University of Lapland

About: University of Lapland is a education organization based out in Rovaniemi, Finland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Arctic & Indigenous. The organization has 665 authors who have published 1870 publications receiving 39129 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Rovaniemi & Lapin yliopisto.

Land use and climate change on the Yamal Peninsula of north-west Siberia: some ecological and socio-economic implications

Abstract: Compared to climate, land use change is expected to comprise a more important component of global change in the coming decades. However, climate is anticipated to supass land use as a factor later in the next century, particularly in the Arctic. Discussed here are the implications of land use and climate change on the Yamal peninsula of north-west Siberia, homeland of the Yamal Nenets. Since the discovery of super-giant natural gas fields in the 1960s, extensive exploration has resulted in direct withdrawal of large areas for infrastructure development and associated disturbance regimes have led to cumulative impacts on thousands of additional hectares of land. The land withdrawals have pushed a relatively consistent or increasing number of reindeer onto progressively smaller parcels of pasture. This has led to excessive grazing and trampling of lichens, bryophytes and shrubs and, in many areas, erosion of sandy soils via deflation. The low Arctic tundra lies entirely within the continuous permafrost zone and ice-rich substrates are widespread. One implication of this is that both anthropogenic and zoogenic distubance regimes may easily initiate thermokarst and aeolian rosion, leading to significant further losses of pastures. Even without industrial distubance, a slight change of the climate would result in massive thermokarst erosion. This would have negative consequences equal to or greater than the mechanical distubances described above. The synergistic effects of land use coupled with climate, change therefore have profound implication for the ecosystems of Yamal, as well as the future of the Nenets culture, society and economy.

Smart Handbag as a Wearable Public Display - Exploring Concepts and User Perceptions

Abstract: Wearable computing has so far focused mostly on systems employing small displays, or no displays at all. In contrast, we explore the possibilities of a smart handbag that functions as a wearable public display, focusing on user perceptions of different design concepts. Our prototype smart handbag explores functionalities such as: changing the bag's appearance to match clothing, displaying textual information, creating a see-though perception enabling items inside the bag to be seen, and enabling interaction with items inside the bag. We report on the findings from a wizard-of-Oz based user study, which included the users walking in public with the smart handbag. The smart handbag concepts were positively received, especially from the utilitarian point of view, but issues related to privacy were raised. Key insights are e.g. the creation of a 'handbag mode' for smartphones placed within the smart handbag and the importance of evaluating such wearables in real-world contexts.

TransPrint: A Method for Fabricating Flexible Transparent Free-Form Displays

Abstract: TransPrint is a method for fabricating flexible, transparent free-form displays based on electrochromism. Using screen-printing or inkjet printing of electrochromic ink, plus a straightforward assembly process, TransPrint enables rapid prototyping of displays by nonexperts. The displays are nonlight-emissive and only require power to switch state and support the integration of capacitive touch sensing for interactivity. We present instructions and best practices on how to design and assemble the displays and discuss the benefits and shortcomings of the TransPrint approach. To demonstrate the broad applicability of the approach, we present six application prototypes.