Principles of transparency for autonomous vehicles: first results of an experiment with an augmented reality human–machine interface

Cognition, Technology & Work - Highly automated driving allows the driver to temporarily delegate the driving task to the autonomous vehicle. The challenge is to define the information that...     

Learning game innovations in immersive game environments: a factor analytic study of students’ learning inventory in virtual reality

Virtual Reality - The research is designed to trigger students’ game innovations and facilitate their creative learning process by providing them with a “stimulated” immersive...     

A study on the factors that improve the velocity perception of a virtual reality‐based vehicle simulator

The Virtual Reality (VR) system of a real‐time VR‐linked vehicle simulator that was used in this study provides visual information and sound effects to participants. The VR system of a VR‐linked vehicle simulator should provide a perceived velocity similar with the perceived velocity in actual driving. To achieve these goals, modeling and rendering methods that offer an improved performance for complex VR applications, such as the 3D road model, were implemented and evaluated. We also evaluated the influences of graphic and engine sound effects on the driver and analyzed each result according to a driver's viewpoint, the dot densities of road texture provided, the lateral distance between a virtual driver and environmental objects, and the engine sound. Each factor was individually analyzed through an experiment that evaluated the influence of visual images or sound effects in the vehicle simulator. Through the experimental evaluation, the research results could be used for improving the effectiveness of VR‐based vehicle simulators.     

A hybrid 2D–3D tangible interface combining a smartphone and controller for virtual reality

Virtual Reality - Virtual reality (VR) controllers are widely used for 3D virtual object selection and manipulation in immersive virtual worlds, while touchscreen-based devices like smartphones or...     

Towards incorporating personality into the design of an interface: a method for facilitating users’ interaction with the display

A novel user interface (UI) design based on the personality characteristics of users was proposed and examined in a mobile learning context. It was argued that differences in personality can stimulate individuals’ information processing capabilities in according to their display preferences, thus an effective visual experience. The personality characteristics and design preferences of 87 students (37 male, and 50 female) were collected and analysed. The clustering result (using k-means algorithm) revealed two potential personality types, which we call the neuroticism and the extra-conscientiousness groups. Then, an interface was designed for each personality group using the association rules method. An eye-tracking device was used to record changes in participants’ eye-pupil diameter and fixation duration, and thus examine their cognitive load and attention. The participants’ eye movement data of each group showed that their visual experience was significantly improved when using the interface designed based on their personality characteristics. This work offers some important design and practical insights to the human–computer interaction and the design of mobile device UI.     

Virtual Observations: a software tool for contextual observation and assessment of user’s actions in virtual reality

Virtual Reality - In this paper, we present ‘Virtual Observation’ (VO) a software tool for contextual observation and assessment of user’s directly from within the virtual reality...     

Single-mode—multimode—single-mode and lossy mode resonance-based devices: a comparative study for sensing applications

In this work, a thin-film consisting of 15 bilayers (estimated thickness: 210 nm) of titanium (IV) oxide and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) is simultaneously deposited onto two optical fiber structures: a single-mode—multimode—single-mode (SMS) device and a lossy mode resonance (LMR)-based device. The performance of both structures, as refractometers and relative humidity sensors, is studied and compared. In both cases, the sensitivity of the LMR-based device (955 nm/RIU and 3.54 nm/RH %, respectively) highly improves the one of the SMS (142 nm/RIU and 0.3 nm/RH %). These facts can be taken into account when developing sensors based on either SMS or LMR technologies.     

Finding an appropriate lexical diversity measurement for a small-sized corpus and its application to a comparative study of L2 learners’ writings

The present study investigates four kinds of lexical diversity measurement and a computational experiment with corpus processing and statistical test has been conducted to find out the most effective lexical diversity measurement in evaluating a small-sized corpus of 350?~?550 words. The results show that the D-estimate is the most appropriate among the four lexical diversity measurements which were compared in this research. Also the D-estimate showed more stable results than other measurements when the number of words varied between texts. The D-estimate was applied to measure the morphological and grammatical diversities of L2 learners of the Korean language, and conduct a statistical test on whether the mother tongues of L2 learners affect the degree of acquisition of grammatical morphemes. The test shows that the native languages of L2 learners learning Korean did not seem to have a significant impact.     

Exploring young students’ learning experiences with the iPad: a comparative study in Hong Kong international primary schools

In recent years, the popularity and capabilities of the iPad^®, Apple’s tablet computer, have prompted educational technology advocates and policy makers to evaluate its potential in classrooms. However, there have been few studies examining the tangible user interface (TUI, in which the user manipulates the touchscreen of the device with their fingers), one of the most significant features of the iPad in comparison to previous mobile devices. Therefore, in this paper, the research team examined this interface specifically for its potential in terms of usability with input interaction for young learners. A case study was conducted at three international schools in Hong Kong to explore the impact of the iPad’s TUI on the student learning experience. A mixed-method approach was taken, and 13 observations and 10 interviews were conducted to collect data. With statistical analyses, the amount of students seeking learning support behavior (ASSLS) at the schools employing iPads was compared with that at the school using traditional laptops. Evidence emerged to support the assumption that the TUI on the iPad may contribute to reducing the ASSLS as well as enhancing student engagement and collaboration in class. Implications of the findings in terms of usability, engagement, interaction, practice, and future research are discussed.     

How do environmental characteristics at intersections change in their relevance for drivers before entering an intersection: analysis of drivers’ gaze and driving behavior in a driving simulator study

Accident studies in Germany found that in about 90 % of intersection accidents, failure to acquire the relevant information of the driving situation was the main reason for drivers’ errors (Vollrath et al. in Ableitung von Anforderungen an Fahrerassistenzsysteme aus Sicht der Verkehrssicherheit. Wirtschaftsverlag NW, Bremerhaven, 2006). Studies of bicycle–car accidents assume that improper attention allocation strategies and unjustified expectations by drivers are important for this kind of error (Räsänen and Summala in Accid Anal Prev 30:657–666, 1998). Aim of the study was to examine the psychological processes of drivers’ attention allocation and driving behavior in different intersection situations varied by two environmental characteristics. A give way T-intersection was varied by (1) low and high traffic density of oncoming cars from the left and (2) number of task-relevant information areas (in addition to the oncoming cars from the left with or without pedestrians on the right). It was examined how these environmental characteristics change in their relevance for drivers while entering the intersections. The analysis was conducted in three intersection epochs (Approaching, Waiting, Accelerating). A total of 40 subjects (26 male, 14 female), ranged in age from 19 to 55 years (M = 31.0 years), participated in the study. The results showed that drivers’ attention allocation (e.g., mean gaze duration) and driving behavior (e.g., waiting time) systematically depends on these environmental characteristics which require different actions of the driver and change in their relevance when entering an intersection. The results support the idea of attention allocation strategies by drivers which are specific for certain driving situations. These findings can support approaches of driver modeling at intersections.     

Land‐cover binary change detection methods for use in the moist tropical region of the Amazon: a comparative study

Many land‐cover change detection techniques have been developed; however, different conclusions about the value or appropriateness of each exist. This difference of opinion is often influenced by the landscape complexity of study areas and data used for analysis. Which method is most suitable for land‐cover change detection in Amazon tropical regions remains unclear. In this paper, 10 binary change detection methods were implemented and compared with respect to their capability to detect land‐cover change and no change conditions in moist tropical regions. They are image differencing (ID), modified image differencing (MID), a combination of image differencing and principal component analysis (IDPCA), principal component differencing (PCD), multitemporal PCA (MPCA), change vector analysis (CVA), vegetation index differencing (VID), image ratioing (IR), modified image ratioing (MIR), and a combination of image ratioing and PCA (IRPCA). Multi‐temporal Thematic Mapper (TM) data were used to conduct land‐cover binary change detection. Research results indicate that MID, PCD and ID using TM band 5 are significantly better than other binary change detection methods and they are recommended specifically for implementation in the Amazon basin.     

“Keep it simple!”: an eye-tracking study for exploring complexity and distinguishability of web pages for people with autism

Universal Access in the Information Society - A major limitation of the international well-known standard web accessibility guidelines for people with cognitive disabilities is that they have not...     

Attention shifting during child—robot interaction: a preliminary clinical study for children with autism spectrum disorder

Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering - There is an increasing need to introduce socially interactive robots as a means of assistance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD)...     

Computationally efficient solutions for tracking people with a mobile robot: an experimental evaluation of Bayesian filters

Modern service robots will soon become an essential part of modern society. As they have to move and act in human environments, it is essential for them to be provided with a fast and reliable tracking system that localizes people in the neighborhood. It is therefore important to select the most appropriate filter to estimate the position of these persons. This paper presents three efficient implementations of multisensor-human tracking based on different Bayesian estimators: Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) and Sampling Importance Resampling (SIR) particle filter. The system implemented on a mobile robot is explained, introducing the methods used to detect and estimate the position of multiple people. Then, the solutions based on the three filters are discussed in detail. Several real experiments are conducted to evaluate their performance, which is compared in terms of accuracy, robustness and execution time of the estimation. The results show that a solution based on the UKF can perform as good as particle filters and can be often a better choice when computational efficiency is a key issue.     

Recommendations to support interaction with broadcast debates: a study on older adults’ interaction with <Emphasis Type="Italic">The Moral Maze</Emphasis>

Current methods to capture, analyse and present the audience participation of broadcast events are increasingly carried out using social media. Uptake of such technology tools has so far been poor amongst older adults, and it has the worrying effect of excluding the demographic from participation. Our work explores whether a common desire to interact with debates can be tapped with technology with a very low barrier to entry, to both support better engagement with broadcast debates and encourage greater use of social media. This paper describes experiments where older adults interact with a BBC radio debate programme: The Moral Maze. As a result, we obtained common interaction patterns which then are used to define recommendations for software-supported interaction with debates based on theories of argumentation. Our goal is to combine research on computational models of argument and user-driven research on human-centred computing in a project with the potential for high-profile impact in addressing older adults inclusion in the digital economy.     

“<Emphasis Type="Italic">It’s like holding a human heart</Emphasis>”: the design of Vital + Morph,a shape-changing interface for remote monitoring

Based on the concept of data physicalization, we developed Vital + Morph, an interactive surface for remote connection and awareness of clinical data. It enables users located in remote places to monitor and feel the vital signs measured from a hospitalized person through shape-change. We propose shape-changing interfaces as a way of making data physicalization a richer, intriguing and memorable experience that communicates complex information and insights about data. To demonstrate and validate our proposed concept, we developed an exploratory study about the design and its implications. For evaluating the social impact of shape-changing interfaces in the context of remote monitoring, we presented Vital + Morph in several Media Art festivals. We collected and analyzed the feedback from the visitors during the exhibitions, and discussed the possibilities of the proposed system. A preliminary evaluation shows how shape-changing displays are perceived by users, which establishes not only the potential benefits but also highlights the concerns that several users have raised. Through this study, we aim to contribute to the design of remote monitoring systems by providing a novel approach for displaying clinical data that consider the richness of the physical world. In today’s information-driven society, we should not just focus on how abstract data are collected and analyzed, but also on how it can be presented and incorporated into our daily lives.     

<Emphasis FontCategory="SansSerif">LRE</Emphasis>-<Emphasis FontCategory="SansSerif">TL</Emphasis>: an optimal multiprocessor algorithm for sporadic task sets with unconstrained deadlines

This article presents a detailed discussion of LRE-TL (Local Remaining Execution-TL-plane), an algorithm that schedules hard real-time periodic and sporadic task sets with unconstrained deadlines on identical multiprocessors. The algorithm builds upon important concepts such as the TL-plane construct used in the development of the LLREF algorithm (Largest Local Remaining Execution First). This article identifies the fundamental TL-plane scheduling principles used in the construction of LLREF . These simple principles are examined, identifying methods of simplifying the algorithm and allowing it to handle a more general task model. For example, we identify the principle that total local utilization can never increase within any TL-plane as long as a minimal number of tasks are executing. This observation leads to a straightforward approach for scheduling task arrivals within a TL-plane. In this manner LRE-TL can schedule sporadic tasks and tasks with unconstrained deadlines. Like LLREF, the LRE-TL scheduling algorithm is optimal for task sets with implicit deadlines. In addition, LRE-TL can schedule task sets with unconstrained deadlines provided they satisfy the density test for multiprocessor systems. While LLREF has a O(n ²) runtime per TL-plane, LRE-TL’s runtime is O(nlog n) per TL-plane.     

A longitudinal study of the relation between adolescent boys and girls’ computer use with friends and friendship quality: Support for the social compensation or the rich-get-richer hypothesis?

Using computers with friends either in person or online has become ubiquitous in the life of most adolescents; however, little is known about the complex relation between this activity and friendship quality. This study examined direct support for the social compensation and rich-get-richer hypotheses among adolescent girls and boys by including social anxiety as a moderating factor. A sample of 1050 adolescents completed a survey in grade 9 and then again in grades 11 and 12. For girls, there was a main effect of using computers with friends on friendship quality; providing support for both hypotheses. For adolescent boys, however, social anxiety moderated this relation, supporting the social compensation hypothesis. These findings were identical for online communication and were stable throughout adolescence. Furthermore, participating in organized sports did not compensate for social anxiety for either adolescent girls or boys. Therefore, characteristics associated with using computers with friends may create a comfortable environment for socially anxious adolescents to interact with their peers which may be distinct from other more traditional adolescent activities.     

Classification of radar echoes with a textural–fuzzy approach: an application for the removal of ground clutter observed in Sétif (Algeria) and Bordeaux (France) sites

This work deals with the classification of radar echoes and the removal of clutter caused by the Earth’s surface. Two incoherent radar sites are considered, which are the regions of Sétif (Algeria) and Bordeaux (France) where different climates and landforms prevail. To perform this task, we used a combination of textural and fuzzy approaches. For the textural technique, we applied grey-level co-occurrence matrices that are widely used in the analysis of texture images. We have shown that among nine parameters, only energy and local homogeneity are considered to be effective in discriminating between precipitation echoes and clutter. Then, these parameters are used as inputs for the fuzzy system, while the two radar echo types are its output classes. Image processing done by using this approach has reduced ground echoes by more than 93.5% for Sétif and 92.3% for Bordeaux sites, while more than 97.6% of precipitation echoes are stored at both sites. In addition, over 96% of the anomalous propagations observed only in Bordeaux site are removed. The proposed approach gives a filtering average rate that is 94.5% higher than that obtained for the textural technique alone, which is 91.5%.