Hinduism

Ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-Gita (the Gita) offer important insights to the mind and mental health in ways that are complementary to those derived from Western psychology. In the Gita, the mind and body are viewed in non-dualistic terms; mental health is defined not merely as the absence of ill health, but by the positive attributes of happiness independent of external gratification. Psychopathology is viewed as resulting from too much or misplaced attachment and a faulty concept of self leading to an excessive focus on the self. The prescription for such affliction includes unattached actions, accurate awareness of self and awakening mindfulness. Many parallels may be drawn between the Gita and the principles of Western psychotherapeutic models such as cognitive and metacognitive therapies. However, apart from insights into psychopathology and its treatment, the Gita sheds light on enhancing positive mental health as well. The Gita embodies several modern concepts from positive psychology, such as flow, intrinsic motivation, reappraisal of the self-concept, and the development of compassion. It is proposed that psychotherapeutic insights from the Gita and other traditional Hindu scriptures offer a comprehensive step-wise psychobiological meta-cognitive approach to prevention, intervention, and promotion of well-being. Comprehensive and culturally compatible psychotherapeutic models integrating Eastern and Western psychotherapeutic models merit attention.

Culture in the design of mHealth UI

Purpose Designers of mobile applications have long understood the importance of users’ preferences in making the user experience easier, convenient and therefore valuable. The cultural aspects of groups of users are among the key features of users’ design preferences, because each group’s preferences depend on various features that are culturally compatible. The process of integrating culture into the design of a system has always been an important ingredient for effective and interactive human computer interface. This study aims to investigate the design of a mobile health (mHealth) application user interface (UI) based on Arabic culture. It was argued that integrating certain cultural values of specific groups of users into the design of UI would increase their acceptance of the technology. Design/methodology/approach A total of 135 users responded to an online survey about their acceptance of a culturally designed mHealth. Findings The findings showed that culturally based language, colours, layout and images had a significant relationship with users’ behavioural intention to use the culturally based mHealth UI. Research limitations/implications First, the sample and the data collected of this study were restricted to Arab users and Arab culture; therefore, the results cannot be generalized to other cultures and users. Second, the adapted unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model was used in this study instead of the new version, which may expose new perceptions. Third, the cultural aspects of UI design in this study were limited to the images, colours, language and layout. Practical implications It encourages UI designers to implement the relevant cultural aspects while developing mobile applications. Originality/value Embedding Arab cultural aspects in designing UI for mobile applications to satisfy Arab users and enhance their acceptance toward using mobile applications, which will reflect positively on their lives.

Appropriate Extension Methodologies for Agricultural Development in Emerging Economies

Over two-thirds of the world's poorest people are located in rural areas and engaged primarily in agriculture and agricultural-related activities for their livelihood. Therefore, the future of most underdeveloped and developing nations depends on agriculture. Most African Countries have agricultural dependent economies that are hinged to rain-fed agriculture and based on smallholdings. These countries are referred to as countries with emerging economies and characterized as having low to middle per capita income and represent 20% of the world's economies. This chapter discusses; concepts of agricultural extension methodologies assessed from past to present, appropriating extension methodologies to encourage agricultural development, identifying roles of agricultural extension activities in agricultural development and factors influencing the choice of appropriate extension methodologies in emerging economies. It concludes with the constraints to sustainable agricultural development and extension methodologies which if removed will have the potential for progression towards economy development. Developing countries should fashion a sustainable extension system that will be socially acceptable and culturally compatible, economically viable and environmentally friendly.

Models of Cultural Space and the Issue of Identities of Its Elements

The article describes two models of a nation’s cultural space in the age of globalization: the topological one (describing it as a topological set), and the polyspheric one. The latter is based upon Lotman’s concept of semiosphere and J. Keane’s notion of public sphere. Using Lotman’s idea of the nucleus, and Keane’s thougnt that “the old dominance of state-structured and territorially bounded public life mediated by radio, TV and newspapers is coming to an end”, and there are numerous public spheres formed around media outlets, it is suggested that, in a model presenting a public sphere as a set of elements, there is a special element, the generator, that communicates cultural content in the public sphere. It is presumed that all elements of a public sphere (texts of culture, media outlets etc), and the public sphere as a whole, have identities. A national cultural space is an aggregate of public spheres which share the national identity or are culturally compatible with it. Such a cultural space is linked to the national territory but not limited by it. The identity of a public sphere is not determined by its generator, although the correlation is strong.

Appropriate Extension Methodologies for Agricultural Development in Emerging Economies

Over two-thirds of the world's poorest people are located in rural areas and engaged primarily in agriculture and agricultural-related activities for their livelihood. Therefore, the future of most underdeveloped and developing nations depends on agriculture. Most African Countries have agricultural dependent economies that are hinged to rain-fed agriculture and based on smallholdings. These countries are referred to as countries with emerging economies and characterized as having low to middle per capita income and represent 20% of the world's economies. This chapter discusses; concepts of agricultural extension methodologies assessed from past to present, appropriating extension methodologies to encourage agricultural development, identifying roles of agricultural extension activities in agricultural development and factors influencing the choice of appropriate extension methodologies in emerging economies. It concludes with the constraints to sustainable agricultural development and extension methodologies which if removed will have the potential for progression towards economy development. Developing countries should fashion a sustainable extension system that will be socially acceptable and culturally compatible, economically viable and environmentally friendly.

Recruiting the “culturally compatible” migrant: Irish Working Holiday migration and white settler Canadianness

Working Holiday programs have been identified as an increasingly significant source of temporary migrant labor for several wealthy states. This case study adds to limited work on this phenomenon in the Canadian context by offering a partial chronology of Irish Working Holiday migration to Canada and a critical analysis of Canadian government discourse that positioned Irish migrants as not only “culturally compatible” but also part of white settler Canadianness thus making them desirable workers and potential future immigrants. The Canadian case study raises questions about how Working Holiday and related youth mobility programs may be linked to classed and racialized migration and dominant ideologies of nationalized belonging

Designing Culturally Appropriate E-Learning for Learners from an Arabic Background

Case studies on adult online learners in professional development courses in an Omani context found that cultural preferences had a significant impact on learning success. It was found that their preferences in the development of learning communities, for face-to-face needs, in online course flexibility, and interdependent learning were not accounted for in the learning design. Therefore, the problem identified was: how can learning be designed that accounts for culture in the design of learning for those from an Arabic cultural background, as in Oman? The research provided a solution in the form of design guidelines. These can be used as a practical and useful means for teachers and educators in designing online courses that are culturally compatible with the learning preferences in this context in the Sultanate of Oman.

Culturally Compatible Usability Work

This paper analyzes how organizational culture is intertwined with usability work in software (SW) development organizations. Usability is an important quality characteristic of software products and systems. However, the development of usability is challenging in SW development. Organizational culture has been argued to affect usability work in SW development organizations, thus, this paper takes a culture-oriented approach in the analysis of usability work in two SW development organizations operating in the product development context. First, based on a literature review, a definition of usability work is offered. An interpretive view of organizational culture, acknowledging its recent critique, is then introduced and utilized in the empirical analysis. The empirical results suggest that differences exists in how usability work is modified and interpreted in the organizations with divergent cultural contexts, those advocating different motives and practices for usability work. Finally, the importance of understanding the cultural context into which usability work is introduced is emphasized, and it is argued that culturally compatible strategies to usability work should be adopted.

Designing Culturally Appropriate E-Learning for Learners from an Arabic Background

Case studies on adult online learners in professional development courses in an Omani context found that cultural preferences had a significant impact on learning success. It was found that their preferences in the development of learning communities, for face-to-face needs, in online course flexibility, and interdependent learning were not accounted for in the learning design. Therefore, the problem identified was: how can learning be designed that accounts for culture in the design of learning for those from an Arabic cultural background, as in Oman? The research provided a solution in the form of design guidelines. These can be used as a practical and useful means for teachers and educators in designing online courses that are culturally compatible with the learning preferences in this context in the Sultanate of Oman.

Culturally Compatible Usability Work

This paper analyzes how organizational culture is intertwined with usability work in software (SW) development organizations. Usability is an important quality characteristic of software products and systems. However, the development of usability is challenging in SW development. Organizational culture has been argued to affect usability work in SW development organizations, thus, this paper takes a culture-oriented approach in the analysis of usability work in two SW development organizations operating in the product development context. First, based on a literature review, a definition of usability work is offered. An interpretive view of organizational culture, acknowledging its recent critique, is then introduced and utilized in the empirical analysis. The empirical results suggest that differences exists in how usability work is modified and interpreted in the organizations with divergent cultural contexts, those advocating different motives and practices for usability work. Finally, the importance of understanding the cultural context into which usability work is introduced is emphasized, and it is argued that culturally compatible strategies to usability work should be adopted.