Key Travel Research Articles

Temporal Variability of Car Use as an Input to Design of Before and After Surveys

Before and after surveys are a common method for measuring the effect of specific policies and projects designed to cause changes in travel behavior. Design issues of before and after surveys used to evaluate projects designed to change travel behavior are addressed. A quantitative understanding of the underlying variability of the parameters to be measured was needed—in particular, the variation over time in car travel by individuals and households. Since no data were available locally, a detailed analysis was made of the 6-week travel diaries from the MobiDrive survey conducted in Germany to estimate the coefficients of variation in key travel parameters. These results were then adapted for use in the presented project. Several features emerged from this analysis. First, in general, larger sample sizes are needed to detect changes in either distance traveled or travel time than for trips undertaken. Second, larger sample sizes are needed to detect changes from repeated cross-sectional surveys than from a panel survey. Third, larger sample sizes are needed to detect changes when using a daily travel diary, compared with use of a weekly travel diary (although this difference can be substantially reduced in a panel survey by maintaining the same day of the week for each household in later waves of the panel). Finally, larger sample sizes are needed to detect changes from person travel data than from household travel data. However, some of the design parameters that allow smaller sample sizes also make the survey more difficult to conduct.

Positioning Wine Tourism Destinations: An Image Analysis

The ability of tourism regions to attract tourists depends to a great extent on the position of these destinations in the minds of key travel markets. The projection of an appropriate image has been described as a vital element in the positioning process. This research examines the evolving character of wine tourism destination imagery as projected by wine producers and independent writers. The overriding research questions addressed in this paper are “What destination attributes are emphasised in the visual imagery of wine tourism regions, and how has the emphasis on those features varied over time?” The findings suggest that there has been a shift in wine country imagery from an emphasis on wine production processes and related facilities to move of a focus on aesthetic and experiential values associated with more leisurely recreational and tourist pursuits. Over the past decade, the wine tourism experience has become more positioned around the core attraction of a quality wine, accompanied by a set of natural landscape, culinary, educational, event hosting and cultural dimensions. The research identifies the need for a greater emphasis to be placed by wine tourism destinations on protecting rural landscapes, encouraging authentic and unique forms of development, and focusing imagery projection on those elements of the wine country experience which are central to the interests of wine tourists.

In vivo finger flexor tendon force while tapping on a keyswitch.

Force may be a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity associated with typing and keying. However, the internal finger flexor tendon forces and their relationship to fingertip forces during rapid tapping on a keyswitch have not yet been measured in vivo. During the open carpal tunnel release surgery of five human subjects, a tendon-force transducer was inserted on the flexor digitorum superficialis of the long finger. During surgery, subjects tapped with the long finger on a computer keyswitch, instrumented with a keycap load cell. The average tendon maximum forces during a keystroke ranged from 8.3 to 16.6 N (mean = 12.9 N, SD = 3.3 N) for the subjects, four to seven times larger than the maximum forces observed at the fingertip. Tendon forces estimated from an isometric tendon-force model were only one to two times larger than tip force, significantly less than the observed tendon forces (p = 0.001). The force histories of the tendon during a keystroke were not proportional to fingertip force. First, the tendon-force histories did not contain the high-frequency fingertip force components observed as the tip impacts with the end of key travel. Instead, tendon tension during a keystroke continued to increase throughout the impact. Second, following the maximum keycap force, tendon tension during a keystroke decreased more slowly than fingertip force, remaining elevated approximately twice as long as the fingertip force. The prolonged elevation of tendon forces may be the result of residual eccentric muscle contraction or passive muscle forces, or both, which are additive to increasing extensor activity during the release phase of the keystroke.

Control strategies for finger movement during touch-typing. The role of the extrinsic muscles during a keystroke.

A single keystroke during touch-typing is a rapid, goal-directed motion of the fingertip which consists of two single-direction movements. The neural control and the role of the finger extrinsic musculature during typing have not yet been explained. The fingertip motion and force, and the intramuscular electromyographic (EMG) activity (fine-wire) of the index finger extrinsic musculature were measured during touch-typing by ten experienced typists. The motions and forces were repeatable qualitatively across keystrokes. A three-burst EMG pattern was observed during a single keystroke. The three bursts were: (1) a burst of extensor activity lifted the finger before the keystroke; (2) a burst of flexor activity followed while the fingertip was moving downward; and (3) a second burst of extensor activity occurred as the fingertip reached the end of key travel. The timing of the third burst suggests the role of the extensors is to remove the fingertip from the keyswitch rather than stop the downward motion of the finger. The collision with the end of key travel stops the downward finger motion. The timing of the finger flexor EMG activity, burst 2, suggests that the flexor contraction principally overcomes the activation force of the keyswitch rather than accelerates the finger downward as expected.

The attributes and potential of secondary Australian destinations through the eyes of Korean travel industry executives

This paper examines the attitudes of key travel industry executives in South Korea to secondary destinations in Australia with particular reference to the prospects for special interest travel. It was found that according to most key criteria, executives regard Australia as a desirable tourist destination for Koreans and as being well matched with their expectations. Cleanliness and safety are regarded as key strengths by industry executives, whilst the cost of travel and the relative inaccessibility are regarded as weaknesses. As Korea continues to mature as a tourist generating country, the prospects for special interest travel will improve and this will have particular relevance for secondary tourism des tinations such as Melbourne. While Sydney's status as the hub destination will remain unchallenged, Melbourne has a competitive advantage in certain special interest markets, such as honeymooners, backpackers and luxury travellers. Tour quality is emerging as a key issue because of fierce discounting. Accessibility will remain a problem for regions and cities, such as Melbourne, not currently serviced by direct flights.

Method and apparatus for optically sensing the position and velocity of piano keys

An electronic keyboard musical instrument is provided having optical emitters and detectors both positioned beneath each of the instrument's keys, whereby optical energy is emitted upon the bottom reflective surface of the key and the reflected light is detected. The distance between the optoelectronic sensor and the bottom of the key is detected by the light detector which produces an analog output signal and, by measuring the time between a first and second threshold crossing, the key's velocity can be determined. The two thresholds are preferably chosen to measure a rising voltage as the key is depressed, and the threshold values are preferably chosen at 50% of key travel and 75% of key travel. By use of these thresholds, a relatively clean and useful waveform is available at both threshold crossings, particularly since the mechanical movement of the key has nearly reached its terminal velocity. Electronics in the keyboard instrument sequentially scan each of the output voltages produced by their corresponding light detectors so that a single microprocessor can measure all of the key position values. A single set of threshold voltages can be utilized for all of the keys of the keyboard instrument, if desired, or each of the keys can have its own individual threshold values depending upon the calibration values for its zero and span conditions. The time interval between threshold crossings can be determined, which in turn is used to determine the velocity of each key as it is being depressed. Once the velocity is known, the volume for that key's particular musical tone can be controlled by a sound engine, as well as its other characteristics, such as timbre, attack, and envelope.

Investigation of Applied Forces in Alphanumeric Keyboard Work

This paper considers one way that occupational health professionals can assess the force exerted by keyboard users and the possible relationship between that force and the key force-displacement relationship. First, three personal-computer keyboards with the standard QWERTY layouts were tested as described by the American National Standard for Human Factors Engineering of Visual Display workstations (ANSI/HFS 100-1988) to determine the peak forces, 0.47-0.89N; displacements prior to the "breakaway" force that acknowledges key registration, 2.0-2.5 mm; and total key travel, 3.3-4.3 mm. Second, keyboard reaction forces were recorded while 10 subjects typed 4 alphanumeric sentences on the keyboards. It was found that the peak forces corresponding to each keystroke were 2.5 to 3.9 times the required activation forces, indicating that the subjects consistently displaced the keys to their limits. The average of the peak forces for all keystrokes was lowest for the keyboard with the lowest required activation force. It was concluded that keyboard reaction forces can be used as an index of finger forces for keying tasks. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the relationship between keyboard reaction forces, fatigue, and chronic muscle, tendon, and nerve disorders.

Investigation of Applied Forces in Alphanumeric Keyboard Work

This paper considers one way that occupational health professionals can assess the force exerted by keyboard users and the possible relationship between that force and the key force-displacement relationship. First, three personal-computer keyboards with the standard QWERTY layouts were tested as described by the American National Standard for Human Factors Engineering of Visual Display workstations (ANSI/HFS 100-1988) to determine the peak forces, 0.47–0.89N; displacements prior to the “breakaway” force that acknowledges key registration, 2.0–2.5 mm; and total key travel, 3.3–4.3 mm. Second, keyboard reaction forces were recorded while 10 subjects typed 4 alphanumeric sentences on the keyboards. It was found that the peak forces corresponding to each keystroke were 2.5 to 3.9 times the required activation forces, indicating that the subjects consistently displaced the keys to their limits. The average of the peak forces for all keystrokes was lowest for the keyboard with the lowest required activation force. It was concluded that keyboard reaction forces can be used as an index of finger forces for keying tasks. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the relationship between keyboard reaction forces, fatigue, and chronic muscle, tendon, and nerve disorders.

Understanding suburban commuting characteristics: an empirical study in suburban Dallas

A rapid growth in suburban population over the past two decades has inevitably turned once lightly‐traveled rural roads to heavy traffic highways which require considerable investment for upgrading. However, such a need was not recognized in time to develop suburban‐oriented traffic management strategies, and consequently led to unprecedented levels of suburban congestion. Mobility improvement in suburbs has thus become one of the most pressing transportation issues. In response to increasing public concern on this issue, a flurry of reports and articles have been produced to explore various short‐ and long‐term strategies. However, a vital aspect, namely, a fundamental understanding of suburban commuting behavior, has not been adequately addressed. In this paper, an exploratory analysis is performed to characterize suburban commuting behavior based on a survey conducted at Parkway Center complex in suburban Dallas, Texas. Several key travel characteristic variables are identified in the exploratory analy...

Fingertip Forces While Using three Different Keyboards

The relationship of chronic musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist tendinitis, to prolonged alphanumeric keyboard use is controversial. Known risk-factors for these disorders, such as repetition of task, forceful exertions, awkward joint postures, direct mechanical pressure, and prolonged constrained posture, may be applicable to keyboard use. In this study fingertip forces were measured for 10 typists using three alphanumeric keyboards that differed only in their key force and displacement characteristics. While subjects typed, peak fingertip force was collected for each keystroke using strain gauge load cells. The mean peak fingertip forces applied by all subjects for all keys for the three keyboards were 193 gm, 182 gm and 220 gm; significantly different means. The 18% reduction in fingertip force in the second keyboard compared with the third is attributed to a higher minimum force of activation and a higher force at total key travel in the third keyboard. This study indicates that keyboard key force-displacement characteristics can be altered to reduce the fingertip forces applied by typists and theoretically this may reduce the risk of developing chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

Human Factors and Behavioral Science: Membrane Keyboards and Human Performance

This paper describes systematic human factors research in which typing performance using a membrane keyboard and using a conventional, full-travel keyboard were compared for subjects representing different levels of typing proficiency. Membrane switch technology has become increasingly popular in many consumer-oriented products because of its low production cost and design flexibility. However, the absence of familiar key travel associated with membrane switches removes an important, direct source of feedback to the user with respect to specific keystrokes. Hence, the conventional wisdom has been that membrane switches without key travel are unacceptable for such keyboard applications as typing tasks. The results of the research discussed here indicate that for nontouch typists there was little difference in performance between keyboards. For touch typists, performance with the conventional keyboard was initially much better than with the membrane keyboard. Rapid learning resulted in improvement in typing performance with the membrane keyboard — both within an experimental session and across sessions — such that the advantage of the conventional keyboard over the membrane one for touch typists was reduced substantially, although not completely. Future work will be aimed at measurement of the additional improvement in performance that may result from extended practice with better-designed membrane keyboards.

Membrane Keyboards and Human Performance

Membrane switch technology has become increasingly popular in many consumer-oriented products due to its low production cost and design flexibility. However, the absence of familiar key travel associated with membrane switches removes an important, direct source of feedback to the user with respect to specific keystrokes. Hence, the conventional wisdom has been that membrane switches without key travel are unacceptable for keyboard applications such as typing tasks. This paper describes systematic human factors research in which typing performance using a commercially available membrane keyboard and a conventional, full-travel keyboard was compared for subjects representing different levels of typing proficiency. Each subject (N = 21) used a membrane keyboard for 3 consecutive (or nearly consecutive) days and a conventional keyboard for 3 consecutive (or nearly consecutive) days. Each day of experience consisted of a one-hour session in which various typing exercises were completed. Traditional tests of typing performance were administered at the beginning and end of each session. The results indicate that for non-touch typists there was little difference in performance between keyboards. For touch typists performance with the conventional keyboard was initially much better than that with the membrane keyboard. There was, however, rapid learning with the membrane keyboard such that, within a few sessions, the difference in typing performance between the conventional and membrane keyboards was reduced substantially. There remained some advantage for the conventional keyboard, compared with the membrane keyboard evaluated here. Future work will be aimed at measurement of the additional improvement in performance resulting from extended practice with better-designed membrane keyboards.

The Immunologic Substrate: Role of Local and Systemic Immunity in the Head and Neck

The present study investigated whether there were physical exposure and typing productivity differences between a virtual keyboard with no tactile feedback and two conventional keyboards where key travel and tactile feedback are provided by mechanical switches under the keys. The key size and layout were same across all the keyboards. Typing forces; finger and shoulder muscle activity; self-reported comfort; and typing productivity were measured from 19 subjects while typing on a virtual (0 mm key travel), notebook (1.8 mm key travel), and desktop keyboard (4 mm key travel). When typing on the virtual keyboard, subjects typed with less force (p's < 0.0001) and had lower finger flexor/extensor muscle activity (p's < 0.05). However, the lower typing forces and finger muscle activity came at the expense of a 60% reduction in typing productivity (p < 0.0001), decreased self-reported comfort (p's < 0.0001), and a trend indicating an increase in shoulder muscle activity (p's < 0.10). Therefore, for long typing sessions or when typing productivity is at a premium, conventional keyboards with tactile feedback may be more suitable interface.