This is the archive of Enquiry, the Faculty of Science Technology and Arts journal for undergraduate work.
Audience research project: Tumblr study group research “How do ‘Fandoms’ on Tumblr react to new media content?”
This paper looks at fan activity on the social networking site Tumblr. Many fan communities on Tumblr have dubbed themselves as ‘Fandoms', resulting in the increased rate in which fan related content is produced. Fan related content ranges mainly from fan-fiction, fan-art, costume play, role-playing and the new concept of ‘shipping' (the bonding of characters usually through hypothetical relationships). This has created a huge group of ‘Prosumers', who consume related media content, then produce their own fan-created content to share with this online community. Drawing upon my own experiences as an avid Tumblr user, and witness to this trend, I investigated the way in which these Fandoms react to and consume related media content and analyzed the end result. My key findings showed that 100% of the people involved in the study had heard of and were part of at least one ‘Fandom' on Tumblr. In addition to this, 90% of participants stated that they ran an active blog, which was at least 50% dominated with ‘Fandom' related content.
Copyright (c) 2018 Enquiry - The ACES Journal of Undergraduate Research
Ben Brown uses the writings of Jacques Derrida as inspiration for a film that addresses concepts concerning the ever changing nature of human beings and how everything changes with time.
'Rare Bird': Exploring the issues involved in the making of a participatory animated documentary
This article reflects on the outcomes of a practice-based research project conducted by the author in the second year of her undergraduate study. The project involved producing a short animated documentary about the experiences of an international student and reflecting on the theoretical and ethical issues arising in the process. The article begins with a theoretical discussion of selected aspects of animated documentary, including the functions fulfilled by animation, and the notions of realism and indexicality. This is followed by a critical reflection on the ethical issues involved in the production, and the implications for the author's own creative practice.
Creating an emotional impact without dialogue: the case study of Pixar's 'Up' (2009)
"In every art form it is the emotional content that makes the difference between mere technical skill and true art." (Thomas and Johnston 1984, p 473) The essay explores the relationship between form and meaning in animated feature film, focusing in particular on the ways in which emotional impact can be achieved without using dialogue. It analyses 'Married Life', the opening sequence from Pixar's Up (2009) to demonstrate how different aspects of mis-en-scene are carefully constructed to convey both explicit and implicit meanings, and to invite an emotional response in the viewer.
Narrative meanings and implicit themes in Haneke’s film 'Cache' (2005)
Throughout Haneke's film Cache (2005), there exists a plethora of deeper meanings and narrative themes. Haneke is known for his iconoclastic films that ‘analyse the dysfunctional state of Western society' (Grundmann; 2010). In Cache, he focuses on the dark side of power, trauma, guilt and social memory that interacts with the bitterness of contemporary French consciousness (Frey; 2002). Haneke is interested in a range of philosophers, sociologists, poets and artists, especially noting his interest with theories from Baudrillard, Deleuze, Stéphane Mallarmé, and Plato. The ‘simulacrum' (Mann; 2007) that represents the off-screen reality which will be compared to the cinematic space, along with the Deleuzian concept of ‘abolishing the world of essences and the world of appearances' (Deleuze; 1983). Subsequently, the ideas of post-modern self (Denzin; 1991), themes of surveillance with Bentham's panopticon and consumerism will be distinguished through Haneke's influences. There will be connotations integrating with ideas from Marxism to modern cinema, in hope to seek the truth (Plato; 380 BC) through his use of frames and images (Baudrillard) that reflect a postmodern society.
'New Colonial': How can the still life genre confront its past?
Rooted in the long-established traditions of European still life painting, my fine art photography is an attempt to reinvigorate the genre as a vehicle for social critique and inter-personal understanding. Although my thematic scope has previously explored issues such as familial loss and absence; the hidden narratives of found items; and the problematic culture of bodily enhancement products, my current project, New Colonial, is more overtly political and an articulation of my uneasy relationship with the history of the still life genre itself. The project is divided into two series (Curiosities and Souvenirs) both of which explore issues of historical and contemporary colonialism, consumerism and power. This paper, therefore, will provide insight not only into the project's conceptual underpinnings, but also the way in which my visual and technical processes are a direct response to art history and on-going cultural phenomena.
EDITORIALThe publication of the fourth volume of Enquiry is taking place among some exciting developments. We would like to welcome the new members of the student editorial team. Ben Brown and Jake Richardson (both studying on BA/MArt Film and Media Production) have joined our existing student editor Anita Bruvere (BA Animation) in the development of a new strategy for attracting student writers, designers and peer reviewers from across the Faculty. Improvements to the look, feel and usability of Enquiry are also under way. As part of his final year Research project, Charlie Tapster (MArt Digital Media Production) has conducted a heuristic evaluation study of the existing journal and created a mock-up for alternative design. We are hoping to implement the new look in the next few months. Welcome on board, Ben, Jake and Charlie! Secondly, Enquiry has been recognised by the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR). The annual conference is taking place in spring, providing an excellent opportunity for student researchers to present their work and build professional and research networks. Starting from 2014 edition, Enquiry will publish BCUR call for papers as well as reports from the annual conference; we are also looking into a possibility of hosting one of the future conferences here in Sheffield. In the last editorial, we have emphasised the students' transition from 'learner' to 'scholar' in the course of their undergraduate study, and the importance of including the work of first year students. The present volume continues with this commitment by including two first-year pieces. A research report by Luke Renwick (BA Media) focuses on the way in which fan communities on Tumblr react to new media, but also reflects on the author's own status as a researcher. Phoebe Jaspe (BA Film and Media Production), has contributed her last year's essay about the narrative meanings and implicit themes in Haneke's film Cache (2005). We are continuing with our commitment to the inclusion of practice-oriented research, ranging from critical reviews of existing work to underpin the authors' own practice, to experimenting with creative production as a way of illuminating and reflecting upon aselected theoretical issue. For example, Michaela Wozny's analysis of Pixar's Up (2009) aimed to inform her final year animation project. Robert Danscenzo's article focuses on his fine art photography project 'New Colonial', investigating the potential of still life genre as a vehicle for social critique. Anita Bruvere uses her visual storytelling project 'Rare Bird' to reflect on some of the theoretical and ethical issues involved in the production of animated documentary. Ben Brown's ‘2nd Edition' uses the writings of Jacques Derrida as inspiration for his film treatment. We hope you enjoy the current edition and looking forward to contributions from a broader range of disciplines within the Faculty. If you are a student interested in publishing your work, or to gain experience in peer review and journal editing, or simply want to find out more, the editorial team will be very happy to hear from you. Anita Bruvere - Anita.V.Bruvere@student.shu.ac.uk Geir Petter Laingen - g.p.laingen@shu.ac.uk
An Investigation to Assess the use of Multiple-outcome Logistic Regression Techniques in Credit Scoring
Traditionally credit scoring systems have aimed to reduce the risk in a lender’s portfolio by predicting whether a customer would default on their account. However, the current models offer limited depth, as they only use binary outcomes. It has been suggested that by utilising multiple outcomes more predictive models could be produced. This paper investigates the use of multiple-outcome logistic regression models in the context of credit scoring. These multiple-outcome models are then compared to a binary logistic model; a widely used model in the credit industry, to offer a comparison in discriminatory power. Finally the paper discusses the impact that multiple outcome models would have if implemented into a credit scoring solution.
No More Factory Farms; No More TV Dinner Biennials; Eat Money, Spend Food; Leave The Art Fair and Never Come Back…
In the days where global economic recession is looming over our heads, whilst food is genetically modified and education is run like a business, it leaves many of us feeling somewhat disillusioned and disenchanted. Nothing is more true when it comes to choosing a career, or a path to follow and goals to set. To make the decision to become an official art student we are provided with a societal frown of “What are you going to do with that?” or, “ How are you going to make money?” and, “ What exactly is it preparing you for?” The latter is actually an interesting question because it encapsulates exactly what my practice led research is all about. How can art become more relevant? How can art students develop the best environment in which to become artists of consequence? This is an extravagant way of exploring and subverting urban and social environments; and experiencing and experimenting with the role of the student, the student artist and artistic proposals. Some examples of my work resonate with the potential of some living conditions and the state of freedom in the paradigm of the art world and the society of today. We know that it is important to scale-up our spaces in which we include ourselves, to consider and address our limitations (or lack of) and what we actually want to create and show for our existence as artists and ultimately, as human beings. This proposal borrows from my earlier ideas of “conceptual existential architecture”. A term in which I have coined for myself to discuss and examine the structure of an environment that the architecture of a space creates. Space could be interpreted as a gallery, or studio – to dialogue and even mental capacities. I am referring both to the architecture and its spatial discourses, but also a more humanist advocate of what is offered in terms of the actual word ‘architecture’.
An Investigation Comparing the Efficacy of Different Lubricants for Skis on Artificial Snow
Whilst the earliest skis were made of wood, modern day ski bases are constructed of high molecular weight polyethylene. Water repellent or hydrophobic surfaces improve the glide of the skis and a significant industry has developed to provide waxes and other additive products to support alpine skiing. Using a method known as glide testing which employs accurate instruments to time skis travelling down an artificial snow slope, the effectiveness of fluorocarbon and Perfluropolyalkylether additives together with combinations of these with hydrocarbon waxes were compared. Skis which were un-waxed were used as a control. Whilst this investigation was not able to demonstrate any firm conclusions regarding the comparative efficacy of products under investigation, it does raise interesting questions relating to waxing, as the ‘skis with wax removed’ were surprisingly faster over the first 10 meters of the test track. A number of improvements to the glide testing method are also suggested.
Automated Glass Fracture Analysis Using Vision and Labview 8.2
Glass produced for use in vehicles must undergo a wide range of quality checks to ensure that it is safe to use. Within Europe, the ECE regulations (GRSG 2007) govern which tests are conducted and the criteria which must be met for a glass batch to be deemed acceptable. One such test is the fragmentation test, which involves fracturing a glass panel using an impact punch and then obtaining information about the count and size of the glass fragments in the resulting fragmentation pattern. This report describes the design, implementation and testing of a piece of vision software created in Labview which will perform fragmentation analysis automatically. Existing methods detailed by other authors are investigated, and implemented into the software to produce an effective end product.
Implementing Interoperability through an Ontology Importer for Amine
This paper investigates the need for tools that will facilitate a higher-order demand for interoperability between disparate information systems. An ontology importer for Amine is described which enables ontologies written in linear form to be used with Amine version 4. Furthemore, the ontology importer is shown as an intermediary between CharGer and Amine, thus demonstrating interoperation between two conceptual structures tools, as well as discussed in a wider context by means of a Web service or by interoperating with Protege-OWL.
Investigation into the Usability of “Enquiry”
This report evaluates the usability of the Undergraduate Research Journal: Enquiry, as part of a project to redesign the journal. The report starts by revisiting the main principles of usability and its importance, followed by an outline of methods for usability evaluation. With this established, we then assess the case study using the heuristic evaluation method proposed by Nielsen (1995). The report concludes with a summary of problems established in the evaluation, and a set of recommendations for improvements. Charlie Tapster studies Digital Media Production, specializing in web and print design..
Exploring the factors influencing the adoption of Cloud computing and the challenges faced by the business
The popularity of Cloud computing keeps growing and everyday more businesses are starting to use Cloud services for their applications, software or infrastructure. However, a successful adoption requires a good understanding of the benefits and challenges presented by the Cloud. This study aims to explore the factors that influence the adoption of Cloud computing and the challenges a business is likely to face. A case study of a large multinational company is constructed using information gathered from interviews with four IT managers. Because of the qualitative method and the convenience sampling technique used, the findings can only be generalized to the population studied. The TOE framework model is used to explore the technological, organisational and environmental factors that could influence the Cloud adoption. Relative advantage, redundancy and performance are identified as the key technological factors and complexity, compatibility and security are found to be the key technological challenges faced by the business. Top management support, firm size and technological readiness are recognised as important organisational factors while competitive and trading partner pressure are identified as key environmental factors. The factors and challenges identified in the study could be valuable for the planning stage of the adoption process. They could provide guidance for organisations that are potential Cloud adopters. Stanislav Nedev is currently completing his BSc in Business and ICT at Sheffield Hallam University. His research interests include Cloud computing, Internet Security and Mobile Platforms Development. Nedev can be contacted at nedev@hotmail.co.uk or uk.linkedin.com/in/snedev/
Investigating the ‘uncanny valley’ effect in robotic, human and CGI movement
The “uncanny valley” is often viewed as a negative aspect that film-makers must try to avoid. However, it can be implemented purposefully, to create a desired emotional impact on the audience. This small-scale exploratory study aims to examine what makes a character uncanny. Several short video clips including CGI, masked figures and robotics were first analysed by the author to create an inventory of potential triggers. The clips were shown to eight participants, whose initial reactions were observed, documented and explored in interviews. Jordan Bannister is currently studying on BA Animation, and his interests include 3D modelling, animation and motion graphics.
How can the analytics on Big Data affect the buying trends of customers in the retail industry?
Big Data has emerged as of one of the biggest business and technological buzzwords of recent years. “The term Big Data applies to information that cannot be processed or analysed using traditional tools or processes” (Eaton et al. 2012). A number of IT companies including International Business Machines (IBM), Hewlett Packard (HP) and Oracle are leading the development of Big Data analytics programs and are creating unique packages for retailers, which suggests that it is going to have a big impact on the retail industry. The primary research has been carried out in the form of interviews, which has been conducted anonymously with representatives from COMPANY A and COMPANY B, to help meet the aims and objectives. Extensive secondary research has also been undertaken to provide more information to help answer the overall question: How can the analytics on Big Data affect the buying trends of customers in the retail industry? There is a high probability that the main benefit of Big Data for retailers and their customers is being able to better understand customers, allowing for more personalised offers leading to higher sales and customer loyalty. One of the prominent factors that may affect the buying trends of retail customers is the channel by which purchases are made. The analytics of Big Data will undoubtedly have an impact on the buying trends of retail customers but ultimately when, where and how customers make purchases will be down to personal preference. There is a distinct possibility that a collective view from a minimum of five retailers could prove more reliable, allowing for more representative conclusions to be made. As more and more data becomes available every second, and with the use of analytics tools becoming more commonplace in the retail industry, there could a huge impact for many years to come. Peter Smith is currently completing the final year of a Business and ICT BSc (Hons) degree as well as being a course representative. His interests in Big Data and Analytics were discovered leading up to and during his year in industry. To contact Peter Smith, please email: peter.smith24@live.co.uk or visit his LinkedIn profile: uk.linkedin.com/in/petersmith24.
Does the style of management affect the way staff members carry out their work?
The aim of the dissertation was to find out whether a certain style of management affects the way in which staff behave and carry out their work. Primary research has been based on two companies in order to gain a wider range of data from differing backgrounds. The companies which have been used are; Sheffield Hallam University and BHP Accountants, with the interviews and questionnaires being completed during October and November 2013. The questions asked were based around whether a certain management style or method of communication affects how staff members work. The managers and staff answered different questions, however most showing strong links enabling results to be compared. Analysis of the primary research results suggested that both managers and staff prefer the team managerial style, along with an adaptable manager and communication being based on an individual level. Many conclusions drawn from the points discussed within the literature review link with the primary research analysis, suggesting managers should be adaptable and engage with their staff. The hypothesis of this dissertation suggests the theory, ‘a management style does affect the way employees work’. This is supported by the analysis of both the primary and secondary research. Dominique Brennan is currently completing the final year of a Business and ICT BSc (Hons) degree. Her interests in management has been building after having many different jobs, all with different management styles. To contact Dominique Brennan, please email: Dominique_mary@Hotmail.com or visit her LinkedIn profile: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dominiquebrennan.
A Comparative Analysis of Jamieoliver.com and Nigella.com
The form, structure and aesthetics of a website, can impact whether it is perceived as successful or not. This report comparatively analyses jamieoliver.com and nigella.com, with regards to the utilisation of typography, imagery, colour and layout. Research was gathered through a multi-method approach, which involved studying theorists’ concepts about these particular design elements and also an exploration of rhetorical and technical design. Furthermore, both websites were evaluated using an existing framework, in order to draw conclusions from a personal perspective. The findings first analyse how typography has been used for titles, page tabs and bulk text. Secondly, it discusses the effectiveness of imagery in relation to photography, advertisements and logos. Additionally, a rhetorical analysis of colour scheme is discussed, along with the application of colour for interactive and navigational features. Finally, in terms of layout, how the websites use ‘white space’, scale and position are also considered. The conclusions confirm that both websites have positive and negative aspects, nevertheless on the whole, they are relatively successful. Parallels are drawn with regards to layout and typography, however imagery is visually more appealing on jamieoliver.com and colour is more considered on nigella.com.
An investigation into initiatives and standards, aiming to improve the user experience of mobile web applications.
The way in which online material is accessed has changed considerably over recent years, due largely to the widespread uptake of mobile devices, capable of online connectivity, such as mobile telephones and PDA’s. This paper aims to briefly investigate the standards and initiatives aiming to push the user experience of online content (mobile web applications), accessed via mobile devices, to the same level as currently exists with standard web applications accessed via desktop computers.
Web 2.0 Oriented Application Development - A Business View on AJAX - 'Is it a Success?'
This report outlines key findings of AJAX that impact the overall success of the technology, since its arrival in 2005. It will also aim to cover aggressive technologically organisations taking on board AJAX, the downfalls of the technology and the main question of is it a success or failure, within today's enterprises.
The rise in e-commerce has provided the retailer with a wealth of customer data that they would have been otherwise unable to collect. Through the use of modern data analysis techniques including Formal Concept Analysis, Content Based Algorithms and Collaborative Filtering Algorithms, it Is possible to mine this wealth of customer data and produce product recommendations that can be delivered to the user via a smart user interface.
Genette on Film - Temporal Order and Tense in Non-chronological Cinema
Referencing the work of Gérard Genette’s 'Order in Narrative' (1997), this article explores his idea of Anachrony in relation to film. I will describe how the filmmaker has used the manipulation of narrative chronology to affect the audience and argue that instead of confusing or preventing us from discerning any temporal order within the film, the discerning viewer is still able to infer a form of chrono-logic inherent within the piece. To do so however, we must accept that, counter to popular assumption, film has no tense; be it past, present or future. Only then can we fully explore and appreciate the temporal possibilities that cinema has to offer.
Creating a Narrative Environment - Choice and Consequence in Single Player Games
This paper discusses the methods by which branching narratives and sandbox style environments are employed within games to create emergent narratives, concluding that whilst they both offer plenty of opportunities for developers, they are also often prohibitively expensive and complex to incorporate. There are also some major caveats raised regarding the constraints that must be levied on the game in order to keep control of a complex interactive narrative.
Welcome to the second issue of Enquiry. Here at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) we are all in agreement that the empowerment of students through enquiry-based learning is a good thing. Through this process the students learning outcomes are more focused towards their own needs, enabling the expansion of research interests through the support of both supervisors and peers alike. As a result it is not surprising that The Faculty of Arts, Engineering, Computing and Sciences (ACES) are now pushing more than ever to encourage active and collaborative engagement in meaningful problems and real world issues. One way in which this is being achieved is through the delivery of this journal which show cases some of the best self-directed undergraduate work at SHU. Self-directed learning enables students to develop the skills required for postgraduate study and later provide insightful contributions to larger research projects and papers. This more flexible studying approach has many advantages such as enhancing employability, preparing students for postgraduate study and most importantly providing a more enjoyable experience by allowing students to focus on their own interests. The advantages of enquiry-based learning were made most evident to me during my final year project whereby a number of works from previous papers were used to support an evolution of principles and ideas. During discussions with various members of the teaching staff it became clear that this process not only enables students to further their understanding of specific interests, but also introduces a student presence into respective industries and professional groups. At SHU this exposure to industry professionalism is encouraged through out the course modules from which students are required to find sources for topics of interest to support their own theories, whilst providing a unique experience for each student this process also gives the student an opportunity to publish their views in journals such as this. When carrying out enquiry-based learning the tutor begins by posing a question rather than the traditional statement or instruction, the methods used to answer the question are then explored by the student who eventually proposes a unique set of methods for assessment. Comparably, in industry a stakeholder or client will often propose a similar question to be solved through study. Whether it be carrying out background research for core decisions, investigating possible new developments, proposing solutions for high-risk problem solving or simply supporting field work, it cannot be overlooked that the ability to openly learn and investigate a problem domain is a skill that is not only important for further education but also in preparation for employment. Gary Stubbings
Game-based learning: revisiting the debate
Abstract Game-based learning in its various forms has been around for a long time, but with the developments in digital technology it has emerged to the forefront of educational debates. Whilst the proponents of game-based learning suggest that games can be a useful vehicle for learning tasks and educational information, 'sweetening' the learning that the young people of today are arguably averse to, many critics have questioned these assumptions. Since the publication of Prensky's (2001) seminal essay on digital natives and digital immigrants, we have seen a significant increase in scholarship, research and technologies relevant to digital game-based learning. Now that commercial games have become a billion dollar entertainment industry rivalling that of television or the movie industry new ideas about how they can be incorporated into learning are being formed. This essay, written by the then first year student in 2011, revisits the debates great game-based learning and engages with some of the arguments within the relevant literature.
Ajax Application Development: the future use and development of Ajax is sustainable.
No longer are you forced to wait five seconds for a web page to reload every time you click on something <!--[if supportFields]> CITATION Pen08 \l 2057 <![endif]-->(Pen et al. 2008)<!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. With the constant evolution of technology, Ajax could well be the next big web technology, achieving a de facto standard status in the web community due to the influence and drive by web giants. It has also been proposed that Ajax is nothing more than a "web fashion" soon to be replaced by superior technology, and will become a victim of the rapidly moving web development fashions. Ajax isn't something you can download; it's an approach, a way of thinking about the architecture of web applications using certain web technologies (Garrett 2005). This paper aims to ascertain the direction Ajax will move in; attempting to re-validate its future by evaluating the direction of the web philosophy and where Ajax fits with its association with Web 2.0, its applicability to both business and customer needs, and the direction of further appropriate research and development
Issues affecting implementation of Web Accessibility Guidelines
To avoid social exclusion for people with needs or disability, web accessibility is a requirement for websites. Today, there are large numbers of websites which fail to meet the requirements of web accessibility. This paper assesses the barriers and explores methods of encouraging compliance with accessibility guidelines.
Limitations & Advances in Mobile Web Application Development
The purpose of this report is to highlight the typical issues involved for developers in the process of mobile web application development. The paper researches problems when addressing development including hardware and software as well as addressing crossplatform development. The paper also discusses where possible future research should take place to alleviate current bottle necks when developing mobile web applications.
Animated Voices: working for an external client in the first year of study
Abstract This paper represents a reflection by several first-year Media Arts students on their collaboration with Falmouth University iWrite project. The initial work was completed as part of a first year module 'Researching Creative Industries', where students developed their ideas and pitched them to the client. The best storyboards and animatics were selected to be funded for further development, using a small grant from the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE). At the time of writing, this was still work in progress, although by the time this issue is published, we expect it to be available to view on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ5IVvxowik. The current article reflects on the early stages of the process, when the would-be winners were completing their initial storyboards for the client pitch, and as such offers some insight into new students' creative decision-making