scholarly journals Editorial

Author(s):  
Maryory Astrid Gómez Botero ◽  
Sebastián Isaza Ramírez

The world's population increases every year and resources are limited, consequently the humanity faces the need to reinvent the way of living. As population grows, it is expected that in the coming years, the majority of people will live in urban areas. Thus urgent need to have cities where the well-being of people and the sustainability of the environment can be guaranteed [1]. In the last decade, the integration of sensor technologies, mobile internet, and information technology, has allowed the development of countless systems seeking to achieve the aforementioned objectives for the cities of the future. A Smart City can be defined as one that is able to take advantage of its own data, produced during its daily operation, in order to generate new information that allows it to improve its management and be more sustainable, more competitive, and offer better quality of life, thanks to participation and collaboration of all agents involved [2].

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 730-744
Author(s):  
V.I. Loktionov

Subject. The article reviews the way strategic threats to energy security influence the quality of people's life. Objectives. The study unfolds the theory of analyzing strategic threats to energy security by covering the matter of quality of people's life. Methods. To analyze the way strategic threats to energy security spread across cross-sectoral commodity and production chains and influences quality of people's living, I applied the factor analysis and general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis. Results. I suggest interpreting strategic threats to energy security as risks of people's quality of life due to a reduction in the volume of energy supply. I identified mechanisms reflecting how the fuel and energy complex and its development influence the quality of people's life. The article sets out the method to assess such quality-of-life risks arising from strategic threats to energy security. Conclusions and Relevance. In the current geopolitical situation, strategic threats to energy security cause long-standing adverse consequences for the quality of people's life. If strategic threats to energy security are further construed as risk of quality of people's life, this will facilitate the preparation and performance of a more effective governmental policy on energy, which will subsequently raise the economic well-being of people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daren K. Heyland ◽  
J. Paige Pope ◽  
Xuran Jiang ◽  
Andrew G. Day

Abstract Background People are living longer than ever before. However, with living longer comes increased problems that negatively impact on quality of life and the quality of death. Tools are needed to help individuals assess whether they are practicing the best attitudes and behaviors that are associated with a future long life, high quality of life, high quality of death and a satisfying post-death legacy. The purpose of paper is to describe the process we used to develop a novel questionnaire (“Preparedness for the Future Questionnaire™ or Prep FQ”) and to define its psychometric properties. Methods Using a multi-step development procedure, items were generated, for the new questionnaire after which the psychometric properties were tested with a heterogeneous sample of 502 Canadians. Using an online polling panel, respondents were asked to complete demographic questions as well as the Prep-FQ, Global Rating of Life Satisfaction, the Keyes Psychological Well-Being scale and the Short-Form 12. Results The final version of the questionnaire contains 34 items in 8 distinct domains (“Medico-legal”, “Social”, “Psychological Well-being”, “Planning”, “Enrichment”, “Positive Health Behaviors”, “Negative Health Behaviors”, and “Late-life Planning”). We observed minimum missing data and good usage of all response options. The average overall Prep FQ score is 51.2 (SD = 13.3). The Cronbach alphas assessing internal reliability for the Prep FQ domains ranged from 0.33 to 0.88. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) used to assess the test–retest reliability had an overall score of 0.87. For the purposes of establishing construct validity, all the pre-specified relationships between Prep FQ and the other questionnaires were met. Conclusion Analyses of this novel measure offered support for its face validity, construct validity, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency. With the development of this useful and valid scale, future research can utilize this measure to engage people in the process of comprehensively assessing and improving their state of preparedness for the future, tracking their progress along the way. Ultimately, this program of research aims to improve the quality and quantity of peoples live by helping them ‘think ahead’ and ‘plan ahead’ on the aspects of their daily life that matter to their future.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 152-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Russell Hoverman

The oncology community has found that communication is key to the patient's quality of life, the well-being of family members, hospice enrollment, and costs. The challenge is to make these conversations happen.


2021 ◽  
pp. 237-252
Author(s):  
Elena Laudante

The paper focuses on the importance of robotics and artificial intelligence inside of the new urban contexts in which it is possible to consider and enhance the different dimensions of quality of life such as safety and health, environmental quality, social connection and civic participation. Smart technologies help cities to meet the new challenges of society, thus making them more livable, attractive and responsive in order to plan and to improve the city of the future. In accordance with the Agenda 2030 Program for sustainable development that intends the inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable city, the direction of growth and prosperity of urban environments is pursued by optimizing the use of resources and respecting the environment. In the current society, robotic technology is proposed as a tool for innovation and evolution in urban as well as industrial and domestic contexts. On the one hand the users-citizens who participate dynamically in the activities and on the other the new technological systems integrated in the urban fabric. Existing urban systems that are “amplified” of artificial and digital intelligence and give life to smart cities, physical places that allow new forms of coexistence between humans and robots in order to implement the level of quality of life and define “human centered” innovative solutions and services thus responding to the particular needs of people in an effective and dynamic way. The current city goes beyond the definition of smart city. In fact, as said by Carlo Ratti, it becomes a "senseable city", a city capable of feeling but also sensitive and capable of responding to citizens who define the overall performance of the city. The multidisciplinary approach through the dialogue between designers, architects, engineers and urban planners will allow to face the new challenges through the dynamics of robot integration in the urban landscape. The cities of the future, in fact, will be pervaded by autonomous driving vehicles, robotized delivery systems and light transport solutions, in response to the new concept of smart mobility, on a human scale, shared and connected mobility in order to improve management and control of the digitized and smart city. Automation at constant rates as the keystone for urban futures and new models of innovative society. Through the identification of representative case studies in the field of innovative systems it will be possible to highlight the connections between design, smart city and "urban" robotics that will synergically highlight the main "desirable" qualities of life in the city as a place of experimentation and radical transformations. In particular, parallel to the new robotic solutions and human-robot interactions, the design discipline will be responsible for designing the total experience of the user who lives in synergy with the robots, thus changing the socio-economic dynamics of the city.


Author(s):  
Hany M. Hassan ◽  
Mark R. Ferguson ◽  
Saiedeh Razavi ◽  
Brenda Vrkljan

Accessible and safe mobility is critical for those aged 65 years and older to maintain their health, quality of life, and well-being. Being able to move beyond one’s home and participate in activities in older adulthood requires consideration of both transportation needs and preferences. This paper aims to address a gap in evidence with respect to understanding factors that can affect older adults’ perceptions and willingness to use autonomous vehicles. In addition, it examines how these factors compare with those of younger adults to better understand the potential implications of this technology on mobility and quality of life. Using responses of those aged 65+ to a national survey of Canadians, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to identify and quantify factors significantly associated with older adults’ willingness to use autonomous vehicles. The SEM results suggest that factors such as using other modes of transit (e.g., sharing rides as passenger, bicycle, public transit, commuter rail, ride and car sharing) as well as distance traveled by automobile, income, gender (being male), and living in urban areas, were all positively associated with older adults’ perceptions of using autonomous driving features. The findings also suggest that older Canadians are more concerned about autonomous vehicles than younger Canadians. This study provides valuable insights into factors that can affect the preferences of Canadians when it comes to autonomous technology in their automobiles. Such results can inform the way in which transportation systems are designed to ensure the needs of users are considered across both age and ability.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 73-83
Author(s):  
Zurisaddai De la Cruz Severiche ◽  
Oscar Andrés Guevara Guevara

Resumen: El crecimiento de la población en las zonas urbanas es una dificultad que se genera a nivel mundial y que requiere de tácticas que permitan contrarrestar sus efectos. Las ciudades inteligentes son vistas como una excelente solución a esta problemática ya que genera soluciones viables al apoyarse en la tecnología para gestionar diversos aspectos dentro de los que se incluye el entorno urbano. Este trabajo presenta una revisión de investigaciones que involucran la gestión urbana dentro de las ciudades inteligentes. Analizando el papel que cumple la gestión urbana dentro las ciudades inteligentes, lo que nos muestra que la gestión urbana apoyada de las TIC coopera visiblemente en la conformación de las ciudades inteligentes logrando mejorar la calidad de vida de sus habitantes. ___Palabras clave: ciudad inteligente, gestión urbana, planificación urbana, TIC. ___Abstract: Population growth in urban areas is a wordwide-generated difficulty and requires of tactics to counteract its effects. Smart cities are seen as an excellent solution to this problem, because they generate viable solutions to rely on technology to manage various aspects within which the urban environment is included. This paper presents a review of research involving urban management in smart cities. Analyzing the role that urban management accomplishes in smart cities, which shows that urban management supported by ICT visibly cooperates in shaping smart cities managing to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. ___Keywords: smart city, urban management, urban planning, TIC. ___Recibido: 11 de agosto de 2015. aceptado: 02 de octubre de 2015.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-79
Author(s):  
Mateus de De Freitas Barreiro

Este artigo tem o objetivo de apresentar como a Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho (QVT) pode ser inserida em mercados competitivos, como o das organizações de Tecnologia da informação (TI) que comumente tem dificuldades para reter talentos. Quando a QVT é trabalhada sob uma óptica preventiva, que se contrapõem as visões assistencialistas e hegemônicas, a QVT poderá ser uma ferramenta que interfere diretamente na motivação dos colaboradores, levando a uma maior eficiência e eficácia organizacional, sendo um dos diferenciais para o êxito nos negócios e no bem-estar dos colaboradores. Esta pesquisa visa focar especificamente a QVT à luz do método de Walton, a partir de um estudo de caso sobre uma microempresa de TI no interior do Estado de São Paulo.Palavras-Chave: Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho. Método de Walton. Tecnologia da informação. Abstract: This article aims to present itself as the Quality of Life at Work (QVT) can be inserted in competitive markets, such as the Information Technology (IT) organizations that commonly have difficulty retaining talent. When QVT is crafted under a preventive approach, which counteracts the paternalistic and hegemonic visions, QVT can be a tool that directly affects the motivation of employees, leading to greater organizational efficiency and effectiveness, one of the advantages for success in business and well-being of employees. This research aims to focus specifically QVT the light of Walton method, from a case study of an IT microenterprise in the state of São Paulo.Keywords: Quality of Life at Work. Walton method. Information Technology.


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd Rani

Local services and facilities in residential neighbourhoods play an important role towards the social sustainability of local residents. It is believed that having good provision and access to these local services and facilities would contribute significantly to the quality of life and residents’ well-being. The form of the neighbourhood influences the way people live in the neighbourhood. The way people settle in neighbourhood’s shapes the quality of life, the richness of the local economy, the level of social cohesion, the level of safety and the amount and the kind of human activities in public spaces. Different urban forms can have very different degrees of sustainability. Density is one of the urban form elements that have been research numerous times and proven to have an influence on the neighbourhood sustainability. Density is the most easily measured urban form element either at a macro level (city) or micro level (neighbourhood). This research discusses the impact of density on the micro scale through estimating its influence on access to local facilities. Through the use of household survey and supported by observation survey, this study findings on the impact of density on access and use of local facilities. The study concludes with establishing the findings of the survey to reflect and fit into the body of knowledge and how it would improve the guidelines and policy on social sustainability in improving the urban living as a whole.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 520-528
Author(s):  
Andrzej Wieczorek

Abstract In the article the way of improvement quality of life as users and maintainers of technical means is presented. It is assumed that it is necessary to keep the fundamental of sustainable development. Therefore the application of the scheme of the process of satisfying needs is shown. It helps establish the activities necessary to achieve this goal and enables to plan required information resources. In the range of exploitation and design tasks the application of original strategy of exploitation by older persons was proposed. This strategy uses 6R method which in the future will be supplemented on elements commonly executed strategies and policies of exploitation. Decision making in accordance with proposed strategy will be possible by performing calculations and simulation with the use of multidisciplinary model, whose conception was indicated in the article and which uses matrix of assessment of the quality of life.


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