi monkeys’ vocal system thus provides a further example of zoo-syntax, in which acoustically fixed units of a vocal repertoire are combined into higher order sequences that are meaningful to recipients. According to current definitions, this type of calling behaviour qualifies as functionally referential, by indicating general predator class, terrestrial predator type and location. As such, this is the first empirical demonstration of a sequence-based alarm call system that conveys information on both predator category and location.

Este trabalho apresenta duas metodologias baseadas em lógica fuzzy para automatizar o diagnóstico de defeito em equipamentos mecânicos, além de fazer uma comparação de seu desempenho utilizando um caso experimental. As duas metodologias estudadas são: o sistema de inferência fuzzy e o algoritmo baseado em Fuzzy C-Means. O alarme estatístico é uma metodologia existente atualmente na indústria com este objetivo e que será utilizado neste trabalho para comparação de desempenho. Para realizar os testes, foram desenvolvidos programas que permitiram criar alarmes e sistemas fuzzy utilizando um banco de dados experimental. De modo diferente ao que são feitos normalmente, os sistemas fuzzy de diagnóstico testados neste trabalho foram construídos automaticamente utilizando informações do banco de dados experimentais composto por sinais de vibração, que representam a condição normal e diversos tipos de defeitos em mancais de rolamentos. Os parâmetros escalares característicos necessários para a entrada nos sistemas fuzzy foram obtidos através do processamento dos sinais de vibração de mancais de rolamentos. Nas análises realizadas neste trabalho, foi estudada a influência de diversos características de criação do sistema fuzzy. Como exemplo, pode-se citar como principal influência, a complexidade do banco de dados a ser analisado pelo sistema fuzzy. Por fim, além de apresentar uma comparação de performance entre as metodologias fuzzy apresentadas no trabalho, com o alarme estatístico, são discutidas as características de cada uma destas metodologias. Destacam-se como principais contribuições deste trabalho, a obtenção de uma metodologia utilizada para criar de maneira automática o sistema de inferência fuzzy e as modificações realizadas no algoritmo Fuzzy C-Means para aperfeiçoar o desempenho em classificação de defeitos. / This works describes two proposed methodologies for the automatic diagnoses in mechanical equipment: the fuzzy system inference and a Fuzzy C-Means based algorithm. Their performances are evaluated in an experimental case and, afterwards, also compared by the statistical alarm, a diagnostic methodology very used in industries at present. In order to do the tests, a developed computer algorithm allowed creating alarms and fuzzy systems by the use of an experimental database. These tested diagnostic systems were automatically built using information from the mentioned database that was composed by samples of vibration signals, representing several types of rolling bearing defects and the bearing normal condition. The fuzzy systems input scalar parameters were obtained by signal processing. The influence of some of the building fuzzy systems parameters in the system performance was also studied, which allow establishing, for example, that the database complexity is an important factor in the fuzzy system performance. Finally, this work discusses the main characteristics of each one of the described methodologies. The most important contribution of this work is the proposition of a methodology for creating fuzzy system automatically as well as the analysis of the fuzzy C-Means as a tool for system diagnoses.

La sécurité des installations industrielles implique une gestion intégrée de tous les facteurs pouvant causer des incidents. La gestion d’alarmes est une condition qui peut être formulée comme un problème de reconnaissance de motifs pour lequel les motifs temporels sont utilisés pour caractériser différentes situations typiques, en particulier liées au phases de démarrage et d'arrêt. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons une nouvelle approche de gestion des alarmes basée sur un processus de diagnostic. En considérant les alarmes et les actions des procédures d'exploitation standard comme des événements discrets, le diagnostic repose sur la reconnaissance de situation pour fournir aux opérateurs des informations pertinentes sur les défauts induisant les flux d'alarmes. La reconnaissance de situation est basée sur des chroniques qui sont apprises pour chaque situation. Nous proposons d'utiliser un modèle causal hybride du système et des simulations pour générer les séquences d'événements représentatives à partir desquelles les chroniques sont apprises automatiquement en utilisant l'algorithme « Heuristic Chronicle Discovery Algorithm Modified » (HCDAM). Une extension de cet algorithme est présentée dans cette thèse où les connaissances d'experts sont prises en compte comme des restrictions temporelles qui constituent une nouvelle entrée pour HCDAM. Deux cas d’étude illustratifs dans le domaine des procédés pétrochimiques sont présentés. / Industrial plant safety involves integrated management of all the factors that may cause incidents. Process alarm management is a requisite that can be formulated as a pattern recognition problem in which temporal patterns are used to characterize different typical situations, particularly at startup and shutdown stages. In this thesis, we propose a new approach of alarm management based on a diagnosis process. Assuming the alarms and the actions of the standard operating procedures as discrete events, diagnosis relies on situation recognition to provide the operators with relevant information about the faults inducing the alarm flows. Situation recognition is based on chronicles that are learned for every situation. We propose to use the hybrid causal model of the system and simulations to generate the representative event sequences from which the chronicles are learned using the Heuristic Chronicle Discovery Algorithm Modified (HCDAM). An extension of this algorithm is presented in this thesis where expert knowledge is included as temporal restrictions which are a new input to HCDAM. Two illustrative case studies in the field of petrochemical plants are presented.

Introdução: A enurese (EN) é uma condição clínica de etiologia multifatorial com característica de perda de urina intermitente no período noturno que promove uma dificuldade ao convívio social da criança/adolescente e pode ser afetada pela presença de comorbidades e por imaturidade do sistema nervoso na regulação central sobre o funcionamento vesical. O conjunto de eventos promotores do episódio da enurese, desde o enchimento vesical durante o sono até a deflagração do esvaziamento vesical involuntário sem acordar constitui-se no foco principal de abordagem clínico-laboratorial e terapêutica. Objetivo: Estudar o impacto de uma avaliação multidisciplinar do indivíduo com enurese noturna monossintomática (ENM) sobre a eficácia terapêutica dos métodos tradicionalmente utilizados em sua abordagem, assim como comparar, pela polissonografia (PSG), os efeitos da intervenção sobre a estrutura do sono. Método: Estudo prospectivo de crianças de 6 a 17 anos incompletos, com ENM, diagnosticada por avaliação multidisciplinar utilizando anamnese estruturada com enfoque nefropediátrico, exame clínico, diários das eliminações, ultrassonografia de rins e vias urinárias, análises laboratoriais de sangue e urina, exame neurológico, diário do sono, questionários de avaliação do sono e polissonografia, avaliação psicológica de distúrbios do comportamento pelo CBCL e da qualidade de vida pelo PedsQL 4.0 e avaliação fisioterapêutica do equilíbrio. Condições crônicas e genéticas constituíram exclusão do protocolo. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa do HCFMUSP de número 0649/10 e apoio da FAPESP (2011/17589-1). Das 140 crianças/adolescentes ingressantes, foram excluídos 58 (41,4%) por comorbidades não tratáveis e/ou não aderência ao protocolo, 82/140 (58,6%) pacientes com ENM foram incluídos para intervenção terapêutica em três grupos de tratamento (alarme, desmopressina e alarme com desmopressina). A resposta à intervenção terapêutica foi avaliada no período pós-intervenção imediato (após seis meses de tratamento) e tardio (após 12 meses da suspensão do tratamento). A PSG foi realizada pré e pós-tratamento para análise comparativa da estrutura do sono. Resultados: Dos 82 pacientes, com idade média de 9,5 anos (? 2,6), 62 eram do sexo masculino (75,6%). Diagnosticou-se antecedente familiar de EN em 91,1% considerando parentes de 1° e 2° graus, constipação em 81,7% e apneia leve/moderada em 40,7%. A avaliação fisioterapêutica realizada na fase pré-intervenção demonstrou presença de alteração no controle do equilíbrio nos pacientes com enurese. A associação entre os fatores reconhecidos na abordagem clínica inicial e a gravidade da enurese (% de episódios/mês) na fase préintervenção, apresentou significância para prematuridade (p=0,03). Previamente à randomização, após abordagem clínica de constipação e/ou terapia comportamental simples, verificou-se cura de 7/82 pacientes. Foram randomizados para tratamento nas três modalidades de intervenção 75 pacientes. Durante a fase de intervenção ocorreram 14/75 (18,7%) desistências, principalmente no grupo alarme (p=0,00). Verificou-se nos 61 pacientes em tratamento, sucesso inicial (resposta completa e parcial) em 56,6% do grupo alarme, 70% do grupo desmopressina e 64% do grupo combinado (p=0,26). Sucesso contínuo (SC) ocorreu em 70% do grupo Alarme, 84,2% do grupo Desmopressina e 100% do grupo combinado (p=0,21). A recidiva ocorreu em 3/20 (15%) pacientes do grupo Alarme e 1/19 (5,2%) do grupo Desmopressina. O sucesso terapêutico se associou a redução nos escores de problemas de comportamento e melhora dos escores de qualidade de vida dos pacientes. A análise comparativa do sono pré e pós-intervenção nos pacientes com e sem alarme demonstrou aumento dos microdespertares (p=0,00), diminuição da eficiência do sono (p=0,02), diminuição de N2 (p=0,00) no grupo alarme. Conclusão: A enurese é um distúrbio multifatorial que exige uma abordagem diagnóstica estruturada. No presente estudo, a abordagem terapêutica utilizando três metodologias de intervenção demonstrou eficácia semelhante. Os benefícios associados ao sucesso terapêutico são amplos, sugere-se, no entanto, que a terapia com alarme possa repercutir negativamente na estrutura do sono / Introduction: Enuresis (NE) is a clinical condition of multifactorial etiology with intermittent nocturnal urine loss characteristic at night that leads to difficulties in child / adolescent social interaction. It can be affected by comorbidities and by immaturity of the central nervous system in the regulation of bladder function. The range of events of the bedwetting episode, from bladder filling until the involuntary triggering of bladder emptying during sleep, constitutes the main focus for clinical-laboratory and therapeutic approach. Objective: To study the impact of a multidisciplinary assessment of the patient with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) on the therapeutic efficacy of the interventions traditionally used in its approach, and to compare, by polysomnography (PSG), the effects of intervention on sleep structure. Method: Prospective study of children, of 6 to 17 incomplete years, with MNE diagnosed by multidisciplinary assessment, based on: pediatric nephrology - oriented structured history, clinical examination, kidney and urinary tract ultrasound, laboratory tests of blood and urine and daily bladder and intestinal elimination diaries; neurological examination, sleep diary and sleep questionnaires and PSG; psychology evaluation using CBCL and PedsQL 4.0 questionnaires; physiotherapic evaluation of balance. The study was approved by the HCFMUSP Ethics Committee in Research of number 0649/10 and was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Grant # 2011/17589-1. Of the 140 children/adolescents entering the study, 58 (41.4%) were excluded because of non - treatable comorbidities and / or nonadherence to study protocol, 82/140 (58.6%) patients with MNE were included for therapeutic intervention in three treatment groups (alarm, desmopressin and alarm with desmopressin). The response to therapeutic intervention was evaluated in the immediate and late post-intervention period, respectively after six of treatment and after 12 months of posttreatment follow-up. Pre and post intervention PSG were compared to evaluate therapy impact on the structure of sleep. Results: Of 82 patients, 62 were male (75.6%) with mean age of 9.5 years (± 2.6). Family history of NE was diagnosed in 91.1% of first and second degree relatives, constipation in 81.7% and mild/moderate apnea in 40.7%. The physical therapy preintervention evaluation identified an alteration in the balance control of the MNE patients. In the pre-intervention phase, an association of prematurity with severity of enuresis (% of episodes/month) (p = 0.03) was identified. Enuresis cure was achieved, prior to randomization, after clinical approach to constipation and / or simple behavioral therapy, by 7/82 patients, 75 patients were randomized to treatment with three modes of intervention. During the intervention phase, a dropout rate of 14/75 (18.7%) patients was verified, especially in the alarm group (p = 0.00). Initial success (complete and partial response) was observed in 56.6% patients of the alarm group, 70% of the desmopressin group and 64% of the combined group (p = 0.26). Continued success (SC) occurred in 70% patients of the alarm group, 84.2% of desmopressin group and 100% of the combined group (p = 0.21). Recurrence occurred in 3/20 (15%) patients of the alarm group and 1/19 (5.2%) of desmopressin group. Therapeutic success was associated with a reduction in scores for behavioral problems and with improvement of patients\' quality of life scores. The comparative analysis between pre and post-intervention sleep structure parameters, in patients treated with and without alarm, showed increased arousals (p=0.00), decreased sleep efficiency (p = 0.02), decreased N2 (p = 0.00) in the alarm group. Conclusion: Enuresis is a multifactorial disorder that requires a structured diagnostic approach. In the present study, three therapeutic intervention methodologies demonstrated similar efficacy. The benefits associated with treatment success are multiple; the present study data suggest, however, that alarm therapy can have a negative effect on sleep structure

Varje år åker Sveriges räddningstjänster på cirka 6000 larm om brand eller brandtillbud i bostäder med följd att även cirka 100 personer omkommer årligen i sina hem. Att det är cirka 100 personer som omkommer varje år är något som ses som ett problem då det oftast är okunskap eller begränsande möjligheter att undsätta sig själv i säkerhet som ligger bakom bränderna och dödsfallen. Att som räddningstjänst utföra hembesök med att åka hem till olika personer och prata om brandskydd och risker i hemmet är något som visats vara väldigt effektivt i Storbritannien. Varje år gör räddningstjänster runt om i Storbritannien cirka 670 000 hembesök i syfte att öka kunskaper och frekvensen av brandvarnare i hemmen. Arbetet med hembesök påbörjades i slutet av 90-talet och har fram tills nu resulterat i att antalet insatser och dödsfall till följd av brand har mer än halverats. I Sverige är det förebyggande arbetet med hembesök inte lika utbrett men flera räddningstjänster har under de senaste åren startat upp och påbörjat genomförandet av hembesök. Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap, MSB, uppmanar fler räddningstjänster i Sverige att påbörja ett förebyggande arbete själva eller tillsammans med andra räddningstjänster för ökad riskmedvetenhet, kunskap och brandvarnarfrekvens i hemmen. Räddningstjänsten Syd är en av räddningstjänsterna i Sverige som arbetat med hembesök under lång tid och som kunnat visa effekter och statistiska skillnader på att hembesök verkligen gör nytta. Räddningstjänsten Syd har visat en nedåtgående trend på antalet insatser och har en lägre genomsnittlig dödsbrandsstatistik än den samlade dödsbrandsstatistiken för övriga Sverige. Rapporten grundar sig i en förstudie och en intervjustudie där 10 intervjuer genomförts med 8 olika räddningstjänster runt om i Sverige. De intervjuade har olika yrkesroller inom räddningstjänsten som antingen arbetat administrativt eller som utförare av hembesök. Hembesök genomförs främst av operativ personal där den skiftgående styrkan ägnar några timmar i veckan eller månaden på hembesök. Hur hembesök påverkar den operativa förmågan upplever samtliga respondenter som positiv då brandmännen får en bra områdesöversikt och grundläggande kunskaper i byggnadens utformning. Kunskaperna kan sedan visas vara värdefull vid eventuella insatser och insatsens verkan. Inställningen till att arbeta förebyggande med hembesök är något som varierar bland den operativa personalen där det upplevs att det finns motståndare till sådana här typer av arbetsuppgifter. Samtliga respondenter anser att hembesök är något som räddningstjänsten ska fortsätta att arbeta med tillsammans med andra förebyggande åtgärder. Hembesök utgör en viktig del i det förebyggande arbetet men att bara fokusera på hembesök är inte rätt lösning enligt många av respondenterna. Att arbeta med mer riktade och anpassade hembesök mot olika riskgrupper i samhället är något som räddningstjänsterna har som målsättning men att det då krävs en bättre samverkan mellan olika kommunala aktörer för arbetets effekt. Många av respondenterna menar att det administrativa arbetet med hembesök är något som är ganska besvärligt och tidskrävande att hantera då det är mycket information och statistiska uppföljningar som behandlas. Tekniska lösningar kopplade till redan befintliga programvaror är något som räddningstjänsterna vill se framöver för att kunna underlätta planering och administrering. Hur arbetet med hembesök ska kunna förbättras för att komma åt dödsbränder i samhället finns det förslag på förbättringsåtgärder, till exempel att i samband med hembesök även arbeta med individanpassat brandskydd eller tillsyner. Tillsyner är något som aldrig görs mot bostäder men som genomförs på hotell, köpcentrum, industrier etc. Individanpassat brandskydd innebär att brandskyddet anpassas efter individens förutsättningar till ett säkert boende exempelvis personer med olika typer av handikapp eller kognitiva nedsättningar.

Dans les trente prochaines années la génération du baby boom va atteindre le troisième âge et participer au vieillissement de la société. Cette population aura un besoin massif d’aide et de soins dont il n’est pas garanti que l’on puisse les assurer. Les nouvelles technologies adressées aux personnes âgées peuvent aider à résoudre ce problème mais pour cela il est indispensable que les aînés les acceptent. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’offrir un moyen de mesurer l’acceptation de ces technologies et de prédire leur utilisation. L’analyse de la documentation scientifique a permis d’identifier un modèle ayant les qualités requises pour cela, le modèle d’acceptation technologique proposé par Davis en 1989 (Technology Acceptance Model, TAM). Ce modèle se révèle parcimonieux et bien documenté mais il n’existait qu’en langue anglaise. D’autre part, la documentation scientifique montrait que la technologie la plus répandue parmi la population âgée et dépendante était la téléalarme. Ainsi, il a été décidé de traduire en français, adapter et valider un questionnaire issu du TAM pour prédire l’utilisation de la téléalarme par les personnes âgées dépendantes. Quatre études ont donc été menées, la première a consisté en une série d’entretiens, la deuxième en un questionnaire papier, et les deux dernières en un questionnaire par téléphone. Ce travail a abouti à l’obtention d’un instrument à dix items dont les qualités psychométriques se sont révélées acceptables. Le TAM fonctionne de la manière attendue il est donc possible de prédire l’utilisation de la téléalarme. Cependant deux limites doivent nuancer ces résultats, la première est que les études réalisées sont transversales ce qui empêche de parler de validité prédictive, la seconde et la modeste variance expliquée du questionnaire en français comparativement aux résultats publiés. En conclusion, le modèle doit s’enrichir de concepts spécifique à la population âgée afin d’affiner ses prédictions. / In the next thirty years the baby boomers are going to reach the third age and participate in the ageing of the whole French society. But no one can guarantee that their massive need of assistance and care will be provided. Information and communication technologies have the potential to help the elderly but only if they accept it. The aim of this thesis is to build a tool to assess the acceptance of these technologies and to predict their use. The scientific literature analysis revealed that the technology acceptance model proposed by Davis in 1989 had all the required qualities to build this tool. This model shows itself parsimonius and well documented but only existed in English. According to the literature the most widespread technology among the dependent elderly was the warning alarm. Thus, it was decided to translate into French, to adapt and to validate a questionnaire stemming from the technology acceptance model to predict the use of the warning alarm by dependent elderly. Four studies were thus led, the first consisted in a series of qualitative interviews, the second used a paper a pencil questionnaire, and both last ones in a phone questionnaire. This work ended in a ten items instrument with acceptable psychometric properties. The technology acceptance model works as expected and thus it is possible to predict the use of the remote alarm by dependent elderly. However, two shortcomings have to qualify these results, first the studies presented are cross-sectional which prevents from testing predictive validity, second the amount of explained variance by the questionnaire in French is limited compared with the published results. Finally, the model need to incorporate elderly specific constructs in order to make more accurate predictions.

<p>When traffic in large cities increases, it becomes more vulnerable to disturbances such as accidents, stalled vehicles or construction; therefore, traffic jams are more likely to occur. For better control of the traffic at a disturbance the Swedish National Road Administration (SNRA) has traffic equipment which can be controlled from a command centre. This traffic equipment consists of gates and signs with variable messages. This report will discuss the system used for traffic control in Stockholm. It will present proposals designed to improve it. </p><p>These proposals were prepared based on interviews with people from SNRA and their contractors as well as on comparisons with existing systems. </p><p>The focus of this report is the handling of system alarms and graphical user interface. By implementing the proposals in this report, the following will be achieved:</p><p>· More efficient alarmcontrol - the errors are discovered immediately or soon after they occur </p><p>· Clearer information regarding alarms - the traffic operator receives better information about the error </p><p>· Better control of the traffic equipment - the control will be easier and more flexible.</p>