VR Data visualization experience

During these recent years we have seen a massive increase in the use of Virtual Reality technologies and its multiple uses in different fields, from video games to medicine, engineering or art. In this project we will create a virtual reality project focused on the data visualization field. We will look at how to adapt data from a database into a data visualization experience that’s adapted to virtual reality and where the users will be able to immerse themselves and have a different and more interactive approach to data and data visualization. Throughout this project we will go through the whole development of the project from the conceptualization and design of it to the coding and implementation of all the features that the experience will have. We will also be able to see how data visualization technologies can be implemented into virtual reality and we will go through how the current state of the art is to this day

Personalizing Interactions with Information Systems

Personalization constitutes the mechanisms and technologies necessary to customize information access to the end-user. It can be defined as the automatic adjustment of information content, structure, and presentation tailored to the individual. In this chapter, we study personalization from the viewpoint of personalizing interaction. The survey covers mechanisms for information-finding on the web, advanced information retrieval systems, dialog-based applications, and mobile access paradigms. Specific emphasis is placed on studying how users interact with an information system and how the system can encourage and foster interaction. This helps bring out the role of the personalization system as a facilitator which reconciles the user’s mental model with the underlying information system’s organization. Three tiers of personalization systems are presented, paying careful attention to interaction considerations. These tiers show how progressive levels of sophistication in interaction can be achieved. The chapter also surveys systems support technologies and niche application domains

Timely determining and preventing conflict situations between investors and third parties: some observations from Lithuania

The article analyses the possible influence of third-party rights infringed during construction planning on the implementation of an investment project. It analyses the process for defence of third party rights infringed during territorial planning. The focus in this process is on third party rights and opportunities to learn about possible infringement of such rights. In a construction project, judicial disputes are an unwanted risk factor, which may disrupt the entire project. It is therefore necessary to plan and apply preventive measures for the mitigation of such risk at the initial planning stage of a construction project. For that end, the article presents some principles of behaviour and actions that could help investors and third parties to solve conflicts, reduce their negative outcomes or reach an arrangement satisfactory to both disputing parties

New Methodology to Explore the Role of Visualisation in Aircraft Design Tasks: An Empirical Study

The overarching goal at the Integrated Design Laboratory (IDL) is to understand the mechanisms of decision making and exchanges among engineers. In this study a toolbox for the assessment of engineering performance in a realistic aircraft design task is presented. It allows for the assessment of participants in different experimental conditions. The degree of task difficulty and the amount and quality of visualization are systematically varied across conditions. Using a graphical user interface the participants' mouse trajectories can be tracked. This data together with performance evaluation of the generated aircraft design can help uncover details about the underlying decision making process. The design and the evaluation of the experimental toolbox are presented. This includes the number, specificity, and ranges of design variables that can be manipulated by a participant. The major difficulty thereby is to find a ``sweet spot'' where the task is just difficult enough, such that participants display a progress in their performance. Too easy or too difficult of a task would lead to flooring or ceiling effects, where most participants will always fail or, respectively, perform perfectly. The decisions about the aircraft design parameters are therefore based on a numerical analysis of the design space. With this analysis nonlinearities and interdependencies of design parameters are revealed. The experimental toolbox will be utilized to measure design performance of individuals and groups. The results are expected to reveal ways to support multidisciplinary collaboration

Active aging in place supported by caregiver-centered modular low-cost platform

Aging in place happens when people age in the residence of their choice, usually their homes because is their preference for living as long as possible. This research work is focused on the conceptualization and implementation of a platform to support active aging in place with a particular focus on the caregivers and their requirements to accomplish their tasks with comfort and supervision. An engagement dimension is also a plus provided by the platform since it supports modules to make people react to challenges, stimulating them to be naturally more active. The platform is supported by IoT, using low-cost technology to increment the platform modularly. Is a modular platform capable of responding to specific needs of seniors aging in place and their caregivers, obtaining data regarding the person under supervision, as well as providing conditions for constant and more effective monitoring, through modules and tools that support decision making and tasks realization for active living. The constant monitoring allows knowing the routine of daily activities of the senior. The use of machine learning techniques allows the platform to identify, in real-time, situations of potential risk, allowing to trigger triage processes with the older adult, and consequently trigger the necessary actions so that the caregiver can intervene in useful time.O envelhecimento no local acontece quando as pessoas envelhecem na residência da sua escolha, geralmente nas suas próprias casas porque é a sua preferência para viver o máximo de tempo possível. Este trabalho de investigação foca-se na conceptualização e implementação de uma plataforma de apoio ao envelhecimento ativo no local, com particular enfoque nos cuidadores e nas suas necessidades para cumprir as suas tarefas com conforto e supervisão. Uma dimensão de engajamento também é um diferencial da plataforma, pois esta integra módulos de desafios para fazer as pessoas reagirem aos mesmos, estimulando-as a serem naturalmente mais ativas. A plataforma é suportada por IoT, utilizando tecnologia de baixo custo para incrementar a plataforma de forma modular. É uma plataforma modular capaz de responder às necessidades específicas do envelhecimento dos idosos no local e dos seus cuidadores, obtendo dados relativos à pessoa sob supervisão, bem como fornecendo condições para um acompanhamento constante e mais eficaz, através de módulos e ferramentas que apoiam a tomada de decisões e realização de tarefas para a vida ativa. A monitorização constante permite conhecer a rotina das atividades diárias do idoso, permitindo que, com a utilização de técnicas de machine learning, a plataforma seja capaz de detetar em tempo real situações de risco potencial, permitindo desencadear um processo de triagem junto do idoso, e consequentemente despoletar as ações necessárias para que o prestador de cuidados possa intervir em tempo útil

The Grand Challenge of Managing the Petascale Facility.

This report is the result of a study of networks and how they may need to evolve to support petascale leadership computing and science. As Dr. Ray Orbach, director of the Department of Energy's Office of Science, says in the spring 2006 issue of SciDAC Review, 'One remarkable example of growth in unexpected directions has been in high-end computation'. In the same article Dr. Michael Strayer states, 'Moore's law suggests that before the end of the next cycle of SciDAC, we shall see petaflop computers'. Given the Office of Science's strong leadership and support for petascale computing and facilities, we should expect to see petaflop computers in operation in support of science before the end of the decade, and DOE/SC Advanced Scientific Computing Research programs are focused on making this a reality. This study took its lead from this strong focus on petascale computing and the networks required to support such facilities, but it grew to include almost all aspects of the DOE/SC petascale computational and experimental science facilities, all of which will face daunting challenges in managing and analyzing the voluminous amounts of data expected. In addition, trends indicate the increased coupling of unique experimental facilities with computational facilities, along with the integration of multidisciplinary datasets and high-end computing with data-intensive computing; and we can expect these trends to continue at the petascale level and beyond. Coupled with recent technology trends, they clearly indicate the need for including capability petascale storage, networks, and experiments, as well as collaboration tools and programming environments, as integral components of the Office of Science's petascale capability metafacility. The objective of this report is to recommend a new cross-cutting program to support the management of petascale science and infrastructure. The appendices of the report document current and projected DOE computation facilities, science trends, and technology trends, whose combined impact can affect the manageability and stewardship of DOE's petascale facilities. This report is not meant to be all-inclusive. Rather, the facilities, science projects, and research topics presented are to be considered examples to clarify a point