Haptic Media Scenes

The aim of this thesis is to apply new media phenomenological and enactive embodied cognition approaches to explain the role of haptic sensitivity and communication in personal computer environments for productivity. Prior theory has given little attention to the role of haptic senses in influencing cognitive processes, and do not frame the richness of haptic communication in interaction design—as haptic interactivity in HCI has historically tended to be designed and analyzed from a perspective on communication as transmissions, sending and receiving haptic signals. The haptic sense may not only mediate contact confirmation and affirmation, but also rich semiotic and affective messages—yet this is a strong contrast between this inherent ability of haptic perception, and current day support for such haptic communication interfaces. I therefore ask: How do the haptic senses (touch and proprioception) impact our cognitive faculty when mediated through digital and sensor technologies? How may these insights be employed in interface design to facilitate rich haptic communication? To answer these questions, I use theoretical close readings that embrace two research fields, new media phenomenology and enactive embodied cognition. The theoretical discussion is supported by neuroscientific evidence, and tested empirically through case studies centered on digital art. I use these insights to develop the concept of the haptic figura, an analytical tool to frame the communicative qualities of haptic media. The concept gauges rich machine- mediated haptic interactivity and communication in systems with a material solution supporting active haptic perception, and the mediation of semiotic and affective messages that are understood and felt. As such the concept may function as a design tool for developers, but also for media critics evaluating haptic media. The tool is used to frame a discussion on opportunities and shortcomings of haptic interfaces for productivity, differentiating between media systems for the hand and the full body. The significance of this investigation is demonstrating that haptic communication is an underutilized element in personal computer environments for productivity and providing an analytical framework for a more nuanced understanding of haptic communication as enabling the mediation of a range of semiotic and affective messages, beyond notification and confirmation interactivity

Creating virtual reality user interface using only ROS framework

Eesti keeles: Robotite kasutamine on muutunud vältimatuks tänapäeva maailmas. Nende intuitiivsemaks juhtimiseks on võimalus kasutada virtuaalreaalset (VR) keskkonda. ROS-raamistik on robootikas laialdaselt kasutusel. Raamistikus on olemas mitmed huvitavad kimbud, progammid ja tööriistad, mis aitavad virtuaalreaalsust luua. Praegusel hetkel puudub ROS-kimp, mis kasutaks ROSi võimalusi ja looks ainult ROSl põhineva kasutajaliidese. Selle bakalaureusetöö eesmärk on uurida erinevaid ROS-raamistiku võimalusi virtuaalreaalsuse loomiseks, luua roboti juhtimiseks virtuaalreaalsuse kasutajaliidest sisaldav ROS-kimp ja seda testida. Kasutajaliidese loomisel kasutatakse maksimaalselt olemasolevaid ROSi vahendeid nagu RViz. Loodud keskkond kuvatakse omakorda kasutaja peas olevasse OSVR visiiri. Kasutaja interakteerub robotiga kasutades Leap Motion kontrollerit (LM-kontroller), mida kasutades on kasutaja käed vabad. In English: Using robots is unavoidable in modern world. We can use virtual reality (VR) to control them more intuitively. ROS framework is widely used in robotics. The framework has a lot of packages, programs and tool to build VR, but we are missing a ROS package that takes all these parts and puts them all together. The purpose of this thesis is to research different ROS framework opportunities on creating virtual reality, to build a virtual reality user interface and to test it. User interface is created using visualization markers that are presented in ROS visualization program RViz. Using RViz plugin, OSVR headset is used as a head mounted display (HMD). User can interact with the package using Leap Motion controller, which will keep user’s hands free

Review of three-dimensional human-computer interaction with focus on the leap motion controller

Modern hardware and software development has led to an evolution of user interfaces from command-line to natural user interfaces for virtual immersive environments. Gestures imitating real-world interaction tasks increasingly replace classical two-dimensional interfaces based on Windows/Icons/Menus/Pointers (WIMP) or touch metaphors. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to survey the state-of-the-art Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) techniques with a focus on the special field of three-dimensional interaction. This includes an overview of currently available interaction devices, their applications of usage and underlying methods for gesture design and recognition. Focus is on interfaces based on the Leap Motion Controller (LMC) and corresponding methods of gesture design and recognition. Further, a review of evaluation methods for the proposed natural user interfaces is given

Fourth Annual Workshop on Space Operations Applications and Research (SOAR 90)

The proceedings of the SOAR workshop are presented. The technical areas included are as follows: Automation and Robotics; Environmental Interactions; Human Factors; Intelligent Systems; and Life Sciences. NASA and Air Force programmatic overviews and panel sessions were also held in each technical area

On Sensor-Controlled Robotized One-off Manufacturing

A semi-automatic task oriented system structure has been developed and tested on an arc welding application. In normal industrial robot programming, the path is created and the process is based upon the decided path. Here a process-oriented method is proposed instead. It is natural to focus on the process, since the path is in reality a result of process needs. Another benefit of choosing process focus, is that it automatically leads us into task oriented thoughts, which in turn can be split in sub-tasks, one for each part of the process with similar process-characteristics. By carefully choosing and encapsulating the information needed to execute a sub-task, this component can be re-used whenever the actual subtask occurs. By using virtual sensors and generic interfaces to robots and sensors, applications built upon the system design do not change between simulation and actual shop floor runs. The system allows a mix of real- and simulated components during simulation and run-time

Technology 2001: The Second National Technology Transfer Conference and Exposition, volume 2

Proceedings of the workshop are presented. The mission of the conference was to transfer advanced technologies developed by the Federal government, its contractors, and other high-tech organizations to U.S. industries for their use in developing new or improved products and processes. Volume two presents papers on the following topics: materials science, robotics, test and measurement, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, electronics, and software engineering

Proceedings of the Post-Graduate Conference on Robotics and Development of Cognition, 10-12 September 2012, Lausanne, Switzerland

The aim of the Postgraduate Conference on Robotics and Development of Cognition (RobotDoC-PhD) is to bring together young scientists working on developmental cognitive robotics and its core disciplines. The conference aims to provide both feedback and greater visibility to their research as lively and stimulating discussion can be held amongst participating PhD students and senior researchers. The conference is open to all PhD students and post-doctoral researchers in the field. RobotDoC-PhD conference is an initiative as a part of Marie-Curie Actions ITN RobotDoC and will be organized as a satellite event of the 22nd International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2012

Proceedings of the Post-Graduate Conference on Robotics and Development of Cognition, 10-12 September 2012, Lausanne, Switzerland

The aim of the Postgraduate Conference on Robotics and Development of Cognition (RobotDoC-PhD) is to bring together young scientists working on developmental cognitive robotics and its core disciplines. The conference aims to provide both feedback and greater visibility to their research as lively and stimulating discussion can be held amongst participating PhD students and senior researchers. The conference is open to all PhD students and post-doctoral researchers in the field. RobotDoC-PhD conference is an initiative as a part of Marie-Curie Actions ITN RobotDoC and will be organized as a satellite event of the 22nd International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks ICANN 2012

Procedimiento formalizado para la incorporación de técnicas de usabilidad en el proceso de desarrollo Open Source Software

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Departamento de Ingenieria Informática. Fecha de Lectura: 31-07-201