Semiotics is ‘the mathematics of the humanities’ in the sense that it provides an abstract language covering a diversity of special sign-usage (language, pictures, movies, theatre, etc.). In this capacity, Semiotics is helpful for bringing insights from older media to the task of interface design, and for defining the special characteristics of the computer medium. However, Semiotics is not limited to interface design but may also contribute to the proper design of program texts and yield predictions about the interaction between computer systems and their context of use. 相似文献
The aim of this work was to assess ultrafine particles (UFP) number concentrations in different microenvironments of Portuguese preschools and to estimate the respective exposure doses of UFP for 3–5‐year‐old children (in comparison with adults). UFP were sampled both indoors and outdoors in two urban (US1, US2) and one rural (RS1) preschool located in north of Portugal for 31 days. Total levels of indoor UFP were significantly higher at the urban preschools (mean of 1.82 × 104 and 1.32 × 104 particles/cm3 at US1 an US2, respectively) than at the rural one (1.15 × 104 particles/cm3). Canteens were the indoor microenvironment with the highest UFP (mean of 5.17 × 104, 3.28 × 104, and 4.09 × 104 particles/cm3 at US1, US2, and RS1), whereas the lowest concentrations were observed in classrooms (9.31 × 103, 11.3 × 103, and 7.14 × 103 particles/cm3 at US1, US2, and RS1). Mean indoor/outdoor ratios (I/O) of UFP at three preschools were lower than 1 (0.54–0.93), indicating that outdoor emissions significantly contributed to UFP indoors. Significant correlations were obtained between temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, solar radiation, and ambient UFP number concentrations. The estimated exposure doses were higher in children attending urban preschools; 3–5‐year‐old children were exposed to 4–6 times higher UFP doses than adults with similar daily schedules. 相似文献
There is clearly need to re‐consider curricula and practical work to provide, through universities and colleges, for the filling of posts concerned with environmental aspects of modern industries. The structure of most available courses is unsatisfactory. If career opportunities can be clarified there is reason to believe undergraduate, postgraduate and post‐experience courses could prove practicable and attractive to candidates. Some possible answers are explored. 相似文献
Retail buildings have a potential for both short‐term (customer) and long‐term (occupational) exposure to indoor pollutants. However, little is known about volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in the retail sector and influencing factors, such as ventilation, in‐store activities, and store type. We measured VOC concentrations and ventilation rates in 14 retail stores in Texas and Pennsylvania. With the exception of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, VOCs were present in retail stores at concentrations well below health guidelines. Indoor formaldehyde concentrations ranged from 4.6 ppb to 67 ppb. The two mid‐sized grocery stores in the sample had the highest levels of ethanol and acetaldehyde, with concentrations up to 2.6 ppm and 92 ppb, respectively, possibly due to the preparation of dough and baking activities. Indoor‐to‐outdoor concentration ratios indicated that indoor sources were the main contributors to indoor VOC concentrations for the majority of compounds. There was no strong correlation between ventilation and VOC concentrations across all stores. However, increasing the air exchange rates at two stores led to lower indoor VOC concentrations, suggesting that ventilation can be used to reduce concentrations for some specific stores. 相似文献
Reducing driver speed has an essential role to play in traffic safety. This study measured the effect of a roadside sign, in a 50 km/h zone, that consecutively displayed one of three messages:
1. The average speed at the site: this message was designed to induce “social comparison” whereby drivers may reduce their speed in order to comply with the behaviour of the majority.
2. A warning that drivers’ speeds were being measured: this was intended to imply surveillance whereby drivers may reduce speed in order to avoid possible enforcement action.
3. A combination of both messages, to see if both together would have a greater effect than either alone.
The speed of drivers travelling along a busy urban road (11,500 cars daily in each direction) was measured using inductive loop detectors. The proportion of drivers travelling 60 km/h or less increased with all three messages, suggesting that both social comparison and implied surveillance are mechanisms by which driver speed may be reduced. However, the speed reductions were not as great as in previous studies of feedback signs. This may be due to differences in the existing safety culture. 相似文献
This study assessed driver reactions to 16 road hazard warning signs of various formats by projecting life-sized video of road scenes to drivers in a driving simulator. A range of measures, including attentional and search conspicuity, implicit and explicit recognition, dynamic and static comprehension, and sign priming were collected. Of the signs tested, road works and school warning signs were most often detected, remembered, and understood. Slippery surface warnings were associated with some of the lowest detection and comprehension rates. The effectiveness of the different formats depended on the type of hazard sign. In the case of road works warnings, a flashing variable message format was only slightly more conspicuous than the large dimension format, equal in comprehensibility, and perhaps somewhat worse in terms of memorability. For the school warnings, however, the flashing variable message format appeared to convey a greater sense of potential hazard, produced superior search conspicuity and priming, and was equal in terms of memorability and comprehensibility. The range of measures worked well as a whole with the two measures of conspicuity and the measure of static comprehension showing the greatest consistency. 相似文献