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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
11

Investigating The Universality And Comprehensive Ability Of Measures To Assess The State Of Workload

Abich, Julian 01 January 2013 (has links)
Measures of workload have been developed on the basis of the various definitions, some are designed to capture the multi-dimensional aspects of a unitary resource pool (Kahneman, 1973) while others are developed on the basis of multiple resource theory (Wickens, 2002). Although many theory based workload measures exist, others have often been constructed to serve the purpose of specific experimental tasks. As a result, it is likely that not every workload measure is reliable and valid for all tasks, much less each domain. To date, no single measure, systematically tested across experimental tasks, domains, and other measures is considered a universal measure of workload. Most researchers would argue that multiple measures from various categories should be applied to a given task to comprehensively assess workload. The goal for Study 1 to establish task load manipulations for two theoretically different tasks that induce distinct levels of workload assessed by both subjective and performance measures was successful. The results of the subjective responses support standardization and validation of the tasks and demands of that task for investigating workload. After investigating the use of subjective and objective measures of workload to identify a universal and comprehensive measure or set of measures, based on Study 2, it can only be concluded that not one or a set of measures exists. Arguably, it is not to say that one will never be conceived and developed, but at this time, one does not reside in the psychometric catalog. Instead, it appears that a more suitable approach is to customize a set of workload measures based on the task. The novel approach of assessing the sensitivity and comprehensive ability of conjointly utilizing subjective, performance, and physiological workload measures for theoretically different tasks within the same domain contributes to the theory by laying the foundation for improving methodology for researching workload. The applicable contribution of this project is a stepping-stone towards developing complex profiles of workload for use in closed-loop systems, such as human-robot team iv interaction. Identifying the best combination of workload measures enables human factors practitioners, trainers, and task designers to improve methodology and evaluation of system designs, training requirements, and personnel selection
12

An assessment of impacts of landfill composition on soil quality, heavy metal and plant health : a case of Lumberstewart landfill in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Makuleke, Peace 02 1900 (has links)
Landfills have served as the major sites for waste disposal in both developed and developing countries. Upon closure of a landfill site, the surface could be converted to a golf course, recreation park, playground, animal refuge, tennis court and industrial site. Even when closed, landfills still have the potential to contaminate the surrounding environment as a result of the migration of leachate from decomposing waste contained in the site. This study focused on assessing the impacts of a closed landfill on soils and plants at Lumberstewart closed landfill site in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Soil samples were collected at three different depths (0-30 cm, 30 - 60 cm and 60-90 cm) at the landfill and a control site. The soil samples were analysed for their texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity and concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni and Zn. Samples of jimson weed and pigweed growing at the closed landfill and the control site were collected from the same sites where soil samples were collected, and the concentrations of the same set of heavy metals in these weeds determined. Soil samples were digested using EPA method 3050B: Acid Digestion of Sediments, Sludge and soils whereas nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was used for digestion of plant samples. Both plant and soil digests were analyzed for heavy metals concentrations using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Soils from the landfill as well as the control site had a high content of sand with soil pH values which were alkaline. The electrical conductivity values of the soil samples were relatively low ranging from 0.39 to 1.67 dS/m, indicating low levels of salts in soils at the landfill. The concentrations of heavy metals at the closed landfill site were higher than the control site. Heavy metals concentrations in soils at the closed landfill followed the order Fe>Zn>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd. Results indicated that Fe was exceptionally higher than the other metals with concentration values averaging 45690±17255 mg/kg. Cadmium on the other hand had the least concentration with values of 0.01±0.00 mg/kg. Values of Enrichment Factors of heavy metals around the soil at different depths indicated that the enrichment of heavy metals increased with depth at the landfill up to 30-60 cm after which a decrease was observed. Values for heavy metal Contamination Factor of soils around the landfill ranged from low concentration (CF<1) to very high concentration (CF>6). The Pollution Load Index (PLI) values for the soil at the Lumberstewart landfill indicated that all sites were polluted (PLI>1). Site 6 had significantly higher mean concentration of heavy metals in soils at the landfill whereas site 11 had the least. The concentrations of Cd and Ni in soils at the landfill were below permissible limits of South African National Norms and Standards (NNS) as prescribed by NEMA (2008) in South Africa whereas Cr, Cu and Zn in soils were above the NNS permissible limits. Heavy metal concentrations in soils at the landfill were above World Health (WHO) permissible limits except for Cd which was equal (0.01 mg/kg) to the permissible values of Cd in the soils at sites 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Mean concentrations of heavy metals in jimson weed and pigweed were in the order Fe>Zn>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn in both plants from all sites at the landfill were significantly higher than the control site. Heavy metal transfer coefficient for both plants indicated that heavy metal uptake was more species dependent than soil heavy metal concentration dependent. The results from this research indicate that though the Lumberstewart Landfill has been closed, it is still affecting the soils in the vicinity of the landfill. Plants and water around the Lumberstewart closed landfill could be at risk from heavy metal contamination. High concentrations of heavy metals observed in the soil could present a health risk to communities should they decide to use the landfill site for arable purposes. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)
13

Interaktionskvalitet - hur mäts det?

Friberg, Annika January 2009 (has links)
Den tekniska utvecklingen har lett till att massiva mängder av information sänds, i högahastigheter. Detta flöde måste vi lära oss att hantera. För att maximera nyttan av de nyateknikerna och undkomma de problem som detta enorma informationsflöde bär med sig, börinteraktionskvalitet studeras. Vi måste anpassa gränssnitt efter användaren eftersom denneinte har möjlighet att anpassa sig till, och sortera i för stora informationsmängder. Vi måsteutveckla system som gör människan mer effektiv vid användande av gränssnitt.För att anpassa gränssnitten efter användarens behov och begränsningar krävs kunskaperom den mänskliga kognitionen. När kognitiv belastning studeras är det viktigt att en såflexibel, lättillgänglig och icke-påträngande teknik som möjligt används för att få objektivamätresultat, samtidigt som pålitligheten är av största vikt. För att kunna designa gränssnittmed hög interaktionskvalitet krävs en teknik att utvärdera dessa. Målet med uppsatsen är attfastställa en mätmetod väl lämpad för mätning av interaktionskvalitet.För mätning av interaktionskvalitet rekommenderas en kombinering av subjektiva ochfysiologiska mätmetoder, detta innefattar en kombination av Functional near-infraredspecroscopy; en fysiologisk mätmetod som mäter hjärnaktiviteten med hjälp av ljuskällor ochdetektorer som fästs på frontalloben, Electrodermal activity; en fysiologisk mätmetod sommäter hjärnaktiviteten med hjälp av elektroder som fästs över skalpen och NASA task loadindex; en subjektiv, multidimensionell mätmetod som bygger på kortsortering och mäteruppfattad kognitiv belastning i en sammanhängande skala. Mätning med hjälp av dessametoder kan resultera i en ökad interaktionskvalitet i interaktiva, fysiska och digitalagränssnitt. En uppskattning av interaktionskvalitet kan bidra till att fel vid interaktionminimeras, vilket innebär en förbättring av användares upplevelse vid interaktion. / Technical developments have led to the broadcasting of massive amounts of information, athigh velocities. We must learn to handle this flow. To maximize the benefits of newtechnologies and avoid the problems that this immense information flow brings, interactionquality should be studied. We must adjust interfaces to the user because the user does nothave the ability to adapt and sort overly large amounts of information. We must developsystems that make the human more efficient when using interfaces.To adjust the interfaces to the user needs and limitations, knowledge about humancognitive processes is required. When cognitive workload is studied it is important that aflexible, easily accessed and non assertive technique is used to get unbiased results. At thesame time reliability is of great importance. To design interfaces with high interaction quality,a technique to evaluate these is required. The aim of this paper is to establish a method that iswell suited for measurement of interaction quality.When measuring interaction quality, a combination of subjective and physiologicalmethods is recommended. This comprises a combination of Functional near-infraredspectroscopy; a physiological measurement which measures brain activity using light sourcesand detectors placed on the frontal lobe, Electrodermal activity; a physiological measurementwhich measures brain activity using electrodes placed over the scalp and NASA task loadindex; a subjective, multidimensional measurement based on card sorting and measures theindividual perceived cognitive workload on a continuum scale. Measuring with these methodscan result in an increase in interaction quality in interactive, physical and digital interfaces.An estimation of interaction quality can contribute to eliminate interaction errors, thusimproving the user’s interaction experience.
14

Implementation and Analysis of Co-Located Virtual Reality for Scientific Data Visualization

Jordan M McGraw (8803076) 07 May 2020 (has links)
<div>Advancements in virtual reality (VR) technologies have led to overwhelming critique and acclaim in recent years. Academic researchers have already begun to take advantage of these immersive technologies across all manner of settings. Using immersive technologies, educators are able to more easily interpret complex information with students and colleagues. Despite the advantages these technologies bring, some drawbacks still remain. One particular drawback is the difficulty of engaging in immersive environments with others in a shared physical space (i.e., with a shared virtual environment). A common strategy for improving collaborative data exploration has been to use technological substitutions to make distant users feel they are collaborating in the same space. This research, however, is focused on how virtual reality can be used to build upon real-world interactions which take place in the same physical space (i.e., collaborative, co-located, multi-user virtual reality).</div><div><br></div><div>In this study we address two primary dimensions of collaborative data visualization and analysis as follows: [1] we detail the implementation of a novel co-located VR hardware and software system, [2] we conduct a formal user experience study of the novel system using the NASA Task Load Index (Hart, 1986) and introduce the Modified User Experience Inventory, a new user study inventory based upon the Unified User Experience Inventory, (Tcha-Tokey, Christmann, Loup-Escande, Richir, 2016) to empirically observe the dependent measures of Workload, Presence, Engagement, Consequence, and Immersion. A total of 77 participants volunteered to join a demonstration of this technology at Purdue University. In groups ranging from two to four, participants shared a co-located virtual environment built to visualize point cloud measurements of exploded supernovae. This study is not experimental but observational. We found there to be moderately high levels of user experience and moderate levels of workload demand in our results. We describe the implementation of the software platform and present user reactions to the technology that was created. These are described in detail within this manuscript.</div>

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