Tangible interfaces and mixed-reality environments have potential to bring together the advantages of physical and virtual environments to improve children’s learning and enjoyment. However, there are too few controlled experiments that investigate whether interacting with physical objects in the real world accompanied by interactive feedback may actually improve student learning compared to flat-screen interaction. Furthermore, we do not have a sufficient empirical basis for understanding how a mixed-reality environment should be designed to maximize learning and enjoyment for children. I created EarthShake, a mixed-reality game bridging physical and virtual worlds via a Kinect depth-camera and a specialized computer vision algorithm to help children learn physics. I have conducted three controlled experiments with EarthShake that have identified features that are more and less important to student learning and enjoyment. The first experiment examined the effect of observing physical phenomena and collaboration (pairs versus solo), while the second experiment replicated the effect of observing physical phenomena while also testing whether adding simple physical control, such as shaking a tablet, improves learning and enjoyment. The experiments revealed that observing physical phenomena in the context of a mixed-reality game leads to significantly more learning (5 times more) and enjoyment compared to equivalent screen-only versions, while adding simple physical control or changing group size (solo or pairs) do not have significant effects. Furthermore, gesture analysis provides insight as to why experiencing physical phenomena may enhance learning. My thesis work further investigates what features of a mixed-reality system yield better learning and enjoyment, especially in the context of limited experimental results from other mixed-reality learning research. Most mixed-reality environments, including tangible interfaces (where users manipulate physical objects to create an interactive output), currently emphasize open-ended exploration and problem solving, and are claimed to be most effective when used in a discovery-learning mode with minimal guidance. I investigated how critical to learning and enjoyment interactive guidance and feedback is (e.g. predict/observe/explain prompting structure with interactive feedback), in the context of EarthShake. In a third experiment, I compared the learning and enjoyment outcomes of children interacting with a version of EarthShake that supports guided-discovery, another version that supports exploration in discovery-learning mode, and a version that is a combination of both guideddiscovery and exploration. The results of the experiment reveals that Guided-discovery and Combined conditions where children are exposed to the guided discovery activities with the predict-observe-explain cycle with interactive feedback yield better explanation and reasoning. Thus, having guided-discovery in a mixed-reality environment helps with formulating explanation theories in children’s minds. However, the results also suggest that, children are able to activate explanatory theory in action better when the guided discovery activities are combined with exploratory activities in the mixed-reality system. Adding exploration to guided-discovery activities, not only fosters better learning of the balance/physics principles, but also better application of those principles in a hands-on, constructive problem-solving task. My dissertation contributes to the literatures on the effects of physical observation and mixed-reality interaction on students’ science learning outcomes in learning technologies. Specifically, I have shown that a mixed-reality system (i.e., combining physical and virtual environments) can lead to superior learning and enjoyment outcomes than screen-only alternatives, based on different measures. My work also contributes to the literature of exploration and guided-discovery learning, by demonstrating that having guided-discovery activities in a mixed-reality setting can improve children’s fundamental principle learning by helping them formulate explanations. It also shows that combining an engineering approach with scientific thinking practice (by combining exploration and guided-discovery activities) can lead to better engineering outcomes such as transferring to constructive hands-on activities in the real world. Lastly, my work aims to make a contribution from the design perspective by creating a new mixed-reality educational system that bridges physical and virtual environments to improve children’s learning and enjoyment in a collaborative way, fostering productive dialogue and scientific curiosity in museum and school settings, through an iterative design methodology to ensure effective learning and enjoyment outcomes in these settings.

A tese apresenta os aspectos relevantes que emergiram de pesquisa qualitativa e de abordagem fenomenológica e observacional a respeito da adequação do design de interiores de cabines-leito de caminhões semipesados e pesados aos usuários no Brasil, com enfoque nas atividades relacionadas ao habitar, com base na percepção de usuários, na observação da pesquisadora e na avaliação de especialistas. Aspectos socioculturais, comportamentais, necessidades e hábitos dos usuários brasileiros em relação às cabines-leito, bem como adaptações e customizações realizadas para adequá-las às atividades ali realizadas, foram levantados em campo, por meio de observação e registros de imagens de vinte e cinco cabines-leito em uso, bem como entrevistas semiestruturadas com seus usuários. Os levantamentos foram realizados em locais de parada e concentração de caminhões nos estados de São Paulo e Pernambuco e contemplaram caminhões provenientes das regiões Sudeste, Sul, Nordeste e Centro-Oeste. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com seis especialistas de empresas fabricantes de caminhões, com o objetivo de investigar como é avaliada por eles a adequação de cabines-leito desenvolvidas para o mercado global ao contexto e aos usuários no Brasil, bem como os métodos de pesquisa com usuários utilizados no desenvolvimento de cabines-leito nas principais empresas. Foram entrevistados também dois profissionais de empresas que realizam adaptações e customizações dos interiores de cabines-leito. O objetivo geral desta tese é apresentar aspectos relevantes sobre o uso de interiores de cabines-leito de caminhões semipesados e pesados no Brasil como habitações temporárias. Pretende-se, assim, fornecer contribuições e parâmetros para o desenvolvimento de cabines-leito de caminhões que atendam às necessidades dos usuários no contexto brasileiro. / This thesis presents relevant aspects that emerged from qualitative research, with a phenomenological and observational approach, on the suitability of the interior design of sleeper cabins in semi-heavy and heavy trucks to users in Brazil, focusing on activities related to their living based on user perception, in observation of the researcher and expert evaluation. Socio-cultural and behavioral aspects, needs and habits of Brazilian users in relation to sleeper cabins, as well as adjustments and customizations made to suit the activities carried out by such users, were raised in the research field through observation and records of twenty-five sleeper cabins in use, as well as semistructured interviews with their users. The surveys were conducted at rest areas and truck stops in the States of São Paulo and Pernambuco and included trucks traveling from the Southeastern, Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern regions. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six truck manufacturer experts aiming at investigating how they evaluate the adequacy of sleeper cabins designed for the global market context and for users in Brazil, as well as the user research methods used in the development of sleeper cabins in major companies. Two professionals from companies that perform adjustments and customizations of the interior of sleeper cabins were also interviewed. The general objective of this thesis is to present relevant aspects on the use of sleeper cabin interiors in semi-heavy and heavy trucks in Brazil as temporary housing. Hence, it aims at providing contributions and parameters for the development of truck sleeper cabins that meet the needs of users in the Brazilian context.

A tese apresenta os aspectos relevantes que emergiram de pesquisa qualitativa e de abordagem fenomenológica e observacional a respeito da adequação do design de interiores de cabines-leito de caminhões semipesados e pesados aos usuários no Brasil, com enfoque nas atividades relacionadas ao habitar, com base na percepção de usuários, na observação da pesquisadora e na avaliação de especialistas. Aspectos socioculturais, comportamentais, necessidades e hábitos dos usuários brasileiros em relação às cabines-leito, bem como adaptações e customizações realizadas para adequá-las às atividades ali realizadas, foram levantados em campo, por meio de observação e registros de imagens de vinte e cinco cabines-leito em uso, bem como entrevistas semiestruturadas com seus usuários. Os levantamentos foram realizados em locais de parada e concentração de caminhões nos estados de São Paulo e Pernambuco e contemplaram caminhões provenientes das regiões Sudeste, Sul, Nordeste e Centro-Oeste. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com seis especialistas de empresas fabricantes de caminhões, com o objetivo de investigar como é avaliada por eles a adequação de cabines-leito desenvolvidas para o mercado global ao contexto e aos usuários no Brasil, bem como os métodos de pesquisa com usuários utilizados no desenvolvimento de cabines-leito nas principais empresas. Foram entrevistados também dois profissionais de empresas que realizam adaptações e customizações dos interiores de cabines-leito. O objetivo geral desta tese é apresentar aspectos relevantes sobre o uso de interiores de cabines-leito de caminhões semipesados e pesados no Brasil como habitações temporárias. Pretende-se, assim, fornecer contribuições e parâmetros para o desenvolvimento de cabines-leito de caminhões que atendam às necessidades dos usuários no contexto brasileiro. / This thesis presents relevant aspects that emerged from qualitative research, with a phenomenological and observational approach, on the suitability of the interior design of sleeper cabins in semi-heavy and heavy trucks to users in Brazil, focusing on activities related to their living based on user perception, in observation of the researcher and expert evaluation. Socio-cultural and behavioral aspects, needs and habits of Brazilian users in relation to sleeper cabins, as well as adjustments and customizations made to suit the activities carried out by such users, were raised in the research field through observation and records of twenty-five sleeper cabins in use, as well as semistructured interviews with their users. The surveys were conducted at rest areas and truck stops in the States of São Paulo and Pernambuco and included trucks traveling from the Southeastern, Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern regions. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six truck manufacturer experts aiming at investigating how they evaluate the adequacy of sleeper cabins designed for the global market context and for users in Brazil, as well as the user research methods used in the development of sleeper cabins in major companies. Two professionals from companies that perform adjustments and customizations of the interior of sleeper cabins were also interviewed. The general objective of this thesis is to present relevant aspects on the use of sleeper cabin interiors in semi-heavy and heavy trucks in Brazil as temporary housing. Hence, it aims at providing contributions and parameters for the development of truck sleeper cabins that meet the needs of users in the Brazilian context.

Failures in networks that reside in business environments cause harm to organizations depending on them. Every minute of inoperativety is hurtful and as a network adminstrator you want to minimize the rates of failures as well as the time of inoperation. Therefore, a fruitful network monitoring system is of great interest for such organizations. This bachelor’s thesis is the outcome of a pre-study performed on behalf of MIC Nordic and sought to advice them in the implementation of a new monitoring system. The aim of this study was to investigate how a Network Operation Center (NOC) can be implemented in an existing monitoring environment, to integrate current monitoring systems to a central point for monitoring. This study takes an holitstic approach to network management and the research can be divided into two main categories: Communication between network components and Presentation of information. Our process involves an analysis of the environment of MIC Nordic and an in depth inquiry on the current state of network monitoring and interface design. The study then culminates in the implementation of a prototype. The prototype serves in first hand as a research tool to collect experience and empirical evidence to increase the crediblity of our conclusions. It is also an attempt of demonstrating the complete process behind developing a NOC, that we believe can fill a gap among the previous research in the field. From our results you can expect a prototype with functionality for monitoring network components and a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying information. The results are designed towards solving the specific network management problem that was given and the environment that it concerns. This pre-study suggests that the best solution for implementing a NOC in the given environment is to use SNMP for communication. From an investigation on how to present network management information in a effective way we propose to follow a user-centered approach and to utilize human perception theory in the design process. The authors recommend further research that maintain the holistic approach but applies more quantitative methods to broaden the scope. / Störningar i nätverk som används i företagsmiljöer skapar problem för organisationer som är beroende av dess funktion. Varje minut som nätverket är verkningslöst är ofördelaktigt och som nätverksadministratör så vill du minimera antal störningar och tiden då nätverket är verkningslöst. Ett effektivt nätverksövervaknings system är därf ör av stort intresse f ör organisationer beroende av ett funktionerande nätverk. Den här rapporten är resultatet av en förundersökning som utfördes på uppdrag av MIC Nordic, för att ge en rekommendation om hur ett nytt övervakningssystem för deras nätverk kan implementeras. Målet med studien var att undersöka hur ett Network Operation Center (NOC) kan implementeras i en existerande miljö för att integrera nuvarande övervakningssystem till en central punkt för övervakning. Den här studien tar ett holistiskt grepp om nätverksövervakning och undersökningen kan delas in i två primära kategorier: Kommunikation mellan nätverkskomponenter och Presentation av information. Vår process involverar en analys av MIC Nordics miljö och en djupgående utredning om nätverksövervakning samt gränssnitts design. Studien kulminerar i en implementaion av en prototyp. Prototypen är i f örsta hand ett undersökningsverktyg för att samla på oss erfarenhet och empiriska belägg för att öka trovärdigheten i våra slutsatser. Prototypen utgör även ett försök av författarna att demonstrera den kompletta proceduren av att utveckla en NOC, avsikten är att det kan fylla ett behov bland tidigare avhandligar i ämnet. Resultatet innehåller en prototyp med funktionalitet för att övervaka nätverkskomponenter samt ett grafiskt gränssnitt för att visa informationen. Resultaten är designade mot en lösning som är specifik för problemet som gavs av MIC Nordic och deras miljö. Denna förstudie proponerar att den bästa lösningen för att implementera en NOC i den givna miljön är att använda SNMP för kommunikation. Efter en granskning av hur man kan presentera information som rör nätverksövervakning på ett effektivt sätt så lanserar författarna en användarcentrerad metod som utnyttjar läran om hur människor uppfattar saker och ting. Författarna uppmuntrar vidare undersökningar som bibehåller det holistiska greppet men som applicerar mer kvantitativa metoder för att utöka undersökningens omfattning.