AbstractThe tourism industry has evolved to a vital factor for destination development in rural areas. This study aims to see how the tourism industry can be seen as an opportunity for development in rural areas. To be able to develop, rural areas have to be restructured and this study presents the restructuring problems that rural areas usually face and how developing tourism can be seen as a solution to these problems. Five destinations of rural character have been investigated in this study in order to see how these restructuring problems are expressed and addressed through tourism. A key example has been used to provide a clearer image of how these problems and tourism are related to each other and how their interaction can create a positive development for rural areas in Sweden..

Physical activity can reduce the risk of developing dementia, and studies show that people who already have some form of the disease can get a better memory function and find it easier to perform daily tasks if the activity is performed regularly. People who are diagnosed with dementia are generally not offered physical activity to a high extent, nor is there a wide range of equipment developed to suit the target group.The Bike Around project was launched during a workshop in Copenhagen and was organized by HCH and Techna Science with the aim to develop new training equipment for people with dementia. The workshop resulted in the development of a customized training bike where the user can get a biking experience from his wheelchair or favorite chair. By integrating the pedal movement with a prerecorded movie projected on a screen, the memory can be stimulated both visually and by the activity itself.Our assignment in the project consisted of three parts: design of the bike, movie playback and software programming. During the project a prototype has been created that meets the requirements of ergonomics and usability..

With increased need for flexibility in timber deliveries, forest roads become an important factor. The disintegration of roads during the spring season can be avoided if it is possible to rule cutting areas to stands with good carrying capacity along roads with good carrying capacity. The goal with this work was to create a method to find the stands with high carrying capacity located near roads with high carrying capacity, and select them into a collection file. The method was based on Esri ArcGIS 9 and the tables that follow within that program. The method resulted in four different themes: 1. Collections with GYL 100 that cross the bufferzon for 0, 1, 2 and 3 class roads. Result 36 collections. 2. Collections with GYL 100 and 200 that cross the bufferzon for 0, 1, 2 and 3 class roads.

Rural development in Southeast Sweden- three different views and their consequences for the agrarian landscapeThis paper deals with the future for the rural areas of the southeast province of Östergötland, Sweden. The aim is to unveil, analyse and compare different views on rural development and their consequences for the agrarian landscape. Three views are considered, namely that of the different levels of Governments and their departments, that of the farmers and landowners and, finaly, that of the inhabitants of the rural areas.Differences in the views upon rural development is reflected in differences in the ways of thinking of landscapes. Is the open, and actively cultivated, landscape the ideal for all? Who is to decide what needs or ought to be done to achieve certain desired values and/or goals ? and who pays for it? The one thing that is, and should be, clear from the beginning is that all development, whether positive or negative in an area, bears consequences for the landscape.

The purpose of the project was to design an electric bicycle to offer thetarget group youth an attractive alternative to mopeds. The basis for theproject was user studies in which young people were interviewed andobserved in their daily environment.The project resulted in a product, designed with the focus of integratingthe battery to the shape, to create a wholeness that is simple andintuitive.!The product is easy to use and operate, with an automatic transmissionengine.! A smart modular system allows the user to choose design withmudguards, rear rack, or without. The battery design is based on "cradleto-cradle" to maximize the battery life and minimize environmentalimpacts.It was very fun and rewarding to have the opportunity to present theresults for the youth who showed great interest in the product.The project was conducted in collaboration with Designit and Cycleurope..

The project was carried out together with OC Off Course who manufactureand distribute mainly electric bikes.In today?s society, alternative sources of transportation becomes more andmore present and several bicycle sharing programs arises in major citiesacross the world every year.Something that doesn?t exist too much as of yet is bike sharing programsthat uses electric bikes. An electric bike is a convenient way oftransportation as well as a good way of avoiding traffic. With an electricbike you avoid having to sweat when biking over hills or when you need totravel over longer distances.The goal of this project is to develop a bike sharing station according tothe functions need to be met.This thesis Is based on Fredy Olsson´s methods principkonstruktion aswell as a couple of concept generating methods from Kenneth Österlin.From this, a number of sketches were made that later was evaluated inseveral steps in conjunction to a set of specifications. A 3D model of theselected concept was later made in CatiaV5 for a complete product..

Rural development in Southeast Sweden- three different views and their consequences for the agrarian landscapeThis paper deals with the future for the rural areas of the southeast province of Östergötland, Sweden. The aim is to unveil, analyse and compare different views on rural development and their consequences for the agrarian landscape. Three views are considered, namely that of the different levels of Governments and their departments, that of the farmers and landowners and, finaly, that of the inhabitants of the rural areas.Differences in the views upon rural development is reflected in differences in the ways of thinking of landscapes. Is the open, and actively cultivated, landscape the ideal for all? Who is to decide what needs or ought to be done to achieve certain desired values and/or goals ? and who pays for it? The one thing that is, and should be, clear from the beginning is that all development, whether positive or negative in an area, bears consequences for the landscape.

The project was carried out together with OC Off Course who manufactureand distribute mainly electric bikes.In today?s society, alternative sources of transportation becomes more andmore present and several bicycle sharing programs arises in major citiesacross the world every year.Something that doesn?t exist too much as of yet is bike sharing programsthat uses electric bikes. An electric bike is a convenient way oftransportation as well as a good way of avoiding traffic. With an electricbike you avoid having to sweat when biking over hills or when you need totravel over longer distances.The goal of this project is to develop a bike sharing station according tothe functions need to be met.This thesis Is based on Fredy Olsson´s methods principkonstruktion aswell as a couple of concept generating methods from Kenneth Österlin.From this, a number of sketches were made that later was evaluated inseveral steps in conjunction to a set of specifications. A 3D model of theselected concept was later made in CatiaV5 for a complete product..

The interest in businesses active on the countryside and their funding situation has increased in recent years. In a survey, conducted by Leif Berndtsson (2003), it was reported that there is a lack of external capital in rural areas. According to Berndtsson (2003) the lack of external capital inhibits the rural firm?s growth. The essay attempts to answer whether the shortage of external capital is a factor that inhibits development for rural businesses.

For many decades the increase in traffic volume, expansion of highways and infrastructure has lead to an increase of wildlife vehicle collisions which are unfortunately very common in many countries today. They cause great deal of material damage and even kill humans or wildlife. Measures in the form of warning signs, under- and overpasses and fencing have been implemented for a long time with the help of observation by hunters and collisions sites. However this study focuses on the moose?s perspective and the variables that, both spatially and temporally, could have an effect on why and when moose are close to certain types of roads.

The essay on ?The revival of the countryside ? a multitalent in landproduction.? focuses on local and regional development within agriculture, foodprocessing and tourism.Due to great changes in society, the inhabitants in rural areas are forced to find alternative occupations. Using history as a tool to build up the future is a main factor in rural development. Apart from this it involves cooperation, resources, cultural heritage and values, entrepreneurship and innovation, economic vitality, and an understanding of markets and marketing. They all contribute to a region`s ability to benefit from rural development..

Forskning har visat att barns olika lärstilar inte tillgodoses fullt ut i dagens skolor. Den traditionella undervisningsformen där eleverna sitter stilla på sina platser och lärarenöverför kunskap till eleverna tycks vara det rådande exemplet i skolan än idag. Ändå visar forskning att drama som undervisningsmetod har för-mågan att fånga upp elevernas intresse, öka deras självförtroende och få dem att lättare lära och minnas genom att de får erfara med kroppen och sina sinnen. Syftet med studien är att, via en kvalitativ ansats, undersöka hur drama användes i undervisningen och vilken effekt drama hade på elevernas inlärning och utveckling. Därför utfördes deltagande lektionsobservationer och semistrukturerade intervjuer med utvalda pedagoger.

This thesis in social anthropology is based on interviews with four hunters from the middle of Sweden. It is about how the hunters get their traditional knowledge and how important it is to grow up and live in rural areas for the knowledge and understanding of hunting. The essay is also about the difference between the hunters from rural areas and the hunters from urban areas. It also examines how the rural hunters speak about the true and real hunter..

The structural rationalization of rural firms in Sweden has led to many new creative ways of developing companies. The agriculture sector is characterized by the need of capital in form of buildings, labor and inventory. The rationalization process has led to free capacity in rural firms when new technology make buildings and inventory not longer necessary for the production process. To get a better cost coverage this free capacity can be used to start-up new business areas that help the rural firm to growth.The study aims to identify factors that motives entrepreneurs in rural firms to develop new business areas. The purpose is also to analyze driving forces that lies behind development of rural firms and the forces that support or not support development in rural firms.The study is built upon five cases that all can be categorized as firms with different size and orientation.

The purpose of this study was to increase the level of knowledge in the field of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for wind power. The study includes six wind power farms in the County of Västerbotten in northern Sweden. The main questions were: What are the real dimensions of roadways and land claims for both roads and wind power turbines? How do those dimensions correlate with the dimensions stated in the EIA? Are there any differences in values of the dimensions between the wind power farms that are included in this study? The width of the roadways and the land claims for both roads and wind turbines in wind power farms were examined on site. The results from the examinations were compared with the dimensions available in the EIA for each wind power farm.