A study of the usability of handwriting recognition for text entry by children

This paper describes a pilot study that investigated the usability of handwriting recognition for text entry in a free writing activity. The study was carried out with eighteen children aged 7 and 8; each used three different writing methods to construct short pieces of text. The methods used were; pencil and paper, the QWERTY keyboard at a computer, and a pen and graphics tablet. Where the pen and graphics tablet was used, the handwritten text was recognised by the software and presented back to the children as ASCII text. Measures of user satisfaction, quantity of text produced, and quality of writing produced, were taken. In addition, for the handwritten work, the recognition process was evaluated by comparing what the child wrote with the resulting ASCII text. The results show that the children that took part in the study generally produced lengthier texts at the graphics tablet than at the QWERTY keyboard but that the non-technical solution, the pencil and paper was, in this instance, the overall best method for composing writing. To further the debate on the possibilities for digital ink and tablet technologies, key usability problems with the handwriting recognition interface are identified and classified, and solutions to these usability problems, in the form of design guidelines for both recognition-based and pen-based computer writing interfaces, are presented. Additionally, some reflections on how studies of text input and free writing composition can be evaluated are offered.     

An Integrated Graphics Programming Environment

The facilities of the PS-algol programming language are described in this paper to show how they may be used to provide an integrated graphics programming environment. The persistent store mechanism and the secure transaction facilities of the language provide the basic environment in which an integrated system may be implemented. This is augmented by data types and operations to support line drawings and raster graphics. The combination of these mechanisms may be used to provide the integrated graphics programming environment.     

Buoyant density and molecular weight calculations on an Apple II microcomputer from equilibrium banding experiment on analytical ultracentrifuge

Buoyant density is one of the non-destructive measurements of viruses, nucleic acids etc. which help in characterizing these entities in terms of their chemical composition and physical conformation. In recent years equilibrium sedimentation in CsCl buoyant density gradient has been proved to be a powerful tool for genome characterization. The method enables one to obtain information such as the absolute and the relative buoyant density of the material and its molecular weight. This communication describes a program in BASIC which calculates these parameters from the raw data obtained directly from the experiment. The program is fully interactive, user-oriented, and written keeping in view biologists and biochemists as the main users. The program has a built-in option to calculate either the absolute or the relative buoyant density and the molecular weight.     

A general purpose computer analysis system for chromatographic data

A manual integration system for the analysis of chromatographic data is described. The analog output produced by an HPLC absorbance monitor is passed to a non-inverting signal amplifier. This amplified signal is sent to an IBM PC where an analog to digital converter is used to digitize the data. A set of six computer programs which collect, store and analyze these data are presented. This system was used to analyze the nucleotide content of the anaerobic organism Clostridium acetobutylicum by strong anion-exchange HPLC.     

An interactive and open approach for the analysis and diffusion of geoscientific data

This paper presents APERTA, a Web-based tool for the diffusion and analysis of geoscientific data. The main feature differentiating APERTA from other Web-based data diffusion tools is that all output documents and graphics displayed are created each time a user makes a request. The databases queried by APERTA only have to store raw numerical data and the graphics are always generated from an up-to-date database. APERTA allows users to interactively analyze data on-line with standard statistical and geostatistical methods and produce various graphic documents commonly used in earth sciences such as semivariograms, contour maps and cross-sections. Another unique feature of APERTA, which is its most powerful, is that it lets the user decide how data are extracted and graphics are produced. According to their needs and to the type of data, users can thus select the data processing and the output documents required. Because they control processing, users are fully aware of the limits, accuracy and effects of processing on the graphical output. The purpose of APERTA is therefore not only to distribute data but to be a tool to quickly inspect data using an interactive document creation approach. The main features of APERTA are described here along with several examples of data analysis for hydrogeological, geochemical and geotechnical data.     

An intelligent pascal editor for a graphical oriented workstation

A Pascal syntax directed screen editor, designed to run under PNX on an ICL Perq workstation is presented. The editor (Eliot) offers a structured approach to text editing and provides complete Pascal syntax checking. The exceptional graphic capabilities of the Perq are used to good effect in providing an efficient user interface by way of a hierarchy of pop-up menus. Using this interface, skeletal programs may be entered down to the assignment statement, or procedure call level without recourse to the keyboard, selections being made from menus using a graphics tablet and puck. Eliot encourages block structured programs with nested blocks by the use of a tree structured menu, representing the program structure. This allows for efficient movement around the program, again using the tablet and puck. Syntax checking is performed continually with errors reported and highlighted immediately for correction at will. For further error checking a variable scan option can be invoked which lists details of variable names which are not declared, or declared more than once, or declared and not used at all.     

Input and display registration in a stereoscopic workstation

Several techniques are described to obtain spatial registration between three-dimensional input devices and a stereoscopic video display. A video monitor is viewed through a half-silvered mirror, with left and right eye views time-multiplexed through video interlace and viewed with electronic shutter glasses. A magnetic six-degree-of-freedom digitizer and an ordinary magnetostrictive graphics tablet were used as input devices.     

Initial equilibrium solution methods for cable reinforced membranes part II—implementation

This paper describes a portion of an interactive computer graphics design system which is devoted to the solution of the initial equilibrium problem for membrane structures. Real-time vector graphics displays are used to speed the preparation and display of structural data. A variety of solution methods is available to the designer to be used either individually or in combination. Examples of the use of each solution method and combined methods are included.     

Design of an ultrasonic interface for a graphics tablet

A cost-effective design of an ultrasonic interface to a graphics tablet is accomplished by means of PIC microcontrollers. This paper analyses the design and implementation from requirements capture through high-level design to circuitry. Ultrasonic transducers enable direct placement of the tablet mechanism above an LCD so that the image is viewed as it is created. Results show that the prototype tablet has up to 0.8 mm resolution.     

Three-dimensional graphics display of X-ray angiography data

A method for making three-dimensional computer graphics displays of in vivo blood vessels is described. Input data are taken from biplane X-ray angiograms using an image-processing system. A display list is built up which is then sent to a high-function graphics system. Real-time interaction is possible using a vector-refresh display where the blood vessel segments are shown as cylinders of the appropriate diameter. Realistic raster representations may be used to give the user insight into the overall topology of the network of vessels. The Winchester Graphics System is described together with explanations of the techniques employed.     

WAALSURF: Molecular graphics on a personal computer

The advent of increasingly powerful graphics boards for personal computers will soon allow quite advanced molecular graphics applications on inexpensive personal computer configurations. This paper describes an interactive molecular data display program, called WAALSURF, implemented on two different personal computers, IBM's PC-AT equipped with a Professional Graphics Adapter and Commodore's Amiga. These programs allow the inspection of data bases containing data of molecules with some thousand atoms each. The molecular data can be used to generate a range of representations from skeleton, ball-and-stick to space filled Van der Waals surfaces. To foster 3D perception coloring, perspective and lighting depth cues are included, with stereo images as an option. A versatile user interface is provided, allowing the operator to manipulate objects as well as display parameters. Under interactive control the user may rotate molecules in static or animation mode, label sections, strip outer layers and dock molecules while changing the color and the number of atoms displayed. A logging facility is provided to resume a new session where the previous one left off.     

基于网络数据库的分子结构式的动态显示

讨论了在网络数据库环境中动态显示分子结构式的问题。数据库中存储分子的结构信息,在检索时动态生成分子结构式图,图形格式为SVG。SVG是一种矢量图形格式,又是一种基于XML的置标语言。用SVG可以动态创建分子结构式图形,而且文件是文本文件,体积小,易于编辑和信息交换。文中给出了从数据库中提取数据,动态生成分子结构式图形的方法。     

Dynamic 3D modelling for architectural design

A graphics design system employing 2D input and display devices (such as the pen and tablet and the calligraphic CRT) to input, edit, and view 3D objects representing landscapes and architectural structures in realtime is discussed. Landscape is entered via a procedure that uses an inking algorithm to obtain 2D data defining the site's contours and additional available interactive devices to obtain the contour heights. Extrusion techniques and compound transformations are used to generate volumes from facial elements input via a suite of rubberband algorithms that take advantage of the graphics hardware. Dynamic menus, displayed transformation parameter values and extensive editing features facilitate user interaction. Architectural studies of complex structures built by combining basic architectural units input using extrusion techniques are presented.     

The use of the microcomputer in combination with a graphics tablet for the analysis of biological data

Biological time series data are difficult to analyse by computer. The techniques applicable to vibrating systems may be inappropriate. A microcomputer has been used to analyse signals derived from the movement of the intestine in a study of large bowel obstruction. The signals were recorded onto chart paper and entered into the computer using a graphics tablet to create a series of x−y co-ordinates for each recording which were stored on floppy discs. These co-ordinates were used for the analysis of the signals and for the comparison of the recordings.     

The display of molecular models with the AMES interactive modeling system (AIMS)

The graphics capability (DISPLAY) of a large scale interactive molecular modeling system (AIMS) is described and discussed.DISPLAY allows the transparent use of a lower level graphics network GRANET. GRANET provides communication links and software packages unifying an aggregate of computers and graphics systems at Ames Research Center. The graphics devices used by DISPLAY are analyzed in terms of their display capabilities and other features. The Evans and Sutherland Picture System (E&S) with its interactive capabilities is seen to be one of the most powerful devices used by DISPLAY. The DISPLAY subsystem can present molecular models in any of three graphic formats—wireframe, ball and stick and space-filling. The software comprising DISPLAY provides five major features: (1) DIRECT—which allows models to be viewed directly from a molecular library: (2) STATIC—which provides a means of producing single plots on several types of recording media: (3) DYNAMIC—which supports the production of multiple frame plot files: (4) BEZIER—where the representation of a model is given in terms of control points and parametric patches which define its surface: and (5) SCANLINE—whereby raster techniques are used to build an image of a model line by line. These features are discussed in terms of their software implementation, conceptual content, and application to ongoing research.

It is found that despite certain limitations, the system provides a useful assortment of graphics which aid the researcher in model visualization and understanding.     

High fidelity pictures from digitizing tablets

The nature of the aliasing problem in computer graphics has been understood for some time. A number of anti-aliasing algorithms have appeared in the literature, tailored to particular goals. Commercial framestores may now be purchased with anti-aliasing built into the hardware, and it may be thought that this is a sign that the correct application of anti-aliasing techniques is a solved problem. It is argued that, while these developments are certainly in the right direction, much is being missed which would permit pictures of near-photographic quality to be drawn under computer control without requiring extended post-processing of the picture. In particular, the use of a digitizing tablet to input hand-drawn pictures is not usually treated as the image capture method which it undoubtedly is, and as a consequence the use of directly drawn input results in low quality pictures. The importance of picture quality in such applications as picture retouching for printing, magazine and catalogue preparation, package design, advertisement preparation, television graphics and other pictorial material is unusually high. Therefore the value of extracting the best possible picture and manipulating it in a way which retains its quality is as important to data table input as it is to high grade picture digitizers. Some ways in which a data tablet can be used in keeping with these considerations are presented.     

Automatic dyschromatopsia test

This is a basic research paper on color blindness tests using a microcomputer. The graphics display with 4,096 colors and a graphics tablet are connected to our microcomputer. We have developed two formal methods and automatized them. Test figures are generated easily using graphics tablet. The subject is able to examine himself by watching the screen. The results of these tests are diagnosed and printed automatically. The main characteristics of our system are easy operation and cost effective performance. We showed several results of this examination.     

Visualization of conformational changes of linear short-chain polyethylenes under shear and elongational flows

We have performed nonequilibrium molecular dynamic simulations of the linear short-chain polyethylene liquids C(24)H(50), C(50)H(102), C(78)H(158), and C(128)H(258) under homogenous shear and elongational flows. We present visualizations of the molecular structure of each of the four liquids under shear and elongation, and compare them with their equilibrium static structures. These graphics provide a structural understanding of the various statistical measures that have been used in the literature to characterize the change in chain conformation as a function of strain rate and chain length. Moreover, these graphics allow a visualization of the inherent chain dynamics and orientation induced by shear and elongational flows. We discuss the molecular-level mechanisms apparent in the graphics.     

A microcomputer-based system for processing 31-phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectra from studies of cardiac metabolism in immature hearts

We designed an interactive microcomputer-based digital data processing system for analysis of 31-phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) spectra from studies of cardiac metabolism in immature and neonatal hearts. This system included a digitizing tablet (Kurta Series Two), a microcomputer (IBM PC XT) and a graphics plotter (Hewlett-Packard 7470A) used in conjunction with a Nicolet 1280 NMR signal processing computer. We obtained 31P spectra from isolated perfused rabbit hearts with a Nicolet NT-200 4.7 Tesla superconducting NMR spectrometer operated in the pulsed Fourier transform mode. The small size of the hearts resulted in increased noise in spectra and demanded comparison of methods used to quantitate changes in inorganic phosphorus, phosphocreatine and ATP during ischemic stress. We performed microcomputer operations and interfacing functions with a software package written in BASIC. This system simplified documentation, data filing and statistical data processing. Our microcomputer system displayed and made hard copies of digitized spectra and results of analyses. Errors in data entry were rectified directly with this program. Consistent data reduction improved the precision of the physiological results and reduced the influence of noise on 31P spectra from neonatal hearts weighing about 0.5 g. The system flexibility extends its application to NMR spectra analysis for other in vivo organ systems, and signal processing in other biological research.