Development of 3+2 dynamic drive scheme for cholesteric liquid crystal displays

In order to achieve fast driving for reflective cholesteric liquid crystal display (Ch-LCD) we have developed a novel 3+2 dynamic driving scheme (3+2 DDS), which uses 3 and 2 level driver ICs for row and columns, respectively. From the transient dielectric study, the selection period of around 1.0 ms/line showed the best contrast ratio at 30 °C in our system. The time of the homeotropic to transient planar state is strongly dependent on temperatures. The row driver IC has 3 level outputs of R_H, R_M (R_H/2), and R_L; 32, 16, and 0 V, respectively. And the outputs of the column driver IC are composed of 2 levels. We found that a preparation period of more than 40 times and an evolution period of around 40 times of the selection period are suitable. Also, we have accomplished a stable gray scale by using, as we call it, the pulse position modulation (PPM) in which the root mean square (RMS) value of the applied field during the evolution period does not change, even under cross-talk pulses. The driving condition made by PPM is more stable than that made by the usual PHM and PWM techniques. By adopting the 3+2 DDS, we have made 8.4 in. foldable VGA Ch-LCD (640×480×2) that shows an addressing speed of around 1.0 ms/line.     

Effects of 3D displays: A comparison between shuttered and polarized displays

The current study investigates the effects of 3D displays (shuttered display vs. polarized display). People experienced superior fidelity and brightness when they watched 2D still images on a shuttered display, rather than on a polarized display. Conversely, people experienced greater brightness when they watched 3D still images on a polarized display, rather than on a shuttered display. Second, people were able to read a smaller font or characters on a shuttered display than on a polarized display. Third, people noticed flickering on a shuttered display when they watched 3D images. Fourth, people experienced greater brightness when they watched 3D moving images on a shuttered display, rather than on a shuttered display. The perceived brightness of the screen positively correlated with enjoyment, content satisfaction, and 3DTV satisfaction when the viewers watched a 3D movie. The flickering, on the other hand, has a negative correlation with enjoyment and 3DTV satisfaction.     

A preliminary investigation of the time tunnels display design technique

Two forms of decision support were evaluated using a simulated process control task environment. The time tunnel display design concept provides temporal (historical) information about the value of variables and relationships over time using perspective geometry and the depth plane. The compensated level variable is a quickened display that provides estimates of system state that is not confounded by counter-intuitive and time-delayed thermodynamic effects. These two forms of decision support were applied factorially (present, absent) to produce four experimental conditions. The results for system control and fault detection tasks indicate that display quickening improved performance significantly while the time tunnel displays did not. The results for data extraction tasks (reporting the values of system variables) were dependent upon the quality of the mapping between properties in the domain and visual features in the display. Methodological factors that may have influenced the results are considered and subsequent evaluations of the time tunnels design technique, using alternative methodologies, are discussed. It is concluded that the time tunnels display design concept has potential as a form of decision support and is worthy of additional research efforts.     

A review of: “A Manager's Guide to Ergonomics in the Electronic Office. By MARVIN J. DAINOFF and MARILYN HECHT DAINOFF (Chichester John Wiley and Sons, 1987.) [Pp. xii + 230.] £19·95.

When polygon displays are used to represent multiple sources of information, sometimes they can be processed in parallel so that the significant information can be taken in ‘at a glance’. Previous studies found that reaction times (RTs) remained constant as the number of vertices was increased (Greaney and MacRae 1993). However, these studies did not call for the explicit identification of critical vertices and used polygons that were relatively regular. The present study required abnormal vertices to be identified, and it was found that RTs increased as a function of the total number of vertices. In addition, RTs were longer when the variability of the displayed information was greater, that is, when the polygon was more irregular. It was concluded that the polygon display may have more potential as a global warning indicator than as a means of displaying individual parameter values, which must be assessed separately.