![This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United
States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you
are not located in the United States, you will have to check the
laws of the country where you are located before using this
eBook.
Title: Thackerayana: Notes and Anecdotes
Compiler: Joseph Grego
Illustrator: William Makepeace Thackeray
Release date: January 2, 2014 [eBook #44563]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online
Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file
was
produced from images generously made available by
The
Internet Archive)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THACKERAYANA:
NOTES AND ANECDOTES ***](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/1309017-250530044016-4144f577/85/Designing-Inclusive-Systems-Designing-Inclusion-For-Realworld-Applications-1st-Edition-M-Annemans-60-320.jpg)
Designing Inclusive Systems Designing Inclusion For Realworld Applications 1st Edition M Annemans
- 1. Designing Inclusive Systems Designing Inclusion For Realworld Applications 1st Edition M Annemans download https://ebookbell.com/product/designing-inclusive-systems- designing-inclusion-for-realworld-applications-1st-edition-m- annemans-2618034 Explore and download more ebooks at ebookbell.com
- 2. Here are some recommended products that we believe you will be interested in. You can click the link to download. Designing Inclusive Futures 1st Edition S D Waller P M Langdon https://ebookbell.com/product/designing-inclusive-futures-1st-edition- s-d-waller-p-m-langdon-4192556 Designing Inclusive Interactions Inclusive Interactions Between People And Products In Their Contexts Of Use 1st Edition P Biswas https://ebookbell.com/product/designing-inclusive-interactions- inclusive-interactions-between-people-and-products-in-their-contexts- of-use-1st-edition-p-biswas-4194542 Designing Inclusive Pathways With Young Adults Learning And Development For A Better World Judith Kearney https://ebookbell.com/product/designing-inclusive-pathways-with-young- adults-learning-and-development-for-a-better-world-judith- kearney-5358994 From Pessimism To Promise Lessons From The Global South On Designing Inclusive Tech Payal Arora https://ebookbell.com/product/from-pessimism-to-promise-lessons-from- the-global-south-on-designing-inclusive-tech-payal-arora-59809866
- 3. Inclusive Designing Joining Usability Accessibility And Inclusion 1st Edition P M Langdon https://ebookbell.com/product/inclusive-designing-joining-usability- accessibility-and-inclusion-1st-edition-p-m-langdon-4662736 Designing An Allinclusive Democracy Consensual Voting Procedures For Use In Parliaments Councils And Committees 1st Edition Peter Emerson https://ebookbell.com/product/designing-an-allinclusive-democracy- consensual-voting-procedures-for-use-in-parliaments-councils-and- committees-1st-edition-peter-emerson-2143396 Designing A More Inclusive World 1st Edition N Dsouza Auth https://ebookbell.com/product/designing-a-more-inclusive-world-1st- edition-n-dsouza-auth-4189996 Effective Inclusive Schools Designing Successful Schoolwide Programs 1st Edition Thomas Hehir https://ebookbell.com/product/effective-inclusive-schools-designing- successful-schoolwide-programs-1st-edition-thomas-hehir-4386248 Designing Networks Cities Inclusive Hyperconnected Emergent And Sustainable Urbanism 1st Edition Steve Whitford https://ebookbell.com/product/designing-networks-cities-inclusive- hyperconnected-emergent-and-sustainable-urbanism-1st-edition-steve- whitford-55996634
- 7. Patrick Langdon • John Clarkson Peter Robinson • Jonathan Lazar Ann Heylighen Editors Designing Inclusive Systems Designing Inclusion for Real-world Applications 123
- 8. Patrick Langdon Department of Engineering Cambridge Engineering Design Centre University of Cambridge Trumpington Street Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK John Clarkson Department of Engineering Cambridge Engineering Design Centre University of Cambridge Trumpington Street Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK Peter Robinson Computer Laboratory University of Cambridge JJ Thomson Avenue, Madingley Road William Gates Building 15 Cambridge CB3 0FD, UK Jonathan Lazar Universal Usability Laboratory Department of Computer and Information Sciences Towson University,York Road 8000 Towson, MD 21252, USA Ann Heylighen Department of Architecture Urbanism and Planning Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Kasteelpark Arenberg 1/2431 3001 Leuven, Belgium ISBN 978-1-4471-2866-3 e-ISBN 978-1-4471-2867-0 DOI 10.1007/978-1-4471-2867-0 Springer London Heidelberg New York Dordrecht British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Control Number: 2012933436 Ó Springer-Verlag London 2012 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Cover Photography: Matt Willox in Design Futures, part of Sheffield Hallam University Packaging Accessibility Analysis, Dr Alaster Yoxall: Lab4living, Sheffield Hallam Universit Museum M in Leuven, Belgium designed by Stéphane Beel Architecten: Peter-Willem Vermeersch Cover design: eStudio Calamar S.L. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
- 9. Preface The Cambridge Workshops on Universal Access and Assistive Technology (CWUAAT) are a series of workshops held at a Cambridge University College every two years. This volume: “DESIGNING INCLUSIVE SYSTEMS” comes from the 6th in this series of highly successful events. The workshops are characterised by a single session running over three days in pleasant surroundings with delegates from home and abroad staying on site. Feedback suggests that allowing speakers longer presentation times, carrying discussion on through sessions into plenaries and shared mealtimes generates a highly cooperative and creative academic environment that is both enjoyable and informative. The workshop theme: “Designing inclusion for real-world applications” refers to the emerging potential and relevance of the latest generations of inclusive design thinking, tools, techniques and data, to mainstream project applications such as healthcare and the design of working environments. Inclusive Design Research involves developing tools and guidance enabling designers to design for the widest possible population, for a given range of capabilities. In the context of demographic changes leading to an increasing number of older people, the general field of inclusive design research strives to relate the capabilities of the population to the design of artefacts, environments and technology by better characterising the user and the task demand. Inclusive populations of older people, for example, contain a greater variation in sensory, cognitive and physical capabilities. These variations may be co-occurring and rapidly changing leading to a demanding design environment. Previous research developments in inclusive design have addressed issues of matching product and task demand to users’ capabilities in the context of simple daily living activities or specific products. New research developments are now extending the scope of the inclusive design approach into real-world applications by forming interdisciplinary links with systems engineering, industrial product design, healthcare and medical device design as well as education, policy development and architecture. This is a necessary stage of research because once design techniques and materials are fully developed for knowledge transfer, a v
- 10. vi Preface proving ground is required in real-world application and industry. This proving ground then tests the impact made by the original research. As in the previous years, this book contains the best reviewed papers invited for oral presentation. The papers that have been included were selected by blind peer review carried out by an international panel of currently active researchers. The chapters forming the book represent an edited sample of current national and international research in the fields of inclusive design, universal access, and assistive and rehabilitative technology. In the 2012 workshop, as well as the typical Inclusive Design themes of measuring demand and capability; emergent technologies, and design for inclusion, there has also been more focus on new themes such as cognitive interaction with new technologies, architecture, and healthcare. This reflects the newly developing transdisciplinary perspectives and ongoing research agendas. For example, can medical and neuroscientific models of thinking impairment be harmonised with functional descriptions to assist more inclusive design? Is it possible to motivate older generations to use modern healthcare software by better understanding the psychology of human motivation? Can we identify and quantify the differences between designers’ and users’ mental models of a product? In addition, researchers are increasingly investigating how public policies; both from governments and international non-governmental organisations, influence inclusive and accessible design, as well as the usage and adoption of assistive technology by individuals. Healthcare is a forcing domain: how can we provide architects with sufficient evidence to enable them to design healthcare buildings that better anticipate the needs of patients lying in a hospital bed? For this CWUAAT we have extended the editorial panel to include two esteemed colleagues, Ann Heylighen from KU Leuven in Belgium, and Jonathan Lazar from Towson University in the US. This reflects the growing importance of particular interdisciplinary fields such as inclusive architecture, and public policy related to inclusive design, to the CWUAAT workshops. It also acknowledges the substantial international contributions that have been made over the series. There are five main themes: I. Designing for the Real-world addresses the application of Inclusive Design techniques in healthcare, public facilities and services, and hazardous traditional industries; II. Measuring Demand and Capabilities looks at ways of measuring capability-demand relationships for actual tasks, software, devices and buildings; III. Designing Cognitive Interaction with Emerging Technologies draws together a number of threads related to cognition including the alignment of design and user mental models, motivating older users and unifying models of cognitive impairment; IV. Design for Inclusion is a space specifically for design issues in inclusive design, from sampling through to policy and novel new ways to inform the designer about inclusive design features;
- 11. Preface vii V. Designing Inclusive Architecture highlights specific cases, such as inclusive heritage, architecture for dementia and virtual environment tools for design. In the tradition of CWUAAT, we have solicited and accepted contributions over a wide range of topics, both within individual themes and also across the workshop’s scope. We ultimately hope to generate more interdisciplinary dialogues based on focused usage cases that can provide the discipline necessary to drive further novel research, leading to better designs. The aim is to impact industry and end-users as well governance and public design, thereby effectively reducing exclusion and difficulty in people’s daily lives and society. We would like to thank all those authors and contributors who have submitted to CWUAAT 2012 and to the preparation of this book. Many thanks are also due to the reviewing members of the Programme Committee who continue to support the workshop series. Finally, thanks are particularly due to Mari Huhtala and Suzanne Williams, who both play a key role in bringing the resulting publication to fruition between final submission and the Workshop itself. As in previous years, we are grateful to the staff at Fitzwilliam College for their patience and service. Pat Langdon, John Clarkson, Peter Robinson Jonathan Lazar and Ann Heylighen The CWUAAT Editorial Committee University of Cambridge March 2012
- 12. Contents List of Contributors …………………………………………………………..xiii Part I Designing for the Real-world 1. Hospital Reality from a Lying Perspective: Exploring a Sensory Research Approach M. Annemans, C. Van Audenhove, H. Vermolen and A. Heylighen.................................................................................. 3 2. Inclusive Bus Travel - A Psychosocial Approach F. Nickpour, P.W. Jordan and H. Dong.............................................. 13 3. Safe and Inclusive Design of Equipment Used in the Minerals Industry T. Horberry and T. Cooke .................................................................. 23 4. Deploying a Two-player System for Arm Rehabilitation in Schools R.J. Holt, A.P.H. Weightman, J.F. Gallagher, N. Preston, M.C. Levesley, M. Mon-Williams and B. Bhakta ................................ 33 5. Evaluating the Accessibility and Usability of Blogging Platforms for Blind Users B. Wentz, M. Cirba, N. Kharal, J. Moran and M. Slate ...................... 43 ix
- 13. x Contents Part II Measuring Demand and Capabilities 6. A Population Perspective on Mobile Phone Related Tasks M. Bradley, S. Waller, J. Goodman-Deane, I. Hosking, R. Tenneti, P.M. Langdon and P.J. Clarkson ....................................................... 55 7. How to Use Virtual and Augmented Reality Techniques to Design Highly Usable Human-machine Interfaces S. Ceccacci, M. Germani and M. Mengoni ....................................... 65 8. Development and Evaluation of Sonified Weather Maps for Blind Users R. Weir, B. Sizemore, H. Henderson, S. Chakraborty and J. Lazar........................................................................................ 75 9. Achieving Inclusion in Public Spaces: A Shopping Mall Case Study Y. Afacan............................................................................................ 85 10. Visibility Prediction Software: Five Factors of Contrast Perception for People with Vision Impairment in the Real World H. Dalke, A. Corso, G. Conduit and A. Riaz ...................................... 93 Part III Designing Cognitive Interaction with Emerging Technologies 11. Intrinsic Motivation and Design of ICT for the Ageing Population T.S. Goldhaber, P.M. Langdon and P.J. Clarkson........................... 105 12. A Framework for Studying Cognitive Impairment to Inform Inclusive Design E. Jokisuu, P.M. Langdon and P.J. Clarkson................................... 115 13. Interactive Error Correction Using Statistical Language Models in a Client-server Interface for Editing Mathematical Text D. Attanayake, G. Hunter, E. Pfluegel and J. Denholm-Price.............................................................................. 125 14. Understandable by Design: How Can Products be Designed to Align with User Experience? A. Mieczakowski, P.M. Langdon, R.H. Bracewell, J.J. Patmore and P.J. Clarkson............................................................................. 133
- 14. Contents xi Part IV Design for Inclusion 15. Design Advisor: How to Supply Designers with Knowledge about Inclusion? E. Zitkus, P.M. Langdon and P.J. Clarkson ..................................... 145 16. From Guinea Pigs to Design Partners: Working with Older People in ICT Design R. Edlin-White, S. Cobb, A. Floyde, S. Lewthwaite, J. Wang and J. Riedel ........................................................................................... 155 17. When Users Cannot be Included in Inclusive Design R. Herriott......................................................................................... 165 18. What is Good Design in the Eyes of Older Users? N. Goddard and C. Nicolle ............................................................... 175 19. Equal Access to Information? Evaluating the Accessibility of Public Library Web Sites in the State of Maryland J. Lazar, B. Wentz, C. Akeley, M. Almuhim, S. Barmoy, P. Beavan, C. Beck, A. Blair, A. Bortz, B. Bradley, M. Carter, D. Crouch, G. Dehmer, M. Gorman, C. Gregory, E. Lanier, A. McIntee, R. Nelson Jr., D. Ritgert, R. Rogers Jr., S. Rosenwald, S. Sullivan, J. Wells, C. Willis, K. Wingo-Jones and T. Yatto ............................. 185 20. Clustering User Data for User Modelling in the GUIDE Multi-modal Set-top Box P.M. Langdon and P. Biswas........................................................... 195 Part V Designing Inclusive Architecture 21. Inclusive Built Heritage as a Matter of Concern: A Field Experiment A. Heylighen..................................................................................... 207 22. Designing a Virtual Environment Framework for Improving Guidance for the Visually Impaired S. Kammoun, M.J-M. Macé, B. Oriola and C. Jouffrais ................... 217 23. Spatial Clues for Orientation: Architectural Design Meets People with Dementia I. Van Steenwinkel, C. Van Audenhove and A. Heylighen .............. 227 Index of Contributors …………………………………………………..…..237
- 15. List of Contributors Afacan Y., Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey Akeley C., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Almuhim M., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Annemans M., Department of Architecture, Urbanism and Planning, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium Attanayake D., Faculty of Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics (CISM), Kingston University, London, UK Barmoy S., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Beavan P., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Beck C., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Bhakta B., Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Biswas P., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Blair A., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Bortz A., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Bracewell R.H., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK xiii
- 16. xiv List of Contributors Bradley B., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Bradley M., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Carter M., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Ceccacci S., Department of Management and Industrial Organisation, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy Chakraborty S., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Cirba M., Division of Business, Management and Technology, Keystone College, La Plume, PA, US Clarkson P.J., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Cooke T., Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia Cobb S., Human Factors Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK Conduit G.J., Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel Corso A., Design Research Centre, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Kingston University, UK Crouch D., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Dalke H., Design Research Centre, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Kingston University, UK Dehmer G., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Denholm-Price J., Faculty of Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics (CISM), Kingston University, London, UK Edlin-White R., Human Factors Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK Elton E., Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK Floyde A., Human Factors Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK Gallagher J.F., Institute of Engineering Systems and Design, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Germani M., Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy Goddard N., Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK Goldhaber T.S., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK Goodman-Deane J., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
- 17. List of Contributors xv Gorman C., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Gregory C., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Henderson H., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Herriott R., Aarhus School of Architecture, Aarhus, Denmark Heylighen A., Department of Architecture, Urbanism and Planning, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Holt R.J., Institute of Engineering Systems and Design, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Horberry T., Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia Hosking I., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Hunter G., Faculty of Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics (CISM), Kingston University, London, UK Jokisuu E., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Jouffrais C., IRIT-CNRS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France Kammoun S., IRIT-CNRS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France Kharal N., Division of Business, Management and Technology, Keystone College, La Plume, PA, US Langdon P.M., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Lanier E., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Lazar J., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Levesley M.C., Institute of Engineering Systems and Design, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Lewthwaite S., Department of American and Canadian Studies, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK Macé M.J-M., IRIT-CNRS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France Mengoni M., Design Tools and Methods Group, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy Mieczakowski A., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK McIntee A., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Mon-Williams M., Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Moran J., Division of Business, Management and Technology, Keystone College, La Plume, PA, US Nelson Jr.D., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US
- 18. xvi List of Contributors Nickpour F., Inclusive Design Research Group, School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, West London, UK Nicolle C., Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK Oriola B., IRIT-CNRS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France Patmore J.J., Member of Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Pfluegel E., Faculty of Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics (CISM), Kingston University, London, UK Preston N., Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Riaz A., Design Research Centre, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Kingston University, UK Riedel J., University of Nottingham Business School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK Ritgert D., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Rogers Jr.R., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Rosenwald S., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Sizemore B., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Slate M., Division of Business, Management and Technology, Keystone College, La Plume, PA, US Sullivan S., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Tenneti R., School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia Van Audenhove C., Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Van Steenwinkel I., Department of Architecture, Urbanism and Planning, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Vermolen H., Osararchitects nv, Antwerpen, Belgium Waller S.D., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK Wang J., University of Nottingham Business School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK Weightman A.P.H., School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Weir R., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Wells J., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Wentz B., Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD, US
- 19. List of Contributors xvii Willis C., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Wingo-Jones K., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Yatto T., Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universal Usability Laboratory, Towson University, US Zitkus E., Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
- 20. Part I Designing for the Real-world
- 21. Chapter 1 Hospital Reality from a Lying Perspective: Exploring a Sensory Research Approach M. Annemans, C. Van Audenhove, H. Vermolen and A. Heylighen 1.1 Real Buildings, Real Experiences Despite many efforts by healthcare providers, for most people a hospital stay is rarely a pleasant experience. The hospital building as such is part of this perception. Moreover, the specific situation of a hospital stay is largely determined by the material reality of the organisation. Studies on hospital environments tend to single out one particular aspect, e.g. the view through the window, or presence of green (Ulrich 1984a, 1984b) and try to prove its clinical outcome. Yet they fail to translate their results to the design of real-life settings (Rubin et al., 1998, Cbz 2008). Moreover, the influence of patients’ peculiar perspective, i.e. lying in a hospital bed, on the way they experience the reality of the hospital is largely under researched. The overall objective of our research is therefore to investigate what spatial aspects influence patients’ well-being in a hospital setting through an improved understanding of people’s spatial experience from a lying perspective. By developing a better understanding of the relationship between the patient, the objects that feature in his or her hospital life, especially the bed and the building, we hope to enable architects to design buildings that add to the healing character of the hospital environment. Ultimately, we aim to provide architects with sufficient evidence to design healthcare buildings that can better anticipate the needs of patients and other users. Since our research aims to gain insight in how patients experience a hospital from a lying perspective, we need a manner to make their spatial experience more explicit. Therefore, we explored different ways for patients to document their spatial experience. In this paper, we report on a pilot study which explores how three patients with a very different profile each deal with this task in their own way. The empirical material collected is not only very rich in itself, but also inspires the participating patients to talk about those aspects of the building that P. Langdon et al. (eds.), Designing Inclusive Systems, 3 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4471-2867-0_1, © Springer-Verlag London 2012
- 22. 4 Annemans et al. affect them most. Certain themes frequently return in the conversations, yet the goal at this stage in our research is not so much to obtain valid information, but rather to explore the possibilities of using participant collected material to facilitate the interviews. 1.2 Sensory Reality Research about healing or wholesome environments in health care settings is mostly conducted in the field of evidence based design (EBD). This notion found its origin in the analogy with other evidence-based approaches to research and practice. When it comes to buildings for health care especially, evidence based medicine was a source of inspiration. In EBD studies evidence for the healing outcome of building aspects is being collected (Ulrich et al., 2004). Mostly individual aspects are investigated and clinical output is highly valued (Rubin et al., 1998). However, almost all reports that collect and evaluate the results of the conducted studies have to conclude that the evidence is not ready to be transposed to the real world. To start with, the settings in which the trials are carried out single out individual aspects and, as such, are not representative of real-world hospital settings. Secondly the studies do not provide insight in how the different aspects relate to each other (Rubin et al., 1998; Van den Berg, 2005; Cbz, 2008). However, a wholesome environment involves more than the measurable aspects that withstand the evaluation of EBD studies. After all, architecture is experienced through the senses (Rasmussen, 1964; Pallasmaa, 2005), so how a place feels, smells, sounds, and looks defines our impression of it. In this multi- sensory experience of the environment, time, movement and activities play a major role. The senses are indeed a key factor in the experience of everyday reality (Ingold, 2000). If we are to develop an articulate understanding of patients’ actual experience from a lying perspective, as is the aim of our research, we thus need to collect firsthand information about what they feel, sense, and think during their hospital stay, not only while in their room, but also while travelling through the hospital building. 1.3 Insight/Inside Spatial Experience In studying patients’ spatial experience from a lying perspective, we explore and develop a research methodology that respects the interrelatedness of how they experience the reality of things in the hospital, addressing different aspects of the built environment as well as their complex interaction. To obtain a broad spectrum of empirical material, participants should be challenged to interrogate all their senses. The method of collecting material should also appeal to a very diverse group of patients within the hospital, making them feel at ease with their participation. Only when these criteria are met, will the material be rich enough to gain a nuanced understanding of the complex reality of everyday hospital experience.
- 23. 5 In the first months of our research we conducted interviews with various actors in the field (medical staff, patients, technical directors of hospitals, hospital architects) to obtain a profound understanding of the meaning of the bed in the hospital (Annemans et al., 2011). Each interviewee shed light on the topic from his/her specific perspective. This resulted in a good understanding of the complexity of hospital design. Although our research focuses on the experience of (lying) patients, this background makes us aware of the importance of reflecting on and taking into account certain undeniable technical and organisational realities. During these interviews it became clear that people find it hard to talk about their spatial experience, especially those unfamiliar with the design and construction process. This lack of conversation skills about the research topic makes it hard to obtain the rich empirical material we are looking for. Part of the difficulty can be explained by a lack of vocabulary when talking about space (Franck and von Sommaruga Howard, 2009). Additionally, due to the complexity of experience, it is not easy to ensure that it is explored throughout the entire range of its various articulations (Throop, 2003). These obstacles force us to look for a suitable research approach that can give us access to patients’ personal ways of experiencing a hospital environment. For this reason we decided to explore alternative interviewing techniques. Aware of the difficulty for patients of expressing their spatial experience and given the explorative phase of the research, we opted to ask the participating patients only one, very broad question: “Can you document the hospital experience from a lying perspective?” After a short introduction patients are then invited to document their spatial experience in any way that pleases them. They are provided with pens, pencils, note block, drawing paper and a camera (with the possibility of recording sound and movies), or they can use their own camera. Afterwards the material produced during this process is used to facilitate a semi-structured interview with the participating patient about the spatial qualities of the building. As already pointed out, we experience the built environment through all our senses. For this reason we looked into the use of sensory methods. Visual techniques like photo-elicitation where people are interviewed using photographs are not new (Collier, 1967). Over the years the technique has gained popularity in various fields such as visual ethnography, visual anthropology, visual sociology, and visual cultural studies (Pink, 2007). A sensory method does not guarantee access to sensory realms; for example, the visual is not necessarily best accessed by a visual method (Mason and Davies, 2009). Nevertheless, introducing photography can be seen as a first contribution to a more ‘sensually complete’ methodology (Warren, 2002). In order to capture the real-life experience instead of a fictive reality constructed by the researcher, however, we shifted our focus beyond photo-elicitation to photo-production (Radley, 2010). In line with the work of other researchers (Herssens and Heylighen, 2009; Radley, 2010), our interest lies not so much in the meaning of pictures, we want to gain a good understanding not only of what has been made visible, but also why, and how. Indeed, how images are recorded may also tell us something about the hospital experience of the participating patients. As taking pictures in hospitals is not always appropriate or allowed (Radley and Taylor, 2003), we did not provide the patients with a camera only, and limit their way of expression to photographs, but Hospital Reality from a Lying Perspective
- 24. 6 also gave them the opportunity to take notes or make a drawing. This approach yields richer empirical material, which initiates different topics in the interviews. In the elicitation process, there is no reason why the drawings and plans should be treated any differently to the photographs (Harper, 2002). 1.4 “Talking” Patients, “Speaking” Hospitals 1.4.1 Who is Talking To explore the methodology’s possibilities and limitations we try it out with three very different, pragmatically chosen patients. Because of the explorative stage of the research the validity and generalisability of the obtained results is subordinate to the test of the methodology and the participants’ engagement. The three of them are in the hospital for different reasons while documenting their stay. Although all are provided with the same equipment, they choose very diverse ways to document their experience. There is Mrs A, who stays a few days in the hospital for rather serious surgery. Through photographs she elaborately documents her experiences in two rooms, a double room before the operation, a single room afterwards. Despite her commitment to the task, she admits she does not feel comfortable or able to take the camera into the hallway or to treatment. Mrs B has a long history of hospital visits, and participates in this study when going for a check-up in a hospital where she has been a regular patient. Since she is not lying herself while travelling through the hospital this time, she interprets the question as illustrating what she remembers from previous visits and uses it to signal points of improvement in the treatment of patients. Depending on what she feels is appropriate, she switches between taking pictures and drawing sketches of what she observes. Even a brief story emerges. Mr C is on dialysis, making him visit the same part of the hospital several times a week. Taking pictures he considers redundant, as the researcher can see everything herself when conducting the interview. However, he does have some ideas about how the department should be rearranged, improving most of the disadvantages he experiences today. He sketches a plan of the current situation to explain to the researcher how it is and re-sketches it to illustrate how he would alter it. 1.4.2 How Patients “Talk” How patients choose to document their experience tells us a lot about how they experience certain situations. The pencils and papers, for instance, were initially introduced as a pragmatic solution to the problem that taking pictures in hospitals is not always appropriate or allowed. However, they turn out to provide insights that would have stayed undiscovered had only a camera been used. Annemans et al.
- 25. Hospital Reality from a Lying Perspective 7 As one patient points out, sketching an awkward situation afterwards is much less confronting for the people involved than taking a picture as it unfolds. Another patient does not see the point of taking pictures of a building that the researcher can observe herself, however he does have some suggestions on how a future hospital setting should be designed. Whereas, for him, a photograph just shows an existing situation, drawing provides the opportunity to manipulate reality. Since we use the recorded images as a base for interviews, it does not come as a surprise that also this kind of material serves as an interesting source of information about how the hospital building is perceived, or which aspects are appreciated or considered problematic. Often just starting the conversation is enough to divert to aspects not, or only slightly, related to the collected material. As if enabling participants to start the conversation from their viewpoint is enough to open the door to unexpected insights. 1.4.3 What Hospitals “Say” Through the material collected by the participants, the hospitals tell us both about their organisation and about the building and its interior. The collected images and accompanying narratives give us a good overview of what kind of material can be expected. Obviously there are the images that literally represent visual elements in the environment, such as the ceiling. However mostly, here too, the explanation why the image is recorded reveals supplementary useful insights. In addition some images are not taken for what they show but have an iconographic meaning, telling us about other sensory experiences than the visual. Finally, the produced images can be a representation of what could be, giving the participating patients a voice to express how they would change the spatial situation they are in. Sometimes the same picture can be placed in different categories because of the multi-layered explanation that comes with it. Pictures of the windows or the ceiling are fairly straightforward in what they indicate. Fresh air and a view of the outside world are generally considered important aspects of a healing environment (Rubin et al., 1998; Devlin and Arneill, 2003; Dijkstra et al., 2006; Cbz, 2008). It is thus no surprise that one who wants to discuss these topics pictures windows. When lying in a hospital bed your perspective changes. Lying or sitting in bed has a great impact on what, or whether, you see through the window. Figure 1.1. Difference between what you see through the window when lying down versus sitting in bed
- 26. 8 Annemans et al. The iconographic meaning can only be discovered when both the image and the narrative are combined. Indeed, the same object can be pictured for a completely different reason. One of the pictures made by Mrs A shows a window as well. However, this window does not represent fresh air or daylight. The window in the picture is located in an inner wall around the atrium accommodating the cafeteria. Through the window the sound of chattering people and laughing children enters the room. Although Mrs A describes this as a pleasant sound when in a different setting, she finds it quite disturbing while being in the hospital and trying to recover from surgery. Fairly banal objects can be icons of less tangible aspects that have a strong impact on the experience of the hospital. Mrs A photographs the little table and the chairs in her room while having visitors. Because of the table’s presence, the people in the chairs do not seem to be visiting in a hospital so much as just being at home. As she puts it: ‘I think it has a more homelike atmosphere when people can be sitting on a chair, at a table, where you can put something on, than when you would just have a row of chairs, then it would feel like they were watching me.’ (Mrs A, interview transcript) Figure 1.2. Iconographic images: left: Window photographed to illustrate the sound that enters through it; right: The presence of a table changes the perception of visitors on the chairs. Mrs B made a set of two photos and a drawing, picturing the transportation of a(n unknown) patient in bed. In this trilogy she combines a reflection on her own experiences while transported through the hospital in a bed and the observations from the bed.
- 27. Hospital Reality from a Lying Perspective 9 Figure 1.3. Nurse connecting a patient’s bed to a wagon, a view of the ceiling while travelling through the hospital, setup of how the bed is transported through the hospital The first picture shows the hallway in the basement of the hospital. Mrs B mainly wants to point out how she felt when she was transported through it during an earlier stay. It is a very functional hallway, used as a storage space for carts, bicycles, obsolete beds and so on. It seems as if no one ever thought about the fact that patients who have to go to the nuclear department are transported through it. As Mrs B explains, “the lighting is not pleasant, and all the stuff that is stored there makes you feel uncomfortable”. The nurse in the picture is attaching a bed to a cart, used to pull the beds when large distances have to be covered. Mrs B reflects on how the patient in the bed must feel, being handled like that. Since she did not feel comfortable taking a picture while the patient could see her, she drew the setup, explaining how the bed is attached to the cart, how the patient does not have any contact with the nurse involved, and what s/he must perceive and feel while being towed like that. To illustrate that, Mrs B also took a picture of the ceiling a little further down the hall and concluded that seeing all those pipes, and the rags in between, is not how a disconcerted patient is comforted. The dust between the technical equipment on the ceiling makes her wonder about hospital hygiene. Although these pictures might seem a little banal at first, how they come together and are used as a backbone for the narrative provides new opportunities to talk about spatial experience. We do not just learn about Mrs B’s experience while visiting the hospital this time, but are also provided with a reflection on previous visits and when and why you feel most vulnerable as a patient, which she uses to explain her reluctance to take a picture. Even movement and time are touched upon during the conversation. The length of the travel through the hall, how the patient must undergo the transportation not knowing where he/she is going, it all adds to
- 28. 10 the experience of the building without being necessarily related to visual perception. In response to the simple question we asked the patients to also express their view on how the building could be improved. For Mr C drawing a plan of the ward gives him the opportunity to point out the shortcomings of the current setup, while by sketching how he would organise it, he brings up spatial aspects that he thinks are important. More acoustic barriers, more visual transparency, and a reduction of the passage to create a quiet atmosphere are only some of the aspects mentioned. Figure 1.4. Left: existing situation, right: how Mr C would organise the ward Suggesting alterations to the hospital layout is not restricted to drawing plans. Mrs A documents how she improved her privacy by opening a second door to block the view from the hallway. When both her door and the one at the other side of the hall were fully opened, she could see right into the other room. Since she did not want to close her door completely, preferring some connection with the rest of the ward, she opened the door of the bathroom to block the view. The conversation about these pictures first focuses on the privacy but soon broadens to interactions with other patients and staff, feelings of safety and even how bed transport could be improved so there would be fewer obstacles on the way. Figure 1.5. Left: open doors, giving a view into the room at the other side of the hall, right: opening the bathroom door can create a second barrier without closing the door of the room Annemans et al.
- 29. Hospital Reality from a Lying Perspective 11 1.5 Conclusions and Future Work Developing a better understanding of how patients experience the complex reality of a hospital building from a lying perspective, asks for a sensitive methodological approach that addresses all senses and facilitates reflection on experience. Although we do not wish to push forward a single method, the technique explored so far seems to fulfil the requirements. By asking patients to document their spatial experience and providing them with multiple media to do so, we gain insights from the inside out, not only from the material they collect, but also from why and how they collect it. Using the illustrations generated by the participants themselves clearly adds an extra dimension to the interviews. Both the interviews and the findings are deepened. Even though the material collected is mostly visual, it can also illustrate auditory or haptic qualities, like the window through which a lot of noise enters. The images, complemented by the accompanying narratives, serve as a source of information about all senses, movement and time, illustrating the intangibility of sensory experience. Overall, this alternative way of questioning people definitely provides additional value given the aim of our research. Given the promising results of this exploratory phase, the approach will be further elaborated in future phases into a more generally applicable methodology that can, at least partially, bypass the difficulty of articulating spatial experience. The motivation of the participating patients is of crucial importance to the success of the approach. As such, finding patients willing to participate is a key concern. Although part of the strength of the approach lies in its flexibility, a balance should be found between freedom and guidance. In future research, when the key concern is the outcome of the interviews and not the methodology followed, the selection of the settings and participants will need to be more representative to obtain more valid and transferable results. When thinking about the translation of the research results to inform architects’ design process, we might even consider using the empirical material in its original form. This would imply that real data, directly from the patients, are used by those designing environments for them. Especially in health care buildings, the highly complex reality forms an important step for designers to acknowledge the needs of the primary users. Since the evidence provided by EBD studies conducted so far is not ready to be converted to real-life applications yet, it is definitely worth investigating whether different empirical material can be used to inform the design process. 1.6 Acknowledgements Margo Annemans’ research is funded by a PhD grant from the Baekeland program from the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Vlaanderen). The Baekeland program gives researchers the opportunity to complete a PhD in close collaboration with the industry, in this case Osar Architects nv provided this opportunity. Ann Heylighen received support form the European Research Council under the European Community’s Seventh
- 30. 12 Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC grant agreement No. 201673. The authors thank the participating patients for sharing their time and insights. 1.7 References Annemans M, Van Audenhove C, Vermolen H, Heylighen A (2011) Lying architecture: Experiencing space from a hospital bed. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Conference Exploring the Multi-dimensions of Well-being (Well-being 2011), Birmingham, UK Cbz (2008) Kwaliteit van de fysieke zorgomgeving, stand van zaken onderzoek omgevingsvariabelen en de effecten op de (zieke) mens, College bouw zorginstellingen, Utrecht, The Netherlands Collier J (1967) Visual anthropology: Photography as a research method, Holt Rinehart and Winston, NY, US Devlin AS, Arneill AB (2003) Health care environments and patient outcomes: A review of the literature. Environment and Behavior, 35(5): 665-694 Dijkstra K, Pieterse M, Pruyn A (2006) Physical environmental stimuli that turn healthcare facilities into healing environments through psychologically mediated effects: Systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 56(2): 166-181 Franck K, von Sommaruga Howard T (2010) Design through dialogue: A guide for clients and architects, Wiley, Chichester, UK Harper D (2002) Talking about pictures: A case for photo elicitation. Visual Studies, 17(1): 13-26 Herssens J, Heylighen A (2009) A lens into the haptic world. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Inclusive Design and Communications (INCLUDE 2009), London, UK Ingold T (2000) The perception of the environment: essays on livelihood, dwelling and skill, Routledge, London, UK Mason J, Davies K (2009) Coming to our senses? A critical approach to sensory methodology. Qualitative Research, 9(5): 587-603 Pallasmaa J (2005) The eyes of the skin: Architecture and the senses, John Wiley & Sons, NY, US Pink S (2007) Doing visual ethnography: Images, media, and representation in research, 2nd edn. Sage Publications, London, UK Radley A (2010) What people do with pictures. Visual Studies, 25(3): 268-279 Radley A, Taylor D (2003) Images of recovery: A photo-elicitation study on the hospital ward. Qualitative Health Research, 13(1): 77-99 Rasmussen SE (1964) Experiencing architecture, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, US Rubin HR, Owens AJ, Golden G (1998) An investigation to determine whether the built environment affects patients’ medical outcomes, Center for Health Design, Martinez, CA, US Throop CJ (2003) Articulating experience. Anthropological Theory, 3(2): 219-241 Ulrich RS, Zimring C, Joseph A, Quan X, Choudhary R (2004) The role of the physical environment in the hospital of the 21st century: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Centre for Health Design, Concord, CA, US Van den Berg AE (2005) Health impacts of healing environments: A review of evidence for benefits of nature, daylight, fresh air, and quiet in healthcare settings. University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Warren S (2002) ‘Show me how it feels to work here’: Using photography to research organisational aesthetics. Ephemera Critical Dialogues on Organisations, 2(3): 224-245 Annemans et al.
- 31. Chapter 2 Inclusive Bus Travel - A Psychosocial Approach F. Nickpour, P.W. Jordan and H. Dong 2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 Public Transport - The New Climate Public transport is facing major challenges in the current economic and social climate; a considerable rise in demand for public transport and an ageing population that is mainly dependant on public transport and is increasingly in need of specialised and door-to-door services. The above challenges double when one considers the raised public awareness and the pressure from user organisations to improve the equality and quality of public transport for all. Public transport providers need to respond to increasing demand for service provision, both in terms of volume and diversity of service users. Transport for London (TfL), a major public transport provider in UK, is currently facing over- subscribed door-to-door services and an increasing demand for accessible and usable public transport by conventionally marginalised groups such as older people and people with disabilities. Issues of accessibility, reliability and quality of service are key indicators that are sometimes in conflict and need to be revisited. There is a need to keep the quality of service consistent and at the same time redefine and prioritise the areas of focus and improvement. 2.1.2 Public Bus Services Buses will continue to be - probably for many years - the main and only form of public transport that can be accessible to almost all (London TravelWatch, 2010). There is also evidence that bus services are often more frequently used by disadvantaged or vulnerable sections of society, therefore poor performance is more likely to impact on these groups (London TravelWatch, 2009). Thus, the bus 13 P. Langdon et al. (eds.), Designing Inclusive Systems, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4471-2867-0_2, © Springer-Verlag London 2012
- 32. 14 Nickpour et al. service proves to be the single most powerful transport tool in terms of inclusivity and equality potential and provision in a mega-city like London. There have been great improvements in terms of making buses fully accessible. In London, all buses are now low-floor vehicles and have a space for one wheelchair (Transport for London, 2011). However, an ‘accessible bus’ does not necessarily guarantee an ‘accessible bus service’. An accessible bus service requires not only an accessible bus and an accessible bus stop but also an empathic well-trained driver and a user-friendly environment. As well as improving inclusivity, making local bus services more accessible brings wider benefits including facilitating social inclusion in the local community, making bus travel easier and more pleasurable for every member of the local community and reducing the need for dedicated services (e.g. Dial a Ride) which are not cost- effective. 2.1.3 The Project Commissioned by Transport for London and one local London borough, a research project was conducted in order to address issues associated with bus travel in London. The aim of the project was to produce recommendations for improving the accessibility of bus travel through investigating barriers to a diverse range of people using (or not using) public buses and what makes a journey either pleasant or unpleasant. A variety of approaches and techniques were used in order to understand the barriers to accessibility and inclusivity and how these could be overcome. The research project aimed to assess and improve the accessibility of public buses through a holistic and comprehensive service-oriented approach, focusing on an accessible bus service as a whole rather than focusing on segments of the whole service such as bus or bus-stop. 2.1.3.1 Bus Service - Key Stakeholders Broadly, with respect to bus services, three major stakeholders were defined: • Service user - mobility challenged people • Service provider - bus drivers • Service operator - bus companies Addressing accessibility and inclusivity issues, the project focused on mobility challenged people as the critical bus service users. For the purpose of this project, a mobility-challenged person was defined: ‘A mobility challenged person is someone whose mobility has been challenged due to age, physical or mental impairment, or an external physical condition; each of the above could have substantial and long-term adverse effect on the person’s ability to use public transport.’ (Nickpour and Jordan, 2011) This definition includes, but is not limited to, wheelchair users and those with other impairments that affect mobility. Other major groups with other mobility
- 33. Inclusive Bus Travel - A Psychosocial Approach 15 restrictions that may make it more difficult to use public transport are: older people, blind or visually-impaired people, deaf people or people with hearing difficulties, those with learning difficulties or social phobias, and guardians with buggies. 2.1.3.2 Bus Service - Stakeholder Issues Key issues concerning each stakeholder included: • For bus passengers: Positive experience from start to finish - every stage of the journey should be efficient, enjoyable and smooth, and the user should be and feel safe at all times. • For bus drivers: Pleasant working environment - drivers should be treated politely and respectfully by all passengers. They should be equipped with the skills needed to carry out all aspects of their duties competently and receive the full support of both bus users and their employers in doing so. • For bus operators: Profitable business - operators should be encouraged and enabled to fulfil the service requirements against suitable performance targets in a manner which is commercially viable. 2.2 Methodology and Methods 2.2.1 Methodology The research project followed a combined primary and secondary research methodology, with a heavy focus on primary research conducted through a diverse range of field research methods. A major focus for the project was consultation with people who had a wide range of mobility challenges. Many other stakeholders were also included in the consultation process. This included bus drivers and representatives from bus operating companies, TfL, police and advocacy groups representing mobility-challenged people. In addition to this consultation process, members of the project team gained first-hand experience of some of the issues faced by mobility-challenged people by taking bus trips while using wheelchairs. Information was also collected through observing mobility-challenged people travelling on buses and asking mobility- challenged residents of London Borough of Hillingdon - where the study was conducted - to take bus journeys and report their experiences. 2.2.2 Methods A wide range of methods were used in order to collect first-hand information regarding the existing barriers and issues regarding accessibility and inclusiveness of bus services. All primary research was undertaken in the local London borough. In some cases, similar services were observed in other London boroughs as well. Due to space limitation, specific details in terms of participants’ process of
- 34. 16 selection, age, demographics, position, etc. are not included here. More detail on the above is provided in a technical report (Nickpour and Jordan, 2011). 2.2.2.1 Focus Groups Three focus group sessions with different focuses were run in order to provide a holistic understanding of the existing issues. Each session focused on one stakeholder group. Firstly, a focus group session was held with nine representatives of service providers and a cross-section of other stakeholders aiming to look at organisational and big-picture issues. The participants included representatives from TfL, the local Council, bus companies, Dial a Ride, Age UK, Metropolitan Police, Hillingdon Community Transport and Access and Mobility Forum. Then, one session was held with a diverse group of service users with a focus on mobility-challenged passengers. This included nine participants; one blind person, one person with learning difficulties, one wheelchair user and six older people. Finally, a session was held with service non-users including seven mobility- challenged members of the public who did not use currently public buses for a variety of reasons. These included previous negative experience with using public buses and lack of trust and confidence in the service. 2.2.2.2 Access Audits Two sets of access audits were planned and carried out. The emphasis was on both immersion (Moore and Conn, 1985) and direct observation (Dray, 1997). The first series of audits included eight local bus journeys and were carried out by the project research team, role-playing by using a wheelchair, aiming to look at specific mobility issues. Each observation session was attended by two members of the research team. The second series of access audits were carried out by a diverse group including five local participants with mobility impairments. Participants included one male older person aged 72, and two wheelchair users, one with an electric wheelchair and one with a normal wheelchair. Also, one person with learning difficulty aged 21 and one blind person aged 42 carried out the access audits. All audit sessions were documented through various applicable audio, visual and textual formats. 2.2.2.3 Interviews and Meetings A number of meetings and interviews were held with individuals from various organisations and groups in order to look into a number of issues in more detail. Altogether, five interview sessions were held; these included interviews with three bus drivers, meetings with Hillingdon Community Transport general manager, the accessibility officer of Hillingdon Council, two officers from the Disablement Association of Hillingdon and six members of the local Youth Council. 2.2.2.4 Observations Two major observation sessions were held. One session focused on special services aimed at mobility-challenged passengers; the project team spent a day working with the Dial-a-Ride service that provided door to door transport for mobility- challenged people. Another observation session took place at Bus Mentoring Day - Nickpour et al.
- 35. Inclusive Bus Travel - A Psychosocial Approach 17 a training day aimed at helping those who assist mobility challenged people with their travels. 2.2.2.5 Literature Review The literature review drew on a number of sources, reports and documents including reports by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), Direct Gov, The Department of Transport and London TravelWatch. The main source for the literature review was the new report by the Greater London Authority (GLA), titled “Accessibility of Transport” (GLA, 2010) which looked at the accessibility of all public transport within the capital including buses. The report drew on inputs from a wide variety of advocacy groups representing mobility challenged people as well as on a wide array of statistics quantifying accessibility of buses and other modes of transport. 2.3 Findings Based on the access audits conducted, the journey was broken down into the stages shown in Figure 2.1. Figure 2.1. Key stages of a bus journey The findings are presented under three key categories; physical, psychosocial and operational issues. Due to the length available for this paper, only a summary of findings is presented here. Detailed breakdown and analysis of findings can be found in the ‘Inclusive Bus Travel in Hillingdon: Assessing Accessibility’ report (Nickpour and Jordan, 2011). 2.3.1 Physical Issues From a physical accessibility point of view, users tended to find the most problematic part of the journey was getting from home to the bus stop and getting from the bus to their final destination. Examples of problems here included: narrow pavements, loose paving stones, steep roads and difficult crossings. There were also accessibility difficulties at some bus stops - for example, the positioning of litter bins and other street furniture sometimes made deploying and using the ramp somewhat inconvenient.
- 36. 18 However, despite such difficulties, it was possible for mobility challenged people to board the bus at all of the stops examined in the audit. Improvements in the design of buses meant that, in general, once the user had reached the stop, the bus could be accessed OK and the on-board part of the journey completed. 2.3.2 Psychosocial Issues Various observational and immersive methods used also uncovered a number of other difficulties - mostly psychological and social - that users faced. These included: 2.3.2.1 Uncertainties There were many aspects to this including uncertainties as to whether users would be able to get on and off the bus OK, whether they would have a long wait at the stop and whether their interactions with others would be positive. 2.3.2.2 Overcrowding The start and end of the school day are times when the bus gets particularly crowded. This can sometimes mean that the bus is too crowded to let a wheelchair on. Even if it is possible to board, overcrowding can make it difficult for wheelchair users to get to the wheelchair bay and to move their chair into the proper position within it. Overcrowding is becoming an increasingly problematic issue as more and more people are using buses. This is due in part to the difficult economic conditions that we have had recently (bus travel tends to increase in times of financial hardship) and in part to the issuing of free bus passes to schoolchildren and older people. 2.3.2.3 Negative Experiences with Drivers Many users had also mentioned that they had had problems with the drivers. This could be because of inconsiderate driving - for example pulling away too quickly - or because they were perceived as having an unfriendly or surly attitude towards the user. Indeed, during the access audits there were a number of incidents of drivers not stopping at bus stops when they saw a wheelchair user waiting to get on. Bus drivers mentioned that there were often problems with ramps failing to deploy and cited this as a reason why they could not always pick up wheelchair users. 2.3.2.4 Negative Behaviour of Other Passengers A number of participants reported being annoyed or intimidated by the behaviour of other passengers. In particular they mentioned teenagers who they said could be very loud and often used foul language. A number of participants also mentioned that they also found it annoying when people had loud conversations on mobile phones or played music so loudly that it could be heard through their headphones. The behaviour of other passengers when getting on and off the bus was also a source of annoyance and intimidation. In particular they mentioned pushing and Nickpour et al.
- 37. Inclusive Bus Travel - A Psychosocial Approach 19 shoving and people not waiting their turn in the queue. Other users had reported that they are wary of using buses in the evening or night because of the risk of encountering drunk or threatening people. 2.3.2.5 Off-putting Stories In some cases, participants were put off using the bus because of stories they heard about other people having bad experiences, in particular stories of violent or frightening incidents. These stories may have been told to them by friends or they may have read or heard about them in the media. 2.3.3 Operational Issues An issue that may be a contributory factor is the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the performance of the bus operators. Currently, emphasis is mostly on reliability - that has to do with timeliness of the bus service. There are no measures in place to monitor either the number of mobility challenged people using buses or the quality of their experience as one performance indicator. It was observed that it can take some time for a mobility challenged person, such as a wheelchair user, to board the bus. This may lead to the bus running behind schedule with the consequence that it affects reliability. As reliability is the basis on which the bus companies are judged and the pressure is for them to run on time, drivers sometimes feel unenthusiastic about picking up mobility challenged passengers and hence may have a hostile attitude towards mobility challenged them or may try to avoid picking them up altogether. 2.4 Discussion 2.4.1 Physical Versus Psychosocial Issues Overall the research suggested that good progress had been made in terms of addressing the physical issues. There could be problems getting to and from the bus stop and sometimes there were problems with ramps and small wheelchair spaces. However, it was generally the case that it was physically possible to complete a journey without excessive difficulties. Perhaps the most striking issue to emerge from the research was the role that psycho-social factors played in affecting mobility-challenged people’s quality of experience of using public buses, in particular, the impact of the attitudes and behaviour of the driver and of other passengers. Bad experiences of this nature were the most frequently cited reasons for not enjoying a bus journey or for not using the bus at all. Previously, the emphasis of accessibility research and improvements schemes has been on the physical elements of accessibility. While these are certainly extremely important, the outcomes of our research suggest that psychosocial issues are equally, perhaps
- 38. 20 even more, so. This observation mirrors those within the field of design generally where there has been increasing attention in recent years on psychosocial issues and their emotional consequences (Norman, 2005). 2.4.2 Special Service Versus Public Service As part of this research we also looked at people’s experiences with door to door transportation schemes for mobility challenged people within London. These included Dial-a-Ride, a minibus-based service which picks up passengers at their home and takes them to a pre-requested destination. This service was very popular with users. In particular they enjoyed the friendly atmosphere on the minibus and the friendly, attentive and considerate behaviour of the driver. Mobility-challenged users praised the drivers for their empathy and understanding, for their cheerfulness and for making them feel valued and welcome whenever they used the service. They mentioned how much they looked forward to the social aspects of using the service and for the enjoyable conversations with other passengers. A challenge is to try and recreate some of these benefits on public buses and to put into place approaches and schemes that will help to foster a positive ambience. 2.4.3 Negative Interactions It should be emphasised that the picture is not entirely negative; Field research supported the fact that many of the drivers have an excellent approach to interacting with mobility-challenged people. They are friendly, welcoming, informative and help make the journey a great experience. Similarly, many teenagers are polite, well-behaved and kind towards other passengers. However, this was mainly the result of each individual’s intrinsic motivation and personal codes of conduct. Nevertheless, it is also important to recognise that there are genuine problems with some bus drivers’ and teenagers’ attitudes and behaviours. Negative drivers’ attitudes were observed and reported, such as being rude and uncommunicative towards mobility challenged people. Also, in some cases, some teenagers’ behaviour appeared inconsiderate and liable to make people feel uncomfortable. The effects of this negative behaviour tend to extend beyond the specific incidents that occur. When service users encounter a bad experience, they will remember this and will have a doubt in their minds about the quality of their experience next time. This uncertainty can have a very powerful and negative effect. Even if people subsequently have positive experiences, the memory of the previous bad experience can create a sense of doubt - will this happen again? This doubt can make people question whether they want to use the bus again and leave them with some negative feeling for the duration of their travel. Moving forward, the Nickpour et al.
- 39. Inclusive Bus Travel - A Psychosocial Approach 21 challenge is to find effective ways of improving the ambience on board and tackling some of the psychosocial issues that have been identified. 2.5 Conclusions and Recommendations There is need for a ‘Mentality Shift’ when addressing accessibility in public transport. This study suggests and highlights ‘psycho-social’ inclusion as the key area of focus. The findings suggest accessibility and inclusivity issues affecting public bus services fall into three broad categories: Physical, Psycho-social and Operational. Physical issues are to do with the design of the bus and the built environment and are the ‘typical’ issues considered when looking at accessibility. Findings suggest the key physical barriers identified include Getting to bus-stop, Space availability and priority on bus and Ramp technology & reliability. Psycho-Social issues are the ‘soft’ issues associated with the quality of people’s travel experience. Findings suggest the key psycho-social barriers identified are Ambience, Awareness and empathy and Communication. Operational issues concern the running of the service and cross-organisational strategies and regulations. The key identified operational barriers are Key Performance Indicators. Public bus service KPIs currently appear to focus only on efficiency rather than quality, inclusivity and pleasurability of service. The results indicate that it is the psycho-social issues that seem to be proving the biggest barrier to using public buses, in particular for mobility-challenged people. Addressing these issues requires a focus on people. It involves making them aware of the effect that their behaviour is having, convincing them to change it and giving them the skills and insights needed to do so. It also involves creating a desirable ambience throughout the bus journey, making the public transport experience not only efficient but also pleasurable. Overall - including both physical and psychosocial factors - the following nine recommendations are proposed as key principles for improving mobility challenged passengers’ experience of public bus travel. Create an inviting and friendly experience of the bus service. Perceptions about bus travel influence people’s decisions about whether to take the bus and the emotions associated with anticipating using it. Mobility challenged people should be confident that their bus journey will be a positive experience. Make bus stops reachable. Getting to and from the bus stop is, generally, the biggest physical barrier to bus travel for mobility challenged people. Making bus stops more reachable would significantly increase the numbers of people who could access public buses. Make all bus stops fully accessible. Once at the stop, mobility challenged people should be accurately informed about when the bus will arrive. The design of the stop should also facilitate quick and easy ingress for them. Promote and facilitate positive behaviour amongst passengers. Interactions with other passengers should be positive and friendly throughout the bus journey.
- 40. 22 Ensure that key aspects of the bus are fully operational. The aspects of the bus that affect accessibility should be fully operational at all times. Mobility challenged people should be confident that their journey will run smoothly and efficiently. Ensure that all users have a safe and comfortable space. All mobility challenged users should have a safe and comfortable space in which to complete their journey. They should be able to move into and out of this space easily. Welcome mobility challenged people aboard. Drivers should warmly welcome mobility challenged people aboard the bus. They should communicate clearly and cheerfully with them throughout the journey. Set off and drive smoothly. Ensure that mobility challenged people are settled before moving off. Make sure that this is done smoothly and that the drive is smooth and controlled throughout the journey. Provide information clearly through multiple channels throughout the journey. Mobility challenged people should be clear about when the bus is approaching their stop and have plenty of time to prepare to exit. 2.6 Acknowledgements This research project was commissioned by London Borough of Hillingdon and Transport for London. The authors would like to thank all local participants in the project and the user research team including Murtaza Abidi, Penelope Bamford, Thomas Wade and Jennifer McCormack. 2.7 References Dray SM (1997) Structured observation: Practical methods for understanding users and their work in context. In: Proceedings of CHI 97 Workshop on Human Factors in Computer Systems, SIGCHI, Atlanta, GA, US GLA (2010) Accessibility of the transport network. Greater London Authority, London, UK London TravelWatch (2009) TfL performance report. London TravelWatch, London, UK London TravelWatch (2010) Bus passengers’ priorities for improvement in London. London TravelWatch, London, UK Moore P, Conn CP (1985) Disguised: A true story. Word Books, Waco, TX, US Nickpour F, Jordan PW (2011) Inclusive bus travel in Hillingdon: Assessing accessibility. Technical Report, Brunel University, Brunel, UK Norman DA (2004) Emotional design: Why we love (or hate) everyday things. Basic Books, Basic Books, NY, US Transport for London (2011) TfL accessibility guide. Available at: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/1171.aspx (Accessed 13 August 2011) Nickpour et al.
- 41. Chapter 3 Safe and Inclusive Design of Equipment Used in the Minerals Industry T. Horberry and T. Cooke 3.1 Introduction The focus of this paper is upon the application of both safe and inclusive design to equipment used by operational and maintenance personnel in mining. It begins by introducing the minerals industry and outlining two important human-related issues that will greatly impact upon the design of future mining equipment. The paper then focuses on the importance of safe and inclusive design in this domain, and outlines a task-orientated risk assessment and design process called ‘OMAT’ that was developed by the authors. A series of semi-structured interviews with designers of mining equipment are then presented: they focus in particular on how designers currently obtain user-centred input and how the OMAT process might be integrated into their design practices. Finally, conclusions regarding the future safe and inclusive design of equipment (especially automated equipment) in this domain and why user-centred design processes should be of central importance to mining are presented. 3.1.1 An Overview of Mining and the Minerals Industry The minerals industry is a significant worldwide employer. For example, in Australia it employs approximately 136,000 personnel. Mining occurs across virtually the whole globe, with major areas in South Africa, North and South America, Australia, China and much of Europe. The worldwide injury, ill-health and fatality rates vary greatly, ranging from usually single figure deaths per annum in Australia through to many hundreds being killed in many third-world countries (Simpson et al., 2009). Whatever the precise figures, the minerals industry is a major global employer with many high hazards that can cause injuries and fatalities unless well managed (Komljenovic and Kecojevic, 2007). 23 P. Langdon et al. (eds.), Designing Inclusive Systems, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4471-2867-0_3, © Springer-Verlag London 2012
- 42. 24 Horberry and Cooke Looking in more depth at the elements of the minerals industry system, there is no ‘typical’ arrangement that is used at the majority of mine sites (Sanders and Peay, 1988). Instead, it is a complex sociotechnical system where people, procedures, environments and equipment need to interact safely and efficiently. The main elements here include (Horberry et al., 2010): • an increasingly diverse group of people employed; • a wide assortment of different jobs, tasks and roles; • many different equipment manufacturers and suppliers; • different worldwide mining companies; • a wide array of national laws, regulations, and guidelines; • different procedures, rules, practices and cultures at individual mine sites; • differences in the built environment and precise mining method used; • uncertainties in the natural environment. 3.1.2 Mining Equipment Focusing on the equipment element, there is a discernable trend in most advanced economies for mining equipment parameters to be improved in that the equipment needs to be bigger, stronger, quicker, safer and more reliable (Horberry et al., 2010). The images in Figure 3.1 show the size and complexity of two examples of mobile mining equipment. Figure 3.1. Examples of mobile mining equipment In tandem with this, there are continual equipment-related operational challenges, including the ever-present balance between safety and production. It is not within the scope of this paper to describe the range of equipment employed, but it certainly is within the scope to briefly describe two general human element challenges that impinge upon designing and deploying safe, inclusive and fit-for- purpose equipment. These are: the ageing workforce and the increased development and deployment of automation/new technologies in mining.
- 43. Safe and Inclusive Design of Equipment Used in the Minerals Industry 25 3.1.2.1 An Ageing Workforce Over twenty years ago it was noted that the average age of the mining workforce was getting younger (Sanders and Peay, 1988). In most industrialised countries this situation has now reversed: the minerals industry workforce is on average now getting older, and fatter. Of course, this mirrors many general trends in Western society; however, it does present a few specific issues for the design of mining equipment, especially to make such equipment inclusive and safe. Given the nature of the equipment in use then extreme ageing is not an issue in mining, but there are still many issues for safe and inclusive design that result from an older workforce. These include (adapted from Horberry et al., 2010): • Increased difficulty in learning new skills. Older workers do not automatise tasks as easily as their younger counterparts. This has implications for mining technology and automation use (e.g. remote control of a rock breaker) where skill requirements may change over time and require new automatic, over-learnt operating procedures. • Reaction time increases, especially in reacting to unexpected stimuli. This is a particular concern for mobile mining equipment (e.g. haul trucks) operating in the complex transport environment in most mine sites. • Loss of muscular strength, endurance and tone. Although many manual tasks in mining have been eliminated, they are still present in many equipment maintenance tasks. This problem is exacerbated if significant weight gain occurs in these older maintenance workers. • Visual function changes including loss of precision, difficulty in focusing on near objects and declines in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Given the automated, round-the-clock nature of mining then this can present particular problems in bad lighting conditions or with a complex background. 3.1.2.2 Increasing Development and Deployment of New Mining Technologies and Automation Mining is already highly mechanised, but it seems certain that there will be more remote control and/or automation of mining equipment in the future. Indeed, automation in mining is now finally permeating into many cutting-edge sites. Although automation progress began initially during the 1960s, today many mining companies are investing heavily in automation initiatives (Lynas and Horberry, 2011). As in other industries, this may change the types of human element inputs required (Sheridan, 2002). For example, less manual operational tasks (at least when the equipment is working correctly) and many operators becoming more of a passive monitor of the system, rather than an active controller or driver of it. More broadly, the increasing uptake of mining automation presents many opportunities, but also many challenges related to safe and inclusive design and effective human systems integration (Lynas and Horberry, 2011). The role of the human in the overall mining system may change, but is still a central part rather than an optional extra. Thus, developing operator-centred approaches for the design and
- 44. 26 Horberry and Cooke integration of new/automated mining technologies is a key priority area for the technology to be successful: central to this is safe and inclusive design. 3.1.3 The Importance of Safe and Inclusive Design of Mining Equipment The design of mining equipment plays a critical part in the safety and efficiency of tasks that are conducted by operators using it. However, as much as in virtually any other occupational domain, the design of mining equipment is still heavily technology-centred rather than user-centred (Horberry et al., 2010). This has been for a variety of reasons in mining, including: • Designers sometimes think they can use their knowledge/common sense/intuition, or they rely purely on designing to standards. This is particular acute in the minerals industry, where mine site access for designers can be a significant limitation (EMESRT, 2011). • Adding a user-centred focus may be thought to alter an agreed design process. Similarly, an older version of a system may already be in place, and piecemeal alterations are subsequently made (for example, the design of haul trucks). • The benefits and costs of using a user-centred approach for equipment design are not clear (Burgess-Limerick et al., 2007). Because some mine equipment designers (and their customers) still view human element constraints to be less significant than technical challenges (such as equipment payload) there is a tendency not to adequately consider human factors in the equipment design life-cycle process, and it is common to see human factors concerns being passed from one phase to the next (Horberry et al., 2010). For example, during conceptual design, if the analysis does not adequately capture user requirements then subsequent inadequacies are hard to resolve in the detailed design phase. Human element problems (such as usability) that remain after the system has been designed cannot therefore be easily resolved during equipment build or implementation phases. This is a particular problem for mining equipment that still requires considerable human intervention in its maintenance and operation (e.g. mobile mining equipment maintenance such as changing air filters). Indeed, where such user-centred design does exist, it focuses more on safe rather than inclusive design. Safe design (sometimes known as safety in design, or prevention through design) has begun to receive an increasing amount of attention in both the scientific and occupational safety domains (including in mining, albeit slowly) and is generally applied to products and equipment. As the name implies, it involves occupational health and safety (OHS) through the original design, not safety by procedure or through retrofit trial and error.
- 45. Safe and Inclusive Design of Equipment Used in the Minerals Industry 27 “Safe Design is a design process that eliminates OHS hazards, or minimises potential OHS risk, by involving decision makers and considering the life cycle of the designed- product.” (Safe Work Australia, 2011) In contrast, inclusive design is still in its infancy in mining. As an occupational, high-hazard domain, it might be argued that a ‘conventional’ inclusive design process is in need of modification as the focus here is not on mainstream commercial products. However, the earlier-described changing workforce demographics (e.g. older operators) and the design possibilities raised by the uptake of automation should increase the focus on designing for an increasingly diverse user group that will engage in a wide range of new tasks. 3.1.4 The Operability and Maintainability Analysis Technique (OMAT) To help ensure safe and inclusive design, the authors of this paper recently developed and evaluated a process that could be used by mining Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) (Cooke and Horberry, 2011). More specifically, OMAT is a task-oriented risk assessment process that focuses on human factors risks related to mobile mining equipment design. The starting point of the work was that poor equipment operability or maintainability can produce major safety and performance disbenefits. As such, many mining incidents and accidents are due to equipment design inadequacies, either in maintainability or operability, and are therefore theoretically preventable (Horberry et al., 2009). The behaviour of the operators and maintainers is largely shaped by their tasks which are, in turn, partly shaped by the equipment’s design. Therefore, in order to create the safest equipment possible designers must predict how their designs will shape the behaviours of miners in different sites around the world. With this in mind, a number of mining companies started discussing an approach to improve the human factors design of mobile mining equipment at an OEM level. This eventually resulted in a multi-company industry initiative known as EMESRT; the purpose was to establish a process of engagement between OEMs and mining customers to promote the development and adoption of leading practice user-centred designs (EMESRT, 2011). The OMAT tool was developed by support from EMESRT (Horberry et al., 2009). The OMAT process has been developed to align with existing OEM design processes (including major design milestones). OMAT has also been developed specifically to provide a user-engagement processes to identify and assess the risks in the design of mining equipment. Investigating such risks in operational or maintenance tasks involves six OMAT steps (after an initial step zero, to define the scope of the work) that are heavily dependent on OEM and mine site user engagement. A summary of these six stages is presented below.
- 46. 28 Horberry and Cooke 1. Based on a comprehensive list of all operations and maintenance tasks performed using the equipment, the critical tasks are prioritised. 2. The constituent steps in these priority tasks are described and analysed. In effect this is a task analysis, whereby each task step and its order is uncovered, including deviations, short cuts or different methods of task completion for different user-groups. 3. Risks at each of the task steps are identified. Using the types of matrices commonly used in the mining industry the risks are identified, noting any current controls employed (e.g. guard rails for working at height). 4. Solutions are developed for the risks identified in stage 3. These should be primarily design solutions that eliminate risk. 5. Feedback received. The solutions developed in stage 4 are further developed by the OEMs. However, to continue the process of user-centred design, these solutions are then evaluated by mine site users. 6. A risk register is maintained to keep track of the whole process. This is of particular value for future design iterations of the equipment. The development and largely positive evaluation of the OMAT process to help promote safe and inclusive design of existing mobile mining equipment has resulted in important design changes being made (see Cooke and Horberry, 2010). But a comparatively neglected area to date has been an assessment of designers’ opinions of the process, and how it can be integrated with their existing safe and inclusive design processes. 3.2 Interviews with Mobile Mining Equipment Designers 3.2.1 Aim The aim of the study was to gauge the opinions and work practices of mobile equipment designers regarding user-centred design processes. In particular, it compared their current design methods to the OMAT task-based model and explored the designers’ current methods of gaining end-user feedback (i.e. from mine site operational and maintenance personnel). 3.2.2 Method A series of semi-structured interviews were held with personnel employed by a major manufacturer of mining equipment. Fourteen people who worked for the manufacturer were interviewed; all interviews took place in Finland. The participants worked in a variety of design-related roles including design engineers, project managers, safety experts and user interface specialists.
- 47. Safe and Inclusive Design of Equipment Used in the Minerals Industry 29 Rather than asking a rigid set of pre-defined questions, the interviews were topic based, allowing the interviewer to prompt, clarify and further probe the thoughts and practices of those being interviewed. Three topic areas were covered: Topic 1: The current design situation. Interviewees asked about the formal and informal human-related methods used to create and assess safety of the equipment. Specifically, they were asked to consider methods that considered end-user interaction. For each method noted, the interviewees were asked to describe the strengths and weaknesses of that technique. Topic 2: OMAT review. The OMAT process was then described to the participants (many already had a basic knowledge of OMAT). The participants were asked to judge and predict the strengths and weaknesses of this technique, and to state how it might be integrated within their overall design processes. Topic 3: End-user input. Of course, gaining end-user input is a common theme in safe, participatory and inclusive design. However, this has increasingly become difficult as the design, manufacture and use of equipment commonly occurs in different countries across varying cultural and language barriers. As an example of this, the interviews were conducted in Finland for equipment that would be used ultimately in Australia or elsewhere. This topic explored the currently-used methods of gaining end-user input into their design processes, especially as there was no homogeneous end-user group. It then explored two practices that could be used within the overall OMAT methodology to potentially gain more comprehensive end-user feedback: the inclusion of more (and varied) end-users in the OMAT workshops and the collection of video footage of tasks being performed with current equipment. 3.2.3 Results The results are described in terms of the three topics mentioned above. For reasons of space, only summary findings are reported here. Topic 1: The current design situation. The interviewees reported a large number of broadly human-centred methods to improve the safety of their equipment. They also reported that considering the end-user was a constant informal consideration. However, only four methods were noted that specifically included some consideration of the end-user. Two of these methods were only used by specific design specialists. The first was an “Ergonomic Checklist for the Operator’s Cabin”. This primarily involved ensuring that the adjustability of elements like reach distances to controls and chair design for weight of operator was accounted for using anthropometric data. The second method was in-field usability observation. However, this was limited to new digital controls used during operation (primarily of automated equipment). The interviewees thought that these methods were potentially useful; however, the scope and application of them was extremely limited.
- 48. 30 Horberry and Cooke The third method involved direct customer feedback from the use of current products. This was noted to be beneficial as many issues only emerged during equipment use. However, the major issue related to the ‘voice of the customer’ was that the input was only text-based and needed to pass through many hands before it reached the appropriate designer. By this stage it was commonly difficult to understand the precise issue and the person who raised it was not contactable. Therefore, only easily explainable and understandable issues fed through the current system with consistent success. The fourth, and most noted, method was that of a risk assessment workshop using qualitative risk matrices. The issues primarily came from equipment standards and were a mix of hazards and requirements. The primary positive issue noted about this method was that the workshop forced conversation amongst the stakeholders. The most significant negative issue noted was that the discussion focused only on the rather restrictive set of issues mentioned in existing standards. This commonly did not involve the end-user but, rather, ‘have we met the standard?’ This meant that significant issues related to operator interaction could be missed, and innovation might be stifled. Furthermore, the interviewees noted that extremely rarely did the method actually lead to design changes. As such, the interviewees mostly viewed this method as a legal cover rather than a useful design method. Topic 2: OMAT review. Despite the potential bias that might have been present (where one of the originators of the process was conducting the interviews), the interviewees’ opinions of OMAT were largely positive. In particular: • they welcomed the task-based, user-centred approach; • they found the whole OMAT process to be easy to understand; • it was viewed as comprehensive; • they predicted that it might encourage innovation in design solutions. However, some of the more negative features noted were: • the OMAT process might take a long time (especially in workshops); • it might be difficult to maintain/update this method; • some concerned was expressed that it does not link sufficiently to standards. Although this was not fully articulated, there was more of a general feeling of unease about how much it became the workshop’s judgement (rather than an ‘objective’ standard) and having that judgement documented for a lawyer to subsequently investigate. Topic 3: End-user input. The inclusion of a variety of end-users in design workshops (whether using OMAT or other methods) was reasonably positively received. This was because operational knowledge was seen to offer valuable design opportunities by knowing ‘what really happens’. However, there were also significant negative issues noted (that are also applicable to many other participatory, inclusive or safe design processes): • the end-user inputs received are limited to the knowledge of that person; • legal issues (‘what happens if we don’t take their advice?’);
- 49. Safe and Inclusive Design of Equipment Used in the Minerals Industry 31 • disclosure of information about design, so market value might be potentially reduced; • they already have in-house operational ‘experts’ involved so current end- users might not add much extra information; • pragmatically, and certainly when considering universal design, the potential users come from across the world and speak different languages. This was perceived to be a potentially costly exercise for little gain. The technique of obtaining end-user inputs by means of video recording of current tasks was viewed by every interviewee as an extremely beneficial addition. In particular, it was opined that video records provided objective visual information that is easily shared, showed the designers how their equipment was actually used, acted as a memory aid for those designers who had actually been to a mine site and more generally could be an excellent reminder that real people will eventually have to use the equipment. Video records are, of course, not as an adequate replacement of comprehensive end-user feedback; the interviewees noted that they were unable to ask the person about the task, so had to interpret the actions on the video. Equally, other design options could not be explored, and if a design is changed significantly then the task itself changes. Finally, video records were only useful in the latter stages of the design process, so a designer would have to wait for the equipment to be out in the field before they can get this first iteration of the feedback. 3.3 Conclusions Including end-user input in some form in the design of equipment is a laudable goal in virtually any domain. As indicated in other domains that have successfully integrated automation (e.g. aviation), unless new technology in mining takes into account the human element that will ultimately operate or maintain the systems, then it is unlikely that such technology will flourish (c.f. Sheridan, 2002). This paper has hopefully shown some of the challenges and opportunities for those mining equipment designers who have a human-centred focus. Some of the challenges include designers actually getting access to mine sites, and obtaining appropriate end-user input, due to the widely diverse workforce involved. Not surprisingly, a disjointed group of user-centred methods currently exists, and these are employed to varying degrees by mining equipment designers. Despite this, safe design in some guise is certain to become more firmly entrenched in the design practices of larger OEMs. Consequently, it is anticipated that the task-based nature of OMAT will result in it being more widely accepted and deployed, especially for high frequency/high hazard tasks. A criticism of OMAT was that the method could be quite time-intensive, especially when involving extensive end-user workshops that needed to be formally documented. One way to address such a criticism would be to employ a streamlined version of the method that is still task-based and participatory, but only focuses on design issues of the highest priority tasks in a less formally documented workshop-style setting. Also, obtaining end-user inputs
- 50. 32 Horberry and Cooke by means of video recording of current tasks with the equipment is another way of streamlining the OMAT method whilst still retaining its task-based approach. Inclusive design of mining equipment is far less well-developed and well- accepted than safe design. Indeed, philosophically, it might be maintained that specialised and hazardous mining equipment should not be designed for universal use unless reasonable controls (including training and following site procedures) are deployed. Still, designing accessible and usable mining equipment without excessive adaptations for the worldwide minerals industry user-group is certainly of importance for both safety and productivity. It is anticipated that user-centred design tools such as OMAT can be expanded and further employed to help achieve this goal. 3.4 References Burgess-Limerick R, Straker L, Pollock C, Dennis G, Leveritt S, Johnson S (2007) Participative ergonomics for manual tasks in coal mining. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 37: 145-155 Cooke T, Horberry T (2011) The operability and maintainability analysis technique: Integrating task and risk analysis in the safe design of industrial equipment. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Ergonomics and Human Factors 2011, Stoke Rochford, UK EMESRT (2011) Earth moving equipment safety round table. Available at: http://www.mirmgate.com/index.php?gate=emesrt (Accessed 8 August 2011) Horberry T, Burgess-Limerick R, Steiner L (2010) Human factors for the design, operation and maintenance of mining equipment. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, US Horberry T, Sarno S, Cooke T, Joy J (2009) Development of the operability and maintainability analysis technique for use with large surface haul trucks. Australian Coal Association Research Program report. Available at: http://www.acarp.com.au/ abstracts.aspx?repId=C17033 (Accessed 8 August 2011) Komljenovic D, Kecojevic V (2007) Risk management programme for occupational safety and health in surface mining operations. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, 7(5): 620-638 Lynas D, Horberry T (2011) Human factors issues with automated mining equipment. Ergonomics Open, 4(Suppl 2-M3): 74-80 Safe Work Australia (2011) What is safe design? Available at: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/SafetyInYourWorkplace/SafeDesign/Understanding /Pages/WhatIs.aspx (Accessed 8 August 2011) Sanders MS, Peay JM (1988) Human factors in mining (IC 9182). Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA, US Sheridan T (2002) Humans and automation. John Wiley, New York, US Simpson G, Horberry T, Joy J (2009) Understanding human error in mine safety. Ashgate Press, Farnham, UK
- 51. Chapter 4 Deploying a Two-player System for Arm Rehabilitation in Schools R.J. Holt, A.P.H. Weightman, J.F. Gallagher, N. Preston, M.C. Levesley, M. Mon-Williams and B. Bhakta 4.1 Introduction Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the commonest cause of disability among children in Europe (Johnson, 2002). Its effects and severity can be extremely varied, but a combination of arm impairments through weakness or spasticity and sensory deficits is common and can (i) significantly impair the ability of individuals with CP to carry out daily activities and (ii) create significant social barriers (Imms, 2008). Therapy is often used to aid the acquisition of motor skills, particularly in childhood, but a lack of physiotherapy resources means that this is often delivered through a self-managed home exercise programme. Exercises are frequently dull and repetitive, and children often lack the motivation to carry out these exercises, leading to poor compliance with the prescribed plan (Chappell and Williams, 2002). One solution to this is the use of Interactive Computer-Play (ICP)-based therapy (Sandlund et al., 2009), where therapy is delivered as a game through a computer-interface. Prior research at the University of Leeds has led to the development of a game-based system for home rehabilitation of upper limb impairment (Weightman et al., 2011). However, feedback from the participants in that project indicated that they preferred to play games with friends and suggested that this would improve their motivation further. Accordingly, a multiplayer ICP- based therapy system for upper limb rehabilitation intended for use in schools has been developed, and this paper describes both the system and the results of its initial deployment in a school environment. A brief overview of the background to ICP-based therapy and arm rehabilitation is given, followed by a description of the system itself, and finally the outcomes of deploying the system in a school environment for an eight-week period, including the amount of usage, feedback on the games used, and user comments received. 33 P. Langdon et al. (eds.), Designing Inclusive Systems, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4471-2867-0_4, © Springer-Verlag London 2012
- 52. 34 Holt et al. 4.2 Background ICP-based therapy has been growing in popularity in recent years, particularly with the advent of home computers and videogame consoles and the growing popularity of videogaming as a pastime in the last few decades. The development of consoles which use movement-based interaction in videogames, most notably the Nintendo WiiTM , has led to great interest in their use as a means of encouraging physical activity among children and making rehabilitation enjoyable (Deutsch et al., 2008; Lanningham-Foster et al., 2009). The use of off-the-shelf videogame consoles in rehabilitation has many benefits, as they enjoy the economies of scale of mass production, do not require specialist development, and games are already designed first and foremost to be enjoyable. However, they also have limitations: they are not necessarily accessible to players with more significant arm impairments; they do not provide the assistive force that a physiotherapist would provide (which is important in extending a patient’s capabilities); the games are not necessarily designed to provide therapeutic benefits; and these systems do not enforce compliance with a therapeutically desirable trajectory, which means that players can get away with making motions that are successful in the game, but do not provide therapeutic benefit. Research at the University of Leeds has promoted the use of Assisted Movement Devices as an adjunct to therapy, whereby a robotic system is used to provide both the assistive force and to encourage compliance with therapeutically desirable trajectories. Previous research has developed systems that use this approach with stroke patients in a clinical environment (Jackson et al, 2007) and for children with in a home environment (Weightman et al, 2011). In response to feedback gathered from the latter project, a two-player system has been developed, with the aim of deploying it in a school environment, where it would be easier to find multiple players. Social interaction such as co-operation and competition in games has long been identified as a motivator for playing (Malone and Lepper, 1987), and continues to be recognised as an important aspect of making games enjoyable (Sweetser and Wyeth, 2005). However, it does raise significant challenges in ICP-based therapy, as different players will have different levels of impairment (and in some cases, none at all), making it difficult to create a level playing field. The next section reviews the system developed, and how it addresses some of these issues. 4.3 The System The original home-based system had been based around a Microsoft SideWinderTM joystick, which had been adapted so that its force feedback system would provide the assistive force required to help players make the required movements (Weightman et al., 2011). This plugged via USB into a conventional PC, where the specially designed games would run. It was originally envisaged that the new system would take a similar form, with perhaps four to six such joysticks plugging
- 53. Deploying a Multiplayer System for Arm Rehabilitation in Schools 35 into a PC to allow multiplayer gaming. However, a number of factors meant that this approach was not feasible. Firstly, the Sidewinder was not able to provide as much force as desired, meaning a move towards a new design with larger motors and bespoke control software developed in LabVIEW and delivered via a National InstrumentsTM cRIO (Compact Reconfigurable Input-Output) controller. Furthermore, in working closely with teachers, children and parents to develop the system, it soon became apparent that class time was at an absolute premium for teachers, and they argued that they could not afford to spend take even a few minutes out of class time setting the system up and getting started without the children losing interest. Space was also at a premium, meaning that a four to six player system would be prohibitively large - teachers felt that this was redundant as they rarely had more than one or two children in a class requiring physiotherapy and were reluctant to take many unimpaired children out of lessons to participate in the games. Accordingly, the system was designed as a self-contained unit with two joysticks, two monitors, a PC and cRIO as shown in Figure 4.1. The system was wheeled so that it could be easily moved between classrooms or out of the way as needed, and required only a single button press to start up or turn off, booting directly into the games as needed. Figure 4.1. The system To address the need for a level playing field between different players, an Adaptation to Player Performance Algorithm (APPA) was developed. Four games were developed, representing different combinations of competitive and collaborative, sequential and simultaneous play. They all centred around the same premise, delivered through simple cut scenes: the players are monkeys trying to rescue their friends from a hungry crocodile in order to provide elements of fantasy
- 54. 36 and curiosity as recommended by Malone and Lepper (1987) and Sweetser and Wyeth (2005); and all were based around the simple back-and-forth movement of a conventional reach/retrieve exercise. The APPA first involved the players carrying out a simple single-player assessment task at the start of each session, in which each player guided their ‘monkey’ around the screen and tried to collect as many ‘bananas’ as possible in the time available. The system then adjusted the amount of assistance provided based on their performance in this task. The four actual games were developed with a user group of children with cerebral palsy who had participated in the previous home-based project (Weightman et al., 2011). These children gave feedback and made comments on early iterations, evaluating the initial concepts and gameplay proposals, giving feedback on early prototypes and testing the near final games for usability. The final four games selected were: 1. Van Game (Simultaneous, Cooperative): Players work together to collect bananas and destroy the crocodile’s van before s/he escapes with their monkey friends. 2. River Game (Simultaneous, Competitive): Players race against each other to collect the most bananas as they race along a winding river. 3. Chase Game (Sequential, Competitive): Players take it in turns to find their way through a maze, one playing as the crocodile, the other as a monkey - the player with the fastest time wins. 4. Maze Game (Sequential, Cooperative): Players work together to find a way through a maze before time runs out, as each player collects bananas so new paths open to the other player. Screenshots from these games are shown in Figure 4.2. Each game also had a single player variant, in which the player raced against the clock, rather than the other player. 4.4 Outcomes of Deployment To evaluate the feasibility of using the system in a real school environment, the system has been field-tested in seven schools with an overall total of eight children with CP aged between 8 and 12 years (to date). At this stage, the purpose of this testing is to assess whether the system can actually be delivered and used in a school without supervision by the research team, rather than assessing whether the system delivers therapeutic benefits. 4.4.1 Process A total of four systems were built. The systems were deployed into schools for two periods of four weeks, with a one-week “washout” period in between. In one period, the system was used in a single-player mode; in the other, it was used in a multiplayer mode. Half the schools were randomly assigned to use the single player mode first, while the other half used the system in multiplayer mode first. Holt et al.
- 55. Other documents randomly have different content
- 59. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Thackerayana: Notes and Anecdotes
- 60. This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: Thackerayana: Notes and Anecdotes Compiler: Joseph Grego Illustrator: William Makepeace Thackeray Release date: January 2, 2014 [eBook #44563] Most recently updated: October 23, 2024 Language: English Credits: Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THACKERAYANA: NOTES AND ANECDOTES ***
- 61. Transcriber's Note: Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation in the original document have been preserved. On page 204, "couch" should possibly be "conch". On page 345, the quote should probably read "ut melior vir"... THACKERAYANA. LONDON: PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE AND PARLIAMENT STREET
- 62. THACKERAYANA NOTES AND ANECDOTES Illustrated by Hundreds of Sketches BY WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY
- 63. Depicting Humorous Incidents in his School Life, and Favourite Scenes and Characters in the Books of his Every-day Reading A NEW EDITION London CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY
- 64. INTRODUCTION. A LARGE portion of the public, and especially that smaller section of the community, the readers of books, will not easily forget the shock, as universal as it was unexpected, which was produced at Christmas, 1863, by the almost incredible intelligence of the death of William Makepeace Thackeray. The mournful news was repeated at many a Christmas table, that he, who had led the simple Colonel Newcome to his solemn and touching end, would write no more. The circumstance was so startling from the suddenness of the great loss which society at large had sustained, that it was some time before people could realise the dismal truth of the report. It will be easily understood, without elaborating on so saddening a theme, with how much keener a blow this heavy bereavement must have struck the surviving relatives of the great novelist. It does not come within our province to speak of the paralysing effect of such emotion; it is sufficient to recall that Thackeray's death, with its overwhelming sorrow, left, in the hour of their trial, his two young daughters deprived of the fatherly active mind which had previously shielded from them the graver responsibilities of life, with the additional anxiety of being forced to act in their own interests at the very time such exertions were peculiarly distracting. It may be remembered that the author of 'Vanity Fair' had but recently erected, from his own designs, the costly and handsome mansion in which he anticipated passing the mellower years of his
- 65. life; a dwelling in every respect suited to the high standing of its owner, and, as has been said by a brother writer, 'worthy of one who really represented literature in the great world, and who, planting himself on his books, yet sustained the character of his profession with all the dignity of a gentleman.' In such a house a portion of Thackeray's fortune might be reasonably invested. To the occupant it promised the enjoyment he was justified in anticipating, and was a solid property to bequeath his descendants when age, in its sober course, should have called him hence. But little more than a year later, to those deadened with the effects of so terrible a bereavement as their loss must have proved when they could realise its fulness, this house must have been a source of desolation. Its oppressive size, its infinitely mournful associations, the hopeful expectations with which it had been erected, the tragic manner in which the one dearest to them had there been stricken down; with all this acting on the sensibilities of unhealed grief, the building must have impressed them with peculiar aversion; and hence it may be concluded that their first desire was to leave it. The removal to a house of dimensions more suitable to their requirements involved the sacrifice of those portions of the contents of the larger mansion with which it was considered expedient to dispense; and thus Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods announced for sale a selection from the paintings, drawings, part of the interesting collection of curious porcelain, and such various objects of art or furniture as would otherwise have necessitated the continuance of a house as large as that at Palace Green. These valuable objects were accordingly dispersed under the hammer, March 16 and 17, 1864, and on the following day the remainder of Thackeray's library was similarly offered to public competition. To anyone familiar with Thackeray's writings, and more especially with his Lectures and Essays, this collection of books must have been both instructive and fascinating; seeing that they faithfully indicated the course of their owner's readings, and through them might be traced many an allusion or curious fact of contemporaneous manners, which, in the hands of this master of his
- 66. craft, had been felicitously employed to strengthen the purpose of some passage of his own compositions. Without converting this introduction into a catalogue of the contents of Thackeray's library it is difficult to particularise the several works found on his book-shelves. It is sufficient to note that all the authorities which have been quoted in his Essays were fitly represented; that such books, in many instances obscure and trivial in themselves, as threw any new or curious light upon persons or things—on the private and individual, as well as the public or political history of men, and of the events or writings to which their names owe notoriety, of obsolete fashions or of the changing customs of society—were as numerous as the most ardent and dilettanti of Thackeray's admirers could desire. The present volume is devised to give a notion, necessarily restricted, of certain selections from these works, chiefly chosen with a view of further illustrating the bent of a mind, with the workings of which all who love the great novelist's writings may at once be admitted to the frankest intercourse. It has been truly said that Thackeray was 'too great to conceal anything.' The same candour is extended to his own copies of the books which told of times and company wherein his imagination delighted to dwell; for, pencil in hand, he has recorded the impressions of the moment without reserve, whether whimsical or realistic. A collection of books of this character is doubly interesting. On the one hand were found the remnants of earlier humourists, the quaint old literary standards which became, in the hands of their owner, materials from which were derived the local colouring of the times concerning which it was his delightful fancy to construct romances, to philosophise, or to record seriously. On the other hand, the present generation was fitly represented. To most of the writers of his own era it was an honour that a presentation copy of their literary offspring should be found in the library of the foremost author, whose friendship and open-handed
- 67. kindness to the members of his profession was one of many brilliant traits of a character dignified by innumerable great qualities, and tenderly shaded by instances uncountable of generous readiness to confer benefits, and modest reticence to let the fame of his goodness go forth. Presentation copies from his contemporaries were therefore not scarce; and whether the names of the donors were eminent, or as yet but little heard of, the creatures of their thoughts had been preserved with unvarying respect. The 'Christmas Carol,' that memorable Christmas gift which Thackeray has praised with fervour unusual even to his impetuous good-nature, was one of the books. The copy, doubly interesting from the circumstances both of its authorship and ownership, was inscribed in the well-known hand of that other great novelist of the nineteenth century, 'W. M. Thackeray, from Charles Dickens (whom he made very happy once a long way from home).' Competition was eager to secure this covetable literary memorial, which may one day become historical; it was knocked down at 25l. 10s., and rumour circulated through the press, without foundation, we believe with regret, that it had been secured for the highest personage in the State, whose desire to possess this volume would have been a royal compliment to the community of letters. Nor were books with histories wanting. George Augustus Sala, in the introduction to his ingenious series of 'Twice Round the Clock,' published in 1862, remarks with diffidence: 'It would be a piece of sorry vanity on my part to imagine that the conception of a Day and Night in London is original. I will tell you how I came to think of the scheme of "Twice Round the Clock." Four years ago, in Paris, my then master in literature, Mr. Charles Dickens, lent me a little thin octavo volume, which I believe had been presented to him by another master of the craft, Mr. Thackeray.' A slight resemblance to this opuscule was offered in 'A View of the Transactions of London and Westminster from the Hours of Ten in the Evening till Five in the Morning,' which was secured at Thackeray's sale for forty-four shillings.
- 68. Thus, without presuming to any special privileges, we account for the selection of literary curiosities which form settings for the fragments gathered in 'Thackerayana,' The point of interest which rendered this dispersion of certain of Thackeray's books additionally attractive to us may be briefly set forth. In looking through the pages of odd little volumes, and on the margins and fly-leaves of some of the choicest works, presentation copies or otherwise, it was noticed that pencil or pen-and-ink sketches, of faithful conceptions suggested by the texts, touched in most cases with remarkable neatness and decision, were abundantly dispersed through various series. It is notorious that their owner's gift of dexterous sketching was marvellous; his rapid facility, in the minds of those critics who knew him intimately, was the one great impediment to any serious advancement in those branches of art which demand a lengthy probationship; and to this may be referred his implied failure, or but partial success, in the art which, to him, was of all cultivated accomplishments the most enticing. The fact has been dwelt on gravely by his friends, and was a source of regret to certain eminent artists best acquainted with his remarkable endowments. The chance of securing as many of these characteristic designs as was in our power directed the selection of books which came into our possession in consequence of the sale of Thackeray's library; it was found they were richer in these clever pencillings than had been anticipated. An impulse thus given, the excitement of increasing the little gathering was carried further; many volumes which had been dispersed were traced, or were offered spontaneously when the fact of the collection became known. From books wherein, pencil in hand, passages had been noted with sprightly little vignettes, not unlike the telling etchings which the author of 'Vanity Fair' caused to be inserted in his own published works, we became desirous of following the evidence of this faculty through other channels; seeing
- 69. we held the Alpha, as it were, inserted in the Charterhouse School books, and the later pencillings, which might enliven any work of the hour indifferently, as it excited the imagination, grotesque or artist- like, as the case might be, of the original reader, whether the book happened to be a modest magazine in paper or an édition de luxe in morocco. A demand created, the supply, though of necessity limited, was for a time forthcoming. The energy, which fosters a mania for collecting, was aided by one of those unlooked-for chances which sustain such pursuits, and, from such congenial sources as the early companions of the author, sufficient material came into our possession to enable us to trace Thackeray's graphic ambition throughout his career with an approach to consistency, following his efforts in this direction through his school days, in boyish diversions, and among early favourites of fiction; as an undergraduate of Cambridge; on trips to Paris; as a student at Weimar and about Germany; through magazines, to Paris, studying in the Louvre; to Rome, dwelling among artists; through his contributions to 'Fraser's,' and that costly abortive newspaper speculation the 'Constitutional;' through the slashing Bohemian days, to the period of 'Vanity Fair;' through successes, repeated and sustained—Lectures and Essays; through travels at home and abroad—to America, from Cornhill to Grand Cairo, to Scotland, to Ireland, 'Up the Rhine,' Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Holland, and wherever Roundabout 'sketches by the way' might present themselves. The study which had attracted an individual, elicited the sympathy of a larger circle. The many who preserve mementos similar to those dispersed through 'Thackerayana' enlarged on the general interest of the materials, and especially upon the gratification which that part of the public representing Thackeray's admirers would discover in such original memorials of our eminent novelist; and which, from the nature of his gifts, and the almost unique propensity for their exercise, would be impossible in the case of almost any other man of kindred genius.
- 70. Selections from the sketches were accordingly produced in facsimile, only such subjects being used as, from their relation to the context, derived sufficient coherence to be generally appreciable. The writer is aware that many such memorials exist, some of them unquestionably of greater worth in themselves than several that are found in the present gathering; but it is not probable, either from their private nature, the circumstances of their ownership, or from the fact that, in their isolated condition, they do not illustrate any particular stage of their author's progress, that the public will ever become familiar with them. 'Thackerayana' is issued with a sense of imperfections; many more finished or pretentious drawings might have been offered, but the illustrations have been culled with a sense of their fitness to the subject in view. It is the intention to present Thackeray in the aspect his ambition preferred—as a sketcher; his pencil and pen bequeath us matter to follow his career; we recognise that delightful gift, a facility for making rapid little pictures on the inspiration of the moment; it is an endless source of pleasure to the person who may exercise this faculty, and treasures up the most abundant and life- like reminiscences for the delectation of others. It will be understood as no implied disparagement of more laboured masterpieces if we observe that the composition of historical works, the conception and execution of chefs-d'œuvre, are grave, lengthy, and systematic operations, not to be lightly intruded on; they involve much time and preparation, many essays, failures, alterations, corrections, much grouping of accessories, posing of models, and setting of lay-figures; they become oppressive after a time, and demand a strain of absorption to accomplish, and an effort of mind to appreciate, which are not to be daily exerted; long intervals are required to recruit after such labours; but the bright, ready croquis of the instant, if not profound, embalms the life that is passing and incessant; the incident too fleeting to be preserved on the canvas, or in a more ambitious walk of the art, lives in the little sketch-book; it is grateful to the hand which jots it down, and has the agreeable result of
- 71. being able to extend that pleasure to all who may glance therein. If it was one of Thackeray's few fanciful griefs that he was not destined for a painter of the grand order, it doubtless consoled him to find that the happier gift of embodying that abstract creation—an idea—in a few strokes of the pencil was his beyond all question; and this graceful faculty he was accustomed to exercise so industriously, that myriads of examples survive of the originality of his invention as an artist, in addition to the brilliant fancy and sterling truth to be found in his works as an author.
- 72. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Voyage from India—Touching at St. Helena—School days at the Charterhouse—Early Reminiscences—Sketches in School Books—Boyish Scribblings—Favourite Fictions— Youthful Caricatures—Souvenirs of the Play 1 CHAPTER II. Early Favourites—The 'Castle of Otranto'—Rollin's 'Ancient History' 18 CHAPTER III. Thackeray's last visit to the Charterhouse—College days— Pendennis at Cambridge—Sketches of Universities— Sporting subjects—Etchings at Cambridge—Pencillings in old authors—Pictorial Puns—The 'Snob,' a Literary and Scientific Journal—'Timbuctoo,' a Prize Poem 47 CHAPTER IV.
- 73. Early Favourites—Fielding's 'Joseph Andrews'—Imitators of Fielding—The 'Adventures of Captain Greenland'—'Jack Connor'—'Chrysal; or, the Adventures of a Guinea' 71 CHAPTER V. Continental Rambles—A Stolen Trip to Paris—Residence at Weimar—Contributions to Albums—Burlesque State —German Sketches and Studies—The Weimar Theatre —Goethe—Souvenirs of the Saxon city—'Journal kept during a Visit to Germany' 89 CHAPTER VI. Thackeray's Predilections for Art—A Student in Paris— First Steps in the Career—An Art Critic—Introduction to Marvy's 'English Landscape Painters'—Early Connection with Literature—Michael Angelo Titmarsh, a contributor to 'Fraser's Magazine'—French Caricature under Louis Philippe—Political Satires—A Young Artist's life in Paris —Growing Sympathy with Literature 114 CHAPTER VII. 'Elizabeth Brownrigge: a Tale,' 1832—'Comic Magazine,' 1832-4—'National Standard and Literary Representative,' 1833-4—'Flore et Zéphyr, Ballet Mythologique,' 1836—On the Staff of 'Fraser's Magazine'—Early Connection with Maginn and his Colleagues—The Maclise Cartoon of the Fraserians— Thackeray's Noms de Plume—Charles Yellowplush as a Reviewer—Skelton and his 'Anatomy of Conduct'— 124
- 74. Thackeray's Proposal to Dickens to illustrate his Novels —Gradual Growth of Thackeray's Notoriety—His Genial Admiration for 'Boz'—Christmas Books and Dickens's 'Christmas Carol'—Return to Paris—Execution of Fieschi and Lacénaire—Daily Newspaper Venture—The 'Constitutional' and 'Public Ledger'—Thackeray as Paris Correspondent—Dying Speech of the 'Constitutional'— Thackeray's Marriage—Increased Application to Literature—The 'Shabby Genteel Story'—Thackeray's Article in the 'Westminster' on George Cruikshank—First Collected Writings—The 'Paris Sketch-Book'—Dedication to M. Aretz—'Comic Tales and Sketches,' with Thackeray's original Illustrations—The 'Yellowplush Papers'—The 'Second Funeral of Napoleon,' with the 'Chronicles of the Drum'—The 'History of Samuel Titmarsh and the great Hoggarty Diamond'—'Fitzboodle's Confessions'—The 'Irish Sketch-Book,' with the Author's Illustrations—The 'Luck of Barry Lyndon'—Contributions to the 'Examiner'— Miscellanies—'Carmen Lilliense'—'Notes on a Journey from Cornhill to Grand Cairo,' with the Author's Illustrations—Interest excited in Titmarsh—Foundation of 'Punch'—Thackeray's Contributions—His comic Designs—The 'Fat Contributor'—'Jeames's Diary' CHAPTER VIII. Increasing reputation—Later writings in 'Fraser'—'Mrs. Perkins's Ball,' with Thackeray's Illustrations—Early Vicissitudes of 'Pencil Sketches of English Society'— Thackeray's connection with the Temple—Appearance of 'Vanity Fair,' with the Author's original Illustrations— Appreciative notice in the 'Edinburgh Review'—The impression produced—'Our Street,' with Titmarsh's Pencillings of some of its Inhabitants—The History of 161
- 75. Pendennis,' illustrated by the Author—'Dr. Birch and his Young Friends,' with illustrations by M. A. Titmarsh —'Rebecca and Rowena'—The Dignity of Literature and the 'Examiner' and 'Morning Chronicle' newspapers— Sensitiveness to Hostile Criticism—The 'Kickleburys on the Rhine,' with illustrations by M. A. Titmarsh— Adverse bias of the 'Times' newspaper—Thackeray's reply—An 'Essay on Thunder and Small Beer' CHAPTER IX. Commencement of the Series of Early Essayists— Thackeray as a Lecturer—The 'English Humourists of the Eighteenth Century'—Charlotte Brontë at Thackeray's Readings—The Lectures repeated in Edinburgh—An invitation to visit America—Transatlantic popularity—Special success attending the reception of the 'English Humourists' in the States—'Week-day Preachers'—Enthusiastic Farewell—Appleton's New York edition of Thackeray's Works; the Author's introduction, and remarks on International Copyright—Thackeray's departure—Cordial impression bequeathed to America —The 'History of Henry Esmonde, a story of Queen Anne's Reign'—The writers of the Augustan Era—The 'Newcomes'—An allusion to George Washington misunderstood—A second visit to America—Lectures on the 'Four Georges'—The series repeated at home— Scotch sympathy—Thackeray proposed as a candidate to represent Oxford in Parliament—His liberal views and impartiality 171 CHAPTER X.
- 76. Curious Authors from Thackeray's Library, indicating the course of his Readings—Early Essayists illustrated with the Humourist's Pencillings—Bishop Earle's 'Microcosmography; a piece of the World Characterised,' 1628—An 'Essay in Defence of the Female Sex,' 1697—Thackeray's Interest in Works on the Spiritual World—'Flagellum Dæmonum, et Fustis Dæmonum. Auctore R. P. F. Hieronymo Mengo,' 1727 —'La Magie et L'Astrologie,' par L. F. Alfred Maury —'Magic, Witchcraft, Animal Magnetism, Hypnotism, and Electro Biology,' by James Baird, 1852 186 CHAPTER XI. ENGLISH ESSAYISTS OF THE GEORGIAN ERA. Early Essayists whose Writings have furnished Thackeray with the Accessories of Portions of his Novels and Lectures—Works from the Novelist's Library, elucidating his Course of Reading for the Preparation of his 'Lectures'—'Henry Esmond,' 'The Virginians,' &c.— Characteristic Passages from the Lucubrations of the Essayists of the Augustan Era illustrated with original Marginal Sketches, suggested by the Text, by Thackeray's hand—The 'Tatler'—Its History and Influence—Reforms introduced by the purer Style of the Essayists—The Literature of Queen Anne's Reign— Thackeray's Love for the Writings of the Period—His Gift of reproducing their masterly and simple style of Composition; their Irony, and playful Humour—Extracts from notable Essays; illustrated with original Pencillings from the Series of the 'Tatler,' 1709 221
- 77. CHAPTER XII. THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THE EARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued. Extracts of Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Humourists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated with Original Marginal Sketches by the Author's hand—The Series of The 'Guardian,' 1713—Introduction—Steele's Programme—Authors who contributed to the 'Guardian'—Paragraphs and Pencillings 275 CHAPTER XIII. THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THE EARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued. Characteristic passages from the Works of Humorous Writers of the 'Era of the Georges,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated with original Marginal Sketches by the Author's hand—The 'Humourist,' 1724—Extracts and Pencillings 299 CHAPTER XIV. THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THE EARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued. Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Humourists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand, with Marginal Sketches suggested by the Text—The 'World,' 1753—Introduction—Its Difference from the Earlier Essays—Distinguished Authors who contributed to the 'World'—Paragraphs and Pencillings 318
- 78. CHAPTER XV. THACKERAY'S FAMILIARITY WITH THE WRITINGS OF THE SATIRICAL ESSAYISTS—Continued. Characteristic Passages from the compositions of the 'Early Humourists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand with original Marginal Sketches suggested by the Text—The 'Connoisseur,' 1754— Introduction—Review of Contributors—Paragraphs and Pencillings 357 CHAPTER XVI. THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THE EARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued. Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Humourists,' from Thackeray's Library; illustrated by the Author's hand with Marginal Sketches suggested by the Text—The 'Rambler,' 1749-50—Introduction—Its Author, Dr. Johnson—Paragraphs and Pencillings 370 CHAPTER XVII. THACKERAY'S FAMILIARITY WITH THE WRITINGS OF THE SATIRICAL ESSAYISTS—Continued. Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Early Humourists,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand with original Marginal Sketches suggested by the Text—The 'Mirror,' Edinburgh, 1779- 80—Introduction—The Society in which the 'Mirror,' and 'Lounger' originated—Notice of Contributors— Paragraphs and Pencillings 408
- 79. CHAPTER XVIII. Thackeray as an Illustrator—The 'North British Review' on Thackeray—Illustrations to 'Men of Character'—'The Whitey-brown Paper Magazine'—'Comic Tales,' illustrated by Thackeray—Allusions to Caricature Drawing found throughout his writings—Skits on Fashion—Titmarsh on 'Men and Clothes'—Bohemianism in youth—Hatred of Conventionality—Sketches of Contemporary Habits and Manners—Imaginative Illustrations to Romances—Skill in Ludicrous Parody— Burlesque of the 'Official Handbook of Court and State' 436 CHAPTER XIX. Thackeray as a Traveller—Journey in Youth from India to England—Little Travels at Home—Sojourn in Germany— French Trips—Residence in Paris—Studies in Rome— Sketches and Scribblings in Guide-Books—Little Tours and Wayside Studies—Brussels—Ghent and the Béguines—Bruges—Croquis in Murray's 'Handbooks to the Continent'—Up the Rhine—'From Cornhill to Grand Cairo'—Journeys to America—Switzerland—'A Leaf out of a Sketch-Book'—The Grisons—Verona—'Roundabout Journeys'—Belgium and Holland 465 CHAPTER XX. Commencement of the 'Cornhill Magazine'—'Roundabout Papers'—'Lovel the Widower'—The 'Adventures of Philip on his Way through the World'—Lectures on the 'Four Georges'—Editorial Penalties—The 'Thorn in the Cushion'—Harass from disappointed Contributors— Vexatious Correspondents—Withdrawal from the 488
- 80. arduous post of Editor—Building of Thackeray's House in Kensington Palace Gardens—Christmas 1863—Death of the great Novelist—The unfinished Work— Circumstances of the Author's last Illness—His Death THACKERAYANA.
- 81. View of Life as seen through the Charterhouse Gates CHAPTER I. Voyage from India—Touching at St. Helena—School days at the Charterhouse— Early Reminiscences—Sketches in School Books—Boyish Scribblings—Favourite Fictions—Youthful Caricatures—Souvenirs of the Play. The fondness of Thackeray for lingering amidst the scenes of a boy's daily life in a public grammar school, has generally been attributed to his early education at the Charterhouse, that celebrated monastic-looking establishment in the neighbourhood of Smithfield, which he scarcely disguised from his readers as the original of the familiar 'Greyfriars' of his works of fiction. Most of our novelists have given us in various forms their school reminiscences; but none have produced them so frequently, or dwelt upon them with such manifest bias towards the subject, as the author of 'Vanity Fair,' 'The Newcomes,' and 'The
- 82. Adventures of Philip.' It is pleasing to think that this habit, which Thackeray was well aware had been frequently censured by his critics as carried to excess, was, like his partiality for the times of Queen Anne and the Georges, in some degree due to the traditional reverence of his family for the memory of their great-grandfather, Dr. Thomas Thackeray, the well-remembered head-master of Harrow. An Exile A Sentry Sketches of Indian life and Anglo-Indians generally are abundantly interspersed through Mr. Thackeray's writings, but he left India too early to have profited much by Indian experiences. He is said, however, to have retained so strong an impression of the scene of his early childhood, as to have wished in later life to revisit it, and recall such things as were still remembered by him. In his seventh year he was sent to England, and when the ship touched at St. Helena, he was taken up to have a glimpse of Bowood, and there saw that great Captain at whose name the rulers of the earth had so often trembled. It is remarkable that in his little account of the second funeral of Napoleon, which he witnessed in Paris in 1840, no
- 83. allusion to this fact appears; but he himself has described it in one of his latest works—the lectures on 'The Four Georges,' first delivered in the United States in 1855-56, and afterwards described by the Athenæum as 'an airy, humorous, and brilliant picture of English life and manners, produced by honest reading out of many books, and lighted with the glow of individual sympathy and intellect.' A highly respectabl e Member of Society A Master of Arts We fancy that Thackeray was placed under the protection of his grandfather, William Makepeace Thackeray, who had settled with a good fortune, the fruit of his industry in India, at Hadley, near Chipping Barnet, a little village, in the churchyard of which lies buried the once-read Mrs. Chapone, the authoress of the 'Letters on the Improvement of the Mind,' the correspondent of Richardson, and the intimate friend of the learned Mrs. Carter and other blue- stocking ladies of that time.
- 84. A Man of Letters In the course of time—we believe in his twelfth year —Thackeray was sent to the Charterhouse School, and remained there as a boarder in the house of Mr. Penny. He appears in the Charterhouse records for the year 1822 as a boy on the tenth form. In the next year we find him promoted to the seventh form; in 1824 to the fifth; and in 1828, when he had become a day-boy, or one residing with his friends, we find him in the honourable positions of a first-form boy and one of the monitors of the school. He was, however, never chosen as one of the orators, or those who speak the oration on the Founder's Day, nor does he appear among the writers of the Charterhouse odes, which have been collected and printed from time to time in a small volume. We need feel no surprise that Thackeray's ambition did not lead him to seek this sort of distinction; like most keen humorists, he preferred exercising his powers of satire in burlesquing these somewhat trite compositions to contributing seriously to swell their numbers. Prize poems ever yielded the novelist a delightful field for his sarcasms. Early efforts at Drawing While pursuing his studies at 'Smiffle,' as the Carthusians were pleased to style 'Greyfriars,' Thackeray gave abundant evidences of the gifts that were in him. He scribbled juvenile verses, towards the close of his school days, displaying taste for the healthy sarcasm
- 85. which afterwards became one of his distinctive qualities, at the expense of the prosaic compositions set down as school verses. In one of his class books, 'Thucydides,' with his autograph, 'Charter House, 1827,' are scribbled two verses in which the tender passion is treated somewhat realistically:— Love 's like a mutton chop, Soon it grows cold; All its attractions hop Ere it grows old. Love 's like the cholic sure, Both painful to endure; Brandy 's for both a cure, So I've been told. When for some fair the swain Burns with desire, In Hymen's fatal chain Eager to try her, He weds as soon as he can, And jumps—unhappy man— Out of the frying pan Into the fire. As to the humorist's pencil, even throughout these early days, it must have been an unfailing source of delight, not only to the owner but to the companions of his form. 'Draw us some pictures,' the boys would say; and straightway down popped a caricature of a master on slate or exercise paper. Then school books were brought into requisition, and the fly-leaves were adorned with whimsical travesties of the subjects of their contents. Abbé Barthélemy's 'Travels of Anacharsis the Younger' suggested the figure of a
- 86. 'A Gingham' wandering minstrel, with battered hat and dislocated flageolet, piping his way through the world in the dejected fashion in which those forlorn pilgrims might have presented themselves to the charitable dwellers in Charterhouse Square; while Anacharsis, Junior, habited in classic guise, was sent (pictorially) tramping the high road from Scythia to Athens, with stick and bundle over his back, a wallet at his side, sporting a family umbrella of the defunct 'gingham' species as a staff, and furnished with lace-up hob-nailed boots of the shape, size, and weight popularly approved by navvies. Then Ainsworth's Latin Dictionary was turned into a sketch book, and supplemented with studies of head-masters, early conceptions of Roman warriors, primitive Carthusians indulging disrespectful gestures, known as 'sights,' at the rears of respectable governors, and boys of the neighbouring 'blue coat' foundation, their costume completed with the addition of a fool's or dunce's long-eared cap. Fantastic designs, even when marked by the early graphic talent which Thackeray's rudest scribblings display, are apt to entail unpleasant consequences when discovered in school-books, and greater attractions were held out by works of fiction. In a state of suspense
- 87. Pages of knight-errantry were the things for inspiration: Quixote, Orlando Furioso, Valentine and Orson, the Seven Champions, Cyrus the Grand (and interminable), mystic and chivalrous legends, quite forgotten in our generation, but which, in Thackeray's boyhood, were considered fascinating reading;—quaint romances, Italian, Spanish, and Persian tales, familiar enough in those days, and oft referred to, with accents of tender regret, in the reminiscences of the great novelist. What charms did the 'Arabian Nights' hold out for his kindling imagination,—how frequently were its heroes and its episodes brought in to supply some apt allusion in his later writings! It seems that Thackeray's pencil never tired of his favourite stories in the 'Thousand and One Nights,' precious to him for preserving ever green the impressions of boyhood. How numerous his unpublished designs from these tales, those who treasure his numberless and diversified sketches can alone tell. We see the thrilling episode of 'Ali Baba' perched among the branches, while the robbers bear their spoil to the mysterious cave, repeated with unvarying interest, and each time with some fresh point of humour to give value to the slight tracings.
- 88. Blueskin Fancy sketch A worthy Cit A Grey Friar 'Make us some faces,' his school-companions would cry. 'Whom will you have? name your friends,' says the young artist. Perhaps one young rogue, with a schoolboy's taste for personalities, will cry, 'Old Buggins;' and the junior Buggins blushes and fidgets as the ideal presentment of his progenitor is rapidly dashed off and held up to the appreciation of a circle of rapturous critics. 'Now,' says the wounded youngster, glad to retaliate, 'you remember old Figgins' pater when he brought Old Figs back and forgot to tip—draw him!' and a faithful portraiture of that economic civic ornament is produced from recollection. The gallery of family portraits is doubtless successfully exhausted, and each of the boys who
- 89. love books, calls for a different favourite of fiction, or the designer exercises his budding fancy in summoning monks, Turks, ogres, bandits, highwaymen, and other heroes, traditional or imaginary, from that wonderful well of his, which, in after years, was to pour out so frankly from its rich reservoirs for the recreation, and improvement too, of an audience more numerous, but perhaps less enthusiastic, than that which surrounded him at Greyfriars. Virtue triumphant Holidays came, and with them the chance of visiting the theatres. Think of the plays in fashion between 1820 and '30; what juvenile rejoicings over the moral drama, over the wicked earl unmasked in the last Act, the persecuted maiden triumphant, and virtue's defenders rewarded. Recall the pieces in vogue in those early days, to which the novelist refers with constant pleasure; how does he write of nautical melodramas, of 'Black Ey'd Seusan,' and such simply constructed pieces as he has parodied in the pages of 'Punch:' such as Theodore Hook is described hitting off on the piano after dinner. Think of Sadler's Wells, and the real water, turned on from the New River adjacent. Remember Astley's, and its gallant
- 90. Welcome to our website – the perfect destination for book lovers and knowledge seekers. We believe that every book holds a new world, offering opportunities for learning, discovery, and personal growth. That’s why we are dedicated to bringing you a diverse collection of books, ranging from classic literature and specialized publications to self-development guides and children's books. More than just a book-buying platform, we strive to be a bridge connecting you with timeless cultural and intellectual values. With an elegant, user-friendly interface and a smart search system, you can quickly find the books that best suit your interests. Additionally, our special promotions and home delivery services help you save time and fully enjoy the joy of reading. Join us on a journey of knowledge exploration, passion nurturing, and personal growth every day! ebookbell.com