PolyU IR Community: Design

Guerrilla wars in everyday public spaces: reflections and inspirations for designers

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Guerrilla wars in everyday public spaces: reflections and inspirations for designers

Authors: Siu, Kin-wai Michael

Abstract: In recent years, many governments have tended to take a rational and development-oriented approach to planning, designing and managing city spaces. Some sociologists, however, have started to criticize this approach, and have begun to advocate instead the importance of taking into consideration the everyday lives of ordinary people. These sociologists offer us a new perspective for examining how “city users” are tactically living in their cities. This perspective may not be accepted by all, and may have quite a lot of practical limitations; nevertheless, it at least offers today’s designers as well as policymakers and other professionals some reflections and inspirations for further exploration and discussion. Through a theoretical review of how theorists and sociologists see city space and its order from different perspectives, and through empirical longitudinal studies done on three Hong Kong market streets, this article attempts to ascertain whether the inhabitants of a city-city users-are “tactical practitioners.” The article then explores the role of city users and their interactions with the spaces in which they are living, and offers advice to designers who aim for more people-environment fit designs.

Smarter 'All': design and design research at the people centric era for China

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Smarter 'All': design and design research at the people centric era for China

Authors: Leong, Benny; Lee, Brian Yu Hin

Abstract: The world is undergoing unprecedented changes which have been stimulated by three notable forces today — The foreseeable needs of the 5.5 billion up-rising consumers within the emerging economies in Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, etc.; the dragging economy after the outbreak of the 2008 economic crisis, and the hyper connected world (nearly one-third of the group population are connected). The intertwinement of these three forces has aspired probable economic opportunity worldwide, yet implies also enormous load on environmental resources, economic uncertainty and unrestrained flow of human capital (e.g. Internet has intensified the practice of manpower/ service outsourcing from China, India and Eastern Europe among the developed West.).; As a result, the world is confronting mounting anxiety of resource scarcity (e.g. oil, water, food, etc.), creeping trade-protectionism and socio-economic instability (e.g. job security and social inequity). These challenges have given rise to an alternative concept of development – the ‘social economy’ – an urge for fairer share of resources and creative use of social capitals in Europe and the States, where by the once prevailing CONSUMER- driven, mere ‘for-profit’ practice of business is now shifting towards a more ‘for-benefit’ and PEOPLE-centric model of entrepreneurship.; While people centric thinking is taking hold in the developed West, coincidentally, ‘people empowerment’ and ‘social harmony’ have become two key signposts of the next phase of China’s development (stated in its 12th Five Year Plan [2010-2015]). Since the developing China has reached the ‘bottle neck’ of its material-intensive economy, it has to climb up the economic ladder, whilst anticipating its social and ecological dilemma that the decades of unflagging growth had created.; Found on the contexts above, this paper will first delineate how the emerging people centric thinking is going to shape the industries and hence design practices in general with some supportive examples. Then, the argument of why an embracive but specific People understanding of the rapid developing China should be acquired, hence related design research approach should be developed. Lastly, supportive design or design research cases will be presented to elaborate further the relevance of such design and research practices for a ‘smarter’ transformation of China, and perhaps other Asian economies alike.

Creating economic value by design

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Creating economic value by design

Authors: Heskett, John

Abstract: This paper examines the influence of major economic theories in shaping views of what constitutes value as created by design. It begins by examining Neo-Classical theory, which is dominant in the English-speaking world and underpins the ideology of the so-called “free market” system. Its focus on markets and prices as set by market forces are believed to solve all problems if left free from government interference. The implosion of this system and its emphasis on unrestricted individualism is a crisis of theory as well as practice. There are, however, other economic systems that relate to design in a more positive manner, such as Austrian theory and its belief that users determine value; institutional theory, which examines the influence of contexts and organizations; or New Growth Theory, which asserts the power of ideas as an unlimited resource in economic activity. These offer a window to business activity that enables designers to communicate the value of their work. Moreover, if the practical implications of these theoretical positions are understood by designers, it becomes possible to construct an extension of them that specifically addresses what the economic contribution of design can be in terms that business managers can understand.

Robotic training system with multi-orientation module = 带多方向模块的机器人训练系统

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Robotic training system with multi-orientation module = 带多方向模块的机器人训练系统

Authors: Tong, Kai-yu Raymond (湯啟宇); Song, Rong (宋嶸); Lam, Chiu Hoi Ivan (林昭凱); Tam, Wai-man Robert (谭惠民); Ng, Shu To (吳樹滔); Lee, Tak-chi (李德志); Pang, Man Kit Peter (彭民傑); Kwok, King Lun (郭景麟); Tsui, Yin Bonn Philip (崔彦邦); Leung, Woon-fong Wallace (梁煥方)

Abstract: A robotic system (100) for multiple joint training includes a control tower (101) having at least one locking mechanism (509,609), a rotational motor tower (103) possessing a motor, a multi-orientational module (111) being positioned on said rotational motor tower so as to contact a user's limb, and a controller (717). Wherein said locking mechanism is positioned on a handle for locking. Said rotational motor tower is positioned between a total horizontal position and a total vertical position. Said multi-orientational module is selected from he group consisting of a lower extremity module (600) and an upper extremity module (500). A method of training multiple joints in a limb using the robotic system above-mentioned is also disclosed. By the present invention, the user can use the device to switch training between the vertical and horizontal planes, without changing the device and any module. The system is also adjustable to meet different users' body sizes.; 一种用于进行多个关节训练的机器人系统(100)，包括：具有至少一个锁紧机构(509、609)的控制塔(101)、具有马达的旋转马达塔(103)、位于所述旋转马达塔上以与使用者的肢体接触的多方向模块(111)、以及控制器(717)。其中所述锁紧机构位于锁紧用的手柄上。所述旋转马达塔位于完全水平位置与完全垂直位置之间的位置。所述多方向模块选自包括下肢模块(600)和上肢模块(500)的组件。还公开了一种使用上述机器人系统训练肢体的多个关节的方法，通过本发明，使用者可以使用该设备在垂直和水平平面之间切换训练，而不改变设备和任何模块。所述系统也可调节以满足不同使用者的身体尺寸。