scholarly journals Walking on Visual Illusions

i-Perception ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 204166952098110
Author(s):  
Greig Dickson ◽  
Daria Burtan ◽  
Shelley James ◽  
David Phillips ◽  
Jasmina Stevanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Architectural Design ◽  
Visual Illusion ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Built Environments ◽  
Control Pattern ◽  
3D Effects ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Impact

In nature, sensory and physical characteristics of the environment tend to match; for example, a surface that looks bumpy is bumpy. In human-built environments, they often don’t. Here, we report observations from people exploring if mismatch between visual and physical characteristics affected their perceived walking experience. Participants walked across four flat floors, each comprising of a visual illusion: two patterns perceived as alternating 3D “furrows and ridges,” the Primrose Field illusion, and a variant of the Cafe Wall illusion as a control pattern without perceived 3D effects. Participants found all patterns intriguing to look at; some describing them as “playful” or “gentle.” More than half found some of the patterns uncomfortable to walk on, aversive, affecting walking stability, and occasionally even evoking fear of falling. These experiences raise crucial research questions for the vision sciences into the impact of architectural design on well-being and walkability.

scholarly journals The Impact of the Physical Environment on Intrapartum Maternity Care: Identification of Eight Crucial Building Spaces

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 67-98
Author(s):  
Nicoletta Setola ◽  
Eletta Naldi ◽  
Grazia Giulia Cocina ◽  
Liv Bodil Eide ◽  
Laura Iannuzzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maternity Care ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Interdisciplinary Studies ◽  
Room Size ◽  
Direct And Indirect Impacts ◽  
Indirect Impacts ◽  
The Impact

Objectives, Purpose, or Aim: This article investigates whether the physical environment in which childbirth occurs impacts the intrapartum intervention rates and how this might happen. The study explores the spatial physical characteristics that can support the design of spaces to promote the health and well-being of women, their supporters, and maternity care professionals. Background: Medical interventions during childbirth have consequences for the health of women and babies in the immediate and long term. The increase in interventions is multifactorial and may be influenced by the model of care adopted, the relationships between caregivers and the organizational culture, which is made up of many factors, including the built environment. In the field of birth architecture research, there is a gap in the description of the physical characteristics of birth environments that impact users’ health. Method: A scoping review on the topic was performed to understand the direct and indirect impacts of the physical environment on birth intervention rates. Results and Discussion: The findings are organized into three tables reporting the influence that the physical characteristics of a space might have on people’s behaviors, experiences, practices and birth health outcomes. Eight building spaces that require further investigation and research were highlighted: unit layout configuration, midwives’ hub/desk, social room, birth philosophy vectors, configuration of the birth room, size and shape of the birth room, filter, and sensory elements. Conclusions: The findings show the importance of considering the physical environment in maternity care and that further interdisciplinary studies focused on architectural design are needed to enrich the knowledge and evidence on this topic and to develop accurate recommendations for designers.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Design in Architectural Education: Designing the First Maggie’s Centre in Israel

2021 ◽  
pp. 193758672110079
Author(s):  
Nirit Putievsky Pilosof ◽  
Yasha Jacob Grobman
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Architectural Education ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Architecture Education ◽  
The Impact

Objective The study examines the integration of the Evidence-based Design (EBD) approach in healthcare architecture education in the context of an academic design studio. Background Previous research addressed the gap between scientific research and architectural practice and the lack of research on the use of the EBD approach in architectural education. Methods The research examines an undergraduate architectural studio to design a Maggie’s Centre for cancer care in Israel and evaluates the impact of the EBD approach on the design process and design outcomes. The research investigates the impact of the integration of three predesign tasks: (1) literature review of healing architecture research, (2) analysis and comparison of existing Maggie’s Centres, and (3) analysis of the context of the design project. Results The literature review of scientific research supported the conceptual design and development of the projects. The analysis of existing Maggie’s centers, which demonstrated the interpretation of the evidence by different architects, developed the students’ ability to evaluate EBD in practice critically, and the study of the projects’ local context led the students to define the relevance of the evidence to support their vision for the project. Conclusions The research demonstrates the advantages of practicing EBD at an early stage in healthcare architectural education to enhance awareness of the impact of architectural design on the users’ health and well-being and the potential to support creativity and innovative design. More studies in design studios are needed to assess the full impact of integrating EBD in architectural education.

scholarly journals Moderated Online Social Therapy: Viewpoint on the Ethics and Design Principles of a Web-Based Therapy System (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon D'Alfonso ◽  
Jessica Phillips ◽  
Lee Valentine ◽  
John Gleeson ◽  
Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Strategic Design ◽  
Holistic Concept ◽  
Ethical Design ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Made In

UNSTRUCTURED The modern omnipresence of social media and social networking sites (SNSs) brings with it a range of important research questions. One of these concerns the impact of SNS use on mental health and well-being, a question that has been pursued in depth by scholars in the psychological sciences and the field of human-computer interaction. Despite this attention, the design choices made in the development of SNSs and the notion of well-being employed to evaluate such systems require further scrutiny. In this viewpoint paper, we examine the strategic design choices made in our development of an enclosed SNS for young people experiencing mental ill-health in terms of ethical and persuasive design and in terms of how it fosters well-being. In doing so, we critique the understanding of well-being that is used in much of the existing literature to make claims about the impact of a given technology on well-being. We also demonstrate how the holistic concept of eudaimonic well-being and ethical design of SNSs can complement one another.

scholarly journals A post-occupancy evaluation of the influence of wood on environmental comfort

BioResources ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 8704-8724
Author(s):  
Mélanie Watchman ◽  
André Potvin ◽  
Claude M. H. Demers
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Built Environments ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Post Occupancy Evaluation ◽  
Natural Building ◽  
Physical Comfort ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Wood Surfaces

Emerging research on the impact of interior finishes, more specifically wood, is beginning to shed light on informed design opportunities. As a natural building material with unique features, wood creates warm and pleasant atmospheres and has the potential of enhancing the well-being of occupants. This research attempted to better understand how occupants perceive wood in built environments and whether its indoor use influenced the satisfaction of occupants. The comfort of occupants may have been influenced by factors that were unrelated to the indoor environmental quality, which caused difficulties in comparing interior finishes in existing environments and limited research in this field. An exploratory comparative study, within a post-occupancy evaluation framework, investigated the subjective perception of occupants in relation to physical comfort factors. Thirty-six occupants completed a questionnaire to examine comfort satisfaction in a multifunctional room with extensive wooden interior finishes in comparison with a similar space without wood surfaces. The results indicated that occupants were more satisfied in the extensive wood surfaced room in terms of lighting, noise, and temperature, despite the similar environmental conditions in both spaces. Adjectives often used to describe the wood room included bright, pleasant, modern, and warm. Architects should consider the subjective qualities of wood when designing comfortable buildings.

The impact of accommodative coping on well-being in childhood and adolescence

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Thomsen ◽  
Viktoria Fritz ◽  
Regine Mößle ◽  
Werner Greve
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Prognostic Impact ◽  
Buffering Effect ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stress And Health

Coping research has consistently shown that accommodative coping is positively correlated with individuals’ health. Until now, however, there have been little to no studies on the prognostic impact of accommodative coping on health, and only a few studies investigating its buffering effect on the relation between stress and health in childhood and adolescence. Thus, two main research questions were tracked in two longitudinal studies: Study 1 investigated if accommodative coping is indeed a functional resource that longitudinally predicts well-being in a sample of N = 403 adolescents (aged 12–15 years at Wave 1). Study 2 examined the function of accommodative coping under stressful conditions by investigating its buffering effect on the negative impact of school-related stress on well-being in a sample of N = 86 children (aged 9–12 years at Wave 1). Study 1 revealed accommodative coping longitudinally predicting well-being, and, conversely, there was no prediction of well-being through accommodative coping over time. Study 2 revealed a significant moderating effect and gives a first indication that accommodative coping buffers the negative impact of school-related stress on well-being in childhood. The results indicate that accommodation is a functional coping resource in adolescence that diminishes the negative impact of specific stressors. All main and further results are discussed, and implications for further research are given.

Functionality and Risk of Falls in Elders Followed in a Day Care Center in Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-322
Author(s):  
Igor de Matos Pinheiro ◽  
Crésio Alves
Keyword(s):  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Day Care ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Day Services ◽  
The Impact

Adult day centers provide comprehensive care for older adults and may enhance autonomy, well-being, and socialization. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the impact of such multidisciplinary day care on functionality, fear of falling, and risk of falls in community elders. Fifty-two seniors who attended day services were followed for 1 year. During the year, the adults maintained functionality for activities of daily living, presented improvement in instrumental activities of daily living, and no longer presented high risk for falls. No association was found between the risk of falling and fear of falling, however. Results are discussed in terms of the positive outcomes of attending day services.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of the stranded seafarers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Pong Wong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Working Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Key Worker

PurposeThis study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being and mental health of the seafarers who had to overstay on ships after their contracts expired, identifies topics that affect their mental distress, and recommends measures to overcome these.Design/methodology/approachFour research questions about the impacts on the seafarers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were raised. A literature review and a questionnaire survey were conducted to find answers. Ship officers were asked to assess and fill in the questionnaires for the stranded seafarers onboard in order to collect sufficient samples rapidly for this study.FindingsDespite the guidelines provided by the shipping companies are adequate to protect the seafarers from COVID-19, their mental distress levels have been worsened under the pandemic. The crew change crisis causes anxiety and negatively impacts on their working performance; however, the repatriation expectation of the stranded seafarers is of the highest concern. Three topics were identified as having impacts on the mental health of the stranded seafarers: crew change crisis, low vaccination rate, and the lack of key worker recognition. While international stakeholders are advocating for support in these issues, the shipping companies and the seafarers need to do their parts to exacerbate the mental distress, and to survive and thrive beyond the pandemic.Originality/valueThe findings of this study will help the shipping companies to navigate the challenges, and the seafarers to overcome issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Glazing Sizing in Large Atrium Buildings: A Perspective of Balancing Daylight Quantity and Visual Comfort

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Li ◽  
Qichao Ban ◽  
Xueming Chen ◽  
Jiawei Yao
Keyword(s):  
Architectural Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Simulation Method ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Visual Comfort ◽  
Building Height ◽  
Annual Dynamic ◽  
Daylight Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Atrium Buildings

Due to the multiple benefits on energy, well-being, comfort, and the economy, the utilization of daylight remains an imperative topic of architectural design. With the remarkable ability of drawing and increasing daylight deep into the core of buildings, atriums with a large proportion of glazing have become one of the most preferred design forms. The concomitant and unexpected visual discomfort in modern buildings, however, has drawn increasing concerns. Therefore, this study investigated the relation between glazing proportion and daylight performance, as well as the impact of building height and atrium types on daylight performance in atrium buildings by using an annual dynamic simulation method and metrics. It was found that extending glazing proportion had prominent effectiveness in the enhancement of daylighting; building height had a negative influence; round and square types of buildings performed much better than rectangular ones. Moreover, to inform a practical design, we analyzed the link between increasing daylight and visual comfort from the perspective of balancing them, and then proposed a design guide for atrium roof-glazing sizing.

scholarly journals Built environments for inpatient stroke rehabilitation services and care: a systematic literature review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e050247
Author(s):  
Ruby Lipson-Smith ◽  
Luis Pflaumer ◽  
Marie Elf ◽  
Sarah-May Blaschke ◽  
Aaron Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Stroke Rehabilitation ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Built Environments ◽  
Rehabilitation Facilities ◽  
Communal Areas ◽  
The Impact

ObjectivesTo identify, appraise and synthesise existing design evidence for inpatient stroke rehabilitation facilities; to identify impacts of these built environments on the outcomes and experiences of people recovering from stroke, their family/caregivers and staff.DesignA convergent segregated review design was used to conduct a systematic review.Data sourcesOvid MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched for articles published between January 2000 and November 2020.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesQualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies investigating the impact of the built environment of inpatient rehabilitation facilities on stroke survivors, their family/caregivers and/or staff.Data extraction and synthesisTwo authors separately completed the title, abstract, full-text screening, data extraction and quality assessment. Extracted data were categorised according to the aspect of the built environment explored and the outcomes reported. These categories were used to structure a narrative synthesis of the results from all included studies.ResultsTwenty-four articles were included, most qualitative and exploratory. Half of the included articles investigated a particular aspect of the built environment, including environmental enrichment and communal areas (n=8), bedroom design (n=3) and therapy spaces (n=1), while the other half considered the environment in general. Findings related to one or more of the following outcome categories: (1) clinical outcomes, (2) patient activity, (3) patient well-being, (4) patient and/or staff safety and (5) clinical practice. Heterogeneous designs and variables of interest meant results could not be compared, but some repeated findings suggest that attractive and accessible communal areas are important for patient activity and well-being.ConclusionsStroke rehabilitation is a unique healthcare context where patient activity, practice and motivation are paramount. We found many evidence gaps that with more targeted research could better inform the design of rehabilitation spaces to optimise care.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020158006.

scholarly journals Moderated Online Social Therapy: Viewpoint on the Ethics and Design Principles of a Web-Based Therapy System

10.2196/14866 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. e14866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon D'Alfonso ◽  
Jessica Phillips ◽  
Lee Valentine ◽  
John Gleeson ◽  
Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Strategic Design ◽  
Holistic Concept ◽  
Ethical Design ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Made In

The modern omnipresence of social media and social networking sites (SNSs) brings with it a range of important research questions. One of these concerns the impact of SNS use on mental health and well-being, a question that has been pursued in depth by scholars in the psychological sciences and the field of human-computer interaction. Despite this attention, the design choices made in the development of SNSs and the notion of well-being employed to evaluate such systems require further scrutiny. In this viewpoint paper, we examine the strategic design choices made in our development of an enclosed SNS for young people experiencing mental ill-health in terms of ethical and persuasive design and in terms of how it fosters well-being. In doing so, we critique the understanding of well-being that is used in much of the existing literature to make claims about the impact of a given technology on well-being. We also demonstrate how the holistic concept of eudaimonic well-being and ethical design of SNSs can complement one another.

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