Thesis (PhD (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Off-road working vehicles are subjected to high levels of vibration input on the rough terrain and irregular roads they work. The human operators are therefore exposed to high levels of whole body vibration (WBV) and at risk of developing health problems. A number of international standards address the matter of whole body vibration, and the European Union issued a directive which limits the exposure of workers in the EU to WBV. Unfortunately, to date there is no law in South Africa requiring compliance with any of these EU standards nor guidelines. There are vehicles which are not fitted with suspension and/or suspension seats. The three wheeled logger used in forestry is a highly manoeuvrable and effective bulk handler, but without any form of suspension and no space under the operator’s seat to install a suspension seat. However, a suspension cushion can be retrofitted to existing vehicles largely alleviating the problem. To isolate low frequency vibration large suspension travel is required which makes an air suspension cushion attractive, as it can fully collapse. Additionally, a Helmholtz resonator if added to the cushion in the form of a pipe and tank, provides anti-resonance at a specific frequency. The resonator can be tuned by adjusting the pipe’s length and diameter as well as the volume of the tank. Larger diameter pipes have less friction and give better reduction of the transmissibility curve at the anti-resonance frequency. The SEAT value is a single number used to compare suspension seats for a specific input vibration. It is calculated from the weighted input acceleration power spectral density curve and the suspension seat transmissibility curve. The former is obtained from the vehicle and is vehicle, path and speed dependent. The latter is the only variable that can be improved by using a better suspension seat/cushion. The input power spectral density often contains significant energy at frequencies where the human operator is most sensitive. The cushion resonator could be tuned to position the anti-resonance in the transmissibility curve at these frequencies. The resultant output vibration would thus be lower than the input vibration at that frequency. In this dissertation an analytical model describes the state variables in the cushion, pipe and tank. A Simulink model predicts the transmissibility curve with a solid mass as well as with a two degree of freedom seated human model. Initially the prototype was tested with a solid mass to compare the transmissibility curve produced by the simulation with the experimental results. It was required to evaluate the contribution of the resonator without the complexity of the human impedance. Subsequent tests were carried out with human subjects. Test results showed high inter subject similarity at the anti-resonance frequencies. Design guidelines are formulated that can be used by the suspension cushion designer to specify the pipe diameter and length and the volume of the tank to determine the optimal transmissibility. Input psd from ISO7096 class EM3 vehicles is used as an example during the design process. A prototype air suspension cushion was designed to reduce output vibration on the three wheeled logger. Laboratory tests with human subjects showed a significant improvement at the problematic frequencies through the tuning of the resonator. Using a Helmholtz resonator with the air suspension cushion the overall SEAT value improved by 25% compared with a 100mm foam cushion. However, the current tank and pipe need to be reduced in size for practical implementation to the vehicle. Future work would include finding an alternative mass to replace the air in the pipe. This should reduce the size of the tank and the pipe required. Additionally the simultaneous effect of multiple resonators at different frequencies should be investigated. This is required for vehicles having an input psd with significant energy at more than one frequency band.

This thesis explores the expression of emotion through designed objects. Objects act as vehicles of memory in the same way language is the visible form of thought. In graphic design, the sensory qualities of an object provide a material surface on which information is communicated. The goal is to expose the autonomy of materials and form available to designers in the physical world while expressing emotional meaning beyond original form. By recasting the temporary fragments and observations of life into designed objects imbued with personal and cultural importance, the audience gains insight into others' personal and emotional experiences. Through our connections with the physical world, I investigate how form and the material qualities of designed objects can elicit an emotional response from the audience. / by Brittany Diane Schade. / Thesis (M.F.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

A postura humana é um importante objeto de estudo na fisioterapia. Em especial, o estudo da postura sentada uma vez que este é o posicionamento corporal mais frequentemente adotado pelo homem. Sabe-se, ainda, que este é um posicionamento influenciado de forma significativa pelo mobiliário utilizado. Esta dissertação teve por objetivo analisar os efeitos na função pulmonar das posturas induzidas por dois sistemas cadeira-mesa diferentes, caracterizando a postura sentada e a função respiratória em cada mobiliário, correlacionando as posturas encontradas com o desempenho no teste de função pulmonar. Para atingir tal objetivo, inicialmente foram realizadas duas revisões sistemáticas sendo que a primeira abordou o tema A evolução do homem e a postura sentada: bases para o fisioterapeuta cujo objetivo era permitir a compreensão das sequelas mais comuns provocadas por diferentes posturas e entender as relações do indivíduo com seu meio ambiente, seu trabalho e com os aspectos sociais e culturais envolvidos nessa relação. A segunda revisão centrou-se no tema: Influência das variações da postura sentada na função respiratória revisão de literatura, por meio da qual foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica para descrever o conhecimento produzido sobre as alterações da função respiratória em diferentes posturas corporais, em especial na postura sentada, observando-se que embora as alterações da função pulmonar sejam mais significativas em indivíduos com doenças pulmonares, cardíacas e do envelhecimento. Porém, mesmo em indivíduos saudáveis as alterações nos testes de função pulmonar podem ultrapassar a variação dos valores considerados normais para uma dada posição No decorrer deste estudo, considerando que a postura sentada é o posicionamento corporal mais freqüentemente adotado pelo homem e é influenciada pelo mobiliário utilizado, foram avaliadas quinze voluntárias utilizando-se 2 sistemas cadeira-mesa, um convencional (sistema A) e um experimental (sistema B). Foi realizada a avaliação postural por meio de fotogrametria em cada um dos mobiliários. Estas imagens foram analisadas, estimando-se a postura média dos indivíduos em cada mobiliário. A avaliação pulmonar consistiu da realização de espirometria. Os valores encontrados foram analisados verificando-se as médias obtidas em cada postura. Os dados posturais e respiratórios foram comparados, verificando-se se as diferentes posições adotadas pelas participantes resultaram em alterações nos valores espirométricos. Como resultado encontrou-se que a cadeira convencional induziu dois diferentes padrões posturais, sendo que um deles apresentou ângulos articulares similares aos do sistema B, com resultados espirométricos semelhantes. Já o segundo grupo apresentou ângulos corporais de acordo com o previsto e resultados espirométricos significativamente inferiores em VEF1, VEF1/CVF e FEFmáx. O sistema B diferiu da postura ortostática somente em FEFmáx, sugerindo similaridade de situação. Desta forma, pode-se concluir que o mobiliário utilizado na postura sentada influencia de forma significativa na função respiratória. Neste estudo o mobiliário experimental mostrou-se uma ferramenta capaz de beneficiar a função respiratória na postura sentada, além de suscitar a possibilidade de opções ao uso do mobiliário convencional para beneficiar pessoas em condições especiais como gestantes, obesos e pessoas com doenças pulmonares crônicas / Human posture is an important object of study in physiotherapy. Specially, the study of sitting posture considering that this is the most frequently body positioning adopted by man. It is known that this is a positioning influenced significantly by the furniture used. This dissertation had intended to examine the effects on pulmonary function of the postures induced by two different table-chair systems, featuring the seated posture and respiratory function in each furniture, correlating those postures found with performance on the pulmonary function test. To achieve this purpose, initially two systematic reviews were conducted: the first related to the theme \"The evolution of man and the sitting posture: bases for the physiotherapist\" whose goal was to enable understanding of the most common sequelae caused by different postures and understand the relationships of individuals with their environment, their work and with the social and cultural aspects involved in this relationship. The second review focused on the theme: \"Influence of sitting posture changes in respiratory function review of the literature\", through which it was carried out a literature review to describe the knowledge produced about respiratory function changes in different postures, especially in a sitting posture, noting that although the pulmonary function changes are most significant in individuals with lung and heart diseases, and the elderly, even in healthy individuals changes function tests may exceed the variation of values considered normal for a given position. Throughout this study, considering that the sitting posture is the body positioning most frequently adopted by man and is influenced by the furniture used, fifteen volunteers were assessed using two Chair-table systems, one considered as a conventional system (the system) and an experimental one (System B). Postural assessment was carried out by means of photogrammetry in each furniture. These images were analyzed, estimating the average position of individuals in each furniture. Pulmonary evaluation consisted of performing spirometry. The values found were analysed by checking the means obtained in each posture. Postural and respiratory data were compared by checking whether the various positions adopted by the participants resulted in changes in the spirometric values. As a result it was found that the conventional chair led two different postural patterns, being one of them presented joint angles similar to system B, with similar spirometric results. The second group had body angles in accordance with the expected ones and spirometric results significantly lower in Fev1, Fev1/FVC and FEFmáx. System B differed from orthostatic posture only in FEFmáx, suggesting a similarity of situation. In this way, it can be concluded that the furniture used in sitting posture influences significantly respiratory function. In this study the experimental furniture proved a tool capable of benefiting the respiratory function in sitting posture, and raise the possibility of options when using conventional furniture to benefit people in special conditions such as pregnant women, obese and people with chronic lung diseases

by Luk tze Chung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-111). / Text in English; abstract also in Chinese. / by Luk tze Chung. / Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Work station design --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Method of study --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- Purpose of study --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5 --- Variables definition --- p.5 / Chapter 1.6 --- Hypotheses --- p.6 / Chapter 1.7 --- Significance of study --- p.6 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Literature Review / Chapter 2.1 --- Biomechanical study on ergonomics problems --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Ergonomics --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Biomechanics --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Force and torque --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.3.1 --- Lever systems --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.3.2 --- Torque and moment --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Biomechanics of the back --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Shoulder biomechanics --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Manual lifting --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Manual handling and musculoskeletal problems --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Strategies for reducing manual handling injuries --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3 --- Method of analysis in ergonomics problems --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Electromyography --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Neurophysiology --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Electromyography in biomechanics --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Motion analysis --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Direct measurement techniques --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Indirect measurement using imaging techniques --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary --- p.18 / Chapter Chapter Three --- Method / Chapter 3.1 --- Subjects --- p.19 / Chapter 3.2 --- Position of EMG electrodes --- p.20 / Chapter 3.3 --- Electromyography (EMG) --- p.23 / Chapter 3.4 --- Normalization of EMG --- p.24 / Chapter 3.5 --- Force platform --- p.31 / Chapter 3.6 --- Motion analysis system --- p.33 / Chapter 3.7 --- Calibration of instrument --- p.39 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- EMG --- p.39 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Force platform --- p.40 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Motion analysis system --- p.40 / Chapter 3.7.3.1 --- Calibration of displacement and velocity --- p.40 / Chapter 2.7.3.2 --- Calibration of acceleration --- p.40 / Chapter 3.8 --- Work station design --- p.41 / Chapter 3.9 --- Procedure --- p.42 / Chapter 3.10 --- Data analysis --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Results / Chapter 4.1 --- EMG data analysis --- p.47 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- MVC testing results --- p.47 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Results of ANOVA test --- p.48 / Chapter 4.1.2.1 --- Class level information --- p.48 / Chapter 4.1.2.2 --- ANOVA results --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1.2.3 --- Post Hoc test --- p.53 / Chapter 4.2 --- Motion analysis --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Parameters in motion analysis --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Results of ANOVA test --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Post Hoc test --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3 --- Force platform data analysis --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Parameters in force platform data analysis --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Result of ANOVA test --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3.2.1 --- Post Hoc test --- p.85 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results of correlation --- p.89 / Chapter Chapter Five --- Discussion and Conclusions / Chapter 5.1 --- EMG signal --- p.90 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- MVC test --- p.90 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Results of ANOVA in EMG signal --- p.91 / Chapter 5.1.2.1 --- Cervical erector spinae --- p.91 / Chapter 5.1.2.2 --- Trapezius pars descendens --- p.92 / Chapter 5.1.2.3 --- Infraspinatus --- p.93 / Chapter 5.1.2.4 --- Lumbar erector spinae --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2 --- Motion analysis --- p.95 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Posture --- p.95 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Absolute thigh angle --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- Absolute arm angle --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2.1.3 --- Absolute chest and abdomen angle --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2.1.4 --- Absolute neck angle --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Force produced by spinae muscle --- p.98 / Chapter 5.3 --- Ground reaction force analysis --- p.99 / Chapter 5.4 --- Correlation analysis --- p.99 / Chapter 5.5 --- Differences between workers and students --- p.100 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Muscle activity --- p.100 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Posture . --- p.100 / Chapter 5.6 --- Conclusions --- p.101 / Chapter 5.7 --- Recommendations --- p.102 / References --- p.105 / Appendix --- p.112

Orientador: João Eduardo Guarnetti dos Santos / Coorientador: José Carlos Plácido da Silva / Banca: Cristiane Affonso de Almeida Zerbetto / Banca: Jair Rosas da Silva / Banca: Marizilda dos Santos Menezes / Banca: João Roberto Gomes de Faria / Resumo: Um dos setores que mais crescem mundialmente e o de serviços relacionados ao teleatendimento. A importância de tal crescimento é tamanha, que em 2007 o Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego Brasileiro criou um segundo anexo para a Norma Regulamentadora - NR 17, que enfoca o tema ergonomia, no qual define "parâmetros mínimos para o trabalho em atividades de teleatendimento / telemarketing nas suas diversas modalidades de serviço, de modo a proporcionar um máximo de conforto, segurança, saúde e desempenho eficiente". Em contramão ao contexto apresentado, pode-se dizer que são poucos os estudos relacionados ao tema no Brasil, sendo que os poucos existentes apresentam-se restritos a um tipo de enfoque, sendo os mais comuns os de caráter antropométrico ou psicológico. Assim, esta pesquisa teve por objetivo investigar o ambiente de callcenter, especificamente o teleatendente, de maneira a desenvolver um método de avaliação ergonômica, capaz de realizar diagnósticos a respeito da interface atividade, o posto de trabalho (mobiliário e ambiente) e o trabalhador. Entende-se que a geração de dados possibilita o fornecimento de diretrizes para ações preventivas e corretivas, que busquem a criação de condições de segurança, saúde e satisfação para o trabalhador e consequente melhora e aumento da produtividade. Entre suas aplicações focou-se a elaboração de laudos técnicos e o ergodesign de mobiliários, ferramentas e ambientes de trabalho / Abstract: One of the fastest growing sectors worldwide is from services related to telemarketing. The importance of this whole context is such that in 2007 the Ministry of Brasilian Labor and Employment created a second attachment to Norm - NR 17, which focuses on the theme of ergonomics, which defines the "minimum-standards for working in telemarketing activities on different forms of service, to provide maximum confort, health, safety and efficient performance. "In the presented opposite context can be said that there are few studies relted to the subject in Brazil, and the few existing features is restricted to one type of approach, the most common being the antropometric or psychological. This was aimed to investigate the call center environment, specifically the teleatendent in order to develop a method for ergonomic evaluation, able to perform diagnostics interface with respectto the generation of data enables the provision of guidelines for preventive and corrective actions, which seek to create conditions of safety, health and satisfaction for the worker and consequent improvement and increased productivity. Among its applications focused on the preparation of technical reports and ergodesign furnishings, tools and work environments / Doutor

Thesis. 1977. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND AERONAUTICS. / Bibliography : leaves 127-133. / M.S.

A postura humana é um importante objeto de estudo na fisioterapia. Em especial, o estudo da postura sentada uma vez que este é o posicionamento corporal mais frequentemente adotado pelo homem. Sabe-se, ainda, que este é um posicionamento influenciado de forma significativa pelo mobiliário utilizado. Esta dissertação teve por objetivo analisar os efeitos na função pulmonar das posturas induzidas por dois sistemas cadeira-mesa diferentes, caracterizando a postura sentada e a função respiratória em cada mobiliário, correlacionando as posturas encontradas com o desempenho no teste de função pulmonar. Para atingir tal objetivo, inicialmente foram realizadas duas revisões sistemáticas sendo que a primeira abordou o tema A evolução do homem e a postura sentada: bases para o fisioterapeuta cujo objetivo era permitir a compreensão das sequelas mais comuns provocadas por diferentes posturas e entender as relações do indivíduo com seu meio ambiente, seu trabalho e com os aspectos sociais e culturais envolvidos nessa relação. A segunda revisão centrou-se no tema: Influência das variações da postura sentada na função respiratória revisão de literatura, por meio da qual foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica para descrever o conhecimento produzido sobre as alterações da função respiratória em diferentes posturas corporais, em especial na postura sentada, observando-se que embora as alterações da função pulmonar sejam mais significativas em indivíduos com doenças pulmonares, cardíacas e do envelhecimento. Porém, mesmo em indivíduos saudáveis as alterações nos testes de função pulmonar podem ultrapassar a variação dos valores considerados normais para uma dada posição No decorrer deste estudo, considerando que a postura sentada é o posicionamento corporal mais freqüentemente adotado pelo homem e é influenciada pelo mobiliário utilizado, foram avaliadas quinze voluntárias utilizando-se 2 sistemas cadeira-mesa, um convencional (sistema A) e um experimental (sistema B). Foi realizada a avaliação postural por meio de fotogrametria em cada um dos mobiliários. Estas imagens foram analisadas, estimando-se a postura média dos indivíduos em cada mobiliário. A avaliação pulmonar consistiu da realização de espirometria. Os valores encontrados foram analisados verificando-se as médias obtidas em cada postura. Os dados posturais e respiratórios foram comparados, verificando-se se as diferentes posições adotadas pelas participantes resultaram em alterações nos valores espirométricos. Como resultado encontrou-se que a cadeira convencional induziu dois diferentes padrões posturais, sendo que um deles apresentou ângulos articulares similares aos do sistema B, com resultados espirométricos semelhantes. Já o segundo grupo apresentou ângulos corporais de acordo com o previsto e resultados espirométricos significativamente inferiores em VEF1, VEF1/CVF e FEFmáx. O sistema B diferiu da postura ortostática somente em FEFmáx, sugerindo similaridade de situação. Desta forma, pode-se concluir que o mobiliário utilizado na postura sentada influencia de forma significativa na função respiratória. Neste estudo o mobiliário experimental mostrou-se uma ferramenta capaz de beneficiar a função respiratória na postura sentada, além de suscitar a possibilidade de opções ao uso do mobiliário convencional para beneficiar pessoas em condições especiais como gestantes, obesos e pessoas com doenças pulmonares crônicas / Human posture is an important object of study in physiotherapy. Specially, the study of sitting posture considering that this is the most frequently body positioning adopted by man. It is known that this is a positioning influenced significantly by the furniture used. This dissertation had intended to examine the effects on pulmonary function of the postures induced by two different table-chair systems, featuring the seated posture and respiratory function in each furniture, correlating those postures found with performance on the pulmonary function test. To achieve this purpose, initially two systematic reviews were conducted: the first related to the theme \"The evolution of man and the sitting posture: bases for the physiotherapist\" whose goal was to enable understanding of the most common sequelae caused by different postures and understand the relationships of individuals with their environment, their work and with the social and cultural aspects involved in this relationship. The second review focused on the theme: \"Influence of sitting posture changes in respiratory function review of the literature\", through which it was carried out a literature review to describe the knowledge produced about respiratory function changes in different postures, especially in a sitting posture, noting that although the pulmonary function changes are most significant in individuals with lung and heart diseases, and the elderly, even in healthy individuals changes function tests may exceed the variation of values considered normal for a given position. Throughout this study, considering that the sitting posture is the body positioning most frequently adopted by man and is influenced by the furniture used, fifteen volunteers were assessed using two Chair-table systems, one considered as a conventional system (the system) and an experimental one (System B). Postural assessment was carried out by means of photogrammetry in each furniture. These images were analyzed, estimating the average position of individuals in each furniture. Pulmonary evaluation consisted of performing spirometry. The values found were analysed by checking the means obtained in each posture. Postural and respiratory data were compared by checking whether the various positions adopted by the participants resulted in changes in the spirometric values. As a result it was found that the conventional chair led two different postural patterns, being one of them presented joint angles similar to system B, with similar spirometric results. The second group had body angles in accordance with the expected ones and spirometric results significantly lower in Fev1, Fev1/FVC and FEFmáx. System B differed from orthostatic posture only in FEFmáx, suggesting a similarity of situation. In this way, it can be concluded that the furniture used in sitting posture influences significantly respiratory function. In this study the experimental furniture proved a tool capable of benefiting the respiratory function in sitting posture, and raise the possibility of options when using conventional furniture to benefit people in special conditions such as pregnant women, obese and people with chronic lung diseases

Orientador: Luis Carlos Paschoarelli / Banca: Fausto Orsi Medola / Banca: Maria Lucia Ribeiro Leite Okimoto / Banca: Cassia Letícia Carrara Domiciano / Banca: Paula da Cruz Landim / Banca: Fernando José Carneiro Moreira da Silva / Resumo: O design ergonômico busca estabelecer parâmetros para aprimorar a interface entre homem e objeto. Destacam-se fatores subjetivos envolvidos nesta interface, como a função simbólica dos produtos e a emoção que este pode evocar. Estes fatores podem influenciar positivamente ou negativamente o uso de um produto, principalmente quando se tratam de produtos estigmatizados, como as tecnologias assistivas. Este estudo tem o objetivo de compreender que variáveis einfluênciam o estigma e as emoções relacionados ao uso da tecnologia assistiva, mais especificamente a cadeira de rodas. A investigação proposta teve caráter experimental e foram avaliados 20 indivíduos adultos usuários de cadeira de rodas (com idade entre 18 e 64 anos) igualmente distribuídos por gênero, utilizando-se leitor de expressão facial FaceReader (quantitativa) e avaliações relacionadas aos valores simbólicos e emocionais (qualitativa). Os procedimentos caracterizaram-se pela visualização de imagens com diferentes níveis de estímulos relacionados a cadeira de rodas. Os resultados apontaram diferenças significativas para a percepção simbólica e emocional entre diferentes modelos de Cadeiras de Rodas e também para participantes de diferentes gêneros. Além disto, a análise das demais variáveis estudadas também permitiram reflexão e discussão acerca de parâmetros de projetos para melhora do estigma atribuído a Cadeira de Rodas. / Abstract: Ergonomic design looks for establish parameters to improve the interface between human and object. Highlight factors involved in this interface, such as a symbolic function of the products and the emotions that can evoke. These factors can influence positively or negatively the use of a product, especially when it comes to stigmatized products, such as assistive technologies. This study aimed to understand the influence of stigma and emotions in the use of assistive technology, specifically the wheelchair. Proposed research has an experimental character and it was evaluated 20 adults individual wheelchair users (aged between 18 and 64 years), equally distributed by gender, using FaceReader (quantitative) and evaluations related to symbolic and emotional values (qualitative). Procedures were characterized by visualization of images with different levels of stimuli related to a wheelchair. Results showed difference significant to symbolic and emotional perception between diferente models of wheelchairs and also for participants of different genders. In addition, the analysis of the other variables studied also allowed reflection and discussion about projects parameters to improve the stigma attributed to wheelchair. / Doutor

Abstract not available

The primary objective of this research is to use the benefits offered by computerized three dimensional graphics and apply those to the field of human computer interaction. Focussing primarily on the interactive content of the 3D world, this research describes a range of innovative new interface elements demonstrating specific new 3Dinterfaces/components designed to provide a new interactive 3D method for handling a range of particular common real-world tasks (ranging from simple value setting tasks up to larger scale systems for browsing structured sets of hierarchical data). These systems incorporate new design concepts such as active 3D interfaces that present their data to the user rather than statically waiting for the user to interact with them (these systems prove particularly useful in the presentation of large sets of data). Overall this set of components introduces a range of new interface styles that prove very effective in many mainstream real world tasks.In addition to the development of these systems, this project demonstrates a new high level 3D interface development tool designed to simplify the challenge of constructing interactive 3D user interfaces and in doing so make 3D interface development available to a wider developer base. By constructing the components mentioned above in a structured generic form, this combination of a new development tool and a range of re-usable components provide a strong development platform, from which more complex interactive 3D interfaces can be constructed.In essence the core idea that underlies this research is making the construction of interactive and functional 3D interfaces simpler to undertake (by developing effective re-usable components to handle mainstream tasks) while at the same time generating resulting 3D interfaces that are more effective and more capable of providing users with an enjoyable and functional 3D working environment.