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 & Context (language use). The organization has 665 authors who have published 1870 publications receiving 39129 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Rovaniemi & Lapin yliopisto.

Different Levels of Information Systems Designers' Forms of Thought and Potential for Human-Centered Design

Abstract: This article describes a study clarifying information systems (IS) designers’ conceptions of human users of IS by drawing on in-depth interviews with 20 designers. The designers’ lived experiences in their work build up a continuum of levels of thought from more limited conceptions to more comprehensive ones reflecting variations of the designers’ situated knowledge related to human-centred design. The resulting forms of thought indicate three different but associated levels in conceptualising users. The separatist form of thought provides designers predominantly with technical perspectives and a capability for objectifying things. The functional form of thought focuses on external task information and task productivity, nevertheless, with the help of positive emotions. The holistic form of thought provides designers with competence of human-centred information systems development (ISD). Furthermore, the author hopes that understanding the IS designers’ tendencies to conceptualise human users facilitates the mutual communication between users and designers.

Tropical atmospheric circulation response to the G1 sunshade geoengineering radiative forcing experiment

Abstract: . We investigate the multi-Earth system model response of the Walker circulation and Hadley circulations under the idealized solar radiation management scenario (G1) and under abrupt4xCO2. The Walker circulation multi-model ensemble mean shows changes in some regions but no significant change in intensity under G1, while it shows a 4 ∘ eastward movement and 1.9 × 10 9 kg s −1 intensity decrease in abrupt4xCO2. Variation in the Walker circulation intensity has the same high correlation with sea surface temperature gradient between the eastern and western Pacific under both G1 and abrupt4xCO2. The Hadley circulation shows significant differences in behavior between G1 and abrupt4xCO2, with intensity reductions in the seasonal maximum northern and southern cells under G1 correlated with equatorward motion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Southern and northern cells have a significantly different response, especially under abrupt4xCO2 when impacts on the southern Ferrel cell are particularly clear. The southern cell is about 3 % stronger under abrupt4xCO2 in July, August and September than under piControl, while the northern is reduced by 2 % in January, February and March. Both circulations are reduced under G1. There are significant relationships between northern cell intensity and land temperatures, but not for the southern cell. Changes in the meridional temperature gradients account for changes in Hadley intensity better than changes in static stability in G1 and especially in abrupt4xCO2. The difference in the response of the zonal Walker circulation and the meridional Hadley circulations under the idealized forcings may be driven by the zonal symmetric relative cooling of the tropics under G1.

Design probes study on user perceptions of a smart glasses concept

Abstract: Until today, mobile computing has been very much confined to conventional computing form factors, i.e. laptops, tablets and smartphones, which have achieved de facto design standards in outlook and shape. However, wearable devices are emerging, and especially glasses are an appealing form factor for future devices. Currently, although companies such as Google have productized a solution, little user research and design exploration has been published on either the user preferences or the technology. We set ourselves to explore the design directions for smart glasses with user research grounded use cases and design alternatives. We describe our user research utilizing a smart glasses design probe in an experience sampling method study (n=12), and present a focus group based study (n=14) providing results on perceptions on alternative industrial designs for smart glasses.

Modeling the radio echo reflections inside the ice sheet at Summit, Greenland

Abstract: [1] Radio echo surveys to determine the thickness of ice sheets often record reflections from inside the ice. To increase our understanding of these internal reflections, we have used synthetic seismogram techniques from early seismic modeling to construct two models. Both models were one-dimensional; the first considered only primary reflections, while the second included both primary and multiple reflections. The inputs to both models were a radio pulse and data from the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) core of length 3028 m. The ice core data consisted of a profile of the high-frequency conductivity, calculated from dielectric profile (DEP) measurements, and a smooth profile of the real permittivity. The models produced synthetic radargrams which are the energy reflected from conductivity variations as a function of the two-way travel time. Both models gave similar results, indicating that multiples do not alter the travel time of the reflections, i.e., no O'Doherty-Anstey effect at our time resolution. One of the results was then processed to simulate the reflected energy passing through the receiver circuit of a radio echo system and then compared with a recorded trace. The processed result contained many of the larger reflections recorded below about 500 m, including nearly all the features from depths greater than 1500 m, in particular, several interstadial events in the Wisconsin age ice. Since high-frequency conductivity variations are dominated by chemical changes which are caused by deposition on the surface of the ice sheet, it is possible to conclude that the reflections deep inside the Greenland ice sheet can be treated as isochrons.

The Challenges of Modernity for Reindeer Management in Northernmost Europe

Abstract: This book presents the combined results of a research and development project funded by the European Union’s 5th Framework Programme of 2001–2004. The full title of the project was “The challenges of modernity for REiNdeer MANagement: integration and sustainable development in Europe’s subarctic and boreal regions (RENMAN)”1. Within this Framework Programme, RENMAN was funded under the Key Action “Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources” (Contract QLK5-CT-2000-0745). This portion of the program mandated that funded research aim toward (1) “the design and negotiation of policies that will have a direct impact on the local conditions and prospects for securing an acceptable level of quality of living”, and (2) “the continuation of appropriate management regimes for the utilization of living resources locally and regionally within the European context”. As such, it called for a direct role for local stakeholders – in this case reindeer herders – in the process of policy-relevant research and for the use of historical trends to facilitate adaptation to future changes. In these aims, RENMAN is quite similar to other EU-funded research projects that focus on particular species in northernmost or Arctic Europe to provide stakeholders and policy makers with a predictive framework of outcome for land use in fragile ecosystems, such as the projects “HIBECO” (Wielgolaski 2005) and “FRAGILE”. The purpose of RENMAN was therefore to develop new tools and models of participatory research and planning in reindeer management that would foster integrated and sustainable use of reindeer (Rangifer t. tarandus L.) and related living resources in northernmost Europe (for the natural history of the reindeer see Preface to Part I). Reindeer management is among the most