In the context of the participation society, roles and expectations of citizens and municipalities are vastly changing. While designers and design researchers explore the potentials of apps to empower citizens, municipalities are interested in data dashboards—accompanied by applications and community …

In urban planning, 3D modeling and virtual reality (VR) provide new means for involving citizens in the planning process. For municipal government, it is essential to know how effective these means are, to justify investments. In this study, we present a case of using VR in a municipal process of civic …

In Northern Ghana, the shea nut tree is often referred to as the Northern “cocoa”, supposedly to signal the potential of Shea-nut as a weapon against poverty and to alleviate and empower women in terms of their financial status. This study was conducted to assess the contribution of shea butter extraction …

In this book Silicon Valley expert Peter Ester describes how these 'schools of startup entrepreneurship' operate and how they empower startups. He interviewed over twenty Silicon Valley accelerators. They are analyzed in terms of mission, selection policy, technology focus, target groups, program features, …

The Netherlands strives for an inclusive society. In order to achieve this, the United Nations Convention on Disability has been ratified. In this convention sport is explicitly named as a means towards inclusion. Still, it is not yet clear what the role of sport is in this. Extensive research has been …

Social media and sharing economy platforms do not only disrupt industries. They also bypass democratic institutions. That’s not without risk, because the dominant Silicon Valley based online platforms are designed to create shareholder value, not to strengthen society or democracy. Which is unfortunate, …

From the publisher's website: Large groups in society, in particular people with low literacy, lack the necessary proactivity and problem-solving skills to be self-reliant. One omnipresent problem area where these skills are relevant regards filling in forms and questionnaires. These problems could be …

Background: In addition to medical intervention and counseling, patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) need to manage their disease and its consequences by themselves in daily life. Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the development of "Vascular View," a comprehensive, multi-component, …

Design-based inquiries into the networked products of the Internet of Things (IoT) lack a coherent understanding of the effect of such products on society. This paper proposes a new taxonomy for networked products, which would allow articulation on their current state and future, and provide insights …

Psychological problems are common amongst youth who experience problems in multiple area’s of life. Connection to community and social networks is essential in order to treat and resolve mental illness. As it o¥ ers youths the chance to experience positivity and success, improve their self image and …