This dissertation is not only about the production of a building: it is rather a progressive report, which documents the process and development of my personal manifesto of the inter-relationships between: the social and physical effects of sport activities and people with disabilities, in public open spaces in the city. It aims to serve as an instrument to demonstrate the insight of my experiences, from taking a contemporary social issue (segregation of disabled people from the main society) and urban issues (lack of interests and abandonments of public park spaces in our city) into architectural theories. The research did not begin from a particular point towards a specific building type or programme; instead, I located the base of the research by reinterpreting a personal experience and looking into a specific social/contextual condition. It begins with an assessment of people with disabilities and the built environments in the form of interviews, surveys and academic research. The aim of this exercise is to provide first hand contact with disabled peoples’ needs and priorities. Then the theoretical research which revolves around the notion of public safety in the park - one of the major reasons which decrease the willingness of the public to use it. Together with the findings derived from site analysis and precedent studies, I will then consolidate the arguments by developing an experimental architectural prototype which directly aims to substantiate the theory, and the building structure itself will be the projector that materializes the programme into real context and thus gives justification to my manifesto.

This work describes the development of a technique for the evaluation of the performance of a product's physical user interface. The technique is intended to combine the best features cat conventional user group testing with those of computer based biomechanical modelling. A requirement for the new technique exists as social pressure demands that consumer products he optimised for users with a wide range of physical capabilities, while shortening product lifecycles leave less time for extensive user evaluation programmes. A demonstration system was developed, based upon the use of an electromagnetic tracking system to gather upper limb motion data and a two segment, rigid link biomechanical model. Experimental work was carried out to test the effectiveness of the system at following limb movements and average error in reconstruction of hand position from segment angle data was 62mm (Standard deviation 41 mm) The modelling system was applied to the assessment of two types of product: cutlery and drinking vessels and the effectiveness of various statistical techniques in allowing the rapid identification of important design parameters was assessed. The use of Taguchi's smaller-the-better signal to noise ratio was found to be effective for the measurement of the effect of product design on shoulder and elbow forces. Cutlery with enlarged handles designed to reduce grip strength requirements tended to increase forces at the shoulder. The method was also applied to an interface optimisation problem involving the design of a lever mechanism. Partial factorial design was used to minimise experimental cost during the assessment of multiple factors, but strong interactions were detected between interface parameters, reducing the value of the analysis. The overall height of the lever handle relative to the user's shoulder was found to be the most significant design factor, with an optimum operating situation existing where the lever was low enough to require almost full extension of the elbow during use. The work concludes that biomechanical analysis holds further promise for the optimisation of interface parameters, provided the high experimental cost involved with present techniques can be reduced.

No description available.

The Assessment of Risk and Manageability in Intellectually Disabled IndividuaLs who Offend (ARMIDILO) was developed to address the need for assessment tests specifically designed for intellectually disabled (ID) individuals who offend. This is the first study focusing on the application of the ARMIDILO by using comparative current risk assessment tests to evaluate the ARMIDILO as an effective risk assessment tool. In this research 16 ID people who have recorded sexual and or violent behaviour offences were evaluated using the Violent Offender Risk Assessment Scale (VORAS), Static-99 and ARMIDILO risk assessment tests. The ARMIDILO, VORAS and Static-99 assessments were completed using individual history files kept within the Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service. The VORAS and Static-99 were adapted to incorporate reported, but not charged or otherwise litigated offences and convictions. The adapted tests were then compared against the ARMIDILO as a risk assessment tool. Analysis of the ARMIDILO showed strong validity in assessing ID people who offend. The main strength of the ARMIDILO is in identifying the risk needs of the ID person who offends and may be an effective management test when used in assessing individual needs and program implementation. Risk assessment through the ARMIDILO showed similar results to Static-99 but compared only moderately with the VORAS in measuring the risk of re-offending. Future research with a larger population may further validate the reliability of the ARMIDILO as an assessment tool. Adaptation of the current score sheet for use by non-clinical and correctional staff may prove cost effective.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Open University. BLDSC no. DX184762.

Thesis (EdD)--Open University.

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 72 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-51).

Thesis (MS)--University of Montana, 2009. / Contents viewed on December 18, 2009. Title from author supplied metadata. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.