Thesis. 1978. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: leaves 118-122. / M.Arch.A.S.

As preferências humanas de iluminação nos ambientes internos estão relacionadas inicialmente à satisfação de conforto luminoso a partir de exigências não somente visuais, mas fisiológicas de saúde, conforme os objetivos do projeto e atividades. Este trabalho aborda a percepção da iluminação natural e artificial complementar diurna, em ambiente de escritório com o objetivo de identificar preferências humanas pesquisadas em um mock up, modelo que reproduz o ambiente em escala real. A partir do entendimento do ato de ver, procuramos mostrar como a luz pode alterar a percepção do espaço, revelar os contornos, alterar limites, escalas, cores e texturas das superfícies. A relação entre luz e espaço determina a nossa percepção visual do mundo que nos cerca e da maneira que o sentimos. Procuramos redefinir então o conceito de conforto visual, ampliando-o para conforto luminoso, que passaria a abordar aspectos não visuais da luz que exercem grande influência no metabolismo humano, através da regulação dos ritmos circadianos com desdobramentos na saúde, bem-estar e produtividade. Para a pesquisa experimental, o mock up foi construído simulando um ambiente de trabalho com mobiliário e objetos, onde as aberturas projetadas poderiam ser fechadas ou liberadas criando tipologias distintas de captação de luz, seja lateral e/ou zenital. Ao entrevistado, caberia escolher entre duas situações em que as variáveis consideradas foram: as posições e dimensões das aberturas para luz natural e inserção de luz artificial complementar. Para validação dos modelos e comparação dos resultados obtidos, trabalhamos com outros modelos, desde a maquete, à simulação computacional através do software Agi-32 e fotografias do ambiente em situações similares às pesquisadas no mock up. Os resultados confirmaram a hipótese de que as preferências de iluminação em escritórios estão relacionadas à satisfação do conforto luminoso em função das tarefas, incluindo aqui também a distribuição da luz, dos contrastes obtidos nas superfícies e plano de trabalho, ou distribuição harmoniosa de luminâncias. Nas situações em que a luz natural atende aos requisitos quantitativos da tarefa e conforto luminoso, ela é preferida em relação à luz artificial. A pesquisa pretende contribuir para trabalhos futuros, acerca do estudo da percepção da luz, relacionando atividade ou função do espaço, intenções do projeto, qualidade da luz arquitetural e luz tarefa. / The aim of this project is the study of people\'s preferences in interior lighting. These are initially connected to a sense of satisfaction and comfort, stemming from demands that are not only visual but also physiological. This study considers the perception of natural and complementary artificial daylight in an office environment and aims to identify preferences by means of a life size mock up model. Starting from the understanding of the act of seeing, the study seeks to show how light can change our perception of space, reveal outlines , and change limits, scale, colours and textures of surfaces. The relationship between light and space determines our visual perception of the world around us. This study seeks to redefine the concept of visual comfort, expanding it to the notion of luminous comfort. This notion comes to consider non visual aspects of light which greatly influence human metabolism by regulating our biorhythms, which in turn have ramifications for our health, well-being and productivity. In order to conduct our research a mock up was built which simulated a work environment. The space contained furniture and objects and openings could be closed or opened to create distinct types of lighting, whether lateral or zenithal. The subjects interviewed simply had to choose between tow situations. Variables considered were the aperture and position of the openings allowing in natural light and the use of complementary artificial light. To validate the models, results were compared with other models, computer simulations using Agi-32 software and photographs of the environment in similar situations as those investigated in the mock up. The results confirm the hypothesis that preferences for lighting in offices are connected to fulfilling the need for luminous comfort. Preferences are also linked to task lighting, including the distribution of light, contrast on surfaces and the work area as well as the harmonious placement of light sources. In those situations where natural light meets the quantitative demands of the lighting task luminous comfort is achieved and this is preferred to artificial light. The research contributes to future studies in how perception of light is linked to activity or the function of space. It also contributes to studies on the quality of light and task lighting.

Improving the safety of medicines management when people leave hospital is an international priority. There is evidence that poor co-ordination of medicines between providers can cause preventable harm to patients, yet there is insufficient evidence of the structure and function of the medicines management system that patients experience. This research used a mixed-methods social network analysis to determine the structure, content and function of that system as experienced by patients. Patients’ networks comprised a range of loosely connected healthcare professionals in different organisations and informal, personal contacts. Networks performed multiple functions, including health condition management, and orienting patients concerning their medicines. Some patients experienced safety incidents as a function of their networks. Staff discharging patients from hospital were also observed. Contributory factors that were found to risk the safety of patients’ discharge with medicines included active failures, individual factors and local working conditions. System defences involving staff and patients were also observed. The study identified how patients often co-ordinated a system that lacked personalisation and there is a need to provide more consistent support for patients’ self-management of medicines after they leave hospital. This could be achieved through interventions that include patients’ informal contacts in supporting their medicines use, enhancing their resilience to preventable harm, and developing and testing the role of a ‘medicines key worker’ in safely managing the transfer of care. The role of GP practices in co-ordinating the involvement of multiple professionals in patient polypharmacy needs to be further explored.

This thesis reflects upon several decades of research into Lean Production systems, highlighting the need for further investigation using an empirical study of exemplar implementations of Lean. The initial point of departure is an analysis of the current views of Lean based on a detailed literature review. The resulting Views of Lean Table provides a framework for the investigation of an exemplar Lean operation, viz the Nissan Sunderland Plant, widely regarded to be one of the most productive automotive plants in Europe. The exploratory nature of this investigation, and unique opportunity for access, argued for the use of an inductive single case study as an appropriate research approach. A four phase approach was used to; a) identify views of Lean, b) gain an initial understanding of the Nissan Production Way at the Nissan Sunderland Plant, b) acquire a detailed description of the Nissan Production Way and c) to assess the level of intrinsic motivation amongst employees. The primary objective of this research is to establish whether our current knowledge of Lean sufficiently encapsulates the concept’s many facets. Detailed semi-structured interviews with Nissan Production Way experts revealed that Nissan Sunderland Plant’s production system uses a large number of elements in contrast to the relatively narrow list of ‘Lean’ elements cited in the Views of Lean Table. In contrast to academic theory there was a focus on extrinsic motivation with low intrinsic motivation offset by the plant’s continuous fight for survival and ‘whatever-it-takes’ attitude. In practice Lean is viewed as an overarching philosophy with a toolkit encompassing a wide range of tools which are used when they are suitable for the task in hand.

The automotive industry is facing significant technological and sociological shifts, calling for an improved understanding of driver and passenger behaviours, emotions and needs, and a transformation of the traditional automotive design process. This research takes a human-centred approach to automotive research, investigating the users' emotional states during automobile driving, with the goal to develop a framework for automotive emotion research, thus enabling the integration of technological advances into the driving environment. A literature review of human emotion and emotion in an automotive context was conducted, followed by three driving studies investigating emotion through Facial-Expression Analysis (FEA): An exploratory study investigated whether emotion elicitation can be applied in driving simulators, and if FEA can detect the emotions triggered. The results allowed confidence in the applicability of emotion elicitation to a lab-based environment to trigger emotional responses, and FEA to detect those. An on-road driving study was conducted in a natural setting to investigate whether natures and frequencies of emotion events could be automatically measured. The possibility of assigning triggers to those was investigated. Overall, 730 emotion events were detected during a total driving time of 440 minutes, and event triggers were assigned to 92% of the emotion events. A similar second on-road study was conducted in a partially controlled setting on a planned road circuit. In 840 minutes, 1947 emotion events were measured, and triggers were successfully assigned to 94% of those. The differences in natures, frequencies and causes of emotions on different road types were investigated. Comparison of emotion events for different roads demonstrated substantial variances of natures, frequencies and triggers of emotions on different road types. The results showed that emotions play a significant role during automobile driving. The possibility of assigning triggers can be used to create a better understanding of causes of emotions in the automotive habitat. Both on-road studies were compared through statistical analysis to investigate influences of the different study settings. Certain conditions (e.g. driving setting, social interaction) showed significant influence on emotions during driving. This research establishes and validates a methodology for the study of emotions and their causes in the driving environment through which systems and factors causing positive and negative emotional effects can be identified. The methodology and results can be applied to design and research processes, allowing the identification of issues and opportunities in current automotive design to address challenges of future automotive design. Suggested future research includes the investigation of a wider variety of road types and situations, testing with different automobiles and the combination of multiple measurement techniques.

As tecnologias telemáticas se desenvolveram, trouxeram novas formas de viver e se incorporaram ao cotidiano de indivíduos e empresas. No mundo contemporâneo, a comunicação à distância tem-se mostrado importante instrumento para o desenvolvimento dos países, organizações públicas e empresas, integrando diferentes comunidades e agilizando processos de decisão. No cenário de desenvolvimento dessas tecnologias, a videoconferência é a ferramenta que agrega a maior quantidade de informações para um encontro mediado por tecnologia. Ela potencializa a comunicação pela integração das tecnologias de áudio, vídeo, e informática. Por outro lado, as reuniões realizadas por videoconferência ainda têm um potencial limitado de comunicação, demandando estudos para seu aprimoramento. A Ergonomia foca seus estudos nos aspectos físicos, psíquicos e cognitivos, intervindo nas relações entre o homem, seu trabalho e meio físico. Por isso, apresenta-se como um instrumento adequado de intervenção para melhorar a comunicação de uma reunião por videoconferência. Iniciamos esta tese mostrando como as tecnologias de comunicação fizeram parte da vida cotidiana dos povos ocidentais e como as tecnologias de videoconferência se situam enquanto instrumento de comunicação empresarial. Em seguida, realizamos uma comparação entre os aspectos ergonômicos de uma reunião presencial e os de uma reunião em videoconferência. Identificamos os ruídos provocados pela utilização dos sistemas de videoconferência e verificamos que grande parte deles diz respeito à questão da ambientação da interface de comunicação no espaço. Mostramos ainda como diversos tipos de interface de comunicação (pinturas, panoramas, espelhos, cinema, fotografia e desenho animado) foram utilizados para ambientar o espaço com a interface de comunicação. Exploramos as várias formas de intervenção no espaço, buscando identificar os aspectos ergonômicos que valorizam a informação comunicada e os elementos do contexto espacial que fazem com que esta se potencialize. A partir desses estudos, propomos critérios a que uma interface de comunicação deveria atender a fim de valorizar a comunicação da reunião por videoconferência. Indicamos ainda uma alternativa tecnológica para cada um dos critérios especificados. Concluímos com uma discussão sobre os caminhos abertos para novas pesquisas em diversas áreas do conhecimento, e com uma reflexão sobre a influência da incorporação destes no desenvolvimento dos projetos de arquitetura. / In contemporary time, distant communication has been an important tool for business development, since it permits people from all over the world to meet quickly by using telematic technologies. Videoconference has been used as an ordinary tool for that purpose, which provides the sharing of audio, video and computer information. Unfortunately, videoconference communication is a poor means for distance meetings and its efficiency must urgently be improved. Besides, ?the central approach of human factors is the systemic application of relevant information about human characteristics and behavior to design the man-made objects, facilities and environments that people use?1. Therefore, it is a relevant instrument for achieving more efficient distant meeting. Firstly, we give an overview of communication technologies applied to business, identifying how videoconferencing systems have been used as a corporative communication instrument. Secondly, we compare live meetings to videoconference ones, searching for differences in human factors that indicate loss of information caused by the use of a communication system. Thirdly, we demonstrate how different communication interfaces produced by man were used to integrate the perception of the physical space and the virtual space shown on them. Consequently, we propose a list of criteria that an interface should meet, in order to improve human factors in distant meetings through a videoconference system. Finally, we provoke a discussion about other possible applications and we also examine how architecture can be modified by considering those criteria in regard to its design.

As práticas ágeis de desenvolvimento de sistemas de software são, neste trabalho, classificadas sob três aspectos: dependabilidade, domínios do ESSENCE e guidelines para redução de erro humano. A partir dessa classificação, um questionário baseado nas práticas relacionadas aos fatores humanos foi aplicado para desenvolvedores de sistemas de software com diferentes níveis de experiência com o objetivo de avaliar a interferência do ambiente na dependabilidade do sistema de software desenvolvido. O questionário foi respondido por 125 desenvolvedores. Os desenvolvedores foram separados em dois grupos e os grupos foram comparados em relação à percepção de certos guidelines para desenvolvimento de software para cada prática considerada. Os resultados do questionário mostraram que a utilização das práticas ágeis analisadas aumentou fatores que reconhecidamente facilitam a redução do erro humano. / In this work, agile software development practices are categorized using three aspects: reliability, ESSENCEs areas of concern and guidelines for human error reduction. From this categorization, it was applied to software developers with different levels of expertise a questionnaire with practices related to human factors with the goal of evaluating the interference of the environment on the reliability of the developed software. The questionnaire was answered by 125 developers. For every practice considered the developers were separated in two groups and compared in relation to the perception of certain guidelines. The results show that the use of those agile practices increase factors that help reduce human error.

As preferências humanas de iluminação nos ambientes internos estão relacionadas inicialmente à satisfação de conforto luminoso a partir de exigências não somente visuais, mas fisiológicas de saúde, conforme os objetivos do projeto e atividades. Este trabalho aborda a percepção da iluminação natural e artificial complementar diurna, em ambiente de escritório com o objetivo de identificar preferências humanas pesquisadas em um mock up, modelo que reproduz o ambiente em escala real. A partir do entendimento do ato de ver, procuramos mostrar como a luz pode alterar a percepção do espaço, revelar os contornos, alterar limites, escalas, cores e texturas das superfícies. A relação entre luz e espaço determina a nossa percepção visual do mundo que nos cerca e da maneira que o sentimos. Procuramos redefinir então o conceito de conforto visual, ampliando-o para conforto luminoso, que passaria a abordar aspectos não visuais da luz que exercem grande influência no metabolismo humano, através da regulação dos ritmos circadianos com desdobramentos na saúde, bem-estar e produtividade. Para a pesquisa experimental, o mock up foi construído simulando um ambiente de trabalho com mobiliário e objetos, onde as aberturas projetadas poderiam ser fechadas ou liberadas criando tipologias distintas de captação de luz, seja lateral e/ou zenital. Ao entrevistado, caberia escolher entre duas situações em que as variáveis consideradas foram: as posições e dimensões das aberturas para luz natural e inserção de luz artificial complementar. Para validação dos modelos e comparação dos resultados obtidos, trabalhamos com outros modelos, desde a maquete, à simulação computacional através do software Agi-32 e fotografias do ambiente em situações similares às pesquisadas no mock up. Os resultados confirmaram a hipótese de que as preferências de iluminação em escritórios estão relacionadas à satisfação do conforto luminoso em função das tarefas, incluindo aqui também a distribuição da luz, dos contrastes obtidos nas superfícies e plano de trabalho, ou distribuição harmoniosa de luminâncias. Nas situações em que a luz natural atende aos requisitos quantitativos da tarefa e conforto luminoso, ela é preferida em relação à luz artificial. A pesquisa pretende contribuir para trabalhos futuros, acerca do estudo da percepção da luz, relacionando atividade ou função do espaço, intenções do projeto, qualidade da luz arquitetural e luz tarefa. / The aim of this project is the study of people\'s preferences in interior lighting. These are initially connected to a sense of satisfaction and comfort, stemming from demands that are not only visual but also physiological. This study considers the perception of natural and complementary artificial daylight in an office environment and aims to identify preferences by means of a life size mock up model. Starting from the understanding of the act of seeing, the study seeks to show how light can change our perception of space, reveal outlines , and change limits, scale, colours and textures of surfaces. The relationship between light and space determines our visual perception of the world around us. This study seeks to redefine the concept of visual comfort, expanding it to the notion of luminous comfort. This notion comes to consider non visual aspects of light which greatly influence human metabolism by regulating our biorhythms, which in turn have ramifications for our health, well-being and productivity. In order to conduct our research a mock up was built which simulated a work environment. The space contained furniture and objects and openings could be closed or opened to create distinct types of lighting, whether lateral or zenithal. The subjects interviewed simply had to choose between tow situations. Variables considered were the aperture and position of the openings allowing in natural light and the use of complementary artificial light. To validate the models, results were compared with other models, computer simulations using Agi-32 software and photographs of the environment in similar situations as those investigated in the mock up. The results confirm the hypothesis that preferences for lighting in offices are connected to fulfilling the need for luminous comfort. Preferences are also linked to task lighting, including the distribution of light, contrast on surfaces and the work area as well as the harmonious placement of light sources. In those situations where natural light meets the quantitative demands of the lighting task luminous comfort is achieved and this is preferred to artificial light. The research contributes to future studies in how perception of light is linked to activity or the function of space. It also contributes to studies on the quality of light and task lighting.

Recognising Acute Deterioration: Active Response (RADAR) is a simulation based teaching session using simulated patients to portray acutely unwell adult hospital patients. The genesis, development and progress of RADAR will be discussed along with the findings of questionnaires and focus groups from two further cycles of action research. Readers will become aware of the impact which RADAR makes to the evidence and learning surrounding the recognition and assessment of clinical deterioration in adult hospital patients. The study investigated the impact of simulation on medical students’ confidence in recognising and responding to clinical deterioration in adult hospital patients using simulation, simulated patients and moulage (make-up).

As tecnologias telemáticas se desenvolveram, trouxeram novas formas de viver e se incorporaram ao cotidiano de indivíduos e empresas. No mundo contemporâneo, a comunicação à distância tem-se mostrado importante instrumento para o desenvolvimento dos países, organizações públicas e empresas, integrando diferentes comunidades e agilizando processos de decisão. No cenário de desenvolvimento dessas tecnologias, a videoconferência é a ferramenta que agrega a maior quantidade de informações para um encontro mediado por tecnologia. Ela potencializa a comunicação pela integração das tecnologias de áudio, vídeo, e informática. Por outro lado, as reuniões realizadas por videoconferência ainda têm um potencial limitado de comunicação, demandando estudos para seu aprimoramento. A Ergonomia foca seus estudos nos aspectos físicos, psíquicos e cognitivos, intervindo nas relações entre o homem, seu trabalho e meio físico. Por isso, apresenta-se como um instrumento adequado de intervenção para melhorar a comunicação de uma reunião por videoconferência. Iniciamos esta tese mostrando como as tecnologias de comunicação fizeram parte da vida cotidiana dos povos ocidentais e como as tecnologias de videoconferência se situam enquanto instrumento de comunicação empresarial. Em seguida, realizamos uma comparação entre os aspectos ergonômicos de uma reunião presencial e os de uma reunião em videoconferência. Identificamos os ruídos provocados pela utilização dos sistemas de videoconferência e verificamos que grande parte deles diz respeito à questão da ambientação da interface de comunicação no espaço. Mostramos ainda como diversos tipos de interface de comunicação (pinturas, panoramas, espelhos, cinema, fotografia e desenho animado) foram utilizados para ambientar o espaço com a interface de comunicação. Exploramos as várias formas de intervenção no espaço, buscando identificar os aspectos ergonômicos que valorizam a informação comunicada e os elementos do contexto espacial que fazem com que esta se potencialize. A partir desses estudos, propomos critérios a que uma interface de comunicação deveria atender a fim de valorizar a comunicação da reunião por videoconferência. Indicamos ainda uma alternativa tecnológica para cada um dos critérios especificados. Concluímos com uma discussão sobre os caminhos abertos para novas pesquisas em diversas áreas do conhecimento, e com uma reflexão sobre a influência da incorporação destes no desenvolvimento dos projetos de arquitetura. / In contemporary time, distant communication has been an important tool for business development, since it permits people from all over the world to meet quickly by using telematic technologies. Videoconference has been used as an ordinary tool for that purpose, which provides the sharing of audio, video and computer information. Unfortunately, videoconference communication is a poor means for distance meetings and its efficiency must urgently be improved. Besides, ?the central approach of human factors is the systemic application of relevant information about human characteristics and behavior to design the man-made objects, facilities and environments that people use?1. Therefore, it is a relevant instrument for achieving more efficient distant meeting. Firstly, we give an overview of communication technologies applied to business, identifying how videoconferencing systems have been used as a corporative communication instrument. Secondly, we compare live meetings to videoconference ones, searching for differences in human factors that indicate loss of information caused by the use of a communication system. Thirdly, we demonstrate how different communication interfaces produced by man were used to integrate the perception of the physical space and the virtual space shown on them. Consequently, we propose a list of criteria that an interface should meet, in order to improve human factors in distant meetings through a videoconference system. Finally, we provoke a discussion about other possible applications and we also examine how architecture can be modified by considering those criteria in regard to its design.