Princípios ergonômicos e usabilidade de interfaces de realidade aumentada em ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem: visão geral e tendências

The objective of this research was to present a revision of recent researches involving ergonomics and usability in environments of mixed reality. The challenges associated to the future of virtual environments of training that arise with those technologies and what computational, educational and ergonomics resources should be implemented, were investigated. The bibliographical revision was carried out through the search in three service of index-linking in the Web, indicate that few researches utilize technologies of increased and mixed reality with emphasis in the educational aspects.O objetivo da pesquisa foi apresentar uma visão geral e tendências de pesquisas envolvendo ergonomia e usabilidade em ambientes de realidade aumentada e mista. Procurou-se investigar os desafios associados ao futuro dos ambientes virtuais de aprendizado que surgem com essas tecnologias e que recursos computacionais, educacionais e ergonômicos devem ser implementados. Foram investigadas pesquisas publicados nos principais serviços de indexação na área da informática e educação. Os resultados indicam que poucas pesquisas utilizam tecnologias de realidade aumentada e realidade mista com ênfase no aspectos educacionais

Design, development, and usability evaluation of a system for adding and editing social media banners in the immersive street-level 3D virtual city

Abstract In this paper, we present design and implementation of a system for adding and visualizing social media content in an immersive street-level 3D virtual city environment. The system enables its users to add banners anywhere in the virtual 3D environment, typically on building façades, walls, or on the ground. The banner’s owner is then able to edit the banner and select the social media platform to load the content from, thereby creating a social media content banner with a specific ID. The system supports four social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Flickr. Users can also customize banners’ position, rotation, and the visual elements such as text, images and colors. To evaluate our system’s usability, we conducted an iterative usability evaluation with 12 participants. Each evaluation round with three participants indicated improvements to the system, which were implemented before next evaluation round. Finally, after the last modifications, system was found to be easy to use by average users and only a little help was needed for non-experienced users. We believe this system could provide added value for the business owners and users by enabling social media content to be add on the 3D virtual city and use it as a marketing platform

Practical applications for multitouch gaming technology in the middle school classroom

The educational merits of computer-based gaming and simulations have been understood for decades. Carefully designed games, combined with modern processing power, can create learning environments that foster critical thinking and provide instant and constant feedback to the user. While these merits have been utilized successfully in the military and private sectors, simulations have yet to be embraced in a similar fashion in the classroom.Simulations have even greater potential in the classroom when combined with novel input systems. The multitouch display, which allows multiple users to interact with a computer using hand and finger gestures, creates an invisible interface with a shallow learning curve, providing users with a more natural way to work. This thesis demonstrates the potential of gaming, web, and new input technologies to meet the changing educational needs of a modern middle school classroom. A prototype teaching tool, influenced by current educational theory, demonstrates this platform and creates an exploratory environment where students learn through play and are encouraged to continue the learning experience outside the classroom.M.S., Digital Media -- Drexel University, 200

Supporting improvised games for young people in public spaces

PhD ThesisResearchers looking at technologically mediated play and games have explored how games can be taken away from the computer screen and played in outdoor spaces. This has resulted in new pervasive games that benefit from the opportunities for rich social and physical interaction in new mobile contexts. However, we have only just begun to explore these opportunities; game designs should bring young people together in these new contexts in play that is appropriate, meaningful, and can be enjoyed on their own mobile devices. The research in this thesis explores how game designers and interaction designers can design more playful mobile games for young people that can be played together in public spaces. This work draws upon a research through design approach that has been informed by the researcher’s own practice of game design and working co-creatively with custodians of public spaces. The contributions are based on the analysis of empirical data collected from two case studies in a community library and a country house, while additionally drawing upon three further game designs made in collaborations with other partners. This work contributes a game design framework that provides an approach, a step by step method, guidelines and a software library for making mobile games with more open, spontaneous, and improvised styles of play. The mobile games are designed with and based on a simplistic game system that presents digital playing cards to provide the game structure and bound play, while the mobile device is also used to configure the play space and sustain play. The intention is to provide designers with a practical and evidence-based approach to designing digital games for new mobile contexts. This work will appeal to game designers who are motivated by an interest in play and playfulness that will resonate with our childhood memories of play.UK AHRC KE Hub for the Creative Economy (ref: AH/J005150/1 Creative Exchange

Electroacústica: la expresión del gesto sonoro

El vínculo que existe entre la percepción sonora y la visual en entornos de creación musical ha constituido uno de los argumentos más recurrentes y naturales en cuanto a comprensión, análisis y valoración estética de una obra musical. Parámetros referentes al espacio, manipulación sensorial y cognitiva y gestualidad interpretativa, a través de dispositivos de registro e interacción, como sensores, establecen un marco renovado en los planteamientos de expresión musical. La investigación se ha realizado en 6 partes: en el ensayo O se presenta el contexto teórico, que definirá los caminos por los que discurrirá la investigación y en el que se acotarán los conceptos y planteamientos que servirán como cimiento en los siguientes 5 capítulos. Los siguientes 5 capítulos conforman la parte práctica. En el primer ensayo titulado Contrapunto Acusmático en Vivo se aborda el diseño y composición de una obra para soporte grabado (cinta) de tipo abierto en el que se cuestiona la flexibilidad y adaptabilidad de los medios fijados (fixed media) y el análisis de parámetros ajenos a la producción sonora. En este caso, una persona lee un poema asociado a una temática concreta (cultura Peranakan en Singapur). En el siguiente ensayo, TanGram, se investiga el escenario interpretativo de un cuarteto de percusión con electroacústica; en este se desarrolla una obra para 4 tam tams y 4 mandos de control remoto Wii de Nintendo, que los 4 intérpretes llevan asido al brazo y que permite explorar la gestualidad y las posibilidades expresivas en una interpretación musical para grupo instrumental con electrónica en vivo. En el tercer ensayo, Sonido Aumentado, se propone una instalación visual que reacciona al sonido y movimiento de los intérpretes de una formación jazzística; en este caso se crea un entorno sonoro de Realidad Aumentada. En el cuarto ensayo, Electroacústica y video--performanza, se investiga la creación musical electroacústica para una video--danza con un planteamiento y un perfil específico como es el site--specific. En el último ensayo, Espectromorfología y gesto visual, se investigan las concordancias y coherencias entre imagen y sonido a partir de los postulados de la espectromorfología del lenguaje electroacústico; el resultado de este ensayo dará lugar a la composición de la parte sonora de un video--documental titulado 'Manos que dan forma'.Perales Cejudo, CD. (2011). Electroacústica: la expresión del gesto sonoro [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/10686Palanci

Entornos multimedia de realidad aumentada en el campo del arte

La relación ente Ciencia y Arte ha mantenido a lo largo de la historia momentos de proximidad o distanciamiento, llegando a entenderse como dos culturas diferentes, pero también se han producido situaciones interdisciplinares de colaboración e intercambio que en nuestros días mantienen como nexo común la cultura digital y el uso del ordenador. Según Berenguer (2002) desde la aparición del ordenador, científicos y artistas están encontrando un espacio común de trabajo y entendimiento. Mediante el empleo de las nuevas tecnologías, la distancia que separa ambas disciplinas es cada vez más corta. En esta tesis, cuyo título es "Entornos Multimedia de Realidad Aumentada en el Campo del Arte", se presenta una investigación teórico-práctica de la tecnología de realidad aumentada aplicada al arte y campos afines, como el edutainment (educación + entretenimiento). La investigación se ha realizado en dos bloques: en el primer bloque se trata la tecnología desde distintos factores que se han considerado relevantes para su entendimiento y funcionamiento; en el segundo se presentan un total de seis ensayos que constituyen la parte práctica de esta tesis.Portalés Ricart, C. (2008). Entornos multimedia de realidad aumentada en el campo del arte [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/3402Palanci