The Ocean Cleanup faces a lot of different challenges during new deployments aimed to prevent riverine waste from entering the sea and harming surrounding ecosystems. These challenges are particularly evident when addressing entire river systems rather than individual rivers. An example of a currently challenging site The Ocean Cleanup faces in their efforts to clean up Kingston Harbor is Shoemaker Gully, which is obstructed by mangrove forests preventing the Interceptor Tender to reach the waste. A smaller scale extraction tool that can be deployed in tight spaces would open up several possibilities for efficient extraction. Beyond The Ocean Cleanup, local initiatives operate in areas where commercial solutions prove inadequate, resorting to manual extraction or building their own tools due to worker health concerns. The introduction of new designs capable of benefiting both local cleanup organizations and The Ocean Cleanup can have a substantial impact on combating riverine plastic pollution.

This project aims to achieve that by introducing a new addition to the current solution portfolio. The objective of this thesis is to develop a modular extraction tool designed to efficiently remove contained waste from rivers directly to the shore. This innovation will expand The Ocean Cleanup's deployment options and empower other organizations to amplify their impact. By creating a cost-effective and adaptable proof-of-principle prototype, a foundation will be established for further development of extraction tools tailored to selected use cases.

The final design is a mobile and modular extraction tool, equipped to handle waste extraction from a diverse range of sites that is currently challenging to access. A full-scale prototype has been made to accurately assess its feasibility, with a potential deployment in Jamaica. It features well-thought-out features like adjustable and extendable legs for diverse riverbanks, a robust overall design, and an intuitive user interaction.

Maatbril delivers personalized 3D-printed glasses by making a 3D scan of their client’s head and modelling the glasses around this 3D model. This is especially handy for people with cranio-facial differences or other conditions that prevent them from wearing regular glasses. A large proportion of Maatbril’s clients are children and/or have a mental disability. Interviews and observations during scanning procedures showed that the 3D scanning procedure is often perceived as scary. Moreover, it is often challenging to get the client to sit still for about 20 to 30 seconds, which is the time it takes to capture the 3D scan. The goal of this project is to design a non-invasive and versatile 3D scanning solution that produces high-accuracy 3D head scans near instantaneously, with simple controls for a single user. This 3D scanner will mainly be used by Maatbril employees, but it might occur as well 3D scanners will be located at healthcare institutions such Bartiméus and people that are no experts in 3D scanning will perform the 3D scan. Experiments and roleplaying with different interaction concepts showed that not all participants have the mental capability to actively contribute in the scanning procedure, ruling out principles like gamification to get the client to sit still. Eventually, it was chosen to attract the client's attention with an integrated tablet which displays videographical content. This requires little mental effort, but still allows for the client to have something interesting to focus on, so he/she will sit (relatively) still. In the meantime, the 3D scan can be captured. The final 3D Head Scanner makes use of 2 Azure Kinect DK sensors to capture the subject’s face along with the requisite landmarks in about 25 milliseconds, with only the click of a button. These sensors work with Amplitude Modulated Continuous Wave (AMCW) Time-of-Flight technology, which was selected after evaluating all options and fit to this use case. About 20 seconds after clicking the button, both scans have been aligned and the quality can be evaluated in the User Interface. The client probably didn't even notice any of this, as he/she was watching their favourite show on the digital tablet. Repeatedly testing and optimizing the interaction of the final 3D Head Scanner resulted in a relaxed and non-invasive 3D scanning procedure, where no force or bribing of the client was required to obtain the 3D scans. After optimizing the alignment algorithm, 3D scans with an accuracy of 1.2 mm can be expected, which is in the range of accuracy Maatbril requires when designing their glasses.

As of October 2017 the Civic Integration Act (WI 2013) (Rijksoverheid, 2017) states that all non-EU newcomers that want to integrate in The Netherlands have to participate in the Participation statement procedure (PSP). As part of this procedure newcomers have to sign that they understand and respect the Dutch core values: freedom, equality and solidarity. A fine of €340 is the consequence if the statement is not signed within one year after being housed in a municipality. This report describes the graduation project at the Delft University of Technology that aimed answering the following research question:

Can the Dutch core values be conveyed to newcomers in The Netherlands?

By developing an intervention that helps to convey values to newcomers this question is answered using a Research through Design approach. A discussion and recommendations for policy are presented based on the answer. On top of that, newcomers and PSP trainers have been involved in all stages of the project in order to create a human-centered design. The project is done in collaboration with Christa Nieuwboer, senior researcher at Apparent.

The three phases Reveal, Create and Evaluate can be recognised throughout the report.

Reveal
Information about the current context is collected in the Reveal phase. Moreover, it states a strong foundation on which the project is built. Last, prototype interventions activities with newcomers are done in order to find out what is appropriate.

The analysis of the current context revealed information about the values workshop. Moreover, the definition of the three values freedom, equality and solidarity as described in the booklet Core values of the Dutch society (Ministry for Social Services and Employment, 2014) is adopted. A lecture by Tamar de Waal (Toeset, Hobbelink and Dorresteijn, 2017) motivated to respect the fact that the meaning of values should be viewed in relation to their context. Additionally, the four educational principles currently used in the values workshop are used as guidelines for concept development. These are: (1) make use of visualisations, (2) build on personal preferences and experiences, (3) include team and individual assignments and (4) facilitate group discussion and reflection.

The foundation exists of four pillars. First, the learning cycle of Kolb (1984) proved to be suitable for approaching abstract values through concrete experiences. The cycle follows the stages of (1) concrete experience, (2) observations and reflections, (3) abstract concept and (4) test implications of this concept after which the cycle starts over again. Second, the adopted vision on integration is that acknowledging and respecting the pluriformity of the Dutch society can stimulate social cohesion, rather than aiming at sharing all values. The third pillar consists of three additional educational principles: (1) focus on intrinsic motivation, (2) make use of active learning methods and (3) involve of a role model. Last, all newcomers are defined as the target group for the project. Although the initial focus was on Syrian newcomers, involving people with different cultural backgrounds is more suitable when talking about the meanings of values in different contexts in an equal way.

The intervention studies showed the importance of time, roleplay, discussing both similarities and differences and involving concrete information and multiple topics when aiming at understanding values. The design brief was devised in accordance with Nieuwboer using all previous findings. The following design goal was agreed upon:

Design an experience-based intervention that enables newcomers in The Netherlands to understand the three Dutch core values following an experiencing, reflecting, understanding-approach while at the same time supporting the newcomers in discussing the differences and similarities between different culture’s values and practices.

The design brief functioned as the closing document of the Reveal phase and the starting point of the Create phase.

Create
The aim of the second phase was to create a suitable intervention. Ideation sessions led to the game idea direction. It was decided to design for structured play, incorporating a clear goal and rules. Moreover, the choice for an analogue game was made to provide the best circumstances for dialogue and roleplay. Last, the aim to explore cultural issues and provide dialogue about these clearly indicated the game would be expressive.

Game elements and mechanisms found in other games were combined into the game concept. Through seven gameplays with different user groups the elements and mechanisms have been tested and improved which resulted in the intervention WAARDEN?! Het spel. The goal of the game is to earn the most value points. Twelve participants play in four teams and sit around the three-values symbol, which is laid down on the floor. A game facilitator guides the gameplay.

Each turn either a roleplay or a question card is played. With a roleplay card two teams enact a situation. One team from the perspective of their own cultural background, the other how they think it would happen in The Netherlands. The question card presents a question about a law that the teams have to answer. By playing the cards teams can earn points. After that, the game facilitator asks reflection questions about the differences, similarities, participants’ opinions and possible consequences of the enacted situations. Finally, the played card has to be linked to one or more of the three Dutch values by placing it on the three-values symbol. The game ends by reviewing the three-values symbol and appointing a winning team. Through this procedure, the participants follow the phases of the learning cycle of Kolb (1984).


Evaluate
In the last phase of this report the conclusion and discussion are presented. The game is a very effective intervention for helping newcomers to understand the Dutch core values. The answer on the research question is that the values are too abstract, too dynamic and too ambiguous to capture and convey. These conclusions have resulted in following recommendation for policy making:

Discard the abstract and contradictory Participation statement. Rather, regard the values workshop as an introduction to a lifelong intercultural values dialogue to reach a pluriform society in which people respect each other’s values.

One of the most enriching relationships of human beings is the relationship between owner and companion-animal, including more specifically the relationship between owner and cat. Cats are the third-most important source for social support and security for human-beings. Cats are relatively easy to take care of and make people feel needed. Owners often see them as a friend, child or partner in the relationship.
Cats have similar emotions as humans, which lays a foundation for the relationship; they express emotions, however, quite differently. Therefore, owner and cat don’t always understand each other, which often results in confusion, frustration, annoyance and uncertainty in the owner.
The relationship between owner and cat is an emotional one, full with positive and negative interactions. Too many negative interactions could, in fact, eventually lead to an abrupt termination of the relationship.
This project is about the development of the owner-cat relationship and what leads up to the unexpected termination of it: when an owner decides to give up the relationship and surrender the cat to the shelter.
The decision to owner-surrender is often grounded in several reasons of the owner. What are some of the reasons that owners decide to surrender their cat? What problems may arise in the relationship? How does the relationship work? And what emotions play a role in the relationship?
To answer these questions, this project maps the emotional of journey of owners with their cats and explores the interactions and behavior of owner and cat during this journey. With these findings as a guide, a design is created, Telltail, which is a product meant to help new owners understand their cat’s behavior and personality to increase the bond between owner and cat.