Saliency4ASD: Challenge,dataset and tools for visual attention modeling for autism spectrum disorder

The recent studies showing that gaze features can be useful in the identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), have opened a new domain where Visual Attention (VA) modeling could be of great help. In this sense, this paper presents a report of the Grand Challenge “Saliency4ASD: Visual attention modeling for Autism Spectrum Disorder”, organized at IEEE ICME’19, aiming at supporting the research on VA modeling towards this healthcare societal challenge. In particular, this paper describes the workflow, obtained results, and datasets and tools that were used within this activity, in order to help on the development and evaluation of two types of VA models: (1) to predict saliency maps that fit gaze behavior of people with ASD, and (2) to identify individuals with ASD from typical development.     

基于视觉传达的后继帧视频图像目标跟踪仿真

现阶段所采用的跟踪方法对后继帧视频图像目标跟踪存在跟踪效果不理想、跟踪效率较低等问题。提出基于视觉传达的后继帧视频图像目标跟踪方法。利用图像差分方法获取视频图像运动目标可能出现的区域,并对这个区域视频图像目标进行运动估计,采用形态学方法来降低聚类区域的数量,得到后继帧视频图像目标区域;采用均值漂移法估计后继帧视图像核概率密度,对后继帧视频图像进行分割处理,找出后继帧视频图像目标区域最显著的特征,通过迭代运算找到目标位置,实现目标跟踪。实验结果表明,所提算法具有较好的后继帧视频图像跟踪效果、并且跟踪效率较高,具有一定的应用价值。     

Relevance- and interface-driven clustering for visual information retrieval

Search results of spatio-temporal data are often displayed on a map, but when the number of matching search results is large, it can be time-consuming to individually examine all results, even when using methods such as filtered search to narrow the content focus. This suggests the need to aggregate results via a clustering method. However, standard unsupervised clustering algorithms like $K$-means (i) ignore relevance scores that can help with the extraction of highly relevant clusters, and (ii) do not necessarily optimize search results for purposes of visual presentation. In this article, we address both deficiencies by framing the clustering problem for search-driven user interfaces in a novel optimization framework that (i) aims to maximize the relevance of aggregated content according to cluster-based extensions of standard information retrieval metrics and (ii) defines clusters via constraints that naturally reflect interface-driven desiderata of spatial, temporal, and keyword coherence that do not require complex ad-hoc distance metric specifications as in $K$-means. After comparatively benchmarking algorithmic variants of our proposed approach – RadiCAL – in offline experiments, we undertake a user study with 24 subjects to evaluate whether RadiCAL improves human performance on visual search tasks in comparison to $K$-means clustering and a filtered search baseline. Our results show that (a) our binary partitioning search (BPS) variant of RadiCAL is fast, near-optimal, and extracts higher-relevance clusters than $K$-means, and (b) clusters optimized via RadiCAL result in faster search task completion with higher accuracy while requiring a minimum workload leading to high effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction among alternatives.     

The benefits of integrated eye tracking with airborne image recorders in the flight deck: A rejected landing case study

Aircraft accident investigation has played a pivotal role in improving the safety of aviation. Advances in recorder technology, specifically Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs) and Flight Data Recorders (FDR) have made a huge contribution to the understanding of occurrences for accident investigators. However, even these recorders have limitations such as the evidence they provide about pilots' situation awareness or behaviours. Supplementing audio and data recordings with video has been discussed for many years and whilst there continues to be debate among regulators, operators, manufacturers and pilot unions, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has mandated Airborne Image Recorders (AIR) from 2023. The purpose of installing such systems is to provide evidence of crew operational behaviours in terms of both human-human and human-computer interactions (HCI) on the flight deck. Video alone is unlikely to provide sufficient evidence for investigators. This study examines the additional value that eye-tracking technology may provide through the case study of an accident involving an Airbus A330-300 aircraft which experienced a rejected landing. Currently, the investigation of such events, where crew interaction with automation is critical to their situation awareness, relies heavily on interview data. Such data may be unavailable (in the case of serious injury) or unreliable (based on hindsight bias). By integrating eye tracking technology into an AIR, accident investigators will potentially gain a better understanding of pilots’ visual scan patterns across flight deck instrumentation. This has implications for flight deck and procedural design as well as training and simulation.     

镓锗铜萃余液综合利用研究与应用

本文针对镓锗铜综合回收系统产出的萃余液,设计通过中和氧化除杂、锌粉置换除铜镉、有机试剂除钴镍、纯碱法生产碱式碳酸锌、高温煅烧生产活性氧化锌和一步法生产元明粉的生产工艺流程,有效的将镓锗铜萃余液分类分离富集,产出具有价值的富集渣和工业产品,进一步提升综合回收经济效益。     

Visually deficient working conditions and reduced work performance in office workers: Is it mediated by visual discomfort?

IntroductionThe main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether visual discomfort acts as a mediating factor between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance among office workers who carry out administrative tasks and computer-based work at the Swedish Tax Agency.MethodsA questionnaire was sent to 94 office workers addressing: 1) perceived visual quality of the visual display units; 2) prevalence of eye symptoms; and 3) self-rated visual performance. Eighty-six persons (54 women (63%), 31 men (36%), and 1 of unspecified sex) answered the questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis investigated the association between visual ergonomic working conditions and visual performance, both with and without visual discomfort as a mediator.ResultsThe group mean of the Indexed survey questions indicated a reasonably good quality of visual ergonomic working conditions, a relative absence of eye symptoms, and acceptable self-rated visual performance. Results from multiple regression analysis showed a significant association between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance (r² = 0.30, β = 0.327, p < 0.01). When visual discomfort was used as a mediator, the association between perceived visual ergonomic working conditions and self-rated visual performance remained the same (r² = 0.32, β = 0.315, p < 0.01).DiscussionIt was remarkable to discover that self-rated visual performance was independent of visual discomfort. Possible explanations include exposure factors not included in the current study, such as dry air and sensory irritation in the eyes, psychosocial stress, time spent performing near work activities, or time exposed to visually deficient working conditions.Relevance to industryThe strong connection between satisfaction with visual ergonomic working conditions and productivity in this study has implications for workplace profitability and staff satisfaction. If productivity is enhanced by better visual ergonomic working conditions, then managers of workplaces may be able to improve work outcomes by optimizing the physical work environment.     

DART-Q-Orbitrap MS法快速检测豆制品中碱性橙Ⅱ和金胺O

采用实时直接分析(direct analysis in real time,DART)离子化技术与四极杆-静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱联用技术(Q-Orbitrap MS),建立了快速定性和定量分析方法,检测豆制品中非法添加的碱性橙Ⅱ和金胺O。在正离子模式下,采用Full MS/targetrd-MS2扫描方式,可直接将豆制品置于离子化区域内对两种染料进行快速定性分析。在定量分析中,采用80%乙腈水溶液提取样品,应用Dip-it载样方式,对实验参数进行系统性优化。采用空白基质溶液进行梯度稀释,测得碱性橙Ⅱ和金胺O在基质中的检出限均为0.2mg/L;采用内标法定量,在1～20mg/L浓度范围内线性关系良好,相关系数分别为0.997 2和0.999 4。该方法快速准确,可为食品中非法添加染料的定性和定量检测提供参考依据。     

The visual impact of augmented reality during an assembly task

Many studies have shown the benefits of augmented reality (AR) to improve manufacturing and control processes in industry. However, the presentation of AR content through optical see-through head-mounted displays may induce unnatural viewing conditions, which consequences on the user’s visual system have not been investigated yet. This study aimed at assessing whether using AR instructions to guide a manual task, i.e., conditions where the user is forced to repeatedly look at and accommodate in different planes to extract information from both real and virtual environments, could potentially impact the visual system of operators. A before/after design study was carried out, asking 26 participants to perform Lego assemblies for 30 min with either paper or AR instructions. The effects of using AR compared to paper instructions were evaluated both on binocular vision, with classical optometric measurements, and on visual fatigue, with the Virtual Reality Symptoms Questionnaire. No clinically significant differences in optometric measurements (far/near visual acuity, stereoacuity, phoria, convergence, fusional amplitude, accommodation amplitude, accommodative convergence) have been found between AR and paper instructions, and only negligible fatigue symptoms have been seen specifically for AR. Results from both objective and subjective measurements suggest that there is no impact of AR on the oculomotor system and that, in this specific case of use, AR can be safely used for production operators.     

A comparison of visual ability and its importance awareness between novice and experienced drivers

The visual ability factors of peripheral perception, visual reaction and visual pursuit ability are important for safe driving. Thus, this study explored the influence of driving experience on these visual ability factors. Sixty-five drivers, including novice and experienced drivers, participated in this study. The visual ability levels of the three factors were measured by the Vienna Test System. In addition, driver's awareness of the three factors' importance for safe driving was measured by questionnaire items. Results showed that out of the three factors, drivers' peripheral perception ability was correlated significantly with their driving experience. Experienced drivers had higher peripheral perception ability than that of novice drivers. In addition, compared with novice drivers, experienced drivers believed that peripheral perception was more important whereas visual reaction was less important. It is suggested that higher attention should be paid to peripheral perception in driving training and novice drivers should increase their importance awareness for this factor.