Augmented Reality Interaction Techniques : Design and Evaluation of the Flip-Flop Menu

We present the evaluation of a bimanual augmented reality (AR) interaction technique, and focus on the effect on viewpoint and image reversal on human performance The interaction technique (called flip-flop) allows theuser to interact with a 3D object model by using a V-shaped AR menu placed on a desk in front of her/him. The menu is made of two complementary submenus. Both submenus (master and slave) are made of four Artag fiducial markers. The functionalities of the slave submenu are the following : (1) increase/decrease the size or rotate/stop the 3D object, (2) apply a color (one over four) or (3) a 2D texture (one over four) on the 3D object and (4) apply predefined material parameters. Each event is triggered by a masking of a Artag marker by the the user’s right or left hand. 40 participants were instructed to perform actions such as rotate the object, apply a texture or a color on it, etc. The results revealed some difficulties due to the inversion of the image on the screen. Finally, although the proposed interaction technique is currently used for product design, it may also be applied to other fields such as edutainment, cognitive/motor rehabilitation, etc. Moreover, other tasks than the ones tested in the experiment may be archived using the menu

Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pendidikan Teknik Elektro (SNPTE) 2013

Seminar Nasional Pendidikan Teknik Elektro (SNPTE) 2013 ini diselenggarakan sebagai wahana bagi akademisi, peneliti, praktisi, asosiasi, industri dan pengambil kebijakan untuk bisa saling bertukar pikiran, bertukar pendapat, mempresentasikan pengalaman-pengalaman hasil penelitian maupun hasil kajian di bidang Pendidikan dan Teknologi Elektro. Tema dalam SNPTE 2013 ini adalah "Peningkatan Mutu Pendidikan Kejuruan Mengacu Kerangka Kualifikasi Nasional Indonesia (KKNI)"

DESIGN OF A NON-DESTRUCTIVE SYSTEM FOR ARCTIC PERMAFROST DETECTION VIA HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION

Electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors have been utilized in the past by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as a method of detecting unexploded ordnance (UXO). Recently, an EMI instrument was constructed that extended the traditional EMI frequency range from 100 kHz to 15 MHz to aid in the detection of nonmetallic ordnance, landmines, and improvised explosive devices. Building on this research, the iFROST mapper project aims to use the same high-frequency (HF) EMI technique to characterize arctic soil and subsurface permafrost deposits. Based on a device used by the US Army for UXO detection, an HF EMI instrument was created to study soil characteristics in arctic environments simulated by thermal chambers capable of creating internal temperatures as cold as -75°C. In parallel, a land-mobile HF EMI system was designed to complete three-dimensional nondestructive subsurface soil studies beneath existing infrastructure in arctic areas of interest. This thesis covers the design, fabrication, and initial testing of the HF EMI system for laboratory experiments in simulated environments. Additionally, this thesis presents the system architecture, hardware and software design, and component-level testing of the iFROST mapper, a land-mobile arctic regions HF EMI instrument

An empirical study of the “prototype walkthrough”: a studio-based activity for HCI education

For over a century, studio-based instruction has served as an effective pedagogical model in architecture and fine arts education. Because of its design orientation, human-computer interaction (HCI) education is an excellent venue for studio-based instruction. In an HCI course, we have been exploring a studio-based learning activity called the prototype walkthrough, in which a student project team simulates its evolving user interface prototype while a student audience member acts as a test user. The audience is encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback. We have observed that prototype walkthroughs create excellent conditions for learning about user interface design. In order to better understand the educational value of the activity, we performed a content analysis of a video corpus of 16 prototype walkthroughs held in two HCI courses. We found that the prototype walkthrough discussions were dominated by relevant design issues. Moreover, mirroring the justification behavior of the expert instructor, students justified over 80 percent of their design statements and critiques, with nearly one-quarter of those justifications having a theoretical or empirical basis. Our findings suggest that PWs provide valuable opportunities for students to actively learn HCI design by participating in authentic practice, and provide insight into how such opportunities can be best promoted

NASA Space Engineering Research Center Symposium on VLSI Design

The NASA Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) is proud to offer, at its second symposium on VLSI design, presentations by an outstanding set of individuals from national laboratories and the electronics industry. These featured speakers share insights into next generation advances that will serve as a basis for future VLSI design. Questions of reliability in the space environment along with new directions in CAD and design are addressed by the featured speakers

Computer Aided Industrial Design

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Tangible auditory interfaces : combining auditory displays and tangible interfaces

Bovermann T. Tangible auditory interfaces : combining auditory displays and tangible interfaces. Bielefeld (Germany): Bielefeld University; 2009.Tangible Auditory Interfaces (TAIs) investigates into the capabilities of the interconnection of Tangible User Interfaces and Auditory Displays. TAIs utilise artificial physical objects as well as soundscapes to represent digital information. The interconnection of the two fields establishes a tight coupling between information and operation that is based on the human's familiarity with the incorporated interrelations. This work gives a formal introduction to TAIs and shows their key features at hand of seven proof of concept applications

Vibrating transducers for fluid measurements

When a body vibrates in a fluid, some of the fluid is carried with it and the mass loading lowers its resonant frequency. Similarly, when compression of the fluid occurs, there is an added stiffness which by design can be made to predominate. In addition, there is an energy dissipation arising from viscous losses and acoustic radiation. The starting point of this research was a tuning fork with flat rectangular tines, designed to trap a narrow laminar of gas which is forced to pump in and out as the tines vibrate. The increase in kinetic energy, contributed by this high velocity' gas, gives the device a relatively large sensi ti vi ty as a gas density transducer. The change in frequency between vacuum and atmospheric pressure is typically a few percent, during which period the mechanical "Q" remains high enough to keep the fork sharply resonant. A high stability oscillator incorporating the transducer as the frequency controlling element was built. Small piezoelectric Cp2t) elements were used to drive the transducer and pick up the vibrations. A typical stability, equivalent to a pressure change of 0. 05 mBar was achieved. The supporting equipment re qui red for the work centred around a vacuum system with facilities for introducing a range of gases at precise rates. Computer control enabled the transducer's temperature, frequency, and "Q" factor to be measured and stored as the gas pressure was increased from vacuum. Extensive experiments were carried out on a range of tuning fork transducers, including a circular one in which a pair of disks clamped at the center acted as the tines and gave a simple radial gas displacement. Common to all these transducers is, the linearity of 1/f 2 with gas density for pressures above about 50 mBar; a departure from. linearity below this pressure; and below 10 mBar an overriding stiffness effect, where from vacuum to a few mBar the frequency paradoxically increases. The resultant calibration to this non-linear response, while exhibiting high stablility, is unattractive for general use. It has however applications over limited ranges as for example, those of a barometer or altimeter. Insight gained from experience with the double disk resonator, led to a new geometry which has resulted in an extremely viable transducer, without calibration anomalies, and capable of operating in a pressure or dehsity mode. Here, the gas is confined in two cylindrical cavities above and below a thin circular diaphragm, clamped at the periphery and again made to vibrate using p2t elements. In the fundamental mode, the alternating change in cavity volume due to compression and rarefaction of the gas, adds stiffness to the diaphragm. In the next mode, there is no net volume change, but the gas is pumped across the cavities adding inertial loading. No anomalies were experienced in the empirical calibrations obtained for each mode- the fundamental being linear with pressure Cf 2 proportional to Pl, and the first overtone linear with density (1/f 2 proportional to pl. A simple theory, which is sufficiently accurate for general design purposes, has been developed. Future work, which is of a straightforward development nature, is proposed. The high degree of stability achieved for these vibrating structures was later realised in a different geometry. In this, a long rod was excited into a torsional mode so as to produce two nodes a quarter wavelength from. either end. By securing the rod at these points and immersing the lower length in a liquid, a sensitive, robust, viscometer was produced. Driving the rod with a burst of oscillations, shears the liquid in contact with it. By removing this drive and measuring the rate of vibrational decay under the action of viscous dissipatiop, an indication of the viscosity can be obtained. The features of a pure shearing force, and the real-time, on-line nature of the device, makes it attractive for the characterisation of both thick and thin liquids and automatic process control

Second year technical report on-board processing for future satellite communications systems

Advanced baseband and microwave switching techniques for large domestic communications satellites operating in the 30/20 GHz frequency bands are discussed. The nominal baseband processor throughput is one million packets per second (1.6 Gb/s) from one thousand T1 carrier rate customer premises terminals. A frequency reuse factor of sixteen is assumed by using 16 spot antenna beams with the same 100 MHz bandwidth per beam and a modulation with a one b/s per Hz bandwidth efficiency. Eight of the beams are fixed on major metropolitan areas and eight are scanning beams which periodically cover the remainder of the U.S. under dynamic control. User signals are regenerated (demodulated/remodulated) and message packages are reformatted on board. Frequency division multiple access and time division multiplex are employed on the uplinks and downlinks, respectively, for terminals within the coverage area and dwell interval of a scanning beam. Link establishment and packet routing protocols are defined. Also described is a detailed design of a separate 100 x 100 microwave switch capable of handling nonregenerated signals occupying the remaining 2.4 GHz bandwidth with 60 dB of isolation, at an estimated weight and power consumption of approximately 400 kg and 100 W, respectively