Information technology offers many tools for promoting collaboration and communication in architectural design. A growing number of companies and individuals are adopting computer-based techniques to facilitate remote collaboration between geographically distributed teams. Thus, it is important to investigate the use of technology in developing collaborative tools for architects, especially as required training in architectural education. This research explores the feasibility of augmenting communication in the design studio using a web-based collaboration tool. A prototype was developed for an integrated system that allows for streaming media, real-time collaboration, and multi-way video, audio and text messaging, tailored specifically to the needs of a distributed architectural design studio. The Collaborative Online Architectural Design Studio (COADS) is based on a three-tier client-server structure consisting of an interface tier, an application-logic tier and a data tier. COADS allows role-based participation for students and teachers, facilitating collaboration over design sketches and presentations using personal computers equipped with a microphone and a web-cam. The system was developed and subjected to usability testing in a design studio consisting of graduate-level students of architecture. The participants were required to use COADS for conducting peer evaluations of designs for their class project and subsequently, to answer a questionnaire assessing the usability of the system. The analysis showed that COADS has definite advantages as a tool to augment communication in the design studio. The biggest advantage was that participants could get immediate feedback about their designs from their peers, irrespective of their location. COADS was also relatively easy to set up on end-user machines and provided an integrated point for accessing relevant studio resources from a single location. The disadvantages were mostly due to the limitations of the hardware on end-user machines such as small screen sizes, low quality microphones and web-cams. Further, the collaborative whiteboard within COADS lacked essential tools, such as pan/zoom and erase/undo tools, which reduced its usability. In conclusion, systems such as COADS can effectively augment communication within the architectural design studio. However, they need to be integrated closely with the course structure, right from the introductory stage of the project to the final presentation stage.

Information technology offers many tools for promoting collaboration and communication in architectural design. A growing number of companies and individuals are adopting computer-based techniques to facilitate remote collaboration between geographically distributed teams. Thus, it is important to investigate the use of technology in developing collaborative tools for architects, especially as required training in architectural education. This research explores the feasibility of augmenting communication in the design studio using a web-based collaboration tool. A prototype was developed for an integrated system that allows for streaming media, real-time collaboration, and multi-way video, audio and text messaging, tailored specifically to the needs of a distributed architectural design studio. The Collaborative Online Architectural Design Studio (COADS) is based on a three-tier client-server structure consisting of an interface tier, an application-logic tier and a data tier. COADS allows role-based participation for students and teachers, facilitating collaboration over design sketches and presentations using personal computers equipped with a microphone and a web-cam. The system was developed and subjected to usability testing in a design studio consisting of graduate-level students of architecture. The participants were required to use COADS for conducting peer evaluations of designs for their class project and subsequently, to answer a questionnaire assessing the usability of the system. The analysis showed that COADS has definite advantages as a tool to augment communication in the design studio. The biggest advantage was that participants could get immediate feedback about their designs from their peers, irrespective of their location. COADS was also relatively easy to set up on end-user machines and provided an integrated point for accessing relevant studio resources from a single location. The disadvantages were mostly due to the limitations of the hardware on end-user machines such as small screen sizes, low quality microphones and web-cams. Further, the collaborative whiteboard within COADS lacked essential tools, such as pan/zoom and erase/undo tools, which reduced its usability. In conclusion, systems such as COADS can effectively augment communication within the architectural design studio. However, they need to be integrated closely with the course structure, right from the introductory stage of the project to the final presentation stage.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2011. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 58-61). Also available on the World Wide Web.

This thesis addresses the influence of Twitter on the development of female individualism in Saudi Arabia in relation to the religious curriculum. It reveals the process of this development through two different environments, the physical environment in religious education and the virtual environment in the form of Twitter. The thesis is based on a combination of methods (largely qualitative data obtained from observations, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires). It develops a theoretical framework based on gendered identity as the central concept of this research. the framework positions this concept within two fields of research : feminist approaches to gender and psychological approaches to identity. This thesis presents and innovative approach to the analysis of female individuality. Methodologically, the thesis establishes a position that informs the overall analysis between two different settings, i.e., the physical environment of Saudi schools, which illustrates long-established definitions of the Saudi female as the foundational unit of the analysis. It then moves to an analysis of these definitions in the virtual environment of Twitter, revealing how the different characteristics of the virtual environment influences definitions of identity, the formation of perceptions and the relationships between authorities. In conclusion, the thesis presents significant findings and recommendations.

I developed a resource to aid people going through reentry and reverse culture shock after returning from long stays abroad. Based on my experience with the JET Programme, I used North American JET alumni as my case study, but aimed to develop a solution that would be scalable and useful for people in other programs and situations. While JET and other similar programs assist and support participants in the initial journey abroad and during their stay, they tend to not provide much support when the participants return. This is a real issue because culture shock upon returning from an extended trip is stronger and generally unexpected than what’s experienced at the initial departure. Because of the increasing number of people going abroad for extended stays, this highlights a very real need for support, either from the organizing groups or from alumni of those groups and programs. I began my exploratory research with an extensive survey, where I gathered information on people’s situations prior to joining JET, various qualitative and quantative aspects of their time in Japan, and their experiences upon their return. I continued to conduct exploratory research to gather people’s personal experiences, and I worked closely with JET alumni during my generative and evaluative research phases as well. From the beginning, I leaned towards an online solution that would connect JET alumni regardless of distance or location. Though I considered other options, this approach was vindicated by the strong needs for “community” and “shared experiences” voiced by JET alumni throughout all my research. Ultimately I developed a plan for an online platform that enables people to share their experiences through writing and other media, as well as to communicate and connect easily with others. The name of this platform is okaeri, which means both “return” (verb) and “welcome” (greeting) in Japanese. Beyond the site’s structure and function, the key element is the visual-verbal rhetorical strategy throughout the content and layout, which will set an empathetic tone and perpetuate the sense of community that already exists among JET alumni.

As I have prepared this Commentary, I have come to appreciate the values that exist between the conventions of doctoral research driven by a glimpsed destination and that which brings together previously published works. The particular, and perhaps peculiar, historiographical relationship between the works from 'then' and the Commentary from 'now', turns such research into both a reflection and opportunity to reconsider writing already 'out there'. One cannot re-write the works (although the concept of 're-working' is central to my view of the engaged spectator). But one can reflect on the perspectives that informed each original piece within a body of emerging work. A Commentary, then, becomes not only a process of revelation but also one of acknowledgment of differing circumstances of research, publication and style. The unchangeable outcomes of each published piece are thus seen in a different light, juxtaposition revealing not only advances in one's ideas but also the paradoxes and shifts in thinking that retrospection forces and allows. So a slightly declamatory approach in earlier work evolves into more measured tones, perhaps less shrill. But if we each strive to have our own 'voice', no matter how hard we try for a more mature style some of that driving rawness remains. It is an uncomfortable truth that the shrill, unformed but passionate youth lurks in the shadows. This form of Commentary, then, becomes a revisiting of works and ideas that may have lost some of their currency, or perhaps not (hence my reaching back to both my MA Dissertation and the MiP Report). It becomes an attempt to place each work as part of a series not originally intended as such but in which chosen themes, prejudices and preoccupations play an ever-shaping role. It becomes an attempt to place some posterior coherence, convenient and inconvenient, which emerges from a process of reflection and 'looking again'. It is this mixing and juxtaposition of past work and present position that demands one looks from the side as well as straight on. For this reason I use a relational form of past and present tense as a 'vocal' device to show the ongoing 'live-ness' of the themes and ideas and passions that mark the body of work. The Commentary is therefore exposition and critique, but also an expansion. It is a dynamic process embracing the title of the Commentary itself, becoming subject to inevitable reworking since first being registered. Its preparation has allowed the introduction of current research, new ideas and oblique musings that extend the concerns of the extant works, giving a sense of continuing coherence and possible trajectories. It becomes an attempt to accommodate where I was then with where I am now.

Proefschrift--Technische Universiteit Delft, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-159) and indexes.

Proefschrift--Technische Universiteit Delft, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-159) and indexes.

Designprozesse in Unternehmen sind durch immer enger vernetzte Arbeitsweisen und steigende Wissensintensität geprägt. Die Bedeutung der Kommunikation in diesen interdisziplinären Kontexten wächst. Für das Design stellt diese Entwicklung eine besondere Herausforderung dar: sowohl bezüglich der Inhalte die es kommuniziert, der Methoden und Werkzeuge, die dafür eingesetzt werden, wie auch der Entwicklung einer kommunikativen Grundkompetenz als Teil einer umfassenden Designkompetenz. [... aus dem Text]

The topic of the thesis is a change of corporate identity of the company and role of communication during this process. There are components of corporate identity and relationship between corporate identity, image and reputation described in the thesis. Furthermore it is dedicated to integrated marketing communication, internal communication and role of communication in change management. The theoretical knowledge is applied on company Nicoll Česká republika, s.r.o. which have been coming through the changes of name and corporate identity since January 2015. The main goal is to describe in detail and analyze the process of this change from the preparation phase to realization with respect on communication, evaluate this communication and suggest further recommendations. The analysis contains of description of the company including former communication mix, furthermore there is a description and analysis of changes and also analysis and evaluation of communication. In the end of the thesis there are summarized the main problems connected with the changes and also key mistakes, which were done in communication. Finally it suggests further steps for future.