Evaluating novice and expert users on handheld video retrieval systems

Content-based video retrieval systems have been widely associated with desktop environments that are largely complex in nature, targeting expert users and often require complex queries. Due to this complexity, interaction with these systems can be a challenge for regular ”novice” users. In recent years, a shift can be observed from this traditional desktop environment to that of handheld devices, which requires a different approach to interacting with the user. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of a handheld content-based video retrieval system on both expert and novice users. We show that with this type of device, a simple and intuitive interface, which incorporates the principles of content-based systems, though hidden from the user, attains the same accuracy for both novice and desktop users when faced with complex information retrieval tasks. We describe an experiment which utilises the Apple iPad as our handheld medium in which both a group of experts and novice users run the interactive experiments from the 2010 TRECVid Known-Item Search task. The results indicate that a carefully defined interface can equalise the performance of both novice and expert users

Increasing Engagement with the Library via Gamification

One of the main challenges faced by providers of interactive information access systems is to engage users in the use their systems. The library sector in particular can benefit significantly from increased user engagement. In this short paper, we present a preliminary analysis of a university library system that aims to trigger users' extrinsic motivation to increase their interaction with the system. Results suggest that different user groups react in different ways to such 'gamified' systems

Adapting content based video retrieval systems to accommodate the novice user on mobile devices.

With recent uptake in the usage of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, increasing at an exponential rate, these devices have become part of everyday life. This high yield of information access comes at a cost. With still limited input metrics, it is prudent to develop content based techniques to filter the amount of content that is returned, for example, from search requests to video search engines. In addition, such handheld devices are used by a highly heterogeneous user community, including people with little or no experience. In this work, we focus on the latter, i.e. such casual users (‘novices’), and target video search and retrieval. We begin by examining new methods of developing related Content-Based Multimedia Information Retrieval systems for novices on handheld tablet devices. We analyze the shortcomings of traditional desktop systems which favor the expert user formulating complex queries and focus on the simplicity of design and interaction on tablet devices. We create and test three prototype demonstrators over three years of the TRECVid known item search task in order to determine the best features and appropriate usage to attain both high quality, usability, and precision from our novice users. In the first experiment, we determine that novice users perform similarly to an expert user group, one major premise of this research. In our second experiment, we analyze methods which can be applied automatically to aid novice users, thus enhancing their search performance. Our final experiment deals with different visualization approaches which can further aid the users. Overall, our results show that each year our systems made an incremental improvement. The 2011 TRECVid system performed best of all submissions in that year, despite the reduced complexity, enabling novice users to perform equally well as experts and experienced searchers

The Development of an Advanced Maintenance training programme utilizing Augmented Reality

Maintenance engineering represents an area of great opportunity to reduce cost, improve productivity, and increase profitability for manufacturing companies. There are examples of best practice that can be classed as World Class Maintenance which deliver great benefits. Unfortunately very few companies, and especially small and medium sized companies, remotely approach this level. Research has shown that savings of around 10% are achievable by improving asset management techniques through adopting modern maintenance practices, tools, and techniques. One area that is often overlooked is the development of an appropriate training programme in which the skills and knowledge are retained and used to develop the skills of young apprentices or new staff using specific technologies. Augmented Reality (AR) has been identified as a technology offering a promising approach to training which combines a number of disciplines including engineering, computing, and psychology. Augmented Reality (AR) enables users to view, through the use of see-through displays, virtual objects superimposed dynamically, and merged seamlessly, with real world objects in a real environment via a range of devices such as Ipad or Tablet, so that the virtual objects and real world images appear to exist at the same time in the same place providing real-time interaction. Therefore, this approach expands the surrounding real world environment by superimposing computer-generated information. It presents the information more intuitively than legacy interfaces such as paper-based instruction manuals enabling the users to interact directly with the information and use their natural spatial processing ability. This paper will identify augmented reality tools and techniques with the potential to support efficient training systems for maintenance and assembly skills that accelerate the technicians’ acquisition of new maintenance procedures. A platform for multimodal Augmented Reality based training will be proposed which could allow small to medium sized companies to develop and implement appropriate maintenance tasks based upon cost effective and efficient training systems. Such systems would give technicians’ the opportunity for practical training, that is, the possibility to “learn by doing” in the workplace; provide information when and where needed, thus reducing the technicians’ information search time; and potentially reduce errors due to violations in procedure, misinterpretation of facts, or insufficient training. A detailed bibliography on these topics is also provided

Bruk av håndholdt ultralyd av intensivsykepleiere: en systematisk litteraturoversikt

Hensikt: Utforske om intensivsykepleiere/annet helsepersonell nøyaktig kan utføre og tolke kardiale – og pulmonale målrettede ultralydbilder, samt hva innholdet og utførelsesmetoden i opplæringsprogrammene laget for å undervise intensivsykepleiere / annet helsepersonell i å utføre og tolke målrettede ultralydbilder var. Metode: En systematisk litteraturoversikt av ni kvantitative studier. Datamaterialet ble analysert ved bruk av tematisk analyse. Resultat: To hovedtemaer ble identifisert fra tematisk analyse: 1) strukturen i utdannings- og opplæringsprogrammene og 2) kvalifisert og kyndig utførelse av målrettet ultralyd. Utdannings- og opplæringsprogrammene inneholdt nettbaserte forelesninger, forelesninger med oppmøte og praktisk opplæring, og varigheten på disse varierte fra 90 minutter til 4 timer. Kunnskapsnivået til deltakerne ble evaluert med muntlige tilbakemeldinger fra ekspert eller en skriftlig prøve. Ved vurdering av pleuravæske, perikardvæske og påvisning av B-linjer, viste intensivsykepleierne/annet helsepersonell høy sensitivitet og spesifisitet sammenlignet med eksperter etter en kort opplæringsperiode. Resultatene indikerer at mer opplæring er nødvendig for å øke påliteligheten og samsvar med ekspert ved vurdering av inferior vena cava. Konklusjon: Intensivsykepleiere/annet helsepersonell kan, etter en kort opplæringsperiode, utføre og tolke kardiale – og pulmonale målrettede ultralydbilder på en akseptabel og pålitelig måte. Med et godt opplæringsprogram kan målrettet ultralyd brukes av intensivsykepleiere som et mer kontinuerlig hemodynamisk overvåkningsverktøy, og kan dermed bidra til å forbedre pasientsikkerheten og redusere komplikasjoner hos pasienten. Nøkkelord: Målrettet ultralyd, håndhold ultralyd, fokusert ultralyd, sykepleier, annet helsepersonell, inferior vena cava, b-linjer, pleuravæske, perikardvæske, oppgaveglidning.Aim: To summarize information about the possibility of intensive care nurses accurately performing and interpreting point-of-care cardiac and lung images, and the content and delivery mode of the education and training programmes designed to educate intensive care nurses / non-physicians to perform and interpret point-of-care ultrasound. Methods: A systematic restricted review of nine quantitative studies. The data were analysed by the means of thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes were derived from thematic analysis: 1) structure of the education and training programmes, and 2) qualified and skilled performance of point-of-care ultrasound. The content of the education and training programmes was online lectures, in-person lectures and hands-on training. The duration ranged from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Participants’ knowledge was evaluated with expert feedback or an evaluation test. When assessing pleural effusion, pericardial effusion and detecting B-lines, ICU nurses/non-physicians demonstrated a high sensitivity and specificity compared to expert reviewer after a short training period. Results indicate that more training is needed in inferior vena cava examinations to enhance reliability and improve the level of agreement with expert reviewer. Conclusion: Intensive care nurses/non-physicians can, after a short training period, adequately acquire and interpret point-of-care ultrasound scans using a handheld ultrasound device in a valid and reliable way. With proper training and education point-of-care ultrasound can be used by intensive care nurses/non-physicians as a more continuous and personalized hemodynamic monitoring tool and can improve patient safety and decrease complication rates. Keywords: point-of-care ultrasound, handheld ultrasound device, focused ultrasound, nurse, non-physicians, inferior vena cava, b-lines, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, task-shifting

PlayRightNow - Designing a media player experience for PlayNow arena

This paper discusses the process of designing a media player tailored for PlayNowTM arena with the purpose of enhancing the user experience of this media portal. The design process is divided into two main stages, the first consisting on gathering information to inform the design of a media player and the second stage involving a low-fidelity prototype of a media player. In the first stage, three main activities are carried out to inform the design of the interface: a literary review of relevant research and studies related to the way people use digital media and its effect on society; an evaluation of the interfaces and features offered by some of the existing popular media players in the market today from an interaction design point of view; and user observations and interviews on people’s relation to digital media. Based on the information and data collected from the first stage, an iterative process of design of interfaces was adapted, whereby potential users and design experts were consulted with their opinions and suggestions that influenced the sketching of various possible interfaces. Finally, a design of a media player for PlayNowTM arena is proposed, which is believed to have the potential of providing its users with a better experience in relation to digital content, as well as attracting new customers and increasing the revenue of this media portal