ABSTRACT. Human-animal interaction has been studied in a variety of settings and for a range of populations, with some findings pointing towards its benefits for physical, mental and social human health. Technological advances opened up new opportunities for researchers to replicate human-animal interactions with robotic and graphical animals, and to investigate human-animal relationships for different applications such as mental health and education. Although graphical animals have been studied in the past in the physical health and education domains, most of the time, their realizations were bound to computer screens, limiting their full potential, especially in terms of companionship and the provision of support. In this work, we describe past research efforts investigating influences of human-animal interaction on mental health and different realization of such animals. We discuss the idea that augmented reality could offer potential for human-animal interaction in terms of mental and social health, and propose several aspects of augmented reality animals that warrant further research for such interactions.
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“A Morning Snow–Hudson River” 1910 George Wesley Bellows | Smithsonian American Art Museum
This time of year in the Northern Hemisphere we keep an eye on snow management standards; among them titles developed by the Accredited Snow Contractors Association. The barriers to entry into this domain are relatively low and, arguably undisciplined; hence the need for standards setting. Even when only partially adopted, use of ANSI accredited standards reduces the “wheel reinvention” that is common to the business side of the education industry when new initiatives, or continuous improvement programs are undertaken without consideration of already existing leading practice discovery by ANSI-accredited technical committees. Start here:
The parent title for the emergent ASCA bibliography is System Requirements for Snow and Ice Management Services; free to ASCA members. The current version is dated 2014 and will likely be updated and/or re-affirmed. The circumstances of the pandemic has slowed the work of many standards setting committees. The safety and sustainability concepts remain intact, however. Among them:
If snow can be removed from a lot or hard surface and appropriate room exists, always push the snow as far back as possible beyond the curb or lot edge to make room for additional snow.
If snow cannot be removed from a lot or hard surface, always place snow piles on a predetermined spot approved by the client and marked on the snow contractor’s preseason site report.
Do not pile snow in a handicap parking space.
Do not bury or plow snow onto a fire hydrant, post indicator valve, or fire hookup along the building wall.
Avoid placement of snow piles where thaw/melt off can run across the parking lot surface. Try to place piles near drain grates to avoid icy situations during thaw-and-refreeze periods.
Do not push snow against a building.
Do not block building doorways or emergency exits.
Do not block pedestrian walks or paths with snow piles.
Do not push snow onto motor vehicles.
Do not plow snow in front of or bury trash containers. Sidewalk labor must shovel inside trash container enclosure for access to the doors. If the container is not in an enclosure, create a clear path to the access doors or panels.
This standard of practice covers essential procuring and planning for snow and ice management services. Standards for procuring and planning are essential for business continuity and to improve safety for patrons, tenants, employees, and others in the general public. Knowing how to describe service requirements in a snow and ice management request for proposal (RFP) is an important component to providing effective services, particularly where winter weather is a variable. This standard practice provides guidance on the snow and ice management procurement and planning process to aid in the creation of RFPs, contracts, agreements, and monitoring procedures. This standard will not be submitted for consideration as an ISO, IEC, or ISO/IEC JTC-1 standard.
Apart from these titles, we do not see any recent happening in the ASCA standards setting enterprise. We will pass information along as it becomes available. Alternatively, you may communicate directly with ASCA, 5811 Canal Road Valley View, OH 44125, Ph: (800) 456-0707. Most education communities employ a combination of permanent and contract staff for these services.
We maintain the ASCA bibliography on our Snow & Ice colloquia See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Issue: [13-104]
Category: Grounds and Landscaping, Exterior, Public Safety, Risk Management
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
