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'Amy' Director Asif Kapadia Set to Helm '2073' Documentary Thriller
Oscar-winning director Asif Kapadia is set to direct 2073, a documentary thriller set in a dystopian future. Neon, Double Agent and Film4 will co-finance and executive produce the project. 2073 will tackle challenges the world faces and is inspired by Chris Marker's iconic 1962 featurette La Jetée, about a time traveler who risks his life […]
Etan Vlessing
Keanu Reeves-Fronted Formula 1 Series, Vogue, Wagatha Christie Trial and Asif Kapadia on New Disney+ U.K. Doc Slate
Disney+ has unveiled an eclectic slate of five new U.K. unscripted originals spanning a broad range of talent and topics from Keanu Reeves to arguably the most talked about U.K. trial in years. Wagatha Christie (working title), produced by Lorton Street Entertainment in association with Dorothy Street Pictures, will be uncovering one of the biggest […]
Alex Ritman
Robbie Williams Doc Series in the Works at Netflix, Asif Kapadia Producing
One of the original bad boys of 1990s pop is getting the no-holds-barred documentary treatment. Netflix has revealed it is production on an unscripted series about Robbie Williams, the former Take That member who famously split from the band in 1995 and would go on to have a hugely successful solo career. Asif Kapadia, who […]
Sheffield DocFest Appoints Interim CEO, Names Asif Kapadia Guest Curator
After several months of chaos that saw its CEO leave amid "artistic differences" and a claim by the outgoing organizing team that it was terminated without notification, the Sheffield DocFest is getting some welcome stability. Clare Stewart, the former head of the BFI London Film Festival, has been appointed interim CEO, while Oscar- and BAFTA-winning […]
Apple TV+'s 'The Me You Can't See': TV Review
Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry guide a five-part docuseries about mental-health awareness, with stories from celebrities and ordinary people.
Inkoo Kang
Apple TV+'s '1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything': TV Review
An eight-episode docuseries from 'Amy' director Asif Kapadia explores a groundbreaking year for rock, soul and R&B.
Sheri Linden
Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey's Mental Health Docuseries Sets Premiere Date on Apple TV+
Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey's mental health docuseries The Me You Can't See is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on May 21. The show will debut two months after Winfrey's bombshell CBS interview with the Sussexes, during which the royals spoke frankly about their struggles with mental health after being subjected to racism and […]
Abid Rahman
Venice Film Festival Unveils International Juries
Joanna Hogg, Ludivine Sagnier and Christian Petzold join jury president Cate Blanchett to judge the competition titles at the 77th Venice International Film Festival.
Scott Roxborough
Watch Hollywood Reporter's Full Documentary Roundtable With 'American Factory' Oscar-Winning Director Julia Reichert and More
Julia Reichert ('American Factory'), Alex Gibney ('Citizen K'), Lauren Greenfield ('The Kingmaker'), Asif Kapadia ('Diego Maradona'), Todd Douglas Miller ('Apollo 11') and Nanfu Wang ('One Child Nation') joined for the annual documentary roundtable. Hollywood Reporter Roundtables air every Sunday on SundanceTV.
Asif Kapadia Discusses "the Pop Culture Icon" in His Latest Film 'Diego Maradona'
Asif Kapadia joined Alex Gibney, Lauren Greenfield, Julia Reichert, Todd Douglas Miller and Nanfu Wang for the Oscar Documentary Roundtable.
Annie Howard
Critics' Choice Doc Awards: Filmmakers Talk "Broader Social Imperative" of Nonfiction Work in "Golden Age"
Nature, science, women and the production company Neon were among the biggest winners at the 2019 Critics' Choice Documentary Awards held Sunday night in Brooklyn, with documentary filmmakers talking to The Hollywood Reporter about the "broader social imperative" of the medium in its "golden age."
Abbey White
Finding the Truth in a Time of Media Mistrust: The Documentary Roundtable
Alex Gibney ('Citizen K'), Lauren Greenfield ('The Kingmaker'), Asif Kapadia ('Diego Maradona'), Todd Douglas Miller ('Apollo 11'), Julia Reichert ('American Factory') and Nanfu Wang ('One Child Nation') sound off on their transformed business, how to secure skeptical subjects and their attempt to counter the encroaching threat of propaganda.
Nov 7, 2019 6:45 am
Rebecca Keegan
The Spinners Hope 4th Time's a Charm After 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nomination: 'It's a Pleasure Being Selected'


When embarking on a new building project, it can be overwhelming to consider every possible variable. From material choices and code compliance, to selecting contractors and cutting costs, it's essential to weigh every option. While it can be challenging to consider everything, we're happy to say that the process can be made much easier with the addition of a professional architect. Trained to examine every angle, architects are a great addition to every building project. In today's post, we're going to look at how they can help your project along and, more importantly, save you time and money.
Because architects consider all of the variables, buildings designed with their help tend to run more efficiently. As a result of this, costs over time are greatly reduced due to lower maintenance and utility costs.
Rather than being surprised, a professional architect can help you anticipate future issues. By calling upon their years of education, they can help you reduce – or eliminate – the impact of these problems, ensuring the long-term health of your building.
Without a doubt, one of the trickiest elements of building design is code compliance. Professional architects are trained to understand the codes applicable to your building and, more importantly, ensure that your building adheres to them.
At Wharry Engineering, our architects have experience working on building projects of all scopes and sizes. From small commercial buildings to large industrial facilities, we're confident that our team can help you work through the difficult design process. If you've been searching for a team of architects that will listen to your needs, ensure compliance, lower long-term costs, and keep your project on track, contact us today to discuss how we can help.


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Official website of thriller writer Ian Coates
Some of the Locations Used in Ian's Thrillers
Rye Harbour (Eavesdrop)
Rye harbour sits on the River Rother in East Sussex. The river is unusually deep, and huge cargo ships can be seen passing the harbour at high tide as they make their way to a jetty farther upstream.
Mainly though, this is home to small fishing boats and herring gulls.
It has a long history with smuggling that leads back to the 13th century. Visit Rye's Smuggling Museum to trace the history of smuggling in the area and across Romney Marsh. But is that a trade purely of the past? When night falls and the chug of a boat's diesel engine drifts through the mist from downstream, is there a bit of illegal importing taking place?
The Harbour Master's office stands guard over the small jetties, but is dark and quiet at night when smugglers sneak in to offload contraband.
Crates from the previous night's fishing are stacked on the jetty and around the car park. Ideal for hiding contraband and covering with a few fish. James Winter hides behind such crates stacked near the smuggler's van as light fades and he watches a fishing boat arrive from the sea.
The Woolpack inn near Rye (Eavesdrop)
The Woolpack inn is in the heart of Romney Marsh. It's been there for 600 years and was once a smugglers' haunt. The fire place and ancient beams could tell stories of ruffians passing contraband. These days it's a peaceful place for a drink or a meal.
But perhaps it's still a meeting place for smugglers, somewhere drivers can swap between vans and newbie smugglers can learn the trade.
Lydd Airport near Rye (Eavesdrop)
Lydd Airfield is on the edge of Romney Marsh. High fences provide security around the strip but how carefully are incoming loads searched by Customs?
What does the last small cargo plane of the day bring into the country from Belgium? Is it more than the paperwork suggests?
Helsinki, Finland (Eavesdrop)
It's not uncommon for Finland's temperature to drop to -20degC. When customs investigator James Winter follows a Mossad agent to Helsinki, he soon finds himself having to battle the freezing cold as well as a group of assassins.
(photo courtesy of Graham Stafford)
Because of Helsinki's long history with Russia, it was often a place of mediation between the Soviets and Americans during the cold war. In 1969, for instance, the SALT1 treaty was signed in Finland's capital, which led to an agreement on the deployment on ballistic missles.
With such a heritage in negotiation, it's surely also a place where Middle East peace can be brokered. Israel and Syrian groups could meet in Helsinki to discuss a roadmap for peace. But what if someone saw the venue as an opportunity to ignite the flames of war between the two sides?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home > News > Product News > The advantages and disadvantag.....
The advantages and disadvantages of tempered glass
Author:kim
Source:www.sggglassmanufactuer.com
Tempered glass is cut clear glass into custom size, then heating to near glass softening point of 700 degrees, then rapidly cooled, which let the outer surface of the glass in a state of high compression, and the core or center of glass in compensating tension .But tempered glass is not absolutely perfect,it also has own shortcoming, See advantages and advantages as below.
1.advantages of tempered glass.
1) tempered glass is up to 4-5 times stronger than ordinary annealed float glass. The toughening
process has greatly reduced the risk of thermal breakage.15mm clear tempered glass is extremly safety
2)when breakage, clear tempered glass will break into small cubic fragments that no harmful to human.
3)It's good material for laminating and insulating.
2.The disadvantages of tempered glass
Toughened glass must be cut to size or pressed to shape before toughening and cannot be re-worked once toughened. Polishing the edges or drilling holes in the glass is carried out before the toughening process starts. Because of the balanced stresses in the glass, damage to the glass will eventually result in the glass shattering into thumbnail-sized pieces. The glass is most susceptible to breakage due to damage to the edge of the glass where the tensile stress is the greatest, but shattering can also occur in the event of a hard impact in the middle of the glass pane or if the impact is concentrated (for example, striking the glass with a point).Using toughened glass can pose a security risk in some situations because of the tendency of the glass to shatter completely upon hard impact rather than leaving shards in the window frame


Simply hanging out at home certainly has its attractions, whether that means kicking back with your feet up or getting out all the toys and mixing it up with the little ones – check out our range of Peter Rabbit™ soft toys, which just can't be beaten for bringing one of our favourite children's characters to life – but as tempting as it can be to stay indoors, it's summertime, and there's lots of fun to be had out and about!
If you live in or close to London, then Kensington Gardens is the perfect location for a family day out. The Royal Park was the setting for JM Barrie's iconic children's novel, Peter Pan, and is now home to an oversized bronze statue of the original boy who never grew up. Kensington Gardens is a pretty garden no matter what the time of year, but especially in the summer when it is in full bloom. It also tends to be slightly quieter than some of the larger London parks, including Hyde Park, which it adjoins.
A stroll into Hyde Park will take you along the Serpentine lake and on to the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, which is the perfect refreshing stop-off for the kids. It's a great place to people watch, as it is popular with joggers and horse riders alike, and you will see lots of boaters out on the lake. Hyde Park also has a waterside café opposite the fountain, which is another great place to stop off and enjoy a cup of tea and slice of cake.
A day out to the seaside is a fabulous family day out – especially for babies and toddlers, who will enjoy the sensory pleasure of feeling sand for perhaps the first time, and the lights and sounds of the amusement arcades are fascinating to little ones.
If you live in Brighton, then you can extend the fun for the rest of the family by taking part in the Brighton Treasure Trail. You can download a treasure map online and then take the day at your own pace. The clues are on the most famous monuments and structures that litter the town, and the trail will take you to the Artist Quarter, the Pier and the Fishing Museum. It's a fun way for grown-ups to explore, older children will love figuring out the clues, and the pace of the day can be slowed down to incorporate the stops that your baby will need. It really is the perfect family day out for everyone!
Children of all ages are fascinated by animals, and can spend hours watching cats eating their dinner or ducks cross a pond. Why not build on this fascination by visiting an RSPB nature reserve? There are dozens of these sites dotted all over the country, but the reserve at Minsmere in Suffolk, which has recently undergone a £2 milllion makeover, is by far the largest and most impressive.
The site has dedicated bird watching areas, as well as walking trails which will take you through woodland, wetland, and coastal scenery: it's like rolling three day trips into one! Because the site is RSPB operated, you can also be assured that it will have baby changing facilities and the Minsmere site also has a café, shop and picnic area which means that feeding her will be a breeze too. Entrance charges are minimal (and under 5s go free) which means that it is a day out that won't break the bank. It's an ideal choice if you're looking for a day out that will entertain children and adults alike: there's something for every member of the extended family to enjoy here, as you will not only have plenty of fun, but also a valuable educational experience. You might even manage to spark long-term passion! Check the RSPB website for details of the regular events and family fund days that they host at their sites across the country all year long.
We love spending time with our little ones indoors, but there's nothing quite like a family trip out to bond, have fun together and create special memories.


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Barenburg (Plattdeutsch: Baarnborg) ist ein Flecken im Landkreis Diepholz in Niedersachsen. Der Flecken gehört der Samtgemeinde Kirchdorf an, die ihren Verwaltungssitz im Ort Kirchdorf hat.

Geografie

Geografische Lage
Barenburg liegt zwischen dem Naturpark Dümmer und dem Naturpark Steinhuder Meer ungefähr in der Mitte zwischen Bremen und Minden, sechs Kilometer südlich von Sulingen.

Nachbargemeinden

Flüsse
Ab Barenburg fließt die aus Richtung Sulingen kommende Kleine Aue mit der Großen Aue nach Osten, um südlich von Nienburg in die Weser zu münden.

Geschichte
Erstmals wird die Gemeinde im Jahr 1247 urkundlich erwähnt. 1285 taucht eine Burg Barenburg urkundlich auf, die 1338 mit der Herrschaft Altbruchhausen auf die Grafschaft Hoya überging. Die Burg kontrollierte die alte Straße Minden-Bremen, die hier eine sumpfige Niederung durchlief. 1434 eroberte Herzog Wilhelm zu Braunschweig-Lüneburg in der Spiegelberger Fehde die Barenburg und brannte sie nieder. Danach wurde sie noch mehrfach verpfändet. Mit dem Aussterben der Grafen von Hoya 1582 ging die Burg an die Herren von Weyhe. 1706 ging die schon im Verfall begriffene Anlage in einer Feuersbrunst unter.

Das spätere, aus der Vogtei Barenburg hervorgegangene, nur den Flecken umfassende, hannoversche Amt Barenburg wurde ab 1706 gemeinsam mit dem Amt Ehrenburg verwaltet und 1823 mit diesem zum Amt Ehrenburg-Barenburg vereinigt. Die Ortschaft Barenburg trat erstmals 1530 als Flecken in Erscheinung.

Politik

Gemeinderat
Der Gemeinderat aus Barenburg setzt sich aus elf Ratsfrauen und Ratsherren zusammen, die alle der Wählergemeinschaft Barenburg angehören.
(Stand: Kommunalwahl am 12. September 2021)

Bürgermeister
Am 21. Februar 2018 wurde Hermann Dencker als ehrenamtlicher Bürgermeister des Flecken Barenburg vom Gemeinderat gewählt.

Bisherige Amtsinhaber:
 1952–1976: Heinrich Dencker
 1976–1991: Kurt Kothrade
 1991–2006: Heinrich Kammacher
 2006–21. Februar 2018: André Meyer
 seit 21. Februar 2018: Hermann Dencker

Wappen
Blasonierung: Das Wappen der Gemeinde zeigt in blau auf grünem Boden einen (nach heraldisch) rechts gewandten natürlich schreitenden, gelb und schwarz gefleckten Leoparden.

Kultur und Sehenswürdigkeiten
Im Wettbewerb "Unser Dorf hat Zukunft" belegte Barenburg 2008 im Landkreis Diepholz zusammen mit dem Syker Ortsteil Wachendorf einen 3. Platz.

Bauwerke
 der Jüdische Friedhof in Barenburg, ein Kulturdenkmal. Er ist einer von acht gut erhaltenen jüdischen Friedhöfen im Landkreis Diepholz. Auf dem Friedhof an der Straße "Zum Bahnhof" befinden sich 49 Grabsteine aus den Jahren 1828 bis ca. 1938 für jüdische Verstorbene.
In der Liste der Baudenkmale in Barenburg sind vier Baudenkmale aufgeführt, darunter:
 die Barenburger Kirche, mit Mauerteilen der Kapelle Zum Heiligen Kreuz aus dem zwölften Jahrhundert

Wirtschaft
Bei Barenburg befindet sich das Ölfeld Barenburg der ExxonMobil.

Verkehr

Straße
Die Gemeinde liegt direkt an der Bundesstraße 61, die von Minden nach Sulingen führt.

Schienenverkehr
Barenburg besitzt einen Gleisanschluss an die Eisenbahnstrecke Diepholz-Sulingen. Dieser wird von Tankzügen für die in Barenburg ansässige ExxonMobil (Erdöl) befahren. Der Gleisanschluss bildet den Rest der ehemals durchgehenden Eisenbahnstrecke Rahden-Sulingen-Bassum. Die von Barenburg nach Rahden weiterführenden Gleisanlagen wurden 1997 stillgelegt und sind heute nicht mehr befahrbar.

Persönlichkeiten
 Rolf Kramer (* 1949), in Barenburg geborener Politiker, Mitglied des Bundestages

Literatur

 Nancy Kratochwill-Gertich: Barenburg. In: Herbert Obenaus (Hrsg. in Zusammenarbeit mit David Bankier und Daniel Fraenkel): Historisches Handbuch der jüdischen Gemeinden in Niedersachsen und Bremen. Band 1 und 2 (1668 S.), Göttingen 2005, S. 159–164
 Helmut Hark (Hrsg.): Die Geschichte des Fleckens und der Kirchengemeinde Barenburg. Plenge, Sulingen/Hannover, 1970.
 BARENBURG. In: Georg Dehio: Handbuch der Deutschen Kunstdenkmäler. Bremen Niedersachsen. Deutscher Kunstverlag, München/Berlin 1992, ISBN 3-422-03022-0, S. 188

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Weblinks

 Website der Samtgemeinde
 Der Bahnhof Barenburg

Ort im Landkreis Diepholz
Ersterwähnung 1247
Flecken in Niedersachsen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: Getting data from localhost service with javascript I am working on a website that needs access to local resources, like RFID reader and some other hardware. I was thinking about writing a simple web server that would return data I need.
So that web site would access this data with JavaScript, and handle it further.
I know I cannot simply access localhost with XMLHTTPRequest due to same-origin policy limitations.
So is there a simple solution for this? I don't know would if I can access let say localhost.mysite.com if I set it locally to 127.0.0.1?
Or maybe JSONP? Or CORS?
I am not familiar with these technologies, so I am asking how would you solve this problem, or what would be the easiest way to do this.

A: You're probably best off making a packaged Chrome app to do something like this. You will then be able to run it as a regular website experience, but with the right "permissions" setting in the manifest, it will be able to access any domain, including localhost.
It would require anyone using it to "install it", which is just a one-click operation.
Alternatively, if you can control the localhost servers, you can have them output JSONP or the correct CORS headers. Basically, if you want to communicate between any two domains (which includes localhost) on the regular web (ie not including special web apps like Chrome's packaged apps), they both need to provide consent for it.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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July 4th parade will feature surf canoe program for veterans
By Eileen Frere
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Rocky McKinnon tied red, white and blue ribbons to his four-man outrigger canoe as he prepared to take part in the 114th Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade.
This year's theme is "A Star-Spangled Salute."
"I'm truly honored," said McKinnon, a professional surfer, surfboard shaper and instructor. "It's so cool to be part of such a longstanding tradition in Huntington Beach."
McKinnon will showcase something he hopes will become a tradition on its own in Huntington Beach - his Bold as Love Outrigger Surf Canoe program, which is a first in Orange County.
Since February. McKinnon has offered people a chance to try paddling and surfing an outrigger canoe with twice-a-month classes. The "Aloha Rides" are free and first-come first-serve.
"It's like taking a little slice of Hawaii or Waikiki and bringing it here to Southern California," McKinnon said.
His 14-year-old son Hendrix explained what it's like to ride in an outrigger canoe.
"It's quite the rush. It's quite the experience - not one you're going to forget," he said.
"Bold as Love is a team. It's team work," said Mike Prestridge, Best Day Foundation OC co-chair. "All four have to be in co-ordination, it's team surfing."
Prestridge will drive the truck that will tow the outrigger canoe down Main Street on July 4.
"It's all about community and Rocky has given a lot to Huntington Beach," Prestridge said.
McKinnon's family and friends will also ride along. He is one of four in the parade for the first time. It's also the first time an outrigger canoe will be part of the parade.
They will join more than 200 others - including marching bands and members of the military.
During the parade, McKinnon will also show off a 15-foot adaptive surfboard that he made to give people with physical disabilities a chance to surf.
"I'm very stoked to share this with everyone," McKinnon said. "I get to share my passion with everybody so I'm really the fortunate one, and now I get to share it with everybody."
To learn more about the Bold as Love Program - look for @BoldasLoveOSC on all social media platforms.
The Adaptive Surfing Program can be accessed on the website: mckinnonsurfandsuplessons.com.
societyhuntington beachorange countysurfingparadejuly fourthveteransjuly 4thnonprofit
Man caught on video attempting to violently break into IE home


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La forêt de Choqueuse est un massif forestier de  de forêt domaniale, situé en Seine-et-Marne et en totalité sur le territoire de la commune de Jouarre.

C'est une forêt percée d'une vaste clairière occupée par la ferme de Choqueuse. Elle est bordée à l'est de la RD 402.

À l'instar de la plupart des autres forêts, la forêt de Choqueuse est découpée de manière géométrique par plusieurs chemins (route des Abbesses, route du Batardeau, route du Marais, route Montmorin, etc.).

Géographie

Géographie physique
La forêt de Choqueuse est située sur le plateau de la Brie entre Coulommiers au sud de La Ferté-sous-Jouarre au nord.

Géographie administrative
La forêt s'étend sur la seule commune de Jouarre en Seine-et-Marne.

Elle se prolonge au sud-est par le Bois départemental de Doue, commune de Doue.

Géologie, relief et hydrographie

Accès
 Aire d'accueil au lieu-dit la Fringale, RD 402.
 Bus 41 du réseau de bus Brie et 2 Morin (Coulommiers - La Ferté-sous-Jouarre).

Histoire

Propriété de l'abbaye de Jouarre, cette zone boisée fut cédée à des serfs afin de la défricher et de la mettre en culture, ce qui explique la création de la vaste clairière située au milieu de la forêt où se trouve la ferme de Choqueuse.

Elle devient bien national à la suite de la Révolution en 1790.

La tempête Lothar en  a décimé 150 hectares de la forêt et nécessité des campagnes de reboisement.

Faune et flore

Flore
La forêt de Choqueuse est constituée de chênes, de charmes, de quelques hêtres et de quelques frênes principalement.

Faune
La faune est pour l'essentiel constituée de renards, sangliers, chevreuils, faisans introduit en 1983, lapins, lièvres, bécasses, etc.

La chasse
La chasse en forêt de Choqueuse s'y pratique le vendredi.

Gestion forestière

Gestion administrative
Forêt domaniale, le massif est la propriété de l'État français, qui en délègue la gestion à l'office national des forêts. L'État assure le financement de l'entretien mais les collectivités locales sont également associées aux décisions.

Notes et références

Annexes

Articles connexes
 Liste des principales forêts de France
 Forêt de Fontainebleau
 Forêt du Mans
 Forêt de Montceaux

Bibliographie

Liens externes

Forêt en Seine-et-Marne
Forêt domaniale en France


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Lula government appoints pro-business officials to Brazil's Ministry of Education
Guilherme Ferreira
In his January 2 inauguration speech as Minister of Education in the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers Party, PT), Camilo Santana painted a devastating portrait of Brazilian education after four years of attacks by the government of fascistic ex-President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his education minister Camilo Santana [Photo: Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil] [Photo: Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil]
According to Santana, the Bolsonaro government's wholesale"neglect" of education, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has brought "immeasurable damage to millions of children and young people in this country." Santana provided alarming statistics: "650,000 children up to 5 years old have dropped out of school in the last 3 years," and the number of"children of 6 and 7 years old who can't read and write at the right age has increased 66 percent."
Repeating the Lula government's slogan of "Unity and Reconstruction," Santana stressed that his mission is to "help rescue education in our country" from "dark times."
However, Santana's eight-year record as PT governor of the Northeastern state of Ceará (2015–2022), which includes the repression of a 107-day teachers' strike in 2016, attacks on public sector workers' pensions in 2020 and the early reopening of schools during the pandemic, points to a very different agenda. So do recent nominations to key positions in the Ministry of Education of pro-corporate policy advocates with umbilical links to corporate-backed educational think tanks. What is being prepared is an intensification of the attacks on teachers and public education in Brazil.
For secretary of basic education, Santana has chosen Katia Schweickardt, an adviser to the largest corporate educational think tank in Brazil, Todos pela Educação, and a fellow of the Lemann Foundation, linked to the second richest man in Brazil, João Paulo Lemann. As secretary of education of Manaus, the capital of the Northern state of Amazonas, between 2015 and 2020 in the administration of Arthur Virgílio, of the right-wing Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), she established educational projects with the private sector, particularly with Brazil's largest bank, Itaú, implementing the neoliberal education guidelines proposed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Schweickardt's administration was marked by imposing a salary squeeze against teachers and the emphasis on improving results on the IDEB index, which includes students' results in Test Brazil (Prova Brasil). In 2017, she denounced as "criminal" a teachers' movement protesting the way Manaus City Hall was divvying up federal funds for education based on students' Test Brazil scores. Her appointment as secretary of basic education has generated widespread protests among teachers in Manaus.
Test Brazil, created in 2005 by then minister of education and current minister of finance of the Lula government, Fernando Haddad, is a census-based standardized test that has served as the basis for the implementation of business management in schools and pro-corporate reforms in Brazilian education, such as the 2016 high school reform.
Another instrument that has also advanced the privatization of public education is the Brazilian National Common Curriculum (BNCC), implemented by one of Brazil's leading experts in standardized testing, Manuel Palácios, when he was secretary of basic education in the PT government of Dilma Rousseff between 2015 and 2016. Far from representing an appreciation of humanistic, artistic and scientific knowledge, the BNCC promoted a "flexible" curriculum ever more closely tied to the needs of the market, including the expansion of technical education. Under the current PT government, Palácios has been appointed president of INEP, the body responsible for the evaluation of basic and higher education.
For the position of executive secretary, the second most important in the Ministry of Education, Santana appointed Izolda Cela. She was vice-governor of Ceará under the Santana government and, before that, worked for the secretary of education in the city of Sobral from 2001 to 2006 and then was Ceará's secretary of education from 2007 to 2014. In Sobral, she and her husband, the vice-mayor (2005-2011) and then mayor (2011-2017) of the city, Veveu Arruda (PT), established a fruitful relationship with the Lemann Foundation, which led it to establish an educational center in Sobral.
After Lula's election victory, the Lemann Foundation and other pro-corporate educational think tanks advocated that Cela become minister of education for having implemented standardized testing in Sobral and Ceará and "material and financial incentives for municipalities to improve student learning," according to a report in the daily Estado de S. Paulo. Ultimately, this means replacing regular salary increases for education professionals with bonuses based on student test results.
Summarizing this model, retired UNICAMP professor Luiz Carlos de Freitas wrote in his blog in 2016: "With the emphasis on 'beating goals' in the IDEB, the 'successful' schools will be those that train students to do well on Math and Portuguese tests. A total inversion of the goals of human formation. ... What matters is that the result increases—for better or for worse. The clearest example of this is Sobral in Ceará [which] ... put the educational development of the cities as part of the conditions for sharing the state tax on goods and services."
In a devastating 2017 article, former secretary of labor and economic development of Sobral, Marcos de Aguiar Villas-Bôas, also wrote that the IDEB "has become information for political/electoral use," such as for the cities to get more educational resources, and therefore "is very manipulated." He also wrote that Sobral's "IDEB boom is not strongly reflected in a boom in income equality," or in higher university admissions.
As he made clear in his inauguration speech, Santana's intention is to replicate Sobral and Ceará's supposedly successful educational strategy, which he characterized as "a new methodology, with meritocracy, with fiscal stimulus, with awards, where schools started to have goals and metrics," for all of Brazil through a "national pact to support basic education."
While all this points to a broad attack on Brazilian education, the Brazilian pseudo-left, including the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) and the teachers unions, are advancing the fraudulent position that the Lula government and the Ministry of Education are "in dispute" and that they can be "pressured" to implement more "progressive policies." The very appointment of Santana over Cela is presented as the fruit of this "dispute," with the PT's own parliamentary base and the pseudo-left having denounced Cela's connection with "business sectors in education" in a "Letter in defense of Brazilian public education" in early December.
In the last three weeks since Lula's inauguration, this claim has been debunked in the face of growing demands from teachers and students for his government to reverse a series of attacks waged upon public education in recent years. These include a constitutional amendment that has limited the increase in social spending to inflation, which since 2017 has taken more than 70 billion reais (US$13 billion) from education, and the pro-corporate high school reform, both approved in 2016 by the government of President Michel Temer after the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff on trumped-up charges.
Besides the fact that the Ministry of Education is full of officials linked to pro-corporate educational think tanks that helped draft and approve the high school reform, the vice-president, Geraldo Alckmin, referred to it as "important" and "very correct" last Monday in a conversation with businessmen, adding that the Lula government does not intend to repeal labor (2017) and pension (2019) reforms. Significantly, the Ministry of Education was forced to delete a January 5 Facebook post that praised the high school reform, following an enormous negative reaction.
The Ministry of Education's since-deleted January 5 Facebook post praised the high school reform, stating: "The New High School aims to meet the needs and expectations of young people, strengthen the youth leadership based on the choice of students on the formative itinerary in which they want to deepen their knowledge, or even in technical courses or qualifications in a technical and professional way. This will contribute to generating a greater interest of young people in accessing school and, consequently, for their remaining and improving learning results." [Photo: Facebook] [Photo: Facebook]
Regarding the constitutional amendment (CA), which at the time it was proposed was popularly dubbed the "End of the World CA," Minister of Finance Fernando Haddad declared at the World Economic Forum in Davos that a new "fiscal anchor" will be reformulated with the help of the International Monetary Fund. This came after Haddad refused to raise the monthly minimum wage by a paltry 18 reais (US$3.50), a central promise of Lula's election campaign.
Given the PT's record of attacks on public education in Brazil and these events during the little more than three weeks of Lula's new government, there are no grounds to expect it to bow to "pressure" to"correct" supposed mistakes. The Lula government's choices in the Ministry of Education and the other ministries, on the contrary, express the pro-capitalist character of the PT and its supporters, including the PSOL and the unions, against which teachers, students and the Brazilian working class must immediately prepare to fight.
As part of a growing international working class offensive against rising inflation and decaying living conditions, the end of last year and the beginning of this year have witnessed education protests and strikes in Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria, the US and Canada, and in Germany, Scotland and France. Today, that struggle is centered in Portugal, where teachers, on strike since early December against attacks by the Socialist Party government, held a massive demonstration on January 13 in defense of public education.
In Brazil, youth held huge protests late last year against the Bolsonaro government's cuts to higher education. Teachers in Curitiba (Paraná), Campo Grande (Mato Grosso) and Novo Hamburgo (Rio Grande do Sul) held strikes and protests in December against attacks on pensions and low wages. In São Paulo, state public school teachers have held weekly protests since the end of last year against precarious work contracts. At the beginning of this year, these struggles will certainly develop, particularly in defense of compliance with the minimum wage for teachers, which saw an increase of almost 15 percent last week, but which is guaranteed by only 31 percent of the Brazilian municipal and state governments.
These struggles need to be unified nationally and internationally and taken out of the hands of the unions. In recent years, the unions have isolated all the struggles of teachers and students and directed them toward the election of Lula. Today, in less than three weeks of government, the reactionary and right-wing role of the Lula government and of the unions themselves has been fully exposed.
The most urgent task facing teachers, youth and the Brazilian working class as a whole is to build the International Workers Alliance of Rank-And-File Committees, of which the Rank-And-File Committee for Safe Education in Brazil (CBES-BR) is a part. Along with its fight against the disastrous safety conditions facing schools due to COVID-19 and to protect the health of teachers, students and their families through the struggle for its global elimination, the CBES-BR insists that the guarantee of quality public education is inseparable from a political struggle against the capitalist system and its representatives, including the PT.
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LOVED your Tourist Trap article. Although the fact that you used to torture your sister with the jaw dropping is evil. Positively. Evil.
Ha ha, it was pretty mean of me! Thanks, and I'm happy you enjoyed the article! I still haven't gotten my issue yet... I suppose that's my punishment for living in the Midwest!


text:
Crashed Ethiopian Airlines black boxes have been found, not yet recovered
News / January 28, 2010 January 28, 2010
Search teams on Thursday sought to recover the black boxes from an Ethiopian aircraft that crashed off Lebanon's coast, with hope the data would provide answers to the mystery surrounding the tragedy.
"We expect to have them some time today," Lebanese Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi told AFP.
An international search team picked up signals from the flight data recorders late Wednesday approximately 10 kilometres (six miles) west of Beirut airport at a depth of 1,300 metres (4,265 feet) below sea level.
"As of this morning we are evaluating the necessary means to retrieve the boxes," a military spokesman told AFP, requesting anonymity.
"We hope to find the plane in the coming hours," the military spokesman said.
Aridi confirmed that the body of the Boeing 737-800 had yet to be located four days after the tragedy, in which all 90 passengers and crew are presumed dead.
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409, bound for Addis Ababa, crashed into the Mediterranean minutes after takeoff from Beirut at 2:37 am (0037 GMT) during a raging thunderstorm on Monday.
Only 14 bodies, including those of two toddlers, and some body parts have been recovered so far.
Lebanese dailies carried obituaries for some of the passengers on Thursday, including some who have not yet been found.
Rescue officials have said a number of the bodies may still be strapped to their seats underwater and hope to recover them once they find the wreckage.
There were conflicting reports as to whether the jet exploded while still airbound or after it had hit the water, and officials have said there will be no answers until the data from the black boxes is retrieved and analysed.
Lebanese authorities have said they are counting on the flight data recorders to explain why the pilot veered off course on takeoff but have ruled out sabotage.
They have also cautioned against blaming the pilot without sufficient evidence.
Lebanese officials have said the pilot acknowledged instructions from the Beirut airport control tower to avoid the storm.
"To say there was pilot error is pure speculation," Aridi told AFP earlier, echoing similar comments by the defence ministry.
Ethiopian Airlines spokesperson Wogayehu Tefere said the pilot was experienced and had been with the company for 20 years.
"He had been a co-pilot on this aircraft before and he flew this route on a regular basis as well as other routes," he said.
The US National Transportation Safety Board and the French body for civil aviation security, the Bureau D'Enquetes et D'Analyses (BEA), have sent experts to join a team investigating the tragedy.
An international search operation was launched by the Lebanese navy, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a civilian boat from Cyprus and US navy destroyer USS Ramage with sonar equipment.
Ethiopian Airlines has had two other deadly accidents over the past 25 years, one of which was a hijacking which ended in a crash when the plane ran out of fuel.
Flight 409 had 30 Ethiopian nationals on board, including the seven crew members. Most of the Ethiopian passengers were employed in Lebanon as domestic workers and were flying home to see their families.
There were also 54 Lebanese on board, most of them Shiites from southern Lebanon. Many were transiting in Addis Ababa to other countries in Africa, where they work.
Also among the passengers was Marla Sanchez Pietton, wife of France's ambassador to Lebanon.


New clues from neutron diffraction studies regarding the behaviour of a hydrogen-splitting catalyst based on the active site of a hydrogenase enzyme could accelerate us towards a hydrogen economy by providing the means to develop more efficient hydrogen fuel cells.
A fuel catalyst fed on hydrogen gas must split the molecule as one step in the conversion of chemical to electrical energy. Now, Morris Bullock of the US Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington state, and colleagues, researchers have used neutron diffraction studies to capture a snapshot of one such catalyst grasping each half of the hydrogen molecule it has torn in two. This neutron snapshot lends credence to an earlier hypothesis of the mechanism and could provide new insights into how to develop and even more efficient fuel cell catalyst.
They explain where the hydrogen halves reside in their catalytic structure designed to mimic the active site of one of nature's hydrogen-splitting catalysts, a hydrogenase enzyme.
"The catalyst shows us what likely happens in the natural hydrogenase system," explains Morris. "The catalyst is where the action is, but the natural enzyme has a huge protein surrounding the catalytic site. It would be hard to see what we have seen with our catalyst because of the complexity of the protein."
Although invented during the rapidly evolving science and technology of the nineteenth century, fuel cells, and in particular, hydrogen-powered fuel cells, are being investigated today as a possible alternative to electricity generation that involves burning fossils fuels or vehicle propulsion that avoids the same. If a sustainable and renewable source of molecular hydrogen can be found, perhaps through solar-powered splitting of water, then we would have a power source for fuel cells the side product from which in generating electricity would simply be water, at least at the local level and excluding energy and materials costs elsewhere in the chain. Electric vehicles powered by "clean" hydrogen or domestic electricity generators might then be feasible. If renewable power is used to store energy in molecular hydrogen, these fuel cells can be carbon-neutral. But at the moment, the noble metal catalysts used in current fuel cells mean they are not yet of sufficiently low cost to be commercial viable for everyday use.
To make fuel cells less expensive, the researchers have turned to natural hydrogenase enzymes for inspiration. These enzymes break hydrogen for energy in the same way a fuel cell would. But nature does not need rare, expensive platinum, for instance, and can run its enzymes with much more abundant and readily available iron, for example. Biomimetic catalysts too might use iron or even nickel at their core. In this research one of the most critical steps is simply the breaking of the covalent bond that holds the two hydrogen atoms together in a hydrogen molecule. However, for the bond's energy to be released ready to generate electricity the split must be asymmetrical with a positively charged proton and a negatively charged hydride ion released in the process.
X-ray crystallography is almost always the mainstay of enzyme structure determination and analyses of heavy metal catalysts. However, to observe the active site in action as it were with any kind of useful precision when hydrogen is involved, requires neutrons rather than X-rays for the diffraction studies. Chemical techniques and X-ray methods have provided good estimates of the positions of the hydrogen ions, but neutron diffraction has now pinned down the precise positions without resorting to imagination.
Bullock, Tianbiao "Leo" Liu and their colleagues at the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis at PNNL, collaborated with colleagues at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee to locate the proton and hydride in their iron-based catalyst. Key to success was the ability to build much larger crystals than can be used with X-ray crystallography; some forty times larger.
"We were designing a molecule that represented an intermediate in the chemical reaction, and it required special experimental techniques," Liu said. "It took more than six months to find the right conditions to grow large single crystals suitable for neutron diffraction. And another six months to pinpoint the position of the split dihydrogen molecule."
The neutron studies showed that the "barbell-shaped" hydrogen molecule snuggles into the core of their catalyst. But, once split, the hydride bonds to the more "positive" iron at the centre while the proton binds to a nitrogen atom with its overdose of electrons on the other side of the catalytic core. This was what the researchers had anticipated would happen on the basis of theoretical understanding and earlier studies. But, science requires solid evidence for hypotheses not assumptions. In this form, the hydride and the proton form a rarely seen di-hydrogen bond, which is much stronger than the well-known hydrogen bonds seen in biological systems and between water molecules. The distance between the nucleus of the hydride and the proton as trapped by the catalyst is much shorter than a conventional hydrogen bond, the team reports, although it is longer than a typical covalent bond. Indeed, this di-hydrogen bond is the shortest of its kind identified in any system so far, the team adds.
Angew Chem, 2014, online: "Heterolytic Cleavage of Hydrogen by an Iron Hydrogenase Model Investigated by Neutron Diffraction"


The April 15 tax deadline is just a day away, leaving many taxpayers scrambling to get their 2014 taxes done.
If you're one of the many people who haven't filed yet, don't panic- there is still time to get your taxes done or file an extension if you need to.
To help you out, we've compiled this list of Do's and Don'ts to help you avoid mistakes and file right.
Filing electronically, according to the IRS, will save you time, cut down on errors and can be done for free.
You can use e-file or IRS Free file to get your taxes done on time at no cost and with no errors, because the software will guide you.
As Jane, an IRS representative, explained to us, errors are one of the biggest headaches for taxpayers, causing them time and money. Using the free tax software can help combat this.
If you are considering filing an extension (which gives you an additional 6 months to file) ask yourself why?
If it's because you owe money, then think twice. The extension gives you extra time to file, not pay: you still must pay by April 15 or you will incur penalties, fees and interest on the money you owe.
If you owe money and can't pay, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS. According to the IRS, they will work with you to make your payments affordable and will provide a low interest rate (about 3 %).
Under Obamacare, everyone was required to have health insurance in 2014 or pay a penalty. Failing to report if you didn't have insurance will not help you avoid those penalties.
If you fail to tell the IRS, they will investigate and you will end up paying even stiffer penalties. Right now, failure to have insurance will cost 1% of your annual family income, or $95 per adult and $47.50 per child under the age of eighteen, capping out at $285 for a family.
If you do need to file an extension, make sure you do it by April 15 using form 4868. Failing to file the extension by the midnight deadline will result in tax penalties that can add up quickly.
If you owe money and need an extension, then pay what you think you owe. If you pay too much it will be refunded to you.
The Interactive Tax Assistant Tool can help ensure you get any credits or deductions you're entitled to, such as the Earned Income Credit or the Education Credit.
Finally, if you need to, the IRS has help both online and by phone. But be advised that with April 15 just a day away, the phone lines will be jammed.
Have you already filed your taxes? Share your experience with us or offer some advice below!


text:
Published on 04.11.16 in Vol 3, No 2 (2016): Jul-Dec
Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at http://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/5788, first published Mar 23, 2016.
Tweetations (17)
Studies Involving People With Dementia and Touchscreen Technology: A Literature Review
Phil Joddrell, BSc ;
Arlene J Astell, CClin Psychol, BSc, PhD
Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare (CATCH), School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Corresponding Author:
Phil Joddrell, BSc
Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare (CATCH)
School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)
Regent Court
30 Regent Street
Sheffield, S1 4DA
Fax:44 1142724095
Background: Devices using touchscreen interfaces such as tablets and smartphones have been highlighted as potentially suitable for people with dementia due to their intuitive and simple control method. This population experience a lack of meaningful, engaging activities, yet the potential use of the touchscreen format to address this issue has not been fully realized.
Objective: To identify and synthesize the existing body of literature involving the use of touchscreen technology and people with dementia in order to guide future research in this area.
Methods: A systematized review of studies in the English language was conducted, where a touchscreen interface was used with human participants with dementia.
Results: A total of 45 articles met the inclusion criteria. Four questions were addressed concerning (1) the context of use, (2) reasons behind the selection of the technology, (3) details of the hardware and software, and (4) whether independent use by people with dementia was evidenced.
Conclusions: This review presents an emerging body of evidence demonstrating that people with dementia are able to independently use touchscreen technology. The intuitive control method and adaptability of modern devices has driven the selection of this technology in studies. However, its primary use to date has been as a method to deliver assessments and screening tests or to provide an assistive function or cognitive rehabilitation. Building on the finding that people with dementia are able to use touchscreen technology and which design features facilitate this, more use could be made to deliver independent activities for meaningful occupation, entertainment, and fun.
JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol 2016;3(2):e10
doi:10.2196/rehab.5788
dementia;
technology;
Dementia is an incurable syndrome caused by a chronic or progressive disease of the brain [1]. It has currently affected more than 46 million people worldwide, and this number is predicted to increase to 131.5 million by 2050 [2]. Dementia can affect multiple areas of cognitive functioning, including memory, thinking, comprehension, learning capacity, orientation, judgment, and language, and many people experience an impact on motivation, social behavior and emotion [1].
Lack of activity, or boredom, is frequently reported by people with dementia, whether they are still living at home or have moved into care services [3,4]. Engaging in meaningful activities can decrease boredom and increase positive emotions [5]. Facilitating people with dementia to engage in independent activity through the selection of appropriate activities can be highly beneficial as it promotes autonomy, thereby avoiding dependence on family members or formal caregivers [6].
The use of technology in dementia care is growing [7], but it has been observed that technological solutions developed for people with dementia have been centered around "assistive" devices [8-10]. Ironically, these applications are typically not intended for use by the people with dementia, but rather by family members or formal caregivers [11]. Furthermore, there has been some debate surrounding the use of technological assistance in this context, particularly in cases involving the monitoring or control of individuals through "assistive" devices, such as electronic tagging [8]. This highlights the need for careful consideration when introducing technological devices as aids for people with dementia, and to be clear from the outset who the "assistance" is actually for.
The increased availability of touchscreen technology devices in everyday life, such as smartphones and tablets, has led to an increased consideration by health care professionals and researchers of their potential suitability for people with dementia [12]. This trend is set to continue as people are being diagnosed with dementia at a younger age, and coming generations will be more familiar with computer technology [13]. It has been suggested that the touchscreen format is a more effective solution as it makes less demand of hand-eye coordination when compared with a desktop computer using a mouse and cursor [14]. Therefore, the intuitive nature of touchscreen devices presents an opportunity for their application with people with dementia as the intended users of the technology, and for whom the benefits may be experienced directly. For this potential to be realized, the design of simple and accessible software should be considered a priority.
This review presents an overview of the ways touchscreen technology has been used with people with dementia since its invention to the present generation of touchscreen devices, addressing the questions listed in Textbox 1.
Textbox 1. Questions addressed by the literature review.
View this box
A systematized review [15] of the literature was conducted on the use of touchscreen technology with people with dementia.
The following search terms, including Boolean operators (eg, AND, OR) and truncation symbols (denoted by *), were used for this review: (dementia) OR (Alzheimer*) AND (touchscreen) OR (touch screen) OR (tablet computer) OR (tablet device) OR (smartphone) OR (smart phone) AND (app*) OR (activit*) OR (game*) OR (gaming).
The following electronic databases were accessed for this review, selected due to their content being relevant to the subject area: Medline via Web of Science; PsychINFO via Ovid SP; ProQuest; PubMed; CINAHL via EBSCO; and Cochrane. The search was extended to include references of relevant articles and existing articles in the researcher's reference management database. The literature search was conducted between July 20 and August 7, 2015.
During screening, records were included or excluded based on the following criteria: Language: English, Participants: human with dementia, and Technology: any featuring a touchscreen interface.
The search protocol described above originally resulted in 121 references being returned through the database searches and 12 additional references through other sources or hand searching. Duplicate articles were removed, resulting in a figure of 95. Subsequently, articles were removed having been reviewed against the inclusion and exclusion criteria, based on their title (19) or abstract (21). This resulted in 55 articles being obtained as full-text documents. Having read all these articles, a further 10 were excluded due to not meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria; either because the studies did not actually involve people with dementia or because a touchscreen interface was not featured. In total, 45 articles were included for the final review. Figure 1 presents the flow diagram of the search procedure (adapted from [16]).
Figure 1. Flow diagram of search procedure.
View this figure
Overview of Results
Forty-five articles met the inclusion criteria and were included for this review. Multimedia Appendix 1 presents the summarized results of the review, and information from these articles has been collated to provide an overview on this topic, organized according to the questions outlined in Textbox 1.
Contexts of Use
A total of 3 broad categories of touchscreen technology utilization were identified during the review: (1) assessment and screening (14 articles); (2) assistive technology and cognitive rehabilitation (24 articles); and (3) leisure activities (9 articles). Two papers contained information pertaining to both an assistive device and a leisure activity and were counted in both categories. Multiple papers within both the assistive and leisure categories described the same devices or software, which is highlighted. Each of these categories have been discussed in detail. It is worth noting that the majority of papers in the "assessment and screening" category mostly describe the touchscreen device as a piece of equipment used to deliver a test, and rarely discuss the impact of selecting the specific technology.
Assessment and Screening
The first reported use of touchscreen technology with people with dementia was in 1986 [17], where the use of a touch-sensitive screen was compared with a conventional computer monitor with a peripheral response device to deliver 2 cognitive assessments or screening tests. In the early 1990s, 2 articles described the incorporation of touchscreen technology into cognitive assessments: the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) [18] and the French-language Examen Cognitif par Ordinateur (ECO) [19]. Touchscreens have continued to be used for these purposes, evidenced by more recent examples delivering tests of global cognition [20] or batteries of cognitive tests [21-23] for the detection of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
In addition to global cognitive assessment, several articles reported the use of touchscreen technology to deliver tests of specific cognitive functions: visual attention [24], working memory [25], executive functioning [26], and visuomotor skills [27,28]. The remaining article in this theme [29] used computerized maze tests presented on a touchscreen computer to predict driving performance.
The vast majority of these articles developed original tests for the touchscreen format such as the Edinburgh Dementia App [23] and the Touch Panel-type Dementia Assessment Scale [22]. Only one study reported the adaptation of an existing test; the sparse-letter display test [24], which had previously been presented on a computer but not using the touchscreen format.
Assistive Technology and Cognitive Rehabilitation
The majority of articles describe the use of touchscreen technology to provide an assistive function for the person with dementia or their caregivers, or to present interactive cognitive exercises.
Five of the reviewed papers discussed the Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid (CIRCA), a communication support tool using digital reminiscence materials to stimulate conversation between the person with dementia and a conversation partner [30-34]. Several other studies also used reminiscence materials presented on a touchscreen interface to provide other assistive functions [9,35-39]. The use of touchscreen technology to support therapists was also evident in the context of art therapy and occupational therapy [40-42]. Several articles reported the use of touchscreen technology to address multiple activities of daily living (ADL) for people with dementia [43-46], including calendars, diaries, video calling, and location tracking. Although different terminology was used to describe their focus, the remaining articles categorized in this section used touchscreen technology to present cognitive exercises to people with dementia, either using originally designed software [47-51] or existing software [52].
Several of the aforementioned articles have featured games or leisure activities; however, these have been designed to assess cognition [21,26], provide cognitive stimulation [37,45], or to assist in the delivery of therapeutic interventions [40,41]. Very few studies focused on games or activities purely for entertainment or leisure purposes.
Three of the reviewed articles described "Living In the Moment" (LIM) [31,53,54], a suite of touchscreen games and activities that at various stages of the project included virtual environments, skill games, games of chance, and creative activities, the common factor being that they were all designed in partnership with people with dementia. Original design was also utilized in 3 articles; 2 focusing on musical creativity [55,56] and 1 to provide enjoyable activity either independently or in a group setting [39]. The remaining articles included in this section investigated the use of existing touchscreen activities, rather than those developed specifically for people with dementia [5,10,13].
Touchscreen Technology Selection
Many, although not all, reviewed articles reported why they had chosen touchscreen technology. The reasons can be summarized into the following categories: the intuitive control method (9 articles), practicalities of administration (12 articles), the ability to customize and adapt (4 articles), and the multifunctional nature of the devices (10 articles). These reasons are explored further.
Intuitive Control
The touchscreen control method is widely regarded as intuitive [5,10,17,47] and easy to use [25,39], making it highly advantageous for people with dementia. Eliminating the need for external input devices, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, is beneficial as it reduces the cognitive load required to input information [10,17,24,47]. This was addressed directly in Tippett & Sergio [28], where the performance of people with dementia on a visuomotor test was highest when the touch-sensitive interface was placed directly over the computer monitor as opposed to when placed in front or to the side. A similar method was used in the study by Carr et al [17], who reported that participants in the group using an external response board would sometimes intuitively reach out to touch the screen. An alternative example can be seen in Ott et al [29], where participants were required to use a stylus to trace a path through the maze in order to replicate the "natural" method of using a paper and pen.
In administering cognitive tests, touchscreen computers are seen as a more practical solution for a number of reasons. These include increased accuracy of data input [18,25,29], flexible but also standardized administration [25], reduction in administration bias by avoiding experimenter effects [20], financially efficient implementation [22,25,29], and the wide availability of this technology in health care settings [23].
In addition, the use of touchscreen computers reduces the practical requirement for members of staff to prepare and manage multiple materials, for example, reminiscence materials [30,33,38,42,52]. This is highlighted as a potential time-saving measure for often busy clinical staff [41].
Programs and apps presented on touchscreen devices can be designed to facilitate customization, which allows for easy adaptation and consequently they can be responsive to the needs of the users [13,25,37,40,41]. Presenting customization options within programs in an accessible format allows a caregiver or therapist to tailor the program to each individual [40,41]. This is particularly beneficial for people with dementia as programs can become responsive to change in their cognitive functioning and abilities over time. For example, with games, it is important to include difficulty options so that each player can find a suitable entry point [37]. Another benefit to customization highlighted in the literature is with regards to administering cognitive assessments, where being able to easily manipulate experimental parameters can allow for repeat testing while avoiding learned responses [25].
Multifunctional Use
A further advantage of touchscreen devices such as tablets and smartphones is that they can provide a wide range of functions for the user. As is reflected in the literature, these devices can address the multiple needs of people with dementia, for example, increasing socialization, providing memory prompts, facilitating activities, and delivering educative tools [10,13,36,37,44]. During reminiscence activities, for example, photographs and music can be accessed simultaneously, increasing their potential to trigger memories [38]. The fact that a wide variety of downloadable apps can be added to such devices only increases the availability of these functions [5,52]. It is also reported that built-in and attachable accessories, for example, cameras [35] and sensors [48] can even further increase the functionality available through these devices.
Where reported in the literature, information related to the hardware and software used in the reviewed studies is discussed here. The information that was judged as most relevant was screen size and the model of tablet devices or smartphones and their operating system (OS). To allow for easier comparison, all screen sizes have been converted into inches (diagonal), if not already presented in this unit.
The touchscreen devices used in the reviewed articles range in size, largely determined by whether a monitor (largest), tablet, or smartphone (smallest) was used. Fourteen articles reported and specified using a touchscreen monitor or a touch-sensitive interface in combination with a monitor [17,21-25,28-30,33,34, 40, 46,51,53]. Screen size in these studies ranged from 14˝ to 32˝ with a mode size of 20˝. Six articles reported and specified using a tablet device, all with a screen size of 9.7˝ [5,10,39,42,52]. Three articles reported and specified using a mobile smartphone, with sizes of 2.8˝ [46], 3.5˝ [13], and 3.8˝ [43].
With regard to size, a larger screen can be advantageous for people with cognitive impairment, particularly when there is the addition of a visual impairment [56]. This would support the use of monitors, however the portability of tablet devices and smartphones is also seen as advantageous [25], as is the availability and ease of access to downloadable apps [5,52]. There should be consideration for the suitable placement of tablet devices during interactions, given their size and weight, with the recommendation of placing the device on a surface (eg, table) and raising the height to a comfortable level for the user to reduce muscle stress [25]. Finally, the small size of smartphone screens has been highlighted as a potential issue for people with dementia during user testing [43].
Models and Operating System
All the studies that reported using tablets, and specified which device, used an Apple iPad [5,10,39,42,52]. In discussing the reason for selecting an iPad, and therefore the Apple iOS, Lim et al [10] commented on its ease of use when compared with Android OS or Windows OS, a factor that is particularly important where the intended users are people with dementia. Android [48], Windows [43] and Apple [13] were each used as the OS in studies that specified smartphone use. In the study by Zmily et al [48] involving the use of near-field communication (NFC) technology, the Android OS was selected primarily because, at the time, the majority of mobile devices with NFC functionality used Android. Commenting on app development, Pang and Kwong [37] stated that apps designed for people with dementia should be developed for both Apple and Android to allow people the choice in what device to purchase, particularly in relation to cost.
Independent Use
The use of touchscreen technology in the reviewed articles involved a range of interaction levels between the people with dementia and the devices. Supported use was common, that is, where the person with dementia interacts with the technology in the presence of a clinician or carer, where input may be encouraged or shared [23,28,30,33,34,38,41,42,56]. Many studies involved devices that were designed for independent use or used existing devices that were utilized independently by the person with dementia [9,10,13, 20,22,24,26,32,35, 37,43-45,47,53,54]. In some cases, independent use was successful. For example, Lim et al [10] reported that half their participants were able to use an iPad independently for leisure activities, and a quarter were able to store and charge the device without support. Participants using the LIM games were left alone to interact with the touchscreen and the majority were able to navigate the system independently, even at the prototype stage [53]. Two thirds of participants were able to use the Companion system independently, although the remaining third were not, with the authors citing personal motivation and physical impairment as potential factors [9]. Although the "COGKNOW" system was designed for independent use by people with dementia, in practice it was found that those people who lived with a partner tended to rely on them for support [44]. Several articles reported positive factors for people with dementia associated with independent use of the touchscreen devices, including relaxation [9], enjoyment [9,45,54], autonomy [9,45,54], motivation [26], socialization [32], and engagement [54].
In reviewing the articles for evidence of independent touchscreen use, key factors emerge relating to the potential for successful outcomes; namely, training, use of prompts, integrated feedback, and visual design. Each of these factors will now be discussed.
There were many examples of studies using a training or demonstration phase before participants were expected to use a device independently [13,24-26,28,48,57]. In several cases, this involved the researcher or clinician demonstrating or instructing device use, followed by a familiarization phase where the participant would be observed using the device so that their understanding could be verified [24,25,28,57]. In one example using this method, the familiarization phase would only end once the clinician was satisfied that the participant could use the device independently, up to a maximum of 8 trials [28]. In another example, a simplified version of the actual trial test was used during this phase to prevent learning bias [24]. Zmily et al [48] predicted that this demonstration would be necessary, given that the target population is generally less experienced using computer devices, which was supported in their results. In their case study, Astell et al [13] concluded that the participant's successful adoption of several forms of new technology was achieved because of the high level of appropriate training and support delivered by the researcher, which will not always be feasible.
Many of the articles described the use of integrated prompts within their software to direct or regain the attention of the user, although the outcomes are varied. In developing the LIM games, the research team considered and experimented with many different forms of prompts including text boxes, animations, the spoken voice, and an avatar [53,54]. The idea of an avatar was rejected due to the potential for it to be overly distracting, while the spoken voice prompt was implemented but often ignored (possibly due to its synthetic nature being unrecognizable), or relied on too heavily, resulting in a passive experience where the user would just wait until they next received an instruction. In contrast, the text boxes and animations were found to be more successful, with the conclusion being that overly intrusive prompts were unnecessary [54]. Other studies reported using spoken prompts in their programs [20,22,35,48], either through human recording or synthesized text-to-speech. Inoue et al [22] reported that participants were more likely to find prompts useful in the earlier stages of dementia. In Meiland et al [44], the use of visual and audio prompts was reported to be largely unsuccessful, with users either not noticing the prompt or ignoring it.
There was also variety between the studies in how prompts were triggered, for example, following a period of inactivity [53,54]; following a predetermined number of errors [26]; or using artificial intelligence to detect a reduction in engagement, measured through eye-tracking and screen touches [41].
The importance of feedback in response to user input when designing or selecting touchscreen software for use by people with dementia was discussed in several articles [24,54,56]. Feedback should involve either an animation or sound effect (or both) contextual to the input and should be immediate, to acknowledge the user interaction [54].
When designing interfaces specifically for people with dementia on touchscreen devices, the reviewed literature recommends the avoidance of complexity [35,37,40,56]. The number of steps to navigate or achieve goals should be kept to a minimum [35-37,56], with uncluttered interfaces [56], and the consistent use of colors and icons so that users have a sense of context [35-37]. The traditional design of apps may be problematic for people with dementia, with drop-down menus and ambiguous icons without text, and therefore should be avoided [36,37]. Icons, text, and graphics should be appropriately sized for people who may have visual impairment [36,37,47] and the interactive elements should be of a large enough size to allow for less precise motor control [47].
The multitouch control method popular on market-leading touchscreen devices has the potential to allow for easier and more engaging interactions for people with dementia [41]. However, with multitouch, there is the risk of accidental gestures caused by users resting their hand on one part of the screen while interacting with another [17,56], although considered programming can prevent this [17,41]. Using familiar imagery to cue users into their activity can be helpful for people with cognitive impairment [54], and offering activities that are familiar to people, such as virtual representations of everyday environments to explore [53] or digital versions of existing games to play [10] has also shown to be popular with this population.
To support the design process, Astell et al [33] recommended educating all members of the research and development team on dementia and enabling everyone to spend time talking with people with dementia and seeking their input. An iterative design process in collaboration with users is also recommended [32,53]. This can reduce the risk of releasing products that have poor performance, stability issues, or are not fit for purpose, which is highlighted as being crucial in order to achieve acceptance and adoption by people with dementia, their families, and services supporting them [44].
Application of Knowledge
Although the use of touchscreen technology with people with dementia is in its infancy across the board, of the 3 main contexts (assessment, ADL, and leisure) highlighted in the results, the most apparent gap in the literature is in the application of these devices for leisure activities. Only 8 articles were returned from the literature search that could be categorized in this area, and within these only 6 projects are featured, as multiple articles focused on the same work. This is all the more unusual given that worldwide the most popular app category in the market leading app store for smartphones and tablets is games. There is no reason to believe that a diagnosis of dementia should alter people's interests and hobbies. Moreover, one of the biggest challenges for people with dementia and those who care for them is finding ways to provide stimulating and meaningful activities for them to engage with.
Understanding why touchscreen technology has been used with this population in the past can help when making decisions as to how it might be used in the future. This is particularly pertinent, given the speed with which this technology evolves, and the availability of new design features both internally (software) and externally (hardware). Having reviewed the literature, clearly what has attracted researchers, clinicians, and designers working with people with dementia to touchscreen technology is the intuitive control method. While not entirely a new technology (Carr and colleagues were heralding its use 30 years ago [17]), its increase in availability, popularity and affordability in recent years has perhaps provided a new entrance into personal computing for people with dementia. The practicalities, customization and multifunctional abilities discussed in the literature could to a certain extent also be applied to non-touchscreen computing devices. However, in combination with the intuitive control method, it is no surprise that this technology is gaining the interest of those working with people with dementia. Areas that might require further consideration include how customization can best be implemented to improve the accessibility of this technology and how, with such large numbers of apps available, to identify which ones might be suitable for people with dementia.
Perhaps the most difficult outcome to analyze relates to the hardware, as there is a potential disparity between what is most available and popular on the market (and therefore presents the most opportunity) and what might be the most appropriate for this population. The majority of studies featured in this review used larger touchscreen devices (20˝ being the most common). In comparison with the Apple iPad, which was the single most used device in the remaining studies, this is almost 4 times the size. It is likely that in some of these cases there was no choice to be made as tablet devices with "acceptable" hardware have only been widely available since 2010 [58]. Given the knowledge gained on software design, a larger sized interface would certainly be beneficial for this population. However, with tablet devices like the iPad offering so many easily accessible, low-cost applications, and their smaller size (comparatively) offering more portability, there are advantages to this technology too. There is perhaps not enough information currently to definitively answer this question, and it is unlikely that there will be a "one-size-fits-all" solution, given the variety of contexts and individual variations (eg, individual or group activity, age, presence of physical impairment). If the principles of interaction derived from the earlier studies featuring larger touchscreens could be achieved with tablets, then this might provide an accessible, economically viable approach going forward. It would also be sensible to consider the specific target population and context in advance of each study and consult with people with dementia and people in a caregiving role before making a decision.
It became apparent during the review that many articles did not report all the information that might be considered pertinent to the completion of a comprehensive overview of this topic. This lack, combined with the relatively modest number of articles identified, is a limiting factor in applying the findings. For example, if the studies that reported trials of apps or devices consistently included information about the age and severity of cognitive impairment experienced by people with dementia, this would advance the knowledge about how the technology could be used at various stages of the condition. This is not to assume that there would necessarily be a correlation, for as Kerssens et al [9] reported, independent use was related more to personal motivation or curiosity for the technology than the level of cognitive function.
Another potential limitation is that the review may not have uncovered all studies that involved the use of touchscreen technology with people with dementia. The decision was made to include only articles that directly referred to the use of a "touchscreen" (or "touch screen") interface. Every effort was made to investigate alternative terminology but nothing consistent was found, therefore the presence of the term "touchscreen" (or "touch screen") dictated the search results. It also highlights the small amount of direct research touchscreens have received with this population beyond being an alternative to pen-and-paper cognitive tests.
The reviewed literature can be seen as an emerging body of evidence that people who have dementia can independently use touchscreen technology. Certainly, there are caveats here involving the appropriate level of support needed, both on a human and on a technological level, but there is clearly enough reason to warrant continued research in this area. The results have highlighted numerous learning outcomes while also identifying areas that are currently under-researched. It is clear that touchscreen devices are not only usable by people with dementia, but the wide array of functions available offer great potential to improve their lives in many different contexts.
This research was conducted as part of a doctoral thesis funded by the Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare (CATCH) at the University of Sheffield. PJ conducted the literature search and drafted the manuscript. AJA contributed to the manuscript preparation and supervised the process in the role of doctoral supervisor.
None declared.
Multimedia Appendix 1
Summarized literature review results.
PDF File (Adobe PDF File), 56KB
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ADL: activities of daily living
LIM: Living In the Moment
NFC: near-field communication
OS: operating system
Edited by G Eysenbach; submitted 23.03.16; peer-reviewed by R Davies, J Hoey, M Sengpiel; comments to author 28.06.16; revised version received 23.08.16; accepted 10.09.16; published 04.11.16
©Phil Joddrell, Arlene J Astell. Originally published in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (http://rehab.jmir.org), 04.11.2016.
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