7. Treloar, A. (2009), "The paradox of size: observations on alpha
male information technology preferences", Special "Boys Toys" Joint
Issue of J. Gender Studies/J. Technology Adoption, Spring/Summer.
Keywords: Psychology, Technology Adoption, Gender Studies Abstract: One of the male psychosexual stereotypes,
but no less true for that, is that larger is better. This is observable
across such diverse domains as bodybuilding, 4WD/SUV acquisition, and
home cinema installations. Recent research, building on the existing
work correlating testosterone levels with stockmarket performance, has
demonstrated that this preference for size is also positively
correlated both with hormone levels and the status of the individual
within his own social groupings (of course, these latter two factors
may themselves be positively correlated). This paper reports research
showing that the domain of personal technology (and particularly
information technology) is an exception to this general rule. In
particular, when it comes to things like mobile phones and laptop
computers, smaller is generally perceived to be better. Further work is
needed to elicit why this should be the case, and also to clarify the
interesting 'boundary technology' of digital cameras where at the same
time smaller is better (for small point and shoot) and bigger is better
(for large SLVs, and particularly zoom lenses). It is possible that a
Freudian analysis couched in terms of 'hiding and concealment' as
opposed to 'demonstration and display' may be productive here. It is
also the case that significant research funding will be required to
purchase the entire matrix of small to large technology options across
these different domains.
6. Treloar, A., and Treloar, D. (2008), "An analysis of the relationship between actual age and perceived walking speed", First Festschrift for Eadweard Muybridge, Vol. 2, Supplement C, Annex IV, pp. 1035-1044.
Keywords: Movement studies, Psychology, Physiology, Perception Abstract: This invited paper for the first time takes
an integrative approach to the widely recognised problem of mismatches
in perceptions of walking speeds by The Other. In contrast to previous
work, this analysis does not simply dismiss the issue as purely
perceptual but draws on a rich dataset resulting from nearly a
centuries combined observational feedwork. In addition to the walking
settings from existing research (the street, shops), one of us (Dr A.
Treloar) was able to draw on fieldwork in a university setting, as well
as significant overseas and airport data. The other of us (Revd D.
Treloar) was able to draw on her extensive experience of walking
behaviour across the entire school age range. As is well known,
mismatches in walking speeds are particularly vexatious in educational
settings. The conclusion from this research is the novel insight that
walking speeds display a left-skewed bell curve relationship with age.
That is, they are slow early in life (probably affected by age-related
locomotion constraints), rise gradually to a peak around 40 years of
age, and then decline thereafter (again, affected by age-related
locomotion constraints, but of a different kind). This new theory might
be mis-perceived as a variant of Dr A. Elk's hypothesis relating to brontosaurus morphology,
but is in fact our theory which is ours. As the cause of frustration
with walking speed mismatches has been shown to be based on actual slow
speeds rather than perceived slow speeds, the only effective
interventions would appear to be (i) cognitive behavioural therapy for
the sufferers, (ii) a process of age-targeted removal of the cause, or
(iii) intensive training in dodging, obstacle prediction and collision
avoidance. The next phase of this research will undertake a series of
double-blind trials (potentially dangerous in the case of approaches
(iii), and possibly (ii) depending on the targeting mechanism) to
determine the most effective approach.
5. Hood, R., Tell, W. and Treloar, A. (2007), "The Name's the
Thing: some considerations when selecting a field of human endeavour as
a consistent theme for acronyms of technical projects", J. Appl. Toxophilism, April 1 special issue.
Keywords: Archery, symbolism, applied linguistics, whimsy Abstract: As is widely recognised, the most critical
decision to be made at the start of a technology project is not the
choice of technology, but the choice of the project acronym. Many
novice e-research technologists rush this crucial step, with
potentially long-term negative consequences for branding, credibility
and the "giggle" factor. The decision on acronym is particularly
important if one anticipates a series of related projects. This article
describes some desiderata for deciding on how to consistently theme
project acronyms. One must select an area that has significant
specialist vocabulary (to provide lots of choice), a preponderance of
short terms (few project acronyms can convincingly be longer than about
5±2 characters), and a reasonable mix between vowels and consonants. As
a particular case study, the article analyses a related set of
e-Research projects undertaken in Australia during the first decade of
this century: Australian Research Repositories Online to the World (ARROW), Dataset Acquisition, Accessibility and Annotation eResearch Technologies (DART), Australian eResearCH Enabling enviRonment (ARCHER), and Building Rules for Access Control to Electronic Resources (BRACER).
4. Treloar, A. (2006), "Suitcase size selection as a
correlate with gender dimorphism", Trans. Appl. Container
Studies, Special Luggage Issue, Vol 203, Spring.
Keywords: Gender Studies, Design
Theory
Abstract: An observational
research study identified opposite-gendered pairs of subjects together
with their luggage in an international travel setting. In all of the
cases observed, the size of the suitcases was different. In most of the
cases (3 out of 4, significant at p < 0.001) the male member of
the pair was associated with the larger suitcase and the female member
of the pair with the smaller suitcase. This is despite anecdotal
evidence from the domestic clothes storage sector that a
greater amount of space is typically required for storage of female
clothes (based on number of items rather than volume of each item).
Because of the small sample size, and the observational nature of the
data collection, further research is needed in a variety of settings.
Dimensions that might be significant include setting (national
versus international), mode (air, train, boat), class
(economy, premium economy, business, first). This suggests a 24 cell
matrix that needs to be incorporated into the phase two research design.
3. Treloar, A. (2005), "Solar-Silico-Saline Therapy: Fad or
Fantasy?", Int. J. Wellness, Vol 100, No 2.
Keywords: Commerce, Management,
Tourism and Services/Tourism/Tourism Behaviour
Abstract: This paper describes a
single-subject experiment involving a 180-degree work-life balance
repolarisation, coupled with a zero-tolerance approach to the use of
any form of information technology. The research project builds on
earlier research reported in Treloar (2003). The subject initially
experienced feelings of loss of purpose, coupled with an ongoing desire
to see if any new emails had arrived in the last minute, and what the
latest slashdot
posting was about. After repeated courses of integrated
solar-silico-saline therapy these symptoms diminished markedly. A
side-effect, the desirability of which should perhaps be viewed as
highly context and task-specific, was a reduced sense of the passage of
time, or even of the importance of such passage. On return to work, it
is believed that the subject will experience greater motivation,
increased clarity of thought, and a better perspective on how to
proactively manage an increasingly complex task portfolio. In addition,
it is hoped that the subject will be more fun to work with. Due to the
limited sample size, and the restricted experiment duration, more
research will be required as a matter of urgency to validate these
findings.
2. Treloar, D. (2004). "Technology tough love - how I got my husband to go computer cold turkey", J. App. Spousal Mgt, Vol 32, Spring.
Keywords: Recaltricance, Self-Justification, Reflection, Action Abstract: [yet to be supplied by author]
1. Treloar, A. (2003), "Sun, sand and surf - an innovative
new treatment regime delivers real relaxed results", Int. J. Wellness,
Vol 99, No 1.
Keywords: Commerce, Management,
Tourism and Services/Tourism/Tourism Behaviour
Abstract: [not completed due to
fieldwork-induced damage (sand/salt water rendering laptop inoperable)]