This paper intends to describe the work and result of the design project Meet App. Meet App lets users interact around their current locations in a direct manner. The user experience is evaluated to get an understanding of the usefulness and interaction with this type of design. The project is related to the context-awareness research field where findings put the project in a greater whole. The result indicates usefulness and enjoyment interacting with the application, but because of the low number of participants the findings cannot be validated.

There is no general aging process therefore should health efforts directed at elderly population based on each individual as a unique person with specific needs. When aging becomes a fact not generally decrease the lust and the desire to be active but it is perhaps more about the body's ability to keep up on what the head wants. Therefore the range of activities towards the elderly population requires some adjustment that can partly be achieved by taking some of the older people’s experiences. The purpose of this study was that by the older people’s experiences of organized activities in a social context to illustrate how they perceive their participation. A qualitative approach with narrative theory was used and the study’s empirical results are based on stories from four elderly women. The result highlights the older person’s ability to create meaning in the moment from a life course context. The results are presented in three themes, the physical, social and finite context, that together can be traced to three perspectives on the cultural learning needs of the older person. Activities can thus assume to bring further value and visibility to older peoples need for social and cultural interaction. Prominent in this study is the importance of seeing the older person as a learning individual, which places demands on the society and the development opportunities available to older people’s disposal.

This thesis presents two novel coding schemes and applications to both two- and three-dimensional image compression. Image compression can be viewed as methods of functional approximation under a constraint on the amount of information allowable in specifying the approximation. Two methods of approximating functions are discussed: Iterated function systems (IFS) and wavelet-based approximations. IFS methods approximate a function by the fixed point of an iterated operator, using consequences of the Banach contraction mapping principle. Natural images under a wavelet basis have characteristic coefficient magnitude decays which may be used to aid approximation. The relationship between quantization, modelling, and encoding in a compression scheme is examined. Context based adaptive arithmetic coding is described. This encoding method is used in the coding schemes developed. A coder with explicit separation of the modelling and encoding roles is presented: an embedded wavelet bitplane coder based on hierarchical context in the wavelet coefficient trees. Fractal (spatial IFSM) and fractal-wavelet (coefficient tree), or IFSW, coders are discussed. A second coder is proposed, merging the IFSW approaches with the embedded bitplane coder. Performance of the coders, and applications to two- and three-dimensional images are discussed. Applications include two-dimensional still images in greyscale and colour, and three-dimensional streams (video).

Pervasive computing is an important trend today. It concerns devices and services in a smart space that interact with users in a simple, natural, and harmonious way. Many problems in this domain have been studied from different perspectives in various projects. However, one important characteristic of pervasive computing, which is how to make it non-intrusive so that users can focus on their tasks, has received little formal attention. Nowadays, many computing entities including smart devices, and software components, are involved in our daily lives, and users need to deal with them as well as with other people. Besides, people are easy to reach with multiple devices. We believe there should be a systematic way to help users avoid intrusive ones. We propose a model for posing and answering two questions: will an interaction intrude on its receiver if delivered, and given that the interaction is deliverable, how can it be delivered effectively and not too overtly? With this model, the intrusion problem is analyzed and the essential factors are identified. A quantitative approach is used, so that factors have quantitative values for comparison and computation. We also apply context to refine them in order to achieve better results. We then illustrate how to materialize the model and build a system whose design is inspired by the Jabber framework that includes a collection of standards, technologies, and projects for instant messaging. The discussion is at a general level that does not depend on Jabber. However, by choosing Jabber in implementation, we reuse existing software and technologies, and benefit from Jabber/XMPP standardization, its low entry barrier for application developers, and its rich community support. The main contributions of our work are two-fold. First, we propose a model for intrusiveness in pervasive computing. Second, we address the problem at the system level by designing and realizing it. We also make use of standardized instant-messaging technologies, more precisely Jabber, in the system instantiation to reuse existing software, making the system more flexible and extensible.

This thesis examines how the context in which an item is studied affects the phenomenological experience of the rememberer. Previous research has extensively studied how the match between study and test context affect subsequent memory performance; however, little work has attempted to examine how visual context information provided at study affects later recollection when that context information is not re-presented at retrieval. In particular, the quality of the memory retrieved may be enhanced when highly meaningful visual context information is provided at study. In each of seven experiments in the current thesis, participants studied words presented with context information high or low in meaningful content, and on a later recognition memory test made a Remember, Know, or New response to the words presented alone. Experiment 1 showed that participants had better overall memory, specifically recollection, for words studied with pictures of intact as opposed to scrambled faces. In Experiment 2, these results were replicated and recollection was shown to be higher for words studied with versus without pictures of faces. Experiment 3 showed that participants had higher memory performance, and recollection in particular, for words studied with upright compared to inverted faces. In Experiment 4, participants showed equivalent memory for words studied with novel or familiar faces. These results suggest that recollection benefits when visual context information high in meaningful content accompanies study words, and that this benefit is not related to the novelty of the context. To further test the claim that participants engage in elaborative processes at study to bind item and context information, improving subsequent recollection, the subsequent set of experiments examined how normal, healthy aging affects participants’ ability to use context information provided at study to benefit subsequent recollection. Older adults have been shown to experience deficits both in memory for context and in recollection, suggesting that they might fail to use context effectively to increase recollection, in contrast to younger adults. Experiment 5 found that younger, but not older, adults showed higher recollection for words studied with faces as compared to rectangles. To determine the type of cognitive processing required to obtain recollection benefits, and to examine whether instruction could alleviate age-related deficits, in Experiment 6, the type of processing engaged during the encoding of context-word pairs was manipulated. Younger and older adults studied words presented with a picture of a face under a surface feature or binding feature instruction condition. Both age groups showed higher recollection in the binding than surface instruction condition. Results suggest that older adults do not spontaneously engage in the processes required to boost recollection when visual context information is provided at study, although instructional manipulation during encoding lessens this deficit. This is in line with the Associative Deficit Hypothesis (Naveh-Benjamin, 2000), suggesting that older adults’ recollection deficit involves a specific difficulty in binding item and context information. The final experiment used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural correlates of recollection, specifically testing the hypothesis that sensory-specific reactivation of context information occurs during item recollection. In Experiment 7, brain activation for Remember responses given to words studied with and without meaningful context information was compared. Behaviourally, 8 of the 14 participants showed a higher proportion of Remember responses to words studied with faces than scrambled faces, and 6 did not. Whole brain analysis showed that, for only those participants who showed higher memory performance for words studied with faces, activation in the fusiform gyrus and hippocampus was higher, and a region-of-interest analysis showed increased activation in the functionally-defined FFA (identified in a localizer task), for Remember responses given to words studied with faces compared to scrambled faces. A regression analysis additionally showed that activation in the fusiform gyrus increased as the relative recollection benefit for words studied with meaningful (face) compared to non-meaningful (scrambled face) context information increased across participants. Results suggest that encoding context can influence the pattern of recollection responses on a recognition task and that sensory-specific reactivation is related to behavioural performance. The findings of these experiments suggest that participants can use context information high in meaningful content at study to improve subsequent recollection and I suggest that this involves the use of elaborative processes at encoding that integrates item and meaningful contexts. Such recollection benefits can also be observed in older adults when they are provided experimental instructions to bind item and context at encoding. In addition, the brain regions used to process context information are reactivated at retrieval and, importantly, that this neural pattern determines whether a boost in recollection, from the encoding manipulation, is observed. Participants can thus use context information provided at study to boost subsequent recollection, and I suggest that this involves cognitive processes that bind item and context information at encoding and the reactivation of sensory-specific brain regions at retrieval.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the challenges faced by Pakistan Textiles industry as an emerging market from MNCs of Bangladesh, China and India and to find out the appropriate strategies which should adopted by the managers of this industry to counter these challenges. Method: In this research qualitative data is used that is gathered through unstructured interview and questioners have been used to have desirable results. Results & Conclusion: It is reflected from results that internal problems of Pakistan textiles industry such as energy crisis, high input cost, political instability, low return on investment are the main problems of this industry. To counter these challenges, their strategic approach should be Collaboration in product development and strategic alliance with attacking firms. Suggestion for Future Research: This research is focused on the Problems and challenges faced by Pakistan Textiles Industry. For the future studies research could be done to find out the strategies for the firms from Pakistan Textiles industry to do the business in international market and how these companies can compete in International Market with presence of other MNCs of the world. Contribution of the Thesis: This study provides action plans for the managers of Pakistan textiles industry to design and implement the strategies that build core competencies such as high quality products for their firms. It can also be helpful for researchers and students those are interested to develop the strategies for the firms from emerging markets.

This thesis concerns five Gotland Bronze Age cairns. They have been analyzed in order to compare their inner and outer burial - and building context. The analysis then forms the basis for the discussion of the similarities and differences observed. These five cairns along with the cairn Uggarderojr are presented in detail and compared. Major similarities were found between four of the five cairns. They all have one or more interior wall, a central tomb and other tombs in the form of cremations and skeletal graves scattered in various levels of the cairn and an erected stone in south, south-west position of the cairn. Differences are seen between the mound at Väskinde and the rest. Since Väskinde do not feature a strongly marked central tomb or a stone in the south and have one instead of two interior walls. However, it has been difficult to make detailed analyses of the numerous artifacts and the secondary graves found in the cairns since looting and destruction has been extensive in several cases. The similarities and differences observed between the cairns have been discussed in relationship to the not yet investigated large cairn called Uggarderojr. I. From the cases studied it has been postulated that Uggarderojr like the other cairns could have one or more interior walls, a central tomb in line with the stone in the south and possibly containing multiple secondary burials.

The divergence between theory and practice in planning and the role of the planner is widely discussed throughout the literature. The aim of the thesis is to explore planners’ experience of appraisal of the planning role in New York City. The thesis investigate the roles of the planner with the purpose of discovering attitudes, values and approaches in the planning climate. New York City’s influence as a context on the role of the planner and the main characteristics that are important to acknowledge as a planner are also recognized. The empirical data is collected through interviews with professors at Columbia University and practicing planners in New York City. Along with theory the results show that planners are affected by both external and internal influences. There are components of rationality and power that affect the planning climate. This will provide knowledge about context dependent planning. Larger implications of the findings are that the planning is never value free, and that planners have to be aware of for whom the planning is for.

This study reports on technical program students’ approaches to solving open-ended problems during an introductory physics course in a Swedish upper secondary school. The study used case study methodology to investigate students’ activities in outdoor context. The findings come from observations and audio recordings of students solving three different open-ended problems. The results showed that the students had difficulties to formulate ‘solvable’ problems and to perform necessary ‘at home’ preparations to be able to solve the problems. Furthermore, students preferred to use a single solution method even though different solution methods were possible. This behavior can be attributed to their previous experience of solving practical problems in physics education. The result also indicated need of different levels of guidance to help the students in their problem solving process. A tentative conclusion can be made that open-ended problems have an educational potential for developing students’ understanding of scientific inquiry and problem solving strategies in the process of performing practical outdoor activities.

This qualitative study explored conflict resolutions in everyday setting by applying grounded theory method to data on real-life conflict experiences. The data represent 53 graduate students (27 male and 26 female) of 20 different nationalities. After careful coding, we found seven categories. By applying a dimensional analysis model, we not only identified that ¢wpreparation for resolving conflict¡ü is the central phenomenon but also explored how conflict origins, casual condition, contextual condition, intervening condition, resolution strategies and consequences are related to the central phenomenon and the dynamics among themselves. This helped in developing a grounded formal theory that provide a detailed picture of the complex process of conflict resolution in everyday setting by covering its origins, dynamics, resolution strategies, consequences, and effects in different contexts. Detailed explanations with ample examples from the data were provided. Implications for future researchers and practical implications are discussed.