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Playful User Interfaces: Interfaces that Invite Social and Physical Interaction (Gaming Media and Social Effects)
by Anton NijholtThe book is about user interfaces to applications that have been designed for social and physical interaction. The interfaces are ‘playful’, that is, users feel challenged to engage in social and physical interaction because that will be fun. The topics that will be present in this book are interactive playgrounds, urban games using mobiles, sensor-equipped environments for playing, child-computer interaction, tangible game interfaces, interactive tabletop technology and applications, full-body interaction, exertion games, persuasion, engagement, evaluation and user experience. Readers of the book will not only get a survey of state-of-the-art research in these areas, but the chapters in this book will also provide a vision of the future where playful interfaces will be ubiquitous, that is, present and integrated in home, office, recreational, sports and urban environments, emphasizing that in the future in these environments game elements will be integrated and welcomed.
Playful Visions: Optical Toys and the Emergence of Children's Media Culture (The\mit Press Ser.)
by Meredith A. BakThe kaleidoscope, the stereoscope, and other nineteenth-century optical toys analyzed as “new media” of their era, provoking anxieties similar to our own about children and screens.In the nineteenth century, the kaleidoscope, the thaumatrope, the zoetrope, the stereoscope, and other optical toys were standard accessories of a middle-class childhood, used both at home and at school. In Playful Visions, Meredith Bak argues that the optical toys of the nineteenth century were the “new media” of their era, teaching children to be discerning consumers of media—and also provoking anxieties similar to contemporary worries about children's screen time. Bak shows that optical toys—which produced visual effects ranging from a moving image to the illusion of depth—established and reinforced a new understanding of vision as an interpretive process. At the same time, the expansion of the middle class as well as education and labor reforms contributed to a new notion of childhood as a time of innocence and play. Modern media culture and the emergence of modern Western childhood are thus deeply interconnected.Drawing on extensive archival research, Bak discusses, among other things, the circulation of optical toys, and the wide visibility gained by their appearance as printed templates and textual descriptions in periodicals; expanding conceptions of literacy, which came to include visual acuity; and how optical play allowed children to exercise a sense of visual mastery. She examines optical toys alongside related visual technologies including chromolithography—which inspired both chromatic delight and chromophobia. Finally, considering the contemporary use of optical toys in advertising, education, and art, Bak analyzes the endurance of nineteenth-century visual paradigms.
Playin' to Win: A Surgeon, Scientist and Parent Examines the Upside of Video Games
by James Butch RosserAt the edge of one of America's most defining eras in its history, salvation comes from the most unlikely source: video games. Playin' To Win: A Surgeon, Scientist and Parent Examines the Upside of Video Games, is inspired, in part, by many edgy titles that have previously probed the expanse of what could be. It is a Freakanomics with a more grassroots subject matter that elicits an instantaneous visceral response from citizens of every walk of life. It is an Everything Bad Is Good For You with grittier details on how the unexpected can be incorporated into raising our society to the next level. Ultimately, it makes a case that video games can promote a Tipping Point with a focus on contributing to real world solutions. It is direct, thought-provoking and consistently challenges perceptions of the boundaries of reality. It has to be! Because the readers will be the first to bear witness: this is a call for the start of a second American Revolution!
Playing Video Games: Motives, Responses, and Consequences (Routledge Communication Series)
by Peter Vorderer Jennings BryantFrom security training simulations to war games to role-playing games, to sports games to gambling, playing video games has become a social phenomena, and the increasing number of players that cross gender, culture, and age is on a dramatic upward trajectory. Playing Video Games: Motives, Responses, and Consequences integrates communication, psychology, and technology to examine the psychological and mediated aspects of playing video games. It is the first volume to delve deeply into these aspects of computer game play. It fits squarely into the media psychology arm of entertainment studies, the next big wave in media studies. The book targets one of the most popular and pervasive media in modern times, and it will serve to define the area of study and provide a theoretical spine for future research.This unique and timely volume will appeal to scholars, researchers, and graduate students in media studies and mass communication, psychology, and marketing.
Playing With Death: A gripping serial killer thriller you won’t be able to put down…
by Simon Scarrow Lee FrancisHOW WAS A MAN KILLED WHILE ALONE IN A LOCKED ROOM? IS IT THE PERFECT MURDER?It's a case for FBI Special Agent Rose Blake. Still raw after a notorious serial killer slipped through her net, Rose will do whatever it takes - including putting her own life at risk - to nail the perpetrator this time. When a second body with identical wounds is discovered, Rose realises that a twisted murderer is playing a deadly game. A murderer who's not going to stop any time soon. But what links the victims? And who's next? No one is safe, and the clock is ticking...What readers are saying about Playing with Death:'An edgy, pacy, futuristic and oh so very polished cyber thriller...intelligent, perceptive...exciting' trevtwinem.booklikes.com'[A] fast-paced thriller of the highest quality...The pace of the story is relentless...Would highly recommend' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Grips you from the beginning and races to a most exciting and enigmatic ending. It was one of those books that call you back every time you are dragged away. I absolutely loved it' www.crimesquad.com, 5 stars'A leading-edge thriller...My skin crawled quite a bit whilst reading this...A great novel that explores some brilliant concepts' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Addictive...thought provoking...Definitely recommended' Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars'Makes you lie in bed and go over every possible theory in your head...I can't recommend this book enough. If you're a fan of Simon Scarrow or just love a good crime thriller then do not hesitate to read this book' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'A terrific thriller' Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars
Playing With Death: Sometimes The Killer Wins...
by Simon Scarrow Lee Francis'This fast, furious, twisty thriller kept me on the edge of my seat' Chris Ryan'If Stephen King had collaborated with Michael Crichton on a thriller, it might have been as good as this' Peterborough Evening TelegraphA UNEXPLAINED DEATHThe discovery of a horribly mutilated corpse launches FBI Agent Rose Blake into a puzzling investigation. The victim was alone at home with no signs of forced entry. Who - or what - burnt him to death?THE GAME BEGINSStrips of rubber melted to the body emerge as evidence that the victim was wearing The Skin, an innovation that takes users deep into a virtual world.ESCAPE OR DIE...When a body with identical wounds is discovered, Rose realises that in the darkest corners of the Dark Web, a brutal killer is playing a deadly game. A game with no rules - and no mercy. To stop it, Rose must play too...What readers are saying about Playing with Death: 'An edgy, pacy, futuristic and oh so very polished cyber thriller...intelligent, perceptive...exciting' trevtwinem.booklikes.com'[A] fast-paced thriller of the highest quality...The pace of the story is relentless...Would highly recommend' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Grips you from the beginning and races to a most exciting and enigmatic ending. It was one of those books that call you back every time you are dragged away. I absolutely loved it' www.crimesquad.com, 5 stars'A leading-edge thriller...My skin crawled quite a bit whilst reading this...A great novel that explores some brilliant concepts' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Addictive...thought provoking...Definitely recommended' Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars'Makes you lie in bed and go over every possible theory in your head...I can't recommend this book enough. If you're a fan of Simon Scarrow or just love a good crime thriller then do not hesitate to read this book' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'A terrific thriller' Goodreads reviewer, 4 stars
Playing With Death: the terrifying new thriller from the number one bestselling author
by Simon Scarrow Lee Francis'This fast, furious, twisty thriller kept me on the edge of my seat' Chris Ryan'If Stephen King had collaborated with Michael Crichton on a thriller, it might have been as good as this' Peterborough Evening TelegraphA UNEXPLAINED DEATHThe discovery of a horribly mutilated corpse launches FBI Agent Rose Blake into a puzzling investigation. The victim was alone at home with no signs of forced entry. Who - or what - burnt him to death?THE GAME BEGINSStrips of rubber melted to the body emerge as evidence that the victim was wearing The Skin, an innovation that takes users deep into a virtual world.ESCAPE OR DIE...When a body with identical wounds is discovered, Rose realises that in the darkest corners of the Dark Web, a brutal killer is playing a deadly game. A game with no rules - and no mercy. To stop it, Rose must play too...(P)2017 Headline Publishing Group Limited
Playing to Win: Sports, Video Games, and the Culture of Play (Digital Game Studies)
by David J. Gunkel Robert Alan BrookeyIn this era of big media franchises, sports branding has crossed platforms, so that the sport, its television broadcast, and its replication in an electronic game are packaged and promoted as part of the same fan experience. Editors Robert Alan Brookey and Thomas P. Oates trace this development back to the unexpected success of Atari's Pong in the 1970s, which provoked a flood of sport simulation games that have had an impact on every sector of the electronic game market. From golf to football, basketball to step aerobics, electronic sports games are as familiar in the American household as the televised sporting events they simulate. This book explores the points of convergence at which gaming and sports culture merge.
Playing with Cobras (The Kenneth Aubrey & Patrick Hyde Series)
by Craig ThomasNew York Times–Bestselling Author: &“Top-notch . . . Brisk action, gripping suspense and a cynical look at international politics.&” —Publishers Weekly Just as a high-level politician is on the verge of becoming India&’s next prime minister, his wife is murdered—and her lover, a senior British intelligence officer, is framed for the crime. There may be more to this plot, however, than a simple jealous rage. The victim&’s husband is raking in funds through illegal dealings, and when field agent Patrick Hyde is sent to India to confirm SIS suspicions of a setup, he is able to free the captured agent. But when the two of them are left without support, they will have to go on the run through several Asian countries—all while Hyde&’s partner, Ros, is also caught up in the politician&’s machinations and targeted for death . . . &“[A] bold loner hero . . . Enjoy, enjoy.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“When it comes to keeping the story moving and stoking up the excitement, Mr. Thomas knows his business.&” —The New York Times
Playing with Feelings: Video Games and Affect
by Aubrey AnableHow gaming intersects with systems like history, bodies, and code Why do we so compulsively play video games? Might it have something to do with how gaming affects our emotions? In Playing with Feelings, scholar Aubrey Anable applies affect theory to game studies, arguing that video games let us &“rehearse&” feelings, states, and emotions that give new tones and textures to our everyday lives and interactions with digital devices. Rather than thinking about video games as an escape from reality, Anable demonstrates how video games—their narratives, aesthetics, and histories—have been intimately tied to our emotional landscape since the emergence of digital computers.Looking at a wide variety of video games—including mobile games, indie games, art games, and games that have been traditionally neglected by academia—Anable expands our understanding of the ways in which these games and game studies can participate in feminist and queer interventions in digital media culture. She gives a new account of the touchscreen and intimacy with our mobile devices, asking what it means to touch and be touched by a game. She also examines how games played casually throughout the day create meaningful interludes that give us new ways of relating to work in our lives. And Anable reflects on how games allow us to feel differently about what it means to fail.Playing with Feelings offers provocative arguments for why video games should be seen as the most significant art form of the twenty-first century and gives the humanities passionate, incisive, and daring arguments for why games matter.
Playing with Fire
by Chicago Tribune StaffThe average American baby is born with 10 fingers, 10 toes, and the highest recorded levels of flame retardants among infants in the world. How could it possibly be in the US that children are already contaminated at birth with such disturbingly high levels of toxic chemicals? The truth lies in the greed and deception of two powerful industries-Big Tobacco and chemical manufacturers.In a groundbreaking piece of investigative journalism by the Chicago Tribune, Playing with Fire exposes the realities about the ineffectiveness and potential health risks caused by the flame retardants that are pervasive in American homes. Big Tobacco and large chemical companies used fear, exaggerated scientific claims, and shady deal-making to serve their own interests at the expense of consumer safety.Playing with Fire is an extremely significant, revelatory piece of watchdog journalism that is a must-read for anyone with small children and for citizens who demand responsibility of big businesses and their governments. The investigation, launched in May 2012, prompted two US Senate hearings, and the US Environmental Protection Agency announced it would launch an investigation of flame retardants. Also, California's governor said the state would scrap the rule responsible for flame retardants' presence in furniture.
Playthrough Poetics: Gameplay as Research Method
by Milena DroumevaGame streamers and live commentators are producing increasingly comprehensive analyses of gameplay, yet scholarship still tends to flatten the experiential media of video games into text for close reading. By shifting focus toward the immersiveness of video games, Playthrough Poetics makes the case for gameplay as a necessary, alternate method. Contributors to this volume engage widely with the activity of play through autoethnographies, meta-analyses of self-broadcasting, new procedural methods like gamespace soundwalking, as well as the affective aspects of games research. In doing so, they model new possibilities for academic players and gamers alike. Rigorous scholarship meets cultural practice in this innovative, multi-modal edited collection that includes video essays and offers transcripts of the playthroughs themselves. Readers (and viewers) will come away with a toolkit of models, case studies, and conceptual frameworks for analyzing video games through gameplay. This volume is a fresh return to the joy of play: the poetics of games as contemporary forms of storytelling and interactivity. With contributions from Ashlee Bird, Brandon Blackburn, Milena Droumeva, Kishonna Gray, Robyn Hope, Ben Scholl, Maria Sommers, Ashlyn Sparrow, Christine Tran, and Aaron Trammell.
Pleasure With Products: Beyond Usability
by Patrick W. Jordan William S. GreenThe last five years have seen a major paradigm shift in the role of human factors in product design. Previously this was seen as pertaining almost exclusively to product usability, but new recognition is being given to "pleasure-based" human factors. This emphasizes the holistic nature of the experience of person-product interaction. While traditio
Plenoptic Imaging and Processing (Advances in Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition)
by Lu FangThis open access book delves into the fundamental principles and cutting-edge techniques of plenoptic imaging and processing. Derived from the Latin words "plenus" (meaning "full") and "optic," plenoptic imaging offers a transformative approach to optical imaging. Unlike conventional systems that rely solely on the pinhole camera model to capture spatial information, plenoptic imaging aims to detect and reconstruct multidimensional and multiscale information from light rays in space. Chapter 1 begins with the introduction of the basic principle of the plenoptic function and the historical development of plenoptic imaging. Next, Chapter 2 describes representative plenoptic sensing systems, including single-sensor devices with lenslet arrays, coded-aperture masks, structured camera arrays, and unstructured camera arrays. Then, Chapter 3 introduces gigapixel plenoptic sensing techniques capable of capturing large-scale dynamic scenes with extremely high resolution. Further, chapter 4 examines typical plenoptic reconstruction methods, including light-field image reconstruction, image-based, and RGBD-based geometry reconstruction. After that, chapter 5 tackles the challenges of large-scale plenoptic reconstruction by introducing sparse-view priors, high-resolution observations, and semantic information. Finally, chapter 6 discusses the frontier issues of plenoptic processing, including the gigapixel-level video dataset PANDA and corresponding visual intelligent algorithms.
Pleural Ultrasound for Clinicians: A Text and E-book
by Claire L Tobin Y C Gary LeeWith a large volume of ultrasound images and teaching videos, Pleural Ultrasound for Clinicians: A Text and E-book is a print and interactive digital resource that provides practical guidance for all those undertaking pleural ultrasound investigations and procedures. With clear, precise instructions for clinical practice, it will help clinicians:Re
Plowing with Pigs and Other Creative, Low-Budget Homesteading Solutions
by Karen K. Will Oscar H. WillFueled by a failing economy and a passionate desire for a return to simpler times, a new wave of homesteaders is seeking the good life and the kind of true satisfaction that can only be built, not bought. Many of these modern pioneers are cash poor, but rich in energy and creativity. Plowing with Pigs and Other Creative, Low-Budget Homesteading Solutions offers them a set of fresh ideas for achieving independence through sweat equity and the use of unconventional resources. This highly readable and entertaining guide brings together answers to common problems faced by homesteaders young and old, urban, suburban, and rural. Traditional knowledge is combined with MacGyver-style ingenuity to create projects that maximize available resources, including: Animal management strategies for the yard, garden, and field Pole building and construction techniques from woodlot materials Replacing farm machinery with homemade hand tools and implements Leveraging increased self-sufficiency into a home-based business Whether you are a dreamer or a doer, Plowing with Pigs will inspire, challenge, and enable you to do more with less (and have fun doing it). Oscar H. (Hank) Will III is a farmer, scientist, and author, known for seeking and implementing creative farmstead solutions. The editor of Grit magazine, Hank has published hundreds of articles and five books on a range of topics including antique farm machinery. Karen K. Will is editor of The Heirloom Gardener magazine and author of Cooking with Heirlooms: Seasonal Recipes with Heritage-Variety Vegetables and Fruits. She operates Prairie Turnip Farm with her husband Oscar H. Will III.
Plucked: Chicken, Antibiotics, and How Big Business Changed the Way We Eat
by Maryn McKennaIn this eye-opening exposé, acclaimed health journalist and National Geographic contributor Maryn McKenna documents how antibiotics transformed chicken from local delicacy to industrial commodity—and human health threat—uncovering the ways we can make America's favorite meat safer again. What you eat matters—for your health, for the environment, and for future generations. In this riveting investigative narrative, McKenna dives deep into the world of modern agriculture by way of chicken: from the farm where it's raised directly to your dinner table. Consumed more than any other meat in the United States, chicken is emblematic of today's mass food-processing practices and their profound influence on our lives and health. Tracing its meteoric rise from scarce treat to ubiquitous global commodity, McKenna reveals the astounding role of antibiotics in industrial farming, documenting how and why "wonder drugs" revolutionized the way the world eats—and not necessarily for the better. Rich with scientific, historical, and cultural insights, this spellbinding cautionary tale shines a light on one of America's favorite foods—and shows us the way to safer, healthier eating for ourselves and our children. This book was previously published in hardcover with the title Big Chicken: The Incredible Story of How Antibiotics Created Modern Agriculture and Changed the Way the World Eats.
Plug-and-Play Education: Knowledge and Learning in the Age of Platforms and Artificial Intelligence
by Carlo PerrottaPlug-and-Play Education: Knowledge and Learning in the Age of Platforms and Artificial Intelligence documents and critiques how the education sector is changing with the advancement of ubiquitous edtech platforms and automation. As programmability and computation reengineer institutions towards efficiency and prediction, the perpetual collection of and access to digital data is creating complex opportunities and concerns. Drawing from research into secondary and higher education settings, this book examines the influence of digital “infrastructuring”, the automation of teaching and learning, and the very purpose of education in a context of growing platformisation and artificial intelligence integration. These theoretical, practical, and policy-oriented insights will offer educational technologists, designers, researchers, and policymakers a more inclusive, diverse, and open-ended perspective on the design and implementation of learning technologies.
Plumber's Licensing Exam
by Learningexpress StaffWhether you're just starting out in the plumbing trade or are a seasoned veteran looking for career enhancement, successful completion of the plumber's licensing exam is an important step in your career. Comprehensive and in-depth, Plumber's Licensing Exam provides: - Review of the technical expertise you'll need, such as key terms, plumbing codes, general regulations on bathrooms, kitchens, and more, water heater installation, venting, traps, sanitary drainage, and more - Thorough familiarization with the plumbing codebook so you know where to find the answers to questions during the test - Hundreds of multiple-choice questions based on the actual exam - Guidelines for each state's requirements licensing - And much more!
Plumbing
by Michael A. JoyceRESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY: PLUMBING, 2E is the ideal book to create a direct link between readers' education/training program and the residential construction industry. The result of a strategic partnership between the National Association of Home Builder's (NAHB) Home Builders Institute and Delmar, Cengage Learning, the Residential Construction Academy Series is the perfect way to learn essential workplace skills for readers new to the building trades. Written in partnership with the Home Builders Institute, and endorsed by NAHB, RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY: PLUMBING, 2E provides a step-by-step approach to residential plumbing installations based on national skill standards. Focusing on "Green" advancement in the plumbing trades, this book thoroughly explains the process of installing residential plumbing systems by exploring topics such as tools of the trade and proper safety measures and by offering various tips to increase readers' on-the-job productivity. Logically organized to build a foundation of knowledge, this book progresses from the installation of common fixtures to troubleshooting techniques that will aid readers. An emphasis on creative layout and the importance of understanding code variations will foster readers' understanding of plumbing system installation that is based on typical situations as well as unique jobsite conditions.
Plumbing
by R. D. TreloarThe 4th edition of Plumbing continues to provide the definitive single volume text on plumbing, heating and gas installation work, ideal for students working towards their Diploma in plumbing or NVQ/SVQ at levels 2 and 3. Highly illustrated and easy to read and understand, it tackles plumbing topic by topic, in double page spreads with text, full colour illustrations, and clear photographs, enabling the reader to grasp the essentials quickly and easily. This approach ensures it also provides a concise reference for the trained plumber. Special features include: concise text many clear, full colour illustrations around 140 photographs topics focussed on the needs of NVQ/SVQ levels 2 and 3 additional topics beyond levels 2 and 3 a self-assessment section a problem-solving section This new edition has been thoroughly updated to take account of changes to the Building Regulations, including changes to the following approved documents: Part F: Ventilation; Part G: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency; Part H: Drainage and waste disposal; Part L: Conservation of fuel and power and Part P: Electrical safety. A significant new section on energy conservation & sustainability has been added, and additional related material introduced where relevant. The extensive coverage with new, full colour illustrations to enhance legibility and understanding, and the emphasis on safety in the work place ensure this remains the definitive single volume for both student and trained plumbers.
Plumbing Design and Installation (4th Edition)
by L. V. RipkaPlumbing Design and Installation, 4th Edition, provides an extensive overview of the tools, materials, and practices commonly used in the plumbing trade. This book is designed to develop the basic competencies by providing comprehensive coverage of the plumbing trade including the design, installation, testing, and repair of plumbing systems in residential and commercial structures.
Plumbing Principles and Practice
by Syed Azizul HaqThis book provides a complete introduction to plumbing services. It explains the principles and provides practical examples of the planning, design, installation and maintenance of the plumbing technologies applicable to single-storey buildings, skyscrapers and everything in between. The book begins with an introduction to plumbing technology, the trade and its evolution. Chapters then cover: Pipes, fittings and accessories and their installation and testing Pumps and pumping systems Hydraulic principles Hot and cold water supply systems Fixtures and appliances Sanitary and storm drainage systems Special concerns such as seismic issues, safety, security and the state of the art. Written and the figures drawn by a registered professional engineer and experienced teacher, this book is suitable for use on a wide range of courses from building services engineering, civil engineering, construction technology, plumbing services, environmental engineering, water engineering and architectural technology.
Plumbing Technology: Design and Installation
by Lee Smith Michael A. JoyceIntroduces readers to all aspects of the commercial and residential plumbing trade, including home building. Safety practices are emphasized throughout. Projects provide opportunities for hands-on plumbing practice and actual application. Coverage includes basic knowledge, threaded pipe, waste systems, water systems, heating water, special cases, and fixture installation. This third edition covers current plumbing codes, and adds new pedagogical features. Useful for plumbers preparing to pass the Master Plumber exam. Annotation c. Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
Plumbing, Level 1
by NccerThis exceptionally produced trainee guide features a highly illustrated design, technical hints and tips from industry experts, review questions and a whole lot more! Key content includes: Introduction to the Plumbing Profession, Plumbing Safety, Tools of the Plumbing Trade, Introduction to Plumbing Math, Introduction to Plumbing Drawings, Plastic Pipe and Fittings, Copper Pipe and Fittings, Cast-Iron Pipe and Fittings, Carbon Steel Pipe and Fittings, Introduction to Plumbing Fixtures, Introduction to Drain, Waste, and Vent (DWV) Systems, and Introduction to Water Distribution Systems.