title: Recording and Tracking Design Decisions in Interactive System Development

authors: Yang, Wanying

subjects: Interactive system design

abstract: Experience economy is prompting the innovation of traditional product design. The design concept - "user-centered design" has received wide recognition. In the face of many professional or non-professional users, the priority of interaction design is to ensure the usability of the interactive product, and then a good user experience of the product. The user interface is an intermediary between human and computer. Users exchange information with the computer via the user interface. The user interface is an important part of a computer system. It is a big part of the software development. The quality of the user interface directly affects the performance of the software. For most users, the user interface is all they know from a product. So for these users, a program with a good interior design but a bad user interface design is a bad program. 
	In this project we investigate different ways of recording design decisions in interactive system development which may allow us to think of the different variants and alternatives that are possible (within a design space) in some formal notation, which then allows us to either reason about their suitability or record the decisions made to understand the impact of decisions and how well they support the given criteria. The goal of this project will involve finding out what the influences are which help drive the design process; considering the effects of individual vs. team design; deciding how and when decisions occur; thinking about useful ways to record decisions and their influences; and investigating the usefulness of the approach through the working examples identified as case studies

text: Recording and Tracking Design Decisions in Interactive System Development Experience economy is prompting the innovation of traditional product design. The design concept - "user-centered design" has received wide recognition. In the face of many professional or non-professional users, the priority of interaction design is to ensure the usability of the interactive product, and then a good user experience of the product. The user interface is an intermediary between human and computer. Users exchange information with the computer via the user interface. The user interface is an important part of a computer system. It is a big part of the software development. The quality of the user interface directly affects the performance of the software. For most users, the user interface is all they know from a product. So for these users, a program with a good interior design but a bad user interface design is a bad program. 
	In this project we investigate different ways of recording design decisions in interactive system development which may allow us to think of the different variants and alternatives that are possible (within a design space) in some formal notation, which then allows us to either reason about their suitability or record the decisions made to understand the impact of decisions and how well they support the given criteria. The goal of this project will involve finding out what the influences are which help drive the design process; considering the effects of individual vs. team design; deciding how and when decisions occur; thinking about useful ways to record decisions and their influences; and investigating the usefulness of the approach through the working examples identified as case studies

year: 2016

title: Lowering Sperm Dose Rates in Frozen Semen for Bovine Artificial Breeding

authors: Pitt, Colin John

subjects: semen

abstract: The New Zealand Dairy industry relies on artificial breeding to produce high genetic
merit replacement stock. Proven bull semen is extended and preserved as either
ambient temperature product or as frozen doses. High fertility is essential to maintain
synchronicity of lactation with the spring surge of grass growth.
To improve efficiency in the utilization of the very best bulls producers try to lower
sperm dose rates without compromising fertility. Livestock Improvement
Corporation's (LIC) Long Last Liquid ™ (LLL) is most commonly used during the
peak season and is their most important product. However, shortfalls and specifically
targeted matings are met with frozen semen. Lowering sperm dose rates in both liquid
and frozen semen maximises the usage of elite sires increasing genetic gain, lowering
overheads and garnering premium prices for the semen producer.
A product for improving frozen semen technology was developed whereby a discrete
quantity of pretreated semen was placed alongside a beneficial post-thawing
redilution medium in a standard semen straw. This emulated a larger-scale process
developed to freeze semen in times of low demand and redilution into the LLL form
for use as an ambient temperature product. This rediluted product has been proved to
enhance semen survival and to allow fertility to be maintained at sperm dose rates
lower than the widely accepted standard for frozen semen.
The physical packaging of the semen into the industry standard single dose straw in a configuration that separated incompatible components was novel. This configuration
was essential to prevent damage to the sperm during the freezing process from low
solubility components in the post-thaw redilution medium. Separation between the
semen and diluent within the straw was achieved by the introduction of a gas partition
or air bubble between the two liquids.
A large-scale field trial showed that the new product could produce savings of up to
25% of the sperm needed for a semen dose to achieve equivalent fertility.
Furthermore, the production cost per dose was lowered in comparison to the standard
semen processing system used at LIC.

text: Lowering Sperm Dose Rates in Frozen Semen for Bovine Artificial Breeding The New Zealand Dairy industry relies on artificial breeding to produce high genetic
merit replacement stock. Proven bull semen is extended and preserved as either
ambient temperature product or as frozen doses. High fertility is essential to maintain
synchronicity of lactation with the spring surge of grass growth.
To improve efficiency in the utilization of the very best bulls producers try to lower
sperm dose rates without compromising fertility. Livestock Improvement
Corporation's (LIC) Long Last Liquid ™ (LLL) is most commonly used during the
peak season and is their most important product. However, shortfalls and specifically
targeted matings are met with frozen semen. Lowering sperm dose rates in both liquid
and frozen semen maximises the usage of elite sires increasing genetic gain, lowering
overheads and garnering premium prices for the semen producer.
A product for improving frozen semen technology was developed whereby a discrete
quantity of pretreated semen was placed alongside a beneficial post-thawing
redilution medium in a standard semen straw. This emulated a larger-scale process
developed to freeze semen in times of low demand and redilution into the LLL form
for use as an ambient temperature product. This rediluted product has been proved to
enhance semen survival and to allow fertility to be maintained at sperm dose rates
lower than the widely accepted standard for frozen semen.
The physical packaging of the semen into the industry standard single dose straw in a configuration that separated incompatible components was novel. This configuration
was essential to prevent damage to the sperm during the freezing process from low
solubility components in the post-thaw redilution medium. Separation between the
semen and diluent within the straw was achieved by the introduction of a gas partition
or air bubble between the two liquids.
A large-scale field trial showed that the new product could produce savings of up to
25% of the sperm needed for a semen dose to achieve equivalent fertility.
Furthermore, the production cost per dose was lowered in comparison to the standard
semen processing system used at LIC.

year: 2007

title: Tito Waiata-Tito Pūoro: extending the Kīngitanga music tradition.

authors: Rollo, Te Manaaroha Pirihira

subjects: Kīngitanga

abstract: Since 1858, music has always been an integral part of the Kīngitanga movement in New Zealand. As this music tradition evolves with the introduction of new musical idioms, genres and digital technology, so too do the practices of composing new works. 

The objective of this research was to construct a model for combining waiata, taonga pūoro and New Zealand electroacoustic music, in order to create new works that enhance the Kīngitanga music tradition.  Developing a model for composing and integrating these idioms within a Māori context presented problems, as traditional Māori music conflict with contemporary Western forms. 

To generate a framework and practical model for composing hybrid music, an examination of selected New Zealand works was first carried out through: a) the collection of 50 traditional and contemporary waiata relating to the Kīngitanga b) the collection of 10 New Zealand taonga pūoro works and c) a collection of 10 New Zealand electroacoustic music. An analysis of the music and compositional processes of each idiom implementing the ‘de-construct in order to re-construct’ approach to understand how they work musically and compositionally was accomplished. 

To demonstrate the outcome of my models, six original compositions were presented exploring different aspects of musical composition. These models focused on sound architecture and explored a) communicative relationships between composer, performer, and audience b) Holistic Co-hear-ence, implementing the horizontal and vertical layering model, and c) technical approaches using digital technology. To comply with Māori principles of composition and performance, each model and new work demonstrated Kaupapa Māori , Wairua  and Te Mana - Te Ihi - Te Wehi - Te Tapu . 

The findings and original contributions of this research provide a model that combines two musical traditions and three music idioms, and in turn, may guide contemporary composers in creating new works that extend the Kīngitanga music tradition.

text: Tito Waiata-Tito Pūoro: extending the Kīngitanga music tradition. Since 1858, music has always been an integral part of the Kīngitanga movement in New Zealand. As this music tradition evolves with the introduction of new musical idioms, genres and digital technology, so too do the practices of composing new works. 

The objective of this research was to construct a model for combining waiata, taonga pūoro and New Zealand electroacoustic music, in order to create new works that enhance the Kīngitanga music tradition.  Developing a model for composing and integrating these idioms within a Māori context presented problems, as traditional Māori music conflict with contemporary Western forms. 

To generate a framework and practical model for composing hybrid music, an examination of selected New Zealand works was first carried out through: a) the collection of 50 traditional and contemporary waiata relating to the Kīngitanga b) the collection of 10 New Zealand taonga pūoro works and c) a collection of 10 New Zealand electroacoustic music. An analysis of the music and compositional processes of each idiom implementing the ‘de-construct in order to re-construct’ approach to understand how they work musically and compositionally was accomplished. 

To demonstrate the outcome of my models, six original compositions were presented exploring different aspects of musical composition. These models focused on sound architecture and explored a) communicative relationships between composer, performer, and audience b) Holistic Co-hear-ence, implementing the horizontal and vertical layering model, and c) technical approaches using digital technology. To comply with Māori principles of composition and performance, each model and new work demonstrated Kaupapa Māori , Wairua  and Te Mana - Te Ihi - Te Wehi - Te Tapu . 

The findings and original contributions of this research provide a model that combines two musical traditions and three music idioms, and in turn, may guide contemporary composers in creating new works that extend the Kīngitanga music tradition.

year: 2014