abstract: Multi-touch tablets and smart phones are now widely used in both workplace and consumer settings. Interacting with these devices requires hand and arm movements that are potentially complex and poorly understood. Experimental studies have revealed differences in performance that could potentially be associated with injury risk. However, underlying causes for performance differences are often difficult to identify. For example, many patterns of muscle activity can potentially result in similar behavioral output. Muscle activity is one factor contributing to forces in tissues that could contribute to injury. However, experimental measurements of muscle activity and force for humans are extremely challenging. Models of the musculoskeletal system can be used to make specific estimates of neuromuscular coordination and musculoskeletal forces. However, existing models cannot easily be used to describe complex, multi-finger gestures such as those used for multi-touch human computer interaction (HCI) tasks. We therefore seek to develop a dynamic musculoskeletal simulation capable of estimating internal musculoskeletal loading during multi-touch tasks involving multi digits of the hand, and use the simulation to better understand complex multi-touch and gestural movements, and potentially guide the design of technologies the reduce injury risk. To accomplish these, we focused on three specific tasks. First, we aimed at determining the optimal index finger muscle attachment points within the context of the established, validated OpenSim arm model using measured moment arm data taken from the literature. Second, we aimed at deriving moment arm values from experimentally-measured muscle attachments and using these values to determine muscle-tendon paths for both extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of middle, ring and little fingers. Finally, we aimed at exploring differences in hand muscle activation patterns during zooming and rotating tasks on the tablet computer in twelve subjects. Towards this end, our musculoskeletal hand model will help better address the neuromuscular coordination, safe gesture performance and internal loadings for multi-touch applications. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Mechanical Engineering 2014

Submitted by Raquel Vergara Gondran (raquelvergara38@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-04-03T01:59:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 0000010495.pdf: 7029217 bytes, checksum: fee220f5cf96e201e48f10540d1730aa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-03T01:59:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 0000010495.pdf: 7029217 bytes, checksum: fee220f5cf96e201e48f10540d1730aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Trata-se de uma tese de doutorado junto ao Programa de Pós- Graduação em Educação Ambiental, na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, vinculada a linha de Pesquisa Educação Ambiental Não- Formal. Teve como objetivo geral buscar maneiras de minimizar a iatrogenia hospitalar nas práticas da enfermagem através da Esquizoanálise e do Toque Terapêutico. Formularam-se três hipóteses, cada uma com sua respectiva microintervenção, as quais foram epistemologicamente ancoradas na Esquizoanálise e na técnica de imposição de mãos denominada Toque Terapêutico, método Krieger- Kunz, embasando-se em experimentações socioambientais. São elas: 1-A construção de um espaço ecosófico poder ajudar a superar a iatrogenia; 2- O Hospital enquanto ambiente pedagógico pode propiciar a formação de um novo olhar e 3- O Hospital enquanto espaço clínico pode ir além da patologia, valorizando o ser humano de forma integral. Para tanto, utilizou-se da cartografia, método formulado por Deleuze e Guattari, o qual visou acompanhar um processo de produção no campo da subjetividade. Dentro do contexto da Esquizoanálise, ela permitiu a formação de rizomas, caracterizando-se como uma pesquisa experimentação. Esse processo de produção baseiou-se na atenção cartográfica, a qual é formada por pistas que têm em vista descrever, discutir e, sobretudo, coletivizar a experiência da pesquisadora. A pista tomada nesse trabalho diz respeito ao funcionamento da atenção durante o trabalho de campo, a qual foi definida como concentrada e aberta, caracterizando-se por quatro variedades: o rastreio, o toque, o pouso e o reconhecimento atento. As experimentações aconteceram de forma itinerante, em diferentes ambientes. Ora junto à mata atlântica, ora no espaço acadêmico e hospitalar de um Hospital Universitário do Sul do Estado. Algumas experimentações envolveram um grupo de doutorandos constituído por três pesquisadores do Programa de Pós- Graduação em Educação Ambiental, denominado de comunidade pesquisadora. Outras buscaram uma experimentação direta com os profissionais e alunos que participaram da 35ª Semana Riograndina de Enfermagem, bem como com duas pessoas hospitalizadas numa unidade de clínica médica. Na primeira microintervenção ficou claro que a iatrogenia também é fruto do próprio comportamento dos profissionais de saúde e por isso o que precisa ser revisto são as relações de poder dentro da instituição. A partir da segunda e terceira microintervenções infere-se que o hospital, enquanto ambiente pedagógico e clínico pode ser um espaço de clinamen e tem um potencial transformador a ser percebido e valorizado para a aprendizagem mútua. As práticas de ensino precisam vencer o paradigma cartesiano e aproximarem-se de uma percepção ambiental, a qual se aplicada ao cotidiano, oportuniza a construção de novos conhecimentos e maneiras de entender o cuidar através de uma escuta sensível. Após as vivências foi possível pensar nas minhas próprias atitudes e comportamentos iatrogênicos e ressignificá-los sob forma de reverberações, as quais trataram a Educação Ambiental como fluxo inerente da vida e espaço para formação de novos rizomas. / It is a doctoral dissertation by the Graduate Program in Environmental Education at the Federal University of Rio Grande, linked to the line of research Non-Formal Environmental Education. As a general goal, it aimed to seek ways to minimize iatrogenic injury in hospital nursing practices through Schizoanalysis and Therapeutic Touch. Three hypotheses were formulated, each one with its respective micro intervention, all of which were epistemologically anchored in schizoanalysis and the Therapeutic Touch technique, consisting of placing hands, called Krieger ? Kunz method, based on environmental experiments. They are as follows: 1 - The construction of an ecosophic space could help overcome iatrogenics; 2 - The Hospital as a pedagogical environment can favor the formation of a new look and 3 The Hospital as clinical space can go beyond pathology, valuing human being as a whole. Thus, we applied the mapping method formulated by Deleuze and Guattari, which aimed to monitor a production process in the field of subjectivity. Within the context of schizoanalysis, it provided the formation of rhizomes, characterized as an experimentation research.This production process based itself on cartographic attention, which consists of tracks aiming to describe, discuss, and, most of all, collectivize the experience of the researcher. The track made from this work concerns the functioning of attention during the fieldwork, which was defined as concentrated and open, characterized by four varieties: screening, touch, landing and attentive recognition. Experimentations took place on an itinerant basis in different environments, either along the Atlantic forest, or in the academic and hospital space of a university hospital in the southern region of the state. Some experimentation involved a group of doctoral students, consisting of three researchers from the Graduate Program in Environmental Education, called the research community. Other experimentations aimed at a direct study with professionals and students who participated in the 35th Local Week in Nursing, as well as two people hospitalized in a medical unit. In the first micro intervention, it was clear that iatrogenics is also the fruits of the behavior of health professionals, hence, what needs to be revised is the power relations within the institution. From the second and third micro interventions, it is inferred that the hospital, as educational and clinical environment may be a space for clinamen and has a changing potential to be perceived and valued for mutual learning. Teaching practices have to overcome the Cartesian paradigm and approach an environmental perception, which, applied to everyday life, are devices nurturing the construction of new knowledge and ways of understanding the care through sensitive listening. After the experiences, it was possible to think of my own iatrogenic attitudes and behaviours, offering new meaningful behaviors in the form of reverberations, which addressed the environmental education as an inherent flow of life and space for formation of new rhizomes.

A abdominoplastia é uma das cirurgias plásticas mais realizadas. A associação entre a lipoaspiração e o descolamento reduzido trouxe uma nova perspectiva em relação à maior preservação da inervação cutânea sensitiva. Novos métodos de avaliação de sensibilidade têm permitido melhor quantificação e uma análise mais completa da evolução pós-operatória. Foi realizado um estudo do tipo caso-controle comparando-se um grupo controle de pacientes não operadas, um grupo de pacientes que realizou abdominoplastia convencional e um grupo que realizou abdominoplastia associada a lipoaspiração e descolamento reduzido. Para a avaliação da sensibilidade, utilizou-se o PSSD (dispositivo específico de sensibilidade de pressão), testes para sensibilidade térmica e dolorosa (agulhas). O PSSD foi aplicado em nove regiões da parede abdominal anterior para determinação do limiar cutâneo de pressão (LCP) em duas modalidades sensoriais: um ponto estático (1PE), para avaliação de fibras de adaptação lenta, e um teste dinâmico (1PD), para avaliação de fibras de adaptação rápida. Quanto maior o LCP, menor a sensibilidade na região. Foram incluídas 46 pacientes nos três grupos. O grupo controle continha 10 pacientes, cujos limiares cutâneos de pressão (LCP) variaram de 0,82 a 0,84 e de 0,77 a 0,79 g/mm2 para 1PE e 1PD, respectivamente. O grupo de abdominoplastia convencional (AC) continha 14 pacientes com medidas em dois momentos de pós-operatório, precoce (5,75 meses) e tardio (17,36 meses). Os resultados demonstraram LCPs entre 1,02 e 39,94 para a medida precoce e 0,79 e 20,07 g/mm2 para a medida tardia. O grupo de abdominoplastia associada a lipoaspiração (LA) continha 22 pacientes com acompanhamento de 5,72 meses (precoce) e 14,91 meses (tardio). Os resultados demonstraram LCPs entre 0,62 e 4,98 para a medida precoce e 0,67 e 1,91 g/mm2 para a medida tardia. A análise estatística usou método de análise de variância com medidas repetidas. O nível de significância adotado foi de 0,05. A análise estatística para a medida de 1PE revelou redução da sensibilidade significante no grupo AC em todas as regiões (precoce e tardia). No grupo LA, houve redução da sensibilidade apenas nas regiões de mesogastro e hipogastro na medida precoce com regularização total na análise tardia. Entretanto, a análise estatística para 1PD revelou, no grupo AC, redução na medida precoce em todas as regiões e redução apenas das regiões centrais (mesogastro e hipogastro) na análise tardia. Já no grupo LA, todas as medidas estavam normalizadas na análise precoce e tardia. A análise da sensibilidade térmica e dolorosa revelou reduções centrais, especialmente nas regiões de mesogastro e hipogastro no grupo AC. O grupo LA revelou áreas de anestesia térmica e dolorosa apenas em pequena área do hipogastro. Concluiu-se que as três modalidades sensoriais (tátil, térmica e dolorosa) são mais preservadas no grupo LA que no grupo AC. A recuperação da medida 1PD é mais rápida que a medida de 1PE / Abdominoplasties are common plastic surgery procedures. New techniques associating lipoaspiration with selective undermining are bringing new perspectives with regard to the preservation of cutaneous sensibility. New methods of evaluation of cutaneous sensibility have allowed researchers to do a more complete analysis. This is a case-control study comparing a control group of patients non operated with one group submitted to conventional abdominoplasty and another group submitted to abdominoplasty associating lipoaspiration with selective undermining. The abdominal surface was divided into nine regions for sensibility evaluation. Superficial tactile sensibility was tested using the Pressure Specified Sensory Device (PSSD) which allows the determination of the cutaneous pressure threshold (static and moving). Tests of pain and thermal sensibility were also performed. A total of 46 patients were divided in three groups. In the control group, with 10 patients, the cutaneous pressure thershold (CPT) oscilated from 0.82 to 0.84 and from 0.77 to 0.79 g/mm2 for one point static and one point moving sensibility evaluations, respectively. The group of patients submitted to conventional abdominoplasty (AC), with 14 patients, was evaluated in two moments of follow-up: early (mean of 5.75 months after surgical procedure) and late (17.36 months). The results showed CPTs betwen 1.02 and 39.94 in the early follow-up, versus 0.79 to 20.07 g/mm2 in the late follow-up. The group submitted to abdominoplasty associated with lipoaspiration and selective underminig (LA) had 22 patients, with a mean follow-up period of 5.75 (early) and 14.91 (late) months. The results showed CPTs betwen 0.62 and 4.98 (early) and 0.67 and 1.91 g/mm2 (late). The statistical analysis was conducted with the analysis of variance with repeated measurements. The level of significance adopted was p < 0.05. The estatistical analysis for one point static showed significant reduction of sensibility in the group AC in all abdominal regions (in the early and late follow-up periods). The group LA presented reduced CPT only in the mesogastric and hypogastric in the early evaluation; the late evaluation was normal. On the other hand, the analisis of one point moving showed, in the group AC, a reduction of early evaluation measurement in all abdominal regions and a reduction only in central regions (mesogastric and hypogastric) in the late. The LA group presented normal in all measurements. The analysis of pain and thermal sensibility shows that the centermost regions of the abdomen, mesogastric and hypogastric, presented the highest anesthesia index in the AC group. The LA group showed just some islands in the hipogastric regions. The recuperation of the 1PD evaluation was faster than the 1PE. In conclusion, the three sensibilities (tactile, thermal and pain) were more preservated in the LA group. Abdominoplasty with lipoaspiration could be considered a better choice than conventional abdominoplasty considering the preservation of cutaneous sensibility

Introdução: Os estudos, a respeito das condições de sensibilidade e força ao longo da vida, ainda são escassos, principalmente os que abordam vários aspectos da sensibilidade como sensibilidade à pressão, vibratória, dolorosa e da força de pinça e preensão. Algumas pesquisas apontam para a redução da força muscular com o avanço da idade, mas desconhecem o seu comportamento, magnitude e os hábitos de vida que podem influenciar nessa evolução. Objetivo: Analisar, através de testes específicos, a evolução da sensibilidade e da força manual em grupo de voluntários saudáveis nas diferentes idades acima de 20 anos e investigar a influência de alguns hábitos de vida. Casuística e Métodos: A força e a sensibilidade das mãos foram avaliadas em um estudo seccional em 116 voluntários humanos. Realizamos testes específicos de sensibilidade e de força em um grupo de voluntários saudáveis acima de 20 anos, compreendida entre 21 e 96 anos de idade. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida entre 2006 e 2010 e avaliou 70 mulheres e 46 homens. Foram aplicados testes de avaliação bimanual das forças de pinça e preensão (dinamômetros B&L Pinch-Gauge® e Jamar®), sensibilidades ao toque (Monofilamentos de Semmes-Weinstein), à discriminação de dois pontos (Mackinnon-Dellon disk-criminator®) estática e móvel, à vibração (diapasão) e o limiar mínimo percebido e máximo tolerado frente ao estímulo elétrico. Para a análise estatística foram realizadas as correlações das diversas variáveis através dos testes de Correlação de Pearson, de Spearman, Regressão Multivariada além da elaboração de equações multifatoriais e linha de regressão. Resultados: Os valores da pinça polpa a polpa e três pontos diminuíram com o avanço da idade, foram maiores no gênero masculino, e sofreram influência positiva em quem pratica atividade física e nos que tocam instrumento musical; sendo o gênero o fator mais determinante. Os valores da pinça lateral e preensão Jamar® obtiveram resultados semelhantes, porém a idade foi o fator que mais influenciou nos resultados. A sensibilidade discriminativa móvel e estática piora com a idade, é melhor nos homens e sofre influência em quem toca instrumento musical. A idade é o fator mais importante para determinar a sensibilidade à pressão e à discriminação estática e móvel entre dois pontos. No teste de Tolerância ao Estimulo Elétrico, observamos que quanto maior a idade, maior a intensidade que a pessoa precisa para começar a sentir o estímulo. A tolerância máxima ao estímulo elétrico somente foi correlacionada positivamente ao gênero, sendo mais tolerada nos homens. Não foi encontrada alteração à sensibilidade vibratória quando avaliada com o diapasão. É possível estimar com equações de regressão, os valores de força e sensibilidade ao longo do envelhecimento da mão e assim, diferenciar as alterações causadas por patologias ou pelo processo natural de envelhecimento ao longo da vida. Conclusões: A sensibilidade e a força da mão pioram com a idade. É possível estimar a evolução fisiológica da sensibilidade e força das mãos em homens e mulheres no decorrer do envelhecimento. Alguns hábitos podem influenciar a evolução da sensibilidade e da força, como a prática de instrumentos musicais e atividade física / Introduction: The studies concerning the conditions of sensitivity and strength throughout life are still scarce, mainly those which address several aspects of sensitivity such as sensitivity to pressure, vibratory sensitivity, pain sensitivity, and pinch and grasp strength sensitivity. Some research studies indicate that muscular strength is reduced as age advances, but they lack information about its behavior, magnitude and life habits that can influence this evolution. Objective: To analyze, through specific tests, the evolution of sensitivity and hand strength in a group of healthy volunteers in different ages above 20 years and investigate the influence of some life habits. Case studies and Methods: Hand strength and sensitivity were evaluated in a cross-sectional study in 116 human volunteers. We performed specific tests of sensitivity and strength in a group of healthy volunteers aged between 21 and 96 years. Research was developed between 2006 and 2010, having assessed 70 females and 46 males. The following tests were applied, namely test of bimanual evaluation of pinch and grasp strength (B&L Pinch-Gauge® and Jamar® dynamometers), touch test (Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament), test of sensitivity to moving and static two-point discrimination(Mackinnon-Dellon diskcriminator ®), vibration (tuning fork) and minimal and maximal thresholds of tolerance to electric stimulus. For the statistical analysis the correlations of several variables were performed through Pearson Correlation Test, Spearman, Multivariate Regression, besides multifactorial equations and regression line. Results: The values of tip pinch and three points decreased with advancing age, were greater in the male gender, and suffered positive influence in those who do physical activities and those who play musical instruments, gender being the most determining factor. The values of lateral pinch and Jamar grip achieved similar results, but age was the factor that mostly influenced the results. Moving and static discriminatory sensitivity is impaired with age, is better in males and reflects the influence of playing a musical instrument. Age is the most important factor to determine sensitivity to pressure and moving and static discrimination between two points. In the Tolerance to Electric Stimulus Test we observed that the greater the age, the greater the intensity needed for a person to start feeling the stimulus. Maximal tolerance to electric stimulus was positively correlated only with gender, being better tolerated in males. No alteration was found in the vibratory sensitivity evaluated by means of the tuning fork. It is possible to calculate by regression equations the values of strength and sensitivity throughout hand aging and so distinguish the alterations caused by pathologies or by the natural process of aging during lifetime. Conclusions: Sensitivity and hand strength grow worse with age. It is possible to estimate the physiologic evolution of sensitivity and hand strength in males and females with aging. Some habits can influence the evolution of sensitivity and strength, such as playing musical instruments and physical exercise

Orientador: Adilson Nascimento de Jesus / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T05:10:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lima_MarianaParro_M.pdf: 2055783 bytes, checksum: 662eb4699ecd64a1bb73a462665aeebf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: No momento em que, no Brasil, se discute a Formação de Professores da Educação Infantil, este trabalho pretende fazer uma reflexão, junto com professoras de uma escola da rede pública de Piracicaba, acerca da afetividade na Educação e da importância do toque para a Formação de Professores que atuam na Educação Infantil. Procurou-se pensar o toque como um encontro afetivo entre professores e crianças. Como ponto de partida, procurou-se conhecer a trajetória de vida destas professoras, percebendo a sua formação e seus saberes a cerca das relações afetivas dentro dos espaços escolares. Para isso, este trabalho teve como elemento central a vivência para a consciência corporal e compreensão da dimensão do toque, dessa linguagem essencial para o ser humano, que é imprescindível nessa trajetória. Entrar em contato com o outro e consigo mesmo, permite também fazer uma reflexão sobre o papel da professora e do professor que lidam com bebês e crianças pequenas. Além das vivências, foram utilizados questionários e alguns instrumentos da etnografia, como entrevistas, observação e registo em caderno de campo. Proporcionar uma formação que pense e sinta o corpo é necessário para poder transmitir esse cuidado para as crianças. A vivência da educação e do cuidado corporal para os professores pode auxiliar suas atividades dentro dos espaços escolares, permitindo um olhar mais sensível para com a infância. Com crianças ainda tão pequenas, são necessárias formas diferentes de linguagem e interação, que não a escrita ou a fala. Ao repensar o papel e a formação do professor, foi possível notar a importância de se promover espaços que permitam aproximar os educadores das várias linguagens presentes no mundo das crianças. / Abstract: At the moment that, in Brazil, the formation of teachers for the early childhood education is discussed, this paper aims to reflect, along with teachers from a public school in Piracicaba, about the affection in education and the importance of the touch as a subject for the education of teachers who work in early childhood education. We tried to think on touch as an affective meeting between teachers and children. As a starting point, we sought to know the life trajectory of these teachers perceiving their training and their knowledge about the emotional relationships within the school spaces. To this end, this work focused on the experience of body awareness and understanding of the dimension of the touch, this language that is essential for human beings and essential in this trajectory. Self-contact and contact with others also allows reflecting on the role of the teacher who deals with babies and small children. Besides the body experiences, questionnaires and some tools of ethnography were used, such as interviews, observation and recording in a field notebook. Provide training to think and feel the body is necessary in order to convey that care for children. The experience of education and body care for teachers can assist their activities within the school spaces, allowing a more sensitive eyeing to childhood. With children still so small, different forms of language and interaction are necessary, not only writing or speaking. By rethinking the role and the education of teachers, it was possible to note the importance of providing opportunities that allow educators to approach to the various languages present in the children world. / Mestrado / Educação, Conhecimento, Linguagem e Arte / Mestra em Educação

ABSTRACT: “The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of information that exist. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a physical nuisance.”- National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Multi-touch screen is a relatively new and revolutionary technology in mobile phone industry. Being mostly software driven makes these phones highly customizable for all sorts of users including blind and visually impaired people. In this research, we present new interface layouts for multi-touch screen mobile phones that enable visionless people to enter text in the form of Braille cells. Braille is the only way for these people to directly read and write without getting help from any extra assistive instruments. It will be more convenient and interesting for them to be provided with facilities to interact with new technologies using their language, Braille. We started with a literature review on existing eyes-free text entry methods and also text input devices, to find out their strengths and weaknesses. At this stage we were aiming at identifying the difficulties that unsighted people faced when working with current text entry methods. Then we conducted questionnaire surveys as the quantitative method and interviews as the qualitative method of our user study to get familiar with users’ needs and expectations. At the same time we studied the Braille language in detail and examined currently available multi-touch mobile phone feedbacks. At the designing stage, we first investigated different possible ways of entering a Braille “cell” on a multi-touch screen, regarding available input techniques and also considering the Braille structure. Then, we developed six different alternatives of entering the Braille cells on the device; we laid out a mockup for each and documented them using Gestural Modules Document and Swim Lanes techniques. Next, we prototyped our designs and evaluated them utilizing Pluralistic Walkthrough method and real users. Next step, we refined our models and selected the two bests, as main results of this project based on good gestural interface principles and users’ feedbacks. Finally, we discussed the usability of our elected methods in comparison with the current method visually impaired use to enter texts on the most popular multi-touch screen mobile phone, iPhone. Our selected designs reveal possibilities to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the existing text entry methods in multi-touch screen mobile phones for Braille literate people. They also can be used as guidelines for creating other multi-touch input devices for entering Braille in an apparatus like computer.

The aim for this project was to develop an application that would be compatible with set-top boxes, or other browser based applications, and re-search what interaction techniques that could be considered a viable substitute for a the traditional remote controller without requiring the visual attention of the viewer User test was also performed in the interest of broadly evaluating the different interaction techniques used in the application, and how the UI itself, including non visual feedback from both the sender and receiver side is perceived.

Blind people cannot enter text on touch devices using common input methods. They use special input methods that have lower performance (i.e. lower entry rate and higher error rate). Most blind people have muscle memory from using classic physical keyboards, but the potential of using this memory is not utilized by existing input methods. The goal of the project is to take advantage of this muscle memory to improve the typing performance of blind people on wide touch panels. To this end, four input methods are designed, and a prototype for each one is developed. These input methods are compared with each other and with a standard input method. The results of the comparison show that using input methods designed in this report improves typing performance. The most promising and the least promising approaches are specified.

This licentiate thesis is written at the multi-disciplinary research school Identity and Pluralism−and also within the subject of Church History−at the Department of Culture and Communication, University of Linkoping, Sweden. In the thesis the rise of the Cell Group Church is explained. Further the Cell Group Church is analyzed with help of questions regarding identity and pluralism. The author conceives a basis of identity, an approach to define cell-structured churches. This basis can in turn constitute a premise for continued research. Furthermore adequate criteria to evaluate the movement are put forth. The dissertation poses three main questions. How was the Cell Group Church formed? Is it possible to identify the Cell Group Church with help of identity markers? What criteria are appropriate to use for an evaluation of the Cell Group Church? The concept of the Cell Group Church was coined by Dr. Ralph W. Neighbour and it is he and his book ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ which are the eye-catchers in this thesis. In what way might Neighbour’s own personal development have affected the design? The intention is not to make a psychological study of Neighbour’s persona, but to weigh in some decisive events that are found in Neighbour’s own biography and that might have affected the design of the Cell Group Church. But influence also has occurred from the outside. What has happened when the Cell Group Church has met the congregations of reality in Korea, Singapore, The Ivory Coast and Columbia? What has Neighbour modified and what in the Cell Group Church has endured? Within the given frame, 1965-2006, there has been an interaction going on between Neighbour and his personal development on the one side and his encounters with reality on the other. In this tension a process of reform is growing. The author will highlight what is lasting in this process, what stands for continuity, and what means a change of identity. The method is to begin with historically descriptive but devolves into being analytical. This thesis contributes to the basic research in the field of the Cell Group Church. The movement of the Cell Church is a part of a forceful global course of events within Christianity. There are historians of religion and sociologists of religion who mean that a new kind of Christianity is forming in our times. The manner in which the Cell Group Church relates to its contemporary period is interesting both from international as well as Swedish conditions. Is the Cell Group Church an alternative that will replace the churches of old? Can the Cell Group Church contribute to the survival of the churches of old?

During the last thirty years the progress of multi-touch technology has been a hot topic of discussion. Despite this, it has not been deployed in anything more advanced than commercials, games and illustrations. We believe that the time has come for the technology to become a broader and more advanced field. It should even be feasible to introduce the multi-touch technology into important environments e.g. control rooms. Two project based case studies, involving multi-touch in different aspects, will be described and discussed respectively. The first case study discusses the introduction of a Microsoft Surface as a collaboration tool in a control room environment. A prototype was built and evaluated to see how well it could work in a stressful and complex area where collaboration between colleagues is vital. The second case study describes the development and possible deployment of a smaller multi-touch screen that would work as an extra input to the control system. Its purpose is to facilitate the navigation in a control system for the operators, thereby easing their cognitive load and making the control room a more comfortable working place. The research of the case studies was based on interviews with operators and developers. From the research result appliance methods and designs were developed, and prototypes were constructed out of the best ones. The prototypes were then analyzed and tested for later evaluation and discussion. To see, whether or not the new multi-touch prototypes would function well in a control system. The objective of this thesis is to attempt to introduce multi-touch technology in control systems