Critical parameters are quantitative measures of performance that may be used to determine the overall ability of a design to serve its purpose. Although critical parameters figure in almost every field of design where there is a demand for progressive improvement, they do not appear to figure significantly in the design of interactive systems. As a result, systems are designed that are recogni...

This paper describes a new unifying workstyle model for the usercentered design process, comprised of eight dimensions that we claim as fundamental to supporting the UCD process. Our proposal is new because it is the first workstyle model tailored to UCD. We also show the usefulness of workstyle modeling when evaluating the stage/effort of a project at a given time. Our workstyle model was base...

This paper takes a new look at context in HCI design patterns. We will note similarities between pattern identification and context derivation and justify the inclusion of user context in HCI pattern specifications. Finally, we show, by means of examples, how this could be done.

In this paper, we address the problem of reducing the unpredictability of userinitiated dialogue contributions in humancomputer interaction without explicitly restricting the user’s interactive possibilities. We demonstrate that it is possible to identify conditions under which particular classes of user-initiated contributions will occur and discuss consequences for dialogue system design.

Computing devices are composed of spatial arrangements of simple fundamental logic gates. These gates may be combined to form more complex adding circuits and, ultimately, complete computer systems. Implementing classical adding circuits using unconventional, or even living substrates such as slime mould Physarum polycephalum, is made difficult and often impractical by the challenges of branchi...

Microfluidics have been used for several decades to conduct a wide range of research in chemistry and the life sciences. The reduced dimensions these devices give them advantages over classical analysis techniques such as increased sensitivity, shorter times, lower reagent consumption. However, current manufacturing processes microfluidic chips either limit materials with unwanted properties, o...

The nucleotide sequence reported for the Dictyostelium discoideum ceramidase is available on the DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ). Ceramidases (CDases) are currently classified into three categories (acid, neutral and alkaline) based on their optimal pHs and primary structures. Here, we report the first exception to this rule. We cloned the CDase cDNA, consisting of 2142 nucleotides encoding 714 a...

Acellular slime mould Physarum polycephalum is a popular now user-friendly living substrate for designing of future and emergent sensing and computing devices. P. polycephalum exhibits regular patterns of oscillations of its surface electrical potential. The oscillation patterns are changed when the slime mould is subjected to mechanical, chemical, electrical or optical stimuli. We evaluate fea...

Article history: Received:29.09.2013. Received in revised form: 17.12.2013. Accepted: 24.12.2013. A three-dimensional Computer Aided Design (CAD) model of the bearing sleeve casting is established by Pro/E software. The ViewCast program is utilized for studying casting processes of solidification and mould-filling in order to optimize the casting technology. Based on the solidification simulati...

Manufacturing process constraints and design complexities are the main challenges that face aftermarket automotive industry. For reason, recently, selective laser melting (SLM) is being recognised as a viable approach in fabrication of injection moulding tool inserts. Due to its versatility, SLM technology capable producing freeform designs. first reported time, this study recognized for novel ...