Staff outdoor positioning in large area campus using GPS enabled phone, Google Map and mobile network

This paper explore the feasibility of using GPS enabled phone to locate staff in a large campus area on a customized campus map. This system provides an alternative approach to locate staff compared to static directory. GPS foot printing enable the system to determine which campus building that the staff is in. The map can be viewed on Internet connected browser via personal computer or mobile device

Integrating Haptic Feedback into Mobile Location Based Services

Haptics is a feedback technology that takes advantage of the human sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to a haptic-enabled device such as a mobile phone. Historically, human-computer interaction has been visual - text and images on the screen. Haptic feedback can be an important additional method especially in Mobile Location Based Services such as knowledge discovery, pedestrian navigation and notification systems. A knowledge discovery system called the Haptic GeoWand is a low interaction system that allows users to query geo-tagged data around them by using a point-and-scan technique with their mobile device. Haptic Pedestrian is a navigation system for walkers. Four prototypes have been developed classified according to the user’s guidance requirements, the user type (based on spatial skills), and overall system complexity. Haptic Transit is a notification system that provides spatial information to the users of public transport. In all these systems, haptic feedback is used to convey information about location, orientation, density and distance by use of the vibration alarm with varying frequencies and patterns to help understand the physical environment. Trials elicited positive responses from the users who see benefit in being provided with a “heads up” approach to mobile navigation. Results from a memory recall test show that the users of haptic feedback for navigation had better memory recall of the region traversed than the users of landmark images. Haptics integrated into a multi-modal navigation system provides more usable, less distracting but more effective interaction than conventional systems. Enhancements to the current work could include integration of contextual information, detailed large-scale user trials and the exploration of using haptics within confined indoor spaces

Multimodal Content Delivery for Geo-services

This thesis describes a body of work carried out over several research projects in the area of multimodal interaction for location-based services. Research in this area has progressed from using simulated mobile environments to demonstrate the visual modality, to the ubiquitous delivery of rich media using multimodal interfaces (geo- services). To effectively deliver these services, research focused on innovative solutions to real-world problems in a number of disciplines including geo-location, mobile spatial interaction, location-based services, rich media interfaces and auditory user interfaces. My original contributions to knowledge are made in the areas of multimodal interaction underpinned by advances in geo-location technology and supported by the proliferation of mobile device technology into modern life. Accurate positioning is a known problem for location-based services, contributions in the area of mobile positioning demonstrate a hybrid positioning technology for mobile devices that uses terrestrial beacons to trilaterate position. Information overload is an active concern for location-based applications that struggle to manage large amounts of data, contributions in the area of egocentric visibility that filter data based on field-of-view demonstrate novel forms of multimodal input. One of the more pertinent characteristics of these applications is the delivery or output modality employed (auditory, visual or tactile). Further contributions in the area of multimodal content delivery are made, where multiple modalities are used to deliver information using graphical user interfaces, tactile interfaces and more notably auditory user interfaces. It is demonstrated how a combination of these interfaces can be used to synergistically deliver context sensitive rich media to users - in a responsive way - based on usage scenarios that consider the affordance of the device, the geographical position and bearing of the device and also the location of the device

VisUN-3D: User navigation with visualized 3D maps for mobile users

Mis-orientation in unfamiliar domain is a common problem for new visitors when they visit a new location. This study proposes a unique solution by visualizing the real world to 3D model similarly (congruent) while the visitor on the move. Our approach provides visualization of 3D maps in virtual 3D workspace environments which assist a user to navigate to a target location to meet with others. This paper presents a mobile based prototype with a 3D model for navigating users in an unfamiliar environment. This prototype can accommodate more than 2 users to navigate in a 3D-walk space in a real time. It shows the users their where-about in the form of visualized 3D maps. The 3D map also shows to the user her/hir location on the scene relative to the location of another user that she/he wants to meet on the same image plane. This method of relative location will help the users to navigate around the location to reach their target easie

A novel visualisation paradigm for three-dimensional map-based mobile services

Estágio realizado na NDrive Navigation Systems, S. A.Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Informátca e Computação. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Development and usability analysis of a mixed reality GPS navigator application for the microsoft hololens

The present work aims to perform a comparative usability analysis between two Human- Computer Interaction systems (HCI) for global geolocation (GPS) navigators. The intent is to compare the conventional use of a navigation application on a mobile device, such as a smartphone attached to the dashboard of a vehicle, to an implementation in Mixed Reality (MR) powered by the Head Mounted Display (HMD) Microsoft HoloLens. By connecting the MR device to a local network routed by an ordinary cellular phone, which is connected to a mobile data network, it is possible to ubiquitously acquire the phone’s geolocation data, its magnetometer deviation and a route graph of a navigation Application Programming Interface (API) from its current location to a destination entered by the user. Thus, a series of three-dimensional holograms are created at runtime, geolocated and placed around the user, guiding him through a path indicated on the floor, pertinent to the streets around him that lead to the desired destination. Apart from that, arrows are projected on the way at each crucial point of the path, where some maneuver must be performed, e.g., turning right or taking an exit at a roundabout. In a user experiment, performance and usability were assessed. Results show that users deemed the MR solution to offer a higher visibility both to the oncoming traffic and the suggested route, when compared to the conventional interface, being less attention demanding. EEG readings for most participants also exposed a significantly more demanding focus level for the handheld device. Additionally, an easiness to learn and use was indicated for our system, being almost on par with the already known and highly used application tested.O presente trabalho visa realizar uma análise comparativa de usabilidade entre dois sistemas de interação humano-computador para navegadores de geolocalização global (GPS). Foi almejado comparar o uso convencional do sistema, através de um dispositivo móvel tal qual um smartphone afixado ao painel de um veículo, com uma nova implementação em Realidade Mista potencializada pelo HMD Microsoft HoloLens. Conectando o dispositivo de realidade mista (MR) a uma rede local roteada por um aparelho celular convencional, este conectado a uma rede de dados móvel, foi possível receber ubiquamente os dados de sua geolocalização, de seu magnetômetro e um grafo de rota de uma API de navegação de alta disponibilidade partindo do presente local até um destino inserido pelo usuário. Com isso, é criada em tempo de execução uma série de hologramas tridimensionais geolocalizados ao redor do usuário, guiando-o através de um caminho indicado em seu chão, pertinente às ruas a sua volta que o levarão ao destino desejado. Também são projetadas flechas em seu caminho em cada ponto crucial de seu trajeto, onde deve-se realizar alguma manobra, e.g., dobrar à direita ou tomar uma saída de uma rotatória. Em um experimento realizado com usuários reais, seu desempenho e usabilidade foram aferidos. Resultados mostram que os usuários estimaram que a solução em MR oferecia uma visibilidade maior tanto ao tráfego passante quanto à rota sugerida, em comparação à interface convencional, requerindo menos atenção. Leituras de eletroencefalografia (EEG) na maioria dos participantes indicaram uma demanda significativamente maior de atenção focada no uso do dispositivo móvel. Uma grande facilidade de aprendizado e de uso também foi apontada para nosso sistema, estando quase a par da aplicação móvel altamente conhecida e usada

Real time mobile system for support in firefighting environments

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de ComputadoresThis dissertation addresses work being performed within the context of the Fire Forest Finder system, fulfilling the requests for a multi-information application intended for a vehicle mounted mobile device. The main objective of this dissertation is to provide a solution running on a PDA device that provides support in Fire Fighting environments. The user has access to: multi-information data of the theater of operations, an automotive navigation system (TomTom Navigator™) and a text messaging capability. The hardware present on this system is a DLoG X7™ industrial graded PDA that possesses the right sturdiness for this task. The software developed consists of three distinct interfaces: an appropriately customized TomTom Navigator™ interface for the end-users of this system and two additional applications were created to allow a proper visualization of the available information and also have an interface with text messaging input/output capabilities; It is important to refer that the GSM protocol, text messaging service in particular was the chosen communication mean due to the fact that this network has, at the time this dissertation was finished, the better and most reliable coverage of remote areas, such as the forests for which this system is intended to. In terms of experimental validation a series of performance, intuitiveness and usability tests were performed and analyzed in detail with the purpose of demonstrating the validity of the ideas presented. The thesis is completed by the depiction of the achieved results with the subsequent discussion and identification of open points as a result of the work done

DEVELOPING AUGMENTED REALITY PLACES OF INTEREST APPLICATION OF UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS (UTP)

This report is a preliminary step onto developing Augmented Reality places of interest application of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). As of 2007, UTP holds the recognition with the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture in Malaysia. Having said that, domestic as well as international visitors annually visit UTP to apprehend the unique and award winning design of its campus. But the current problem which persists for visitors is the need for a guide and lack of a general source of information regarding the university's campus during their visits. With such problem in place, it is therefore extremely pivotal to have an Augmented Reality mobile application that will help them find significant places within the campus itself. This allows them to explore the entire university through their mobile phones and have useful information at the touch of their fingertips. The project will involve several phases; firstly the construction of the Augmented Reality application itself, followed by the analysis and design of the rules for the Augmented Reality application, the development of the Augmented Reality application, further testing and finally the implementation of the Augmented Reality application. These implementations, using the Rapid Application Development methodology with the Prototyping approach was further refmed through the research and studies as well as feedback obtained from colleagues until it appropriately meets the objectives