An Evaluation-Guided Approach for Effective Data Visualization on Tablets

There is a rising trend of data analysis and visualization tasks being performed on a tablet device. Apps with interactive data visualization capabilities are available for a wide variety of domains. We investigate whether users grasp how to effectively interpret and interact with visualizations. We conducted a detailed user evaluation to study the abilities of individuals with respect to analyzing data on a tablet through an interactive visualization app. Based upon the results of the user evaluation, we find that most subjects performed well at understanding and interacting with simple visualizations, specifically tables and line charts. A majority of the subjects struggled with identifying interactive widgets, recognizing interactive widgets with overloaded functionality, and understanding visualizations which do not display data for sorted attributes. Based on our study, we identify guidelines for designers and developers of mobile data visualization apps that include recommendations for effective data representation and interaction

An Introduction to 3D User Interface Design

3D user interface design is a critical component of any virtual environment (VE) application. In this paper, we present a broad overview of three-dimensional (3D) interaction and user interfaces. We discuss the effect of common VE hardware devices on user interaction, as well as interaction techniques for generic 3D tasks and the use of traditional two-dimensional interaction styles in 3D environments. We divide most user interaction tasks into three categories: navigation, selection/manipulation, and system control. Throughout the paper, our focus is on presenting not only the available techniques, but also practical guidelines for 3D interaction design and widely held myths. Finally, we briefly discuss two approaches to 3D interaction design, and some example applications with complex 3D interaction requirements. We also present an annotated online bibliography as a reference companion to this article

Nuclear Medicine and Drug Delivery

Nuclear Medicine is a molecular‐imaging modality that diagnoses and treats diseases with very small amounts of radioactive materials, known as radiopharmaceuticals. Drug delivery refers to approaches, formulations, technologies, and systems for transporting a pharmaceutical compound in the body as needed to safely achieve its desired therapeutic effect. The use of nuclear medicine and radiopharmaceuticals allows studying the in vivo behavior of developed drug‐delivery systems, and pharmacoscintigraphy is, from the beginning, one of the most promising aspects of this medical specialty. In this chapter, we review the technologies, fundaments, rationales, and strategies more frequently used and present examples of their application in the development and evaluation of drug‐delivery systems

Improving Early Literacy in PreK-3: Lessons Learned

In 2011, The McKnight Foundation partnered with a set of districts and schools in the Twin Cities area, all serving high-needs students, on a PreK–3 literacy initiative. The Pathway Schools Initiative aims to dramatically increase the number of students who reach the critical milestone of third-grade reading proficiency, an indicator predictive of later academic outcomes and high school graduation. This report focuses on findings from Phase I of the Pathway Schools Initiative (2011–2015).The McKnight Foundation selected the Urban Education Institute (UEI) at the University of Chicago to serve as the initiative's intermediary. UEI was tasked with providing the intellectual, conceptual, and managerial leadership for the initiative as well as professional development and technical assistance focused on literacy and leadership to the Pathway districts and schools. UEI anchored this support on two, validated diagnostic tools developed at the University of Chicago: the Strategic Teaching and Evaluation of Progress (STEP) developmental literacy assessment and the 5Essentials Survey.Participating Pathway schools and districts carried out the day-to-day work of the initiative. They used grant funds to expand or refine their PreK programs; hire additional staff such as program managers, literacy coaches, classroom aides, and family engagement liaisons; and purchase high-quality instructional materials, such as classroom libraries or tablets.An advisory group, the Education and Learning National Advisory Committee (ELNAC), was established in 2010 to help inform decisions about the initiative. SRI International has served as the initiative's evaluator since 2010

Overcoming the limitations of commodity augmented reality head mounted displays for use in product assembly

Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of utilizing Augmented Reality (AR) to deliver work instructions for complex assemblies. Traditionally, this research has been performed using hand-held displays, such as smartphones and tablets, or custom-built Head Mounted Displays (HMDs). AR HMDs have been shown to be especially effective for assembly tasks as they allow the user to remain hands-free while receiving work instructions. Furthermore, in recent years a wave of commodity AR HMDs have come to market including the Microsoft HoloLens, Magic Leap One, Meta 2, and DAQRI Smart Glasses. These devices present a unique opportunity for delivering assembly instructions due to their relatively low cost and accessibility compared to custom built AR HMD solutions of the past. Despite these benefits, the technology behind these HMDs still contains many limitations including input, user interface, spatial registration, navigation and occlusion. To accurately deliver work instructions for complex assemblies, the hardware limitations of these commodity AR HMDs must be overcome. For this research, an AR assembly application was developed for the Microsoft HoloLens using methods specifically designed to address the aforementioned issues. Input and user interface methods were implemented and analyzed to maximize the usability of the application. An intuitive navigation system was developed to guide users through a large training environment, leading them to the current point of interest. The native tracking system of the HoloLens was augmented with image target tracking capabilities to stabilize virtual content, enhance accuracy, and account for spatial drift. This fusion of marker-based and marker-less tracking techniques provides a novel approach to display robust AR assembly instructions on a commodity AR HMD. Furthermore, utilizing this novel spatial registration approach, the position of real-world objects was accurately registered to properly occlude virtual work instructions. To render the desired effect, specialized computer graphics methods and custom shaders were developed and implemented for an AR assembly application. After developing novel methods to display work instructions on a commodity AR HMD, it was necessary to validate that these work instructions were being accurately delivered. Utilizing the sensors on the HoloLens, data was collected during the assembly process regarding head position, orientation, assembly step times, and an estimation of spatial drift. With the addition of wearable physiological sensor data, this data was fused together in a visualization application to validate instructions were properly delivered and provide an opportunity for an analysist to examine trends within an assembly session. Additionally, the spatial drift data was then analyzed to gain a better understanding of how spatial drift accumulates over time and ensure that the spatial registration mitigation techniques was effective. Academic research has shown that AR may substantial reduce cost for assembly operations through a reduction in errors, time, and cognitive workload. This research provides novel solutions to overcome the limitations of commodity AR HMDs and validate their use for product assembly. Furthermore, the research provided in this thesis demonstrates the potential of commodity AR HMDs and how their limitations can be mitigated for use in product assembly tasks

AUGMENTED REALITY AND MOBILE SYSTEMS FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS IN SURFACE MINING

U.S. federal laws mandate that mining companies ensure a safe workplace, implement approved training programs, and promptly report work-related injuries. The mining industry\u27s commitment to innovation reflects a history of adopting advancements to enhance environmental sustainability, workplace safety, and overall productivity, while simultaneously reducing operational costs. This thesis proposes the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) technology and digital applications to enhance the surface mining industry, presenting two innovative solutions: an AR Training System and an Operational Digital System. These business solutions have been developed and applied at a surface mine in the southwest of the US, having the potential to improve the mining industry by enhancing safety, training, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making, which comprehends a significant step toward a more sustainable, effective, and technologically driven mining sector, contributing to the industry\u27s evolution and growth. The AR Training System leverages Microsoft´s Power Platform and HoloLens 2 capacities to provide operators with immersive and step-by-step training guides in real working conditions for Dozers, Motor Graders, and End Dump trucks. These AR guides combine 3D models, videos, photos, and interactive elements overlapping mining equipment to enhance learning and safety. The system also offers an efficient approach to data collection during operator training, which has the potential to modify the training guides based on user performance. On the other hand, the Operational Digital System addresses the industry\u27s operational challenges. It streamlines the pre-operation inspection process, tracks equipment status, and accelerates defect identification, shift timing, delays, and loaded tonnage. The system offers a holistic approach to mining operation optimization, facilitating data sharing and management among different departments, enhancing collaboration, and expediting maintenance processes