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This study investigates the functional and aesthetic needs in adaptive clothes, with emphasis on trousers for wheelchair users. A pair of trousers were provided by Design by Björk to be investigated and distinguish if the desired consumers' needs are met. It’s important to acknowledge the importance of aesthetic and functional attributes in clothing, to not separate standard and adaptive clothing design. In addition, the socio-psychological impact clothes have on wheelchair users was researched, to emphasize the need for an inclusive fashion industry. In the research process for the study it is acknowledged that previous studies encourage further focus on aesthetically pleasing elementents in adaptive clothing. The aim is to increase awareness of how important this aspect is for the consumer in interaction with functionality. A mixed method approach made with convergent parallel design was used to collect data, utilizing surveys and interviews. It is presented that wheelchair users value the functional, aesthetic and comfortable aspects in clothing equally, and that it is important to not compromise with any aspect in the design process. The study confirms that clothing can have a negative impact on the wheelchair users psychological and physical wellbeing, which is highly related to the lack of clothing in the market range that meets the wheelchair users needs. A sample sketch was developed with suggested improvements for a pair of trousers provided by Design by Björk. The result demonstrates that adding adjustable attributes to the trousers can contribute to increased comfort, aesthetic and functional needs of the consumers.

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Denna uppsats går igenom skapandet av ett konstruktionsförslag av en postlåda för montage på säkerhetsdörrar. Projektet genomfördes i samarbete med ett företag som tillverkar säkerhetsdörrar i stål. Syftet med arbetet har varit att på uppdrag av företaget utarbeta ett designförslag för en postlåda med ett flertal nya funktioner samt med en innovativ estetisk formgivning. Designen får inte kompromissa med gällande säkerhetskrav samt bör inkludera en bredare målgrupp. Enligt Frenchs modell har en metod använts där användarstudier, tester och fokusgrupper gett viktig information. Designprinciperna inclusive design, pleasure design och gamification har varit ledstjärnor i designprocessen. En funktionsanalys gjordes på en vanlig postlåda som visade vilka funktioner som kan förbättras. Denna analys utgjorde grunden för den efterföljande konceptgenereringsfasen där olika designalternativ utforskades. Konceptgenereringen utmynnade i postlådan Droppen, där redan existerande funktioner har vidareutvecklats. Droppen-konceptet utmanar genom att exempelvis introducera LED-lampor som kommunicerar med användaren samt har ett tidningsställ, som är starkt nog att kunna bära tunga matkassar. Den har också en mjuk droppform som tilltalar många och som gör det lätt att ta upp posten. Postlådan är gjord i zinklegerat stål, vilket gör den tung men hållbar. Möjligheten till individuell anpassning av produkten ökar kundvärdet samt minskar indirekt dess miljöpåverkan / This thesis is about the process of creating a design proposal of a letterbox for mounting on security doors. The project was developed in cooperation with a manufacturer of security doors made of steel. The purpose of this work has been to develop a concept for a mailbox with several new functions and an innovative aesthetic design, at the request of the company. This new design has to be in line with existing security demands and should also include a wide group of users. According to French’s model, a method has been used where user studies, tests and focus groups provides essential information. The three design principles inclusive design, pleasure design and gamification has been the guiding star throughout the process. A function diagram was used on a regular letterbox to find functions with potential for improvements. The focus of the concept development was based on the findings from this diagram. The concept generation resulted in the letter box Droppen, containing innovative functions that have been developed from the existing ones. This letterbox is challenging by expanding old functionalities such as LED lamps as a mean of communication or using the magazine holder as a form of unloading zone. The distinguished and soft form of a drop is a design that appeals to many people and at the same time makes it easy to pick up the mail. The box is made from zinc alloyed steel, which makes it heavy but durable. The many options for individual design not only increase the customer value but also indirectly reduce the impact on the environment.

This thesis contributes original knowledge through an inclusive design approach to lowering language and communication barriers in healthcare and suggests shifting the discussion from culture to context to lower intra-cultural hindrances towards learning English amongst some ethnic minorities. It offers an adaptable, scalable concept for gathering data on ethnic minorities (considering both different generations and religions) and employs a framework based analysis in design. Over the course of three studies grounded on theoretical insights from literature, primary research lead to the development and testing of innovative aids for communication, including educative and motivational elements. This research began by seeking to understand ethnic minority consumers (EMCs) perceptions of any barriers hindering their take-up of products or services in the UK, and their preferences. This is particularly significant as the UK s EMC population is predicted to double by 2051 and to diversify further, presenting challenges for social cohesion and planning future community goals. EMCs also represent a significant market for service and product providers. The research focussed on EMCs from the Indian Subcontinent based on religions and generations. It highlighted that first generation females lacking English and/or literacy (across religions and age groups) faced problems with services and issues around empowerment . The importance of improved access to healthcare was a strong theme. On investigating NHS staffs perceptions, five barriers were identified (Language barriers; Low-literacy; a Lack of understanding; Attitudes, gender and health beliefs; and Information retention) and that a female subgroup was particularly affected. This study sets out staffs perceptions of the aids currently employed and suggestions of what would help. It identified a (currently) low use of visual communication aids in adult-patient care and that pharmacist-patient communication in pharmacies was low. Ideally, staff would like patients to learn English and to use more low-cost visual communication aids. These findings lead to the development of innovative visual communication aids through inclusive and user-centred approaches and participatory design and brainstorming methods. This enabled the development of aids by considering the needs of NHS staff, EMCs lacking English and/or literacy and indigenous elderly people to promote better patient-staff communication including a take-away educational element for learning English at home.

Some argue that we live in an “information age”; others claim that we live in a “knowledge society”. This research suggests we live in an era of adaptable and customizable widgets in which users are no longer passive receivers of ad hoc technological solutions, but active agents controlling the behaviour, content modalities, and multiple technological layers transforming the representation and interpretation of information. This study adopts a critical perspective and examines the meaning of access to information and the pertinence of customization. Specifically, it analyzes how the ISO standard AccessForAll (ISO/IEC 24751, 2008) conceptualizes the customization of e-learning environments. A qualitative approach and discourse analysis are used as a methodological strategy. The research analyzes responses to ten interviews conducted with a diverse group of participants. This foundation provides for a discussion about the challenges of customization design and recommendations for the future development of adaptive and flexible learning environments.

Some argue that we live in an “information age”; others claim that we live in a “knowledge society”. This research suggests we live in an era of adaptable and customizable widgets in which users are no longer passive receivers of ad hoc technological solutions, but active agents controlling the behaviour, content modalities, and multiple technological layers transforming the representation and interpretation of information. This study adopts a critical perspective and examines the meaning of access to information and the pertinence of customization. Specifically, it analyzes how the ISO standard AccessForAll (ISO/IEC 24751, 2008) conceptualizes the customization of e-learning environments. A qualitative approach and discourse analysis are used as a methodological strategy. The research analyzes responses to ten interviews conducted with a diverse group of participants. This foundation provides for a discussion about the challenges of customization design and recommendations for the future development of adaptive and flexible learning environments.

Submitted by JULIANA Bononi (julianabs9@hotmail.com) on 2016-05-17T16:59:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DESIGN DO VESTUÁRIO INFANTIL As texturas como experiência tátil para crianças deficientes visuais.pdf: 4450639 bytes, checksum: c9430207efe1167dabf3951d5de0d832 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-17T18:06:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 bononi_j_me_bauru.pdf: 4450639 bytes, checksum: c9430207efe1167dabf3951d5de0d832 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-17T18:06:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 bononi_j_me_bauru.pdf: 4450639 bytes, checksum: c9430207efe1167dabf3951d5de0d832 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O principal objetivo desse trabalho é verificar de que forma o design está auxiliando no desenvolvimento de produtos para o vestuário infantil que ofereçam experiências táteis para crianças com deficiência visual. Visto que a qualidade do estimulo tátil para as crianças é de fundamental importância, e que o vestuário pode ser considerado pedagógico, assim como as texturas podem ser usadas como recurso de aprendizagem, pois refletem no desenvolvimento da percepção e interpretação por meio da exploração sensorial, será que esses recursos estão sendo utilizados para auxiliar as crianças com Deficiência Visual? Estas questões foram abordadas através de estudo bibliográfico que englobou os temas design, desenvolvimento infantil e deficiência visual. Assim como, questionários, entrevistas e testes de usabilidade procuraram verificar as relações da criança com o vestuário e a experiência tátil citada. Observou-se que os designers têm privilegiado tanto as cores e estampas, ou seja, a textura visual, como também texturas táteis e acessórios nas peças do vestuário infantil. Procurou-se verificar de que forma esses elementos oferecem experiências táteis para essas crianças, bem como se estes usuários e seus formadores – pais e professores - exploram tais possibilidades de estímulo no seu dia a dia. Concluiu-se que o vestuário testado é eficiente, visto que possui um grande número de elementos táteis, porém a falta de estímulos por parte dos educadores e dos pais, os quais não se apercebem do potencial da experiência tátil por meio do vestuário, afeta a eficácia deste tipo de produto. / The main purpose of this work is to verify how the design is assisting in the development of products for children's clothing that provide tactile experiences for children with visual impairment. Since the quality of tactile stimulation for children is a fundamental importance, and that the clothing may be considered educational, as well as textures can be used as a learning resource, because reflect in the development of perception and interpretation through sensory exploration, are these resources being used to help children with Visual Impairment? These issues were addressed through a bibliographical study, which included the design issues, child development and visual impairment. As well as questionnaires, interviews and usability tests have assessed the child's relationship with the clothing and the mentioned tactile experience. It was observed that the designers have favored both the colors and prints, in other words the visual texture, as well as tactile textures and accessories in the pieces of children's clothing. We tried to see how these elements provide tactile experiences for these children, and if these users and their trainers - parents and teachers - explore such possibilities stimulus in their day by day. It was concluded that the tested clothing is efficient, since it has a large number of tactile elements, but the lack of stimuli from educators and parents who do not realize the potential of tactile experience through clothing, affects efficacy of this type of product.