title: Enhancing interactivity: how has design exploration of physically and intellectually interactive picturebooks enhanced shared reading?

authors: Vanderschantz, Nicholas

subjects: design

abstract: Children’s book design can have a significant impact on shared reading practices, interaction, and engagement. We hypothesise that books designed with the intention to specifically enhance the author’s story through interactivity will provide opportunities for new experience design outcomes that are both human-object and human-human centred. The multi-faceted problem of children’s books has been explored by linguistics, history, and education researchers, yet seldom using a design lens. In previous work we developed a traditional and highly interactive picturebook which we observe here being used by families. The study explored how physical and intellectual enhancements change the level and types of interaction within a shared reading environment. The inclusion of physical and intellectual enhancements within the book promote a greater level of interaction and engagement from the parent and child. However, this is only the case if the enhancements provide meaningful interaction, and have relevance to the story. Our results provide design solutions for designing effective children’s books in the future.

text: Enhancing interactivity: how has design exploration of physically and intellectually interactive picturebooks enhanced shared reading? Children’s book design can have a significant impact on shared reading practices, interaction, and engagement. We hypothesise that books designed with the intention to specifically enhance the author’s story through interactivity will provide opportunities for new experience design outcomes that are both human-object and human-human centred. The multi-faceted problem of children’s books has been explored by linguistics, history, and education researchers, yet seldom using a design lens. In previous work we developed a traditional and highly interactive picturebook which we observe here being used by families. The study explored how physical and intellectual enhancements change the level and types of interaction within a shared reading environment. The inclusion of physical and intellectual enhancements within the book promote a greater level of interaction and engagement from the parent and child. However, this is only the case if the enhancements provide meaningful interaction, and have relevance to the story. Our results provide design solutions for designing effective children’s books in the future.

year: 2020

title: Saturated: a study in fat obsession

authors: Cowley, Natalie Anne

subjects: Fat

abstract: This thesis examines both contemporary and historical meanings surrounding human body FAT in order to illuminate, chiefly, the forces that have rendered it both an omnipresent and negative entity in Western societies.  It explores the apparent contradiction that we must exist amidst hyper-consumptive capitalism yet display no bodily evidence of such consumption.  Along with an investigation into alternative bodily conceptions to that of the hegemonic West, a discourse analysis is employed to challenge the key assumptions that underpin the current 'obesity epidemic' and its ensuing 'war on obesity' so that body FAT may be configured differently.  

It is shown that, because bodily conceptions and ideals are complex cultural constructions, body FAT, as a substance, is not the scourge it is presently portrayed, but rather a substance that signifies most of what consumer society despises and fears.  It is argued that the 'war on obesity' has not been successful, and will continue to be ineffective, because the focus should not be on losing body FAT but rather on the conditions of poverty that generate overall ill-health.  It is concluded that such a 'war', if sustained in its current fashion, will only serve to further malign the situations of those deemed 'overweight and obese'.

text: Saturated: a study in fat obsession This thesis examines both contemporary and historical meanings surrounding human body FAT in order to illuminate, chiefly, the forces that have rendered it both an omnipresent and negative entity in Western societies.  It explores the apparent contradiction that we must exist amidst hyper-consumptive capitalism yet display no bodily evidence of such consumption.  Along with an investigation into alternative bodily conceptions to that of the hegemonic West, a discourse analysis is employed to challenge the key assumptions that underpin the current 'obesity epidemic' and its ensuing 'war on obesity' so that body FAT may be configured differently.  

It is shown that, because bodily conceptions and ideals are complex cultural constructions, body FAT, as a substance, is not the scourge it is presently portrayed, but rather a substance that signifies most of what consumer society despises and fears.  It is argued that the 'war on obesity' has not been successful, and will continue to be ineffective, because the focus should not be on losing body FAT but rather on the conditions of poverty that generate overall ill-health.  It is concluded that such a 'war', if sustained in its current fashion, will only serve to further malign the situations of those deemed 'overweight and obese'.

year: 2006

title: Catchment and lake water quality modelling to assess management options for Lake Tutira

authors: McBride, Chris G.

abstract: Lake Tutira is an important ecological, historical and cultural asset to the Hawke’s Bay. It is a highly utilised trout fishery, a popular recreational destination, and is particularly significant to Ngāti Kahungunu, for its historical eel fishery and rongoa (medicinal) harakeke (flax) beds. The lake and its catchment have been substantially altered from their natural condition, including conversion of forested catchment to pasture, invasion by aquatic macrophytes such as Hydrilla sp., the introduction of grass carp (Ctenopharyngaodon idella) for weed management, and diversion of the largest stream inflow, Papakiri Stream (Sandy Creek), away from the lake and directly to the outflow (Mahiaruhe Stream) in the early 1980s. Lake Tutira’s history of poor water quality dates back decades, with Trophic Level Index (TLI; a metric of overall water quality) values from the 1960s similar to recent years, and blooms of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) recorded as early as the 1970s. Nevertheless, the years since 2010 have been characterised by very poor water quality and particularly severe blooms, sometimes resulting in near-complete loss of oxygen from surface waters and associated fish kill events. This has attracted media attention and provided impetus from community and stakeholders to assess available management options for restoring more natural conditions and improving water quality in the lake. 
This report examines the drivers of poor water quality and algal blooms the lake, and assesses various management options that have either been specifically proposed for Tutira, or have proven effective for other lakes in New Zealand and globally. Here we report on monitoring undertaken by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in the catchment (surface inflows) and lake. We also apply state-of-the-art computer models for simulating physical, chemical, and biological processes in the catchment and lake. These simulations are then used to evaluate a range of management ‘scenarios’ to provide guidance on the likely effects of management options tested with the model.

text: Catchment and lake water quality modelling to assess management options for Lake Tutira Lake Tutira is an important ecological, historical and cultural asset to the Hawke’s Bay. It is a highly utilised trout fishery, a popular recreational destination, and is particularly significant to Ngāti Kahungunu, for its historical eel fishery and rongoa (medicinal) harakeke (flax) beds. The lake and its catchment have been substantially altered from their natural condition, including conversion of forested catchment to pasture, invasion by aquatic macrophytes such as Hydrilla sp., the introduction of grass carp (Ctenopharyngaodon idella) for weed management, and diversion of the largest stream inflow, Papakiri Stream (Sandy Creek), away from the lake and directly to the outflow (Mahiaruhe Stream) in the early 1980s. Lake Tutira’s history of poor water quality dates back decades, with Trophic Level Index (TLI; a metric of overall water quality) values from the 1960s similar to recent years, and blooms of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) recorded as early as the 1970s. Nevertheless, the years since 2010 have been characterised by very poor water quality and particularly severe blooms, sometimes resulting in near-complete loss of oxygen from surface waters and associated fish kill events. This has attracted media attention and provided impetus from community and stakeholders to assess available management options for restoring more natural conditions and improving water quality in the lake. 
This report examines the drivers of poor water quality and algal blooms the lake, and assesses various management options that have either been specifically proposed for Tutira, or have proven effective for other lakes in New Zealand and globally. Here we report on monitoring undertaken by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in the catchment (surface inflows) and lake. We also apply state-of-the-art computer models for simulating physical, chemical, and biological processes in the catchment and lake. These simulations are then used to evaluate a range of management ‘scenarios’ to provide guidance on the likely effects of management options tested with the model.

year: 2017